British Medical Association employees are protesting in London today (19 March) in a row over pay and recognition.
The demonstration, taking place outside the BMA’s headquarters, concerns the union’s decision to bring its employment and support staff advisers in-house, treating them as new hires from their first day.
According to protest organisers GMB union, the move has led to the affected staff – often the first point of contact for members in need of help – being placed on the lowest salary tier within their grade. This applies regardless of how long they have served or supported the union in their roles.
Its members unanimously rejected BMA’s offer of around £400 pre-tax because it failed to address the core issue at the heart of the dispute, leaving workers’ concerns unresolved, the union said.
A recent member ballot among those impacted revealed that 91% were willing to strike if deemed necessary.
Gavin Davies, GMB senior organiser, said: “We are disappointed that the BMA continues to undervalue the service of our members. We would expect better from a fellow union. These staff have worked tirelessly on behalf of BMA members. All we are asking is for the BMA to do the right thing and recognise their years of service.”
A GMB member, previously employed through an outsourcer, said: “We were all aware during that time that we were being paid a fraction of the amount that direct employees of the BMA were. We finally thought we were going to be treated equally when we were brought inhouse but that was far from the truth. I have been made to feel totally undervalued and inferior to my BMA colleagues.”
The member added that while employees “proudly fight to improve doctors pay and conditions”, it is “incredibly hypocritical” for the BMA to deny them the same entitlements.
BMA said it was disappointed that the GMB had rejected its proposals for resolving the dispute, having worked closely with the union to find a way forward while balancing its obligations to its entire 570-strong workforce.
A BMA spokesperson said: “The offer made would have meant the 44 staff involved would have received their one-year work anniversary uplift in pay brought forward by some seven months. This would have provided them with a total growth in pay for a full-time equivalent (based on 40 hours per week) of up to 41.9% since transfer. Bringing this payment forward would also enable earlier growth in pension contributions.
“This proposal was in addition to several other offers of improvements to their terms and conditions since transfer, including an extra 14 days of leave and a doubling of pension contributions.”
BMA insisted it had “met and gone above and beyond” its TUPE obligations during the transfer of the workers and remained “committed to supporting fair and beneficial terms for all colleagues at the BMA”.
The spokesperson added: “We will now be moving to ACAS mediated discussions with the GMB and will be fully engaging in the process.”
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