BMA staff to vote on strike action over 'eroded' pay
GMB Union is set to ballot more than 400 members working for the British Medical Association (BMA) after pay talks at ACAS broke down.
The union has previously accused the BMA of hypocrisy for offering its own staff less than the Government offer to resident doctors, who the BMA have taken out on strike.
A revised offer from BMA management didn't go far enough to ensure the vast majority of staff would receive the pay rise they need.[1]
GMB representatives at BMA took the position that the latest offer still fell far short of the pay claim and represented yet another year of real terms pay cuts for most of its professional and executive members, who support doctors across the UK.
This comes at a time when morale is at its lowest point following the announcement of a major restructure, which could result in job losses.
A GMB rep working for the BMA said:
"The BMA pleads poverty, but its own most recent Companies House report shows post-tax profits for the Group of £15.4m and the highest paid Group Director on £341k.[2]
"Staff have worked tirelessly to restore doctors' pay, while their own pay has been eroded.
"We just want to be treated fairly.
“We remain committed to seeking a credible offer to reflect inflation and a resolution to address years of pay erosion, just as resident doctors are rightly doing for their own pay."
Gavin Davies, GMB Senior Organiser, said:
“We have hard-working members who are facing a real-terms pay cut, along with the rising cost of living.
“The pay offer the BMA has made to its own staff flies in the face of what it is calling for for resident doctors.”
[1] The revised offer removed a one-off non-consolidated payment of £1,500 and pay progression for senior staff and instead offered 2% + £450.00 consolidated or 2.75% consolidated for all grades and an additional £1,000 consolidated pay for the lowest paid. BMA management stated the offer was conditional on GMB either recommending or putting the offer neutrally to members.
[2] Please see https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685165d8f2ccfcfd2f823f7c/BMA_Members_Statements_2024.pdf
