Like much of the 1970s NHS militancy, today's industrial action is just. But doctors know there is more at stake than pensions
Doctors taking industrial action is not unprecedented. In 1975 consultants took action for their own monetary advantage and junior doctors against the insanity of a compulsory 120-hour working week. How should today's action be viewed?
The 70s witnessed most NHS staff taking industrial action, the NHS turmoil reflecting political drama across Europe and America: massive opposition to war in Vietnam, a general strike in France, miners' strikes in 1972 and 1974 that toppled the Tory government, the rise of feminism (demands for equal pay and the right to personal control over fertility) and an economic crisis and IMF loan demanding public sector cuts (sound familiar?).
When porters, cleaners and other "ancillary workers" struck against low wages in 1972, the atmosphere of the time encouraged some of us as medical students to join their picket. More medical students and doctors, many now members of the Medical Practitioners' Union, supported nurses' and radiographers' action in 1974. Their action was fuelled by confidence gained from the women's movement.
In January 1975 consultants took action against Barbara Castle outlawing the treatment of private patients in NHS hospitals. The policy emanated from the ancillary workers' strike about low wages, but staff also wanted to end consultants treating private patients, for which they alone were paid, using NHS staff and equipment. The NHS of the day had separate dining rooms for consultants (waitress service) and a canteen for the rest of NHS staff.
Later that year junior doctors took action against the following problems: rotas that enforced working 120 hours one week and 80 the next while being paid for a 40-hour week; appalling conditions in their on-call rooms; and having to provide care for "their" consultants' private patients, which took them away from NHS commitments.
Juniors found they had more in common with ancillary staff than their consultant bosses. NHS staff learned that they were "part of the union" and that other workers would rally to support them. During the nurses' dispute we approached shop stewards at the Sun who then refused to print an anti-nurse headline in the next day's addition. There was blank space where the nurses' story should have been.
The incoming Labour government's attempts to solve the ongoing economic crisis resulted in an IMF bailout, which, as usual, was coupled to public sector cuts. With inflation high, public sector workers were hurting. Grave diggers and "dustmen" (refuse collectors would be the more correct term these days) joined the wave of public sector strikes and "the winter of discontent" ushered the Labour government out and the Thatcher era in.
The 1975 action by consultants to retain the right to treat private patients in NHS hospitals was rightly resisted: it was selfish and reactionary. Conversely, the junior doctors' action was progressive and won lasting improvements to their contracts.
Today's industrial action over pensions – consultants standing with their juniors, united with all doctors – is just. There is an inherent unfairness in working longer (to 68) with higher contributions for a smaller pension. But industrial action probably would not have been supported had doctors not felt frustrated and deeply worried by the undemocratic imposition of the Health and Social Care Act, particularly the rubbishing of evidence against privatisation and the alarming implications for future patient care it might have.
The ancillary workers' strike of 1972 sparked three years of NHS militancy, improving wages and reminding governments of the importance of the NHS to the public and their objection to private practice being parasitic on the NHS. The prevailing mood then was of an unjust war and an economic crisis with workers, especially in the public sector, feeling pushed into action.
There are many parallels to the situation now, with workers' action increasing, an economic crisis taking place and incredulity over bankers' bonuses. The junior doctors' action in 1975 rose on a tide of public concerns. Today's action indicates the public is not happy. With cuts to benefits, the NHS and other services (and more to come), alongside students resisting attacks on education, 40 years on doctors are speaking up for more than themselves.
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