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?

I don't really find that ironic... work conditions in USA and Canada are better than here, in Eastern Europe, India,Greece conditions are worse than here

They want to come here, we want to go there, USA and Canadian Drs want to stay there

The NHS pension scheme makes a £2 billion/year suplus for the treasury.

What is the justifiation for asking people to pay more into it and have to retire later?

If the scheme was making a loss then I would understand better, but not when it is actually making the government so much as it is.

The scheme was renogatiated a few years ago, and people did 'suck it up', but why change it again? What is the reason?

I completely support this strike - Also supported the teachers.

Hope as a nurse, we will also be supported.

Agree hiveofbees.
I think we are fairly apathetic when it comes to making a stand, so to have such a large turn out in favour of industrial action goes to show how annoyed we all are.
Unfortunately, I doubt it will make a difference

plus3
I beeped my horn in support of Unison when they went on strike. Also gave to a whip round for coffee and bacon butties for those poor cold buggers on the picket line, if that counts?

thetokengirl! Although to be fair, I'm with the RCN & I work in critical care so technically one of the last to go out, but out I will go if this continues.

Agree totally with HiveofBees.

There is already a HUGE surplus each year already paid into the treasury, it is a tax on being a doctor.

Sadly less than 1% of doctors voted, but over 80% of those that did were in favour of striking.

They have my utmost support.

Apparently turnout was 51%, of those who voted a huge majority in fovour of industrial action.

The last docto's settlement incl pension was ludicrously good, it is a hufe economic aberration and needs tobe brought into line.

But I also believe private company pension laws need to be reformed as they are worse than useless now.

'ludicrously good'

How much of a suplus do you think the scheme should be making and paying to the treasury?

I support the Doctors and will support any other groups, including nurses. We have to stand together on this, if the professions are divided we will fail.

I agree, this affects all NHS employees. They are striking separately because of the different unions, not because they dont support each other.

And after the strikes have disrupted everyone around the country and achieved nothing, what?

When was the last large scale industrial action that was a major success in the UK?

I'm a doctor.

I have been training since 1995. I will get my CCT next year but there are 450 of us finishing and about 300 jobs predicted. That is 150 unemployed doctors.....

Anyway I fully support the strike but won't be striking as I'm on call on June 21st doing all the emergency shit - so you might see me in labour ward, or looking after a sick relative in resusc or helping out my colleagues in ITU.

I am really really angry that doctors have been singled out to contribute considerably more in 'pension' contributions than other equivalently paid civil servants. Even more irritating is that the MPs pension scheme hasn't changed at all.

They changed our scheme in 2008 and we all started paying more then. Our scheme as others have said generates a profit for the chancellor and is predicted to do so for a long time to come. All these extra pension contributions represent is an extra tax.

yes we are well paid but we are highly trained, highly skilled professionals comparing us with unskilled workers is not helpful. FYI I earn considerably less than my peers in banking, law and accountancy and work a fuck load of weekends, bank holidays and nightshifts. The trade off was supposed to be a good pension but now the government are moving the goal posts.

I'm also not sure how safe I will be working at 68....

TBH I'm tempted to take my UK funded medical degree, BSc and postgraduate qualifications to another country.

Meh, IMOwhen the general public learns just how good Doctors' T&C and pension conditions are (which will happen as a result of the strike), compared to everyone else, you will lose the PR support big time.

Be careful of what youwish for.

Oh and some of you might like to know that out of my 'excellent' salary I pay around £2500 quid / year to continue being a doctor with indemnity insurance (and I'm not even in a really high risk specialty).

All my friends in 'the city' get these costs paid for them (eg. law society, journals, courses etc.....)

I am really really angry that doctors have been singled out to contribute considerably more in 'pension' contributions than other equivalently paid civil servants. Even more irritating is that the MPs pension scheme hasn't changed at all.

That I agree with,they are all relatively overblown. Best hope for Doctors is to threaten to bring politicos down with them.

That sounds plausible.

Does that have anything to do with pensions though?

I presume that the government are claiming that there is some sort of pension related justification for changes to the pension scheme and not just 'we think you are paid too much so will nick some of your savings'

Most doctors are hospital doctors, not GPs.

Hospital doctors have to do evening, night and weekend on-calls.