28.06.11
Doctors consider radical moves in pensions dispute
Doctors will consider “every legitimate action” they can take to defend their pensions, BMA chairman of council Dr Hamish Meldrum has said.
To loud applause at the doctors’ union’s annual conference in Cardiff yesterday, Dr Meldrum said: “I have this message for ministers. Whilst we will be reasonable, whilst we will not rush to precipitate action, whilst we will not put patients’ lives at risk, do not in any way or for one single moment mistake this responsible attitude as a reason to underestimate our strength of feeling and our determination to seek fairness for those we represent.
“The profession will act responsibly, but we will not accept an unwarranted and unfair assault on our pensions.”
There have been calls for the union “to ballot the BMA membership regarding all forms of industrial action” if there is no rethink on current the pension proposal.
Dr Andrew Dearden, chairman of the BMA’s pensions committee, has previously warned that more doctors will opt for early retirement to benefit from the more advantageous current system, if the proposals go ahead.
As with other parts of the public sector, NHS staff would face higher contributions and losing their final salary schemes: although the NHS pension scheme is in much better shape than much of the rest of the public sector, and was reformed itself as recently as 2008.
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