ON June 21, doctors across Wales will be involved in a day of industrial action to protect the pensions of NHS staff. Why are they doing this?

In 2008, the BMA and the UK Government came to an amicable and sensible agreement. It can be found in the Commons library: NHS Pension Scheme Standard Note: SN 03281.

It says: "In the NHS scheme, it was agreed that the employer contribution should be capped at or just above 14 percent until 2016, and at 14 percent after that. Should there be an increase in cost employers will pick up the first part through an increase in contributions up to 14.2 percent. Any further increase would have to be met by employees either through contribution increases or benefit changes." In other words - there would be no cost whatsoever to the taxpayer. If there was a shortfall, NHS employees would top it up - not the taxpayer. Unlike the present government, the NHS pension scheme is not under pressure. Indeed, it is £7billion in credit. In fact, it already hands over £2billion a year to the Treasury. But the government want to milk it even further. Having made this agreement four years ago, doctors are now told that the government is tearing up this agreement and refusing to negotiate. It means that new entrants into the profession will have to work until they are 68 and contribute even more of their salary to the pension fund so that the Government can take more out. It is 40 years since doctors felt so strongly about an issue that they took such action. This is a matter of principle and a matter of honour, and standing up for one's principles is an honourable one.

– John Jenkins, British Medical Association, Cymru, Wales, Cardiff.