I think this is quite a good summary of the issues, it's what's on the flyer being handed out by doctors on the picket line:
UNSAFE
At present hospitals are required to monitor every year how many hours your doctors are working to ensure YOUR SAFETY. The new contract removes this requirement and will no longer fine hospitals when doctors raise concerns about the safety of your hospital.
At present, safety measures are in place monitoring the long days, nights and shift patterns doctors work. These are for YOUR SAFETY and OUR SAFETY. They are being removed. The new contract redefines nights to include only those that finish after 2am and will force doctors who finished at, for example, 1.59am to return to work the same day.
Bus drivers must break for 45 minutes after driving for 4.5 hours and have a maximum 56 hour week to ensure your safety. We regularly work >100 hours a week; the government says we will now work 72. But by removing the safety mechanisms they will have no way of checking.
UNFAIR
After five years training, our basic salary is £22,636.
At present we get additional pay for unsocial hours, emergency call outs and weekends. Under the new contract, Saturday will no longer count as part of the weekend.
Junior doctors already work 7 days a week: the purpose of redefining a Saturday to a normal working day is to allow for the closure of hospitals. This contract is not about saving lives, it is about saving COSTS.
Doctors who take maternity leave will no longer receive increments in their pay.
Under the new contract, doctors who cover lots of hospitals as non-residents on call (eg surgeons, oncologists and others) will receive as little as £1 per hour for these shifts.
We have not asked for a pay rise. Under the new contract, many doctors will lose around £7500 per year.
UNSUSTAINABLE
We agree with the Government that there is a financial crisis in the NHS.
We don't agree that penalising Junior Doctors is the way to solve this.
The NHS needs 6000 more Junior Doctors. 70% of junior doctors have stated that they cannot work under the proposed conditions as it would be unsafe. It will not make things better.
You can only spread the same number of doctors so far before we and the NHS break.
At the moment, one junior doctor is doing the work of two. This contract will require us to do more work and receive less pay
I spent my lunch break on the picket line. Nearly every one passing was incredibly supportive and there were loads of cars tooting. We cannot let Cunt win. It really will be the beginning of the end for the NHS.