The British Medical Association faces a walkout from some of its staff following allegations that advisers brought in under TUPE regulations were underpaid.
The GMB, which represents workers, claims that the BMA refused to recognize their external service length, resulting in them being placed into lower pay bands. Around 40 advisers have been involved in the dispute.
The GMB announced that it had filed a formal complaint with the doctors’ trade union and that in an indicative vote, 91% of staff affected had indicated their support for a possible strike.
The advisors accused the union of “forgetting their principles”, referring to the repeated strike actions by the BMA in relation to pay for junior doctors within the NHS. This was until September, when a deal between ministers and the BMA was reached.
BMA stated that the staff received significant pay increases up to 15% as well as improved benefits due to being transferred.
Gavin Davies, senior organizer at GMB said: “The BMA proudly proclaims itself as a union but seems to have forgotten about its principles in dealing with its employees.
We are calling on BMA to pay their employees fairly and recognise their years of service to the union.
The BMA refuses to recognize their service years.
We are ready to vote our members on industrial action if the BMA doesn’t offer a better deal.
BMA spokesperson: “We’re working closely with GMB staff to resolve any remaining concerns. We hope to have them resolved soon.” We carefully followed TUPE legislation – the law protecting employees’ rights when their businesses transfer to a new ownership – to create permanent and sustainable positions at the BMA for staff that have left the outsourced provider.
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