to think that doctors shouldn't go on strike over pension changes

[starwarrior]

Why shouldn't they just suck it up like the rest of us?

not a doctor

sometimes a patient though so I support their strike!

oh, and YABU

orangesandlemons, as a private sector worker, I have never had a car, shares, private health (though there is coffee/tea). Neither have I ever had good job security, anything above statutory maternity pay, or a definied benefit pension scheme. This is pretty much the norm (am a chartered accountant).
The car and private petrol is now v unusual - it's v expensive from a tax point of view. IMO a mobile is not a "perk", it's a way to get your employees to be contactable and available 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year... but that's another issue entirely!

i think it makes them look pretty bad - some of the highest paid public sector workers refusing to accept what most people would still consider a fantastic pension deal.

the pay deal they got under the last government was so favourable it really beggared belief.

Mirry, I've said my DH is. My DS is a medical student and is going to be badly hit by these changes.

What is your own profession ?

DH gets car, private petrol, mobile, shares, bonus scheme, private health.

Yes, everyone in the private sector gets all those things, you know.

and most of the doctors at our local surgery have come here for the better pay from other countries.

Bet you get your Xmas do paid for though.

:) yes, it is all of £20 per head contribution from employer.

our pension fell 85% in value the year before last and has yet to fully recoup ...my money would be better off in a sock under the bed!

Not saying everyone does. But a "package" is often used in private sector ( I had one when I was in private industry) but not often public sector (well not in my bit). From the people I know/have known, I know veryfew in ps who do get some sort of add on, even if it is only tea and coffee.

I get nowt

Oh here we go with the usual jealousy from certain private sector workers against the public sector. If things are so bad for you in the private sector come and join the public sector then and get a "gold plated" pension

I am so glad that so many people here are in favour of this 'strike' - i fully support every attempt to refrain from Government interference.

1. The NHS pension scheme contributes 2.8billion excess than is required last year. That is money that finances Governments, roads, nurseries etc - Services that every one of us use on a daily basis.

2. An average NHS pension (and i appreciate this is NHS generally and not Dr's) is 7500 pounds and 4500 for a woman.

3. in 2008 NHS staff accepted massive changes and slashes to pension schemes in order to ensure that they would remain financially viable in future years. It was under the agreement that no further re-negotiations would occure

4. Whilst current consultants and high grade staff will be afffected the massive changes will occur to lower grade staff and those who are currently training. Many staff have voiced that they will no longer stay in the NHS and many will move abroad to favourable conditions. Potentially this will leave a massive staff shortage for patients, increased costly locums and ultimately less funding into the coiffeurs.

The change to staff pension benefits will ultimately affect patients. I feel strongly that the current scheme is sustainable and that Government policies should look at alternatives to raise monies and not to sustainable schemes. I wholeheartedly believe that every Dr out there will put patient safety at the heart of all that they do.

I wondered if there would be a thread about this.
The general consensus seemed to be that teachers should "suck it up" when they went on strike about pensions.

Doctors, not so much, it seems.

YABU, anyway.

So you think the general public will be happy to see the people who care for them when they are at their most vulnerable, and save their lives being shafted?

I would be very suprised if they don't have a lot of public support

Doctors are highly paid professionals.. because they spend longer than almost any other profession training to a high level.. just to be a qualified doc takes 5 years then another two foundation years before they even get started..most continue a high level of training for decades.. they jolly well earn their salaries.

So why should they not be able to strike when their pensions are threatened as other civil servants can and have been? Just because they are supposed to be in a vocation?

And employment is NOT guaranteed... there has been a shortage of F1/F2 placements in recent years (that't the two training years following the basic 5 at university) . My DD is a med student and worried about that:(

I don't understand the vocation thing either. Doctors have families, futures to plan for just like everyone else. Why shouldn't they strike?

they should have as much right as anyone else to strike, although i was told there was a similar protest in oz at one time and instead of striking the docs stopped signing death certs! no bodies could be buried so all got resolved asap x

I think they should go on strike. I also think though that they will always be able to get work in the NHS or in private practice or as some have said by going abroad. There will always be potential medical students and doctors who want to come here from oversease.

When do doctors start earning money or receiving a bursery for their work? Is it once they've done their 3 year training, their 5 year training or 7 years?

I am not a doctor. I am a midwife with a nursing background.

I support the doctors and I support the teachers.

duck in case you didn't notice... there was the usual allegation that private sector workers get a whole load of trimmings (that most of them don't get at all!)

the average drs pension resulting from this change was quoted as £68k per annum ..if i heard the radio right.

that isn't going to sit well with the general public.