Doctors' Union To Decide On Industrial Action

Doctors' leaders are holding talks later on whether to vote on taking industrial action after a row over the Government's controversial pension reforms.

British Medical Association (BMA) members are angry at proposed changes to pensions which involve higher contributions, an end to the final salary scheme, and alterations to the automatic lump sum payable on retirement.

Last month, doctors and medical students overwhelmingly rejected the Government's "final" offer on pensions.

The BMA said the changes would see younger doctors paying more than £200,000 extra over their lifetime in pension contributions and work eight years longer, to 68.

Officials have urged the Government to reopen talks with the health unions, but said neither the Treasury nor the Health Department had signalled any change to their position.

If a ballot for some form of industrial action is ordered, it will be the first among doctors since the 1970s.

It comes amid claims some hospital bosses are fiddling figures to meet Government waiting list targets.

Meanwhile, leaders of a teaching union on Friday rejected the pension changes, delivering a fresh blow to the coalition's hopes of ending the long-running dispute.

The executive of UCAC, which represents thousands of teachers, headteachers and lecturers in Wales, warned that the option of further strikes remained open.

The union leaders, meeting in Aberystwyth, said they wanted to negotiate further with the Government, and will step up its campaign alongside other unions to press for improvements to the offer.

The row over pensions remains deadlocked, with some unions warning of fresh industrial action, possibly on March 28.