BMA accused of hypocrisy as its own staff threaten to strike over pay

"The British Medical Association is facing a strike over pay by its own clerical staff, prompting calls of hypocrisy as resident NHS doctors in England launch five days of strike action with the union's backing. Talks between the BMA and the GMB union failed to come to a resolution on Tuesday, raising the prospect of a strike by clerical and administrative staff at the health union in the new year, sources said."

"The GMB has described the BMA's actions as hypocritical. A formal dispute was launched by the GMB in November after the BMA offered a below inflation 2% pay rise. At the same time, the BMA was heavily criticising the government over a pay offer to doctors of 2.5%. The GMB claims that since 2012, BMA staff have suffered pay erosion of nearly 17% as a result of years of below-inflation pay awards."

"As the BMA sought to talk down the demands of its own staff on Tuesday, a second team of negotiators also failed to reach terms with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, over the demands of their resident doctor members. Resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, who represent nearly half of the doctors working in the NHS, started their strike action on Wednesday morning and will remain away from work until 7am on Monday."

The British Medical Association faces a potential strike by its clerical and administrative staff after talks with the GMB failed to resolve pay demands. The GMB represents about 75% of BMA internal staff and has prepared a ballot after launching a formal dispute in November over a below-inflation 2% consolidated pay offer. The BMA cites challenging financial constraints and says it is offering above market rates and minor improvements including an increased non-consolidated payment and extra leave. Resident doctors began five days of strike action with BMA backing after separate negotiations with the health secretary also failed.

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