BMA Staff Overwhelmingly Back Strike Action in Pay Dispute
Employees of the British Medical Association have delivered a resounding vote in favour of industrial action after the union offered them what has been described as a 'hypocritical' below-inflation pay increase. The ballot result reveals deep discontent among staff who support the union's own members in their pay disputes with the government.
The Pay Offer That Sparked Outrage
The BMA has proposed a 2.75 per cent pay rise for its own staff while simultaneously demanding that the government provide resident doctors with an additional 26 per cent increase. This comes on top of the 28.9 per cent pay rise that junior doctors have already received over the past three years. The disparity between what the union demands for its members and what it offers its own employees has been labelled as contradictory by those affected.
According to the GMB union, which represents more than three-quarters of BMA staff, an overwhelming 96 per cent voted in favour of strike action, with an impressive 80 per cent turnout. The planned industrial action will span 48 hours, commencing at 00:01 on Friday, March 27.
Financial Position Versus Pay Claims
Union officials have stated they cannot afford to pay staff more, despite the BMA's latest published accounts revealing £57 million in available funds and net assets totalling £230 million. This financial position has drawn criticism from staff who note that the BMA has rejected similar arguments from government ministers regarding the affordability of pay increases for resident doctors.
Since 2012, BMA staff have experienced pay erosion of nearly 17 per cent due to successive years of sub-inflationary pay awards. The GMB decided to ballot members after pay negotiations at the conciliation service ACAS reached an impasse.
Political Reactions and Accusations
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has previously accused the BMA of acting like a 'cartel' and described their approach as 'morally reprehensible,' suggesting the union was attempting to hold the country to ransom over pay demands for its members. These comments came amid ongoing industrial action by junior doctors, who have staged 14 separate strikes since 2023, with the most recent occurring just before Christmas.
The repeated strikes have caused significant disruption across the NHS, with countless patient appointments and operations cancelled, creating what many describe as misery for those awaiting treatment.
Staff Voices and Union Response
Gavin Davies, GMB senior organiser, stated: 'This ballot result reflects the strength of feeling inside the BMA. Staff are angry and disappointed that the pay deal offered doesn't match inflation and doesn't begin to address the real terms pay cut they've experienced. BMA staff have tirelessly supported resident doctors in their fight for improved pay. Now it's their turn to demand a fair pay deal.'
One GMB representative working at the BMA told the Mail in November, when the union had initially proposed a 2 per cent pay rise: 'It is nothing short of hypocritical for the BMA leadership to make their staff a pay offer that they would encourage their own members to reject.'
Another employee commented: 'Staff at BMA appreciate the many messages of support and solidarity from BMA members in our campaign for fair pay. We just want to focus on supporting BMA members in their campaigns. We hope BMA management can come to the table with a reasonable offer that recognises our efforts and does not represent another year of real terms pay cuts.'
BMA's Official Position
A BMA spokesperson responded: 'We acknowledge the result of the ballot, and we recognise the strength of feeling among our staff and respect their right to take part in a democratic ballot. Our staff play a vital role in supporting the work of the organisation and we value the dedication and professionalism they bring to their roles.'
'We remain committed to negotiations with the GMB to work towards a resolution and want to continue open and meaningful dialogue in the hope of reaching a settlement that is fair to staff and sustainable for the organisation. We had previously increased our original offer to staff to an uplift of 2.75 per cent, plus an additional £1,000 consolidated offer for colleagues in the lower paid grades.'
The spokesperson added: 'This is in addition to enhanced paid paternity leave (4 weeks) and an extra 3 days annual leave, taking the total for 2026 to 34 days plus bank holidays. Given the BMA's ongoing financial recovery plan, this increased offer puts the Association at the very limit of keeping that recovery on track to give the BMA a sound financial footing for the future.'
'We will now work to ensure we can continue to provide key and critical services for our members during the strike period. We remain committed and open to an ongoing dialogue with our GMB colleagues and hope we can still settle the dispute without any strike action taking place.'
