A strike too far? Responding to the latest industrial action from resident doctors…

The term is over, the summer has begun. At least, it has for most Members of Parliament. But not for the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting. He is facing what looks like a long summer of disputes and strikes after junior doctors across England began another round of industrial action, walking out of NHS hospitals in pursuit of what they describe as “full pay restoration.” While previous strikes by NHS staff, including nurses and paramedics, were met with broad public sympathy, support for this particular strike appears to be faltering.

I must admit that I have been on a similar journey. Two and a half years ago I wrote about public sector strikes from what I thought was a sympathetic perspective. However, I have found myself considerably more sceptical about the current round of industrial action by resident doctors. And like others in the Church I am asking: Is it right to keep striking, especially now? Has this moved beyond a cry for justice into something more political? And how should Christians respond?

I do not believe there are nice, neat, binary answers to these questions, because we live in a world in which we hold in tension glimpses of God’s better story alongside misguided actions and fallen motives. Yet God’s Word does give us timeless principles that can help us respond thoughtfully and prayerfully.

Our starting point must be the Bible’s starting point. From the beginning, the Bible affirms the value of work and the dignity of the worker. Genesis 2 shows that work is part of God’s good creation, and Scripture repeatedly warns against the exploitation of labourers:

“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers… are crying out against you.” (James 5:4)

This principle should shape our instinctive response to any workplace injustice. Christians should care when those who serve society - like doctors and nurses - say they are undervalued or overstretched. Fair pay, just conditions, and sustainable work are not just economic matters; they are matters of justice.

That’s why many Christians supported NHS strikes in the past year - especially when nurses and other front-line staff described crippling hours, emotional burnout, and pay that had not kept pace with inflation.

But this week's strike by resident doctors feels different. And many across society are sensing that.

Wes Streeting’s pay deal last year delivered a 22% average rise over two years, including a 4.05% uplift in 2023–24 and a 6% plus £1,000 uplift in 2024–25 alongside backdated increases from the year before. If the doctors had accepted the proposed 5.4% rise for 2025–26, the cumulative uplift since 2022/23 would amount to about 28.9%.

Critics of the industrial action argue that this pay increase was one of the largest for any NHS staff group. Many suggest that continuing to strike, especially for a further 29% pay restoration that the BMA are seeking, seems out of step after such gains and amid broader fiscal pressures.

More significantly, there are growing concerns about the tone and politicisation of the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee. What began as a campaign for fair pay risks being seen as a broader political movement, with rhetoric and demands that some believe are less about patients and more about power.

This shift matters - not just for the public’s perception, but for how we as Christians approach the issue. If the moral case for justice becomes blurred by political ambition or unrealistic expectations, then we need to be discerning.

Jesus taught us to love our neighbour (Matthew 22:39), and that includes both healthcare workers and the patients they serve. Strikes in essential services must always be weighed carefully – and as I have written previously, any action cannot be seen just in terms of rights, but also in terms of responsibilities.

In the New Testament, Paul urges believers to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). That principle applies to unions as much as to individuals. Protest is not wrong, but it must be proportionate, and it must consider the wider impact, especially on the vulnerable.

Many people now worry that the current round of industrial action is causing avoidable harm, especially as it takes place during the summer, when NHS staff shortages are already acute. For patients awaiting treatment, the consequences are real and painful.

If striking becomes routine, detached from public support or a credible plan for compromise, then its moral authority begins to wane. Justice, after all, is not only about what we seek, but how we seek it.

Romans 13 reminds us to respect governing authorities as appointed by God. This does not mean never protesting, but it does call for respectful engagement and constructive dialogue.

When strike leaders appear unwilling to negotiate, or when they demand conditions which the Government cannot reasonably meet, the question arises: are we still seeking justice, or are we now seeking to score political points?

Christians must be careful here. We should never demonise those who strike in good conscience. But nor should we support movements uncritically, especially when they appear driven more by ideology than by the common good.

Discernment is key.

We are called to be people of both truth and grace, who walk in love and seek justice. So how do we apply that to this complex situation?

1. Listen with discernment

Not every claim made by unions, or by the media or politicians, reflects the full truth. Christians should be thoughtful and slow to judge. Understand the context, the history, and the real-world impact of ongoing strikes.

2. Champion justice without embracing destructive ideologies

We can affirm the biblical value of fair pay and safe working conditions while also questioning unrealistic demands or political overreach. It’s possible to stand for justice without endorsing every tactic or action and, conversely, to support an action while being clear you do not support the wider ideology that may motivate other supporters of the same cause.

We also need to remember that we are not God, and so need to be careful in rushing to judge others’ hearts; but neither should we be naïve, or fail to test actions and words against what is good. Jesus told his disciples, “Be as shrewd as serpents, and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

3. Call for peace and restoration

In a time of deep division, Christians have a unique role to play as bridge-builders, peacemakers, and advocates for reconciliation. Perhaps we should be less quick to pick a side, and should devote more time to seeking wisdom, compassion, and promoting solutions that honour both workers and the public.

Let us pray for these to be true of us, in both how we think and how we act, as well as praying for others who are impacted by these latest disputes.

Finally, we need to see how this dispute is not just about doctors and nurses. The NHS is a very important symbolic – perhaps totemic – British institution. It is a demonstration of some of the best impulses of our nation: a flagship example of how, in the UK, we seek the common good, look after the most vulnerable, and promote care and compassion. When it’s in crisis, all of us suffer. But moments of tension can also be opportunities for moral clarity and faithful witness.

Let us pray that the respective parties do not retreat into silence or tribalism; and let us pray that God will raise up people of prayer and peace to be at the heart of this dispute, who are committed to a just society, a flourishing health service, and a Gospel that brings healing to every corner of life.