Take the doctors' advice on pensions?

On the day when rumour central positively insists that Eric Pickles has finally regurgitated the proposals on local government pensions that have been chewed over (in secret) since 13 February, it's good to see the clarity of the defence (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18275653), by the British Medical Association (BMA) of the decision of their members to take strike action over attacks on pensions(http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/119639).



One of the issues concerning doctors is the prospect that today's junior doctors could be working to 68 - or later.



Since whatever other miracles have been performed in world-class negotiations on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) we know that the proposals which have been kept from us for three and a half months are based on the "Principles of Agreement", we know that the LGPS proposals will also see normal retirement age heading for 68 and beyond.



Since we also know that the package will concede uprating of pensions in payment by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than the more appropriate Retail Price Index (RPI) at massive cost to workers and pensioners, I think I'll be amongst those voting to reject the deal and rejoin the campaign which the doctors have now aligned themselves with.



You can also read more about the BMA decision at http://industrialreporter.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/doctors-to-take-strike-action-over-pensions-for-first-time-in-nearly-40-years-2/.

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