Should doctors be allowed to strike?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independen...pensions-7441053.html

I know they are private individuals and as such have a right to protest against the changes in their pensions, in anyway they deem necessary.

But on humanitarian grounds shouldn't a law be introduced to make it illegal for them to withdraw their services?

[emmie]

Let them strike, and see what happens, soldiers can't do it, nor police i believe.

[naomi24]

Icg76, I've been reading AOG's posts over several years - but I don't like people who gang up on other people - for any reason. They're not very nice either.

[craft1948]

lcg one of my nephews is in his final year....he is an F3 or something in Norwich. He certainly doesn't seem overworked or poor to me. He's also had a couple of lovely placements in Tuvalu and Christchurch whilst training.

[lcg]

so if people earn more money than you (anyone), that makes it ok to deny them the right of striking or negotiating their terms and conditions of employment? as stated before, i would like to see how many people would be willing to endure the rigours of training that dr's face during their time at university and beyond. i teach medical students during their psych rotations - and see quite enough of their dedication and expected standards. i'd want more money/less hours/better pension as well! doesn't everyone?

[craft1948]

You're possibly right, but given the current economic climate while a lot of people are struggling to keep their heads above water their demands may seem a tad selfish.

[lcg]

not all medical students are rich. some are, but not all. not all dr's are rich, either. remember wealth can be measured in many ways.

[Brenden]

I also followed his post naomi, like a pack of wolves going for the kill, I have also disagreed with AOG, but never ever have I been demeaning to him or anybody else, some abers on here should be ashamed of themselves - and no - I am not another Mother Teresa. When I saw the start of this post I thought "Here we go again". Getting back to the question No they should not be allowed to strike, they had a very good pay rise a little while back plus good working conditions, they are certainly not underpaid - and I do not think they will jeopardise what they have.

[craft1948]

lcg I've seen the doctors' pay scales and to say that they are not well-off compared to the majority of the population is just not true. The average wage earned by Joe Bloggs is I think around £26k. I'm not saying they don't deserve to earn more, but face it, they do earn more.

[Brenden]

Ignore the part about doctors pay rise I am talking about GPs - who are also doctors.

[lcg]

people employed by the nhs always grumble about pay/conditions. essentially, the government want to pay us as little as possible and get the most out of us as possible. things are going to get a little tetchy every time change/development of the nhs is mentioned. as both dr's and nurses (and most other sectors of the nhs for that matter) have started to ballot/strike for the first time since the 1970's...does that not make people think omg - the tories are fiddling with the nhs again? i think people should really start looking a little deeper than a little bit more pay or pension. some of the changes are fundamental, and there won't be much more of the 'humanitarian' nhs. and you will all be paying for it - firstly for the staff and secondly for a slowly but surely private, and entirely more expensive nhs than you ever considered.

[lcg]

craft - i'm a nurse and i don't even earn the average wage. how disgusting is that? i can't even afford their 'discount' housing that is offered to nhs workers as i don't earn enough. it's a joke.

[craft1948]

I obviously can't comment on your personal circumstances, but after I'd worked in my chosen job for 20 years (with a couple of promotions and exams) my mate, in nursing, earned approx £2k a year more than me.

[Nibble]

So by your answer, Brenden, the right to strike should only be avalable to the less well paid, and preferably not after a "pay rise". The fact that their contracts were in effect discontinued, and renegotiated in the last few years as part of the new last NHS reforms, thereby denies them ever the right to strike again under your interpretation. Seems a bit prescriptive - if you pardon the unintended pun - and flies in the face of the "common-ness" of us all.

[lcg]

now i wish i'd done something else at uni! but...in all fairness i am doing an msc (want to do a phd, but we'll see about that!) and i am going to become a uni lecturer. about £12k+ a year more than actual nursing.

[craft1948]

Well there you go lcg..............that's how things have changed. My mate trained to be a nurse straight from school with no uni involved. She obviously had no student debt, and retired as a theatre sister.

[DTCwordfan]

Who has been demeaning? Sarcastic yes inc. me, as some of his comments merit it, may be not so much this thread, but he has also been on his usual course of debate.....or lack of it. You know the form if you have read his threads...

[Gromit]

All workers should be allowed to withdraw their labour, just as all OAPs should be allowed to whinge incessantly. It is a free country, we should be allowed to do what we want.

[DTCwordfan]

They could still meet their Hippocractic Oath - i.e. by providing the service and then donate their (inflated) salaries into a charity pot to support other industrial action from the less well paid....

[Baldric]

Would striking make it more of a hypocritic oath?

[slaney]

I quote from yesterday's BMA email...

"We have ruled out strike action"
Taking "action that will make an impact without harming harming patients is now a priority, along with continuing to urge the Government to return to talks."
Presumably action such as not attending management meetings is being considered.

I haven't met any doctor who intends to take any action that would harm patients - it would go completely against the grain so to do.

As regards the pension - the NHS pension fund is in good condition, and now receives 2 billion a year more than it pays out. This money goes back to HM Treasury, and is not reinvested to ensure the sustainability of future pensions.
In 2007 after tough negotiations with the last government, it was agreed that doctors should work longer, pay more towards their pensions, and receive less in the way of pensions. It was not expected that after a mere 4 years that the whole thing would be revisited, and even greater cuts would be demanded.