BMA in dispute with staff over lack of recognition
GMB Union accuses BMA of having “forgotten its principles” regarding the treatment of staff and warns that industrial action could follow.
GMB Union has lodged a formal dispute with the BMA, the trade union for doctors, in response to the treatment of some of the organisation's lowest paid employees.
Over 40 workers, who have recently been brought in-house, have significant concerns related to their pay owing to the BMA’s refusal to recognise their years of service when determining pay bands.
All staff will be treated as day one employees and placed on the lowest salary band for their grade, regardless of how long they have worked for the union.
The staff in question are employment advisors and support service advisors - often the first line of response for BMA members with work concerns.
An indicative ballot of members saw 91% vote in support of the dispute and indicate their willingness to take strike action if necessary.
Gavin Davies, GMB Senior Organiser, said:
“The BMA proudly declares itself a trade union, but it seems to have forgotten its principles when dealing with its staff.
“We are calling on BMA management to commit to paying their staff fairly and recognising their years of dedication to the union.
“These workers support members every day in taking their employers to task but instead of recognising their valuable work, the BMA is refusing to reward their years of service.”
“If the BMA does not put a better deal on the table, we are prepared to ballot our members for industrial action.”
A GMB member working for the BMA said:
“The BMA took doctors out on strike in the interest of improving our members’ lot.
“We are now simply holding a mirror to our employer and asking them to remember that the trade union movement is a movement. What is good for the doctor is good for the employment advisor.
“We have been treated unfairly, and our work has been devalued.
“We wouldn’t accept this treatment of BMA members, and we shouldn’t accept it for BMA staff.”
