Ballot for resident doctor strike action in Northern Ireland
A ballot is a vote by members of a trade union about whether to take industrial action.
When is the ballot taking place?
The ballot opens on 11 May 2026 and closes on 8 June 2026. Remember, full pay restoration depends on the success of this ballot. Your vote is crucial. Complete your ballot paper and return it to Civica Election Services using the prepaid envelope provided. Post your ballot back as soon as possible.
Who can vote?
All eligible resident doctor BMA members who have notified us that they hold a contract with an HSC employer in Northern Ireland (whether solely or in addition to a non-HSC contract), excluding any armed forces trainees, will be eligible to vote in this HSC strike ballot. See our full guidance on who can be balloted and take part in industrial action.
Medical students will not be able to take part in a ballot as they do not hold a contract of employment. Read our guidance for medical students during Industrial action.
What your vote means
Your vote in the ballot indicates whether or not you support industrial action but does not commit you to action. If the vote is successful, the decision to then take action is an individual choice.
If you vote ‘yes’, we hope that you are fully prepared to take industrial action. If you vote 'no', we would still encourage you to support the campaign and your colleagues.
We would not be working towards a ballot for industrial action if we felt that there was any other course of action that would achieve our aims. We encourage all members to vote in favour of any ballot we put forward.
Everybody who we have balloted may take action. We will not be balloting those members who are not eligible to take action - for example, armed forces doctors.
Why am I being balloted on taking industrial action?
Resident doctors in Northern Ireland have experienced a 30.7% pay cut in real terms. This year, resident doctors in Northern Ireland did not receive the DDRB recommended pay uplift until months after their colleagues working elsewhere in the UK.
The decision to proceed towards a ballot for industrial action was clear-cut for the committee.
Requirements of a successful ballot
A trade union ballot requires a majority 'Yes' vote. Northern Ireland industrial action law is slightly different to other parts of the UK in that the 50% turnout requirement in England, as well as the minimum service level requirements, do not exist in Northern Ireland.
All that is required is that the ballot is conducted legitimately, and that a majority of those who vote do so in favour of industrial action. However, naturally we want to make sure that as many members as possible are willing to vote in favour of industrial action and to take part when the time comes.
What form will strike action take?
Should we get a mandate to strike from the ballot the form strike action will take is still to be decided, but patient safety will be a key consideration in whatever action we decide to take.
Will there be more than one strike?
First, we need a mandate to strike from the ballot. Second, this depends on the response to the strike. If we receive offers from the Department of Health we will be willing to listen to these and the Northern Ireland resident doctors committee will decide on future action based on this. We should be willing to take further action if it is necessary to achieve our aims.