Hundreds of BMA staff members to strike over pay this month  

Hundreds of BMA staff members are set to walk out at the end of the month, after voting in favour of a strike over pay.

Members of GMB Union employed by the BMA voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to strike on 27 and 28 March, the union announced.  

The ballot of the union’s 400 members working for the BMA closed yesterday, with 96% voting in favour of industrial action on an 80% turnout. 

GMB Union said that BMA staff have experienced nearly 17% ‘pay erosion’ since 2012 due to ‘sub-inflationary pay awards’. 

It prepared the vote after pay negotiations at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) failed following ‘unsatisfactory offers’ from the BMA.  

According to GMB, the BMA’s offer included:

• Removing a one-off non-consolidated payment of £1,500 and pay progression for senior staff;
• Offering 2% plus £450.00 consolidated or 2.75% consolidated for all grades, and an additional £1,000 consolidated pay for the lowest paid.

In response to the ballot result, the BMA said they ‘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.

GMB senior organiser Gavin Davies said: ‘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.’ 

 The BMA said its previous pay offers were already ‘at the very limit’ of what it could offer staff financially. 

A BMA spokesperson told Pulse: ‘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%, plus an additional £1,000 consolidated offer for colleagues in the lower paid grades.

‘This is in addition to enhanced paid paternity leave (four weeks) and an extra three 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.’ 

Staff employed by the BMA already walked out of work for 24 hours in 2012 and picketed BMA offices across the country, as part of a strike over pay.