The British Medical Association (BMA) has decided it is “not appropriate” to ballot its members on strike action over pension reforms “at this point”.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA Council, has backed the planned industrial action by public sector workers on the 30 November but stopped short of announcing the BMA’s inclusion.
“We share the intense anger of all NHS staff about the way in which the government is attempting to bring about wide-ranging changes to our pensions without genuine negotiation,” said Meldrum.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has decided it is “not appropriate” to ballot its members on strike action over pension reforms “at this point”.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA Council, has backed the planned industrial action by public sector workers on the 30 November but stopped short of announcing the BMA’s inclusion.
“We share the intense anger of all NHS staff about the way in which the government is attempting to bring about wide-ranging changes to our pensions without genuine negotiation,” said Meldrum.
“We are certainly not ruling out industrial action of some kind in the future but, for doctors especially, it will always be a last resort in order to protect their patients.
“In the meantime, we will be looking at ways to encourage and guide our members in showing their strength of feeling about the unfairness of public sector pension changes on the day of action.”
The news comes as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced it will hold a special meeting of the RCN Council on 30 September to discuss “its next steps” over pension reforms.
RCN members are currently being asked to give their opinion on what action the union should take over proposed changes to pension arrangements.
