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BMA: Take to Facebook to defend your pension

GPs should take to Facebook and Twitter to fight for their pensions, the BMA has said, as part of new guidance on how doctors can support the day of industrial action on pensions.

With the BMA deciding not to ballot doctors on joining the planned strikes for 30th November, it has urged doctors to indirectly show support for the industrial action by updating their Facebook status and Twitter feeds, and by displaying posters, stickers and flyer saying 'Fairer treatment for NHS pensions'.

The social media section of the BMA's campaign toolkit says: ‘We want you to Tweet your concerns about pensions reform. Follow @theBMA and retweet our concerns about the reforms. Update your Facebook status to say how you feel about the changes.'

The BMA said GPs can show support by wearing campaign stickers ‘and encouraging colleagues, family and friends to do the same.' The BMA said doctors can also order a campaign pack containing posters, badges, window stickers and flyers.

BMA chair Dr Hamish Meldrum, said: ‘It is only three years since NHS staff agreed to major changes to their pensions. Yet under the current proposals – despite the recent announcement – most NHS staff would pay much more and work longer for a much worse deal on retirement.'

‘The fact is that the NHS pension scheme is not only sustainable in the long term – it is currently delivering very significant sums to the government.  These plans aren't about the affordability of the current scheme - they're about the Treasury looking for a quick hit on public sector workers.'