08.11.11
BMA keeps up campaign against pensions changes
The BMA is maintaining its opposition to the Government’s pension changes, despite compromises announced last week, and has pledged to “show support” for striking workers from elsewhere in the public sector on November 30.
It is not balloting doctors on industrial action at this stage, it says, and has described the latest announcement from the Treasury as a “possible step in the right direction”.
It is producing campaign materials carrying the strapline ‘Fair Treatment for NHS Pensions’, and has launched an online campaign toolkit encouraging doctors to use the press and social media to express their concerns.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of council at the BMA, said: “It is only three years since NHS staff agreed to major changes to their pensions. Yet under the current proposals – despite the recent announcement – most NHS staff would pay much more and work longer for a much worse deal on retirement.
“The fact is that the NHS pension scheme is not only sustainable in the long term – it is currently delivering very significant sums to the government. These plans aren’t about the affordability of the current scheme - they’re about the Treasury looking for a quick hit on public sector workers.
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