BMA staff stage further strikes amid ongoing pay dispute

More than 400 staff working for the British Medical Association (BMA) took part in a further 48-hour strike on 6th and 7th April, as a dispute over pay continued.

The staff, represented by GMB Union, walked out after the BMA did not return to negotiations following previous industrial action.

Strike activity took place across multiple locations, including BMA House in London, as well as offices in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

The dispute centres on a 2.75% pay offer to BMA staff, which is below the 3.5% pay offer made to doctors by the Government, an offer the BMA has previously criticised.

The second day of the strike coincided with the start of industrial action by resident doctors, although BMA staff were not present on those picket lines.

Donna Thomas, regional organiser at GMB, said: “We are very disappointed that after such successful strike action involving hundreds of staff, no one from the BMA leadership has reached out to get back round the negotiating table.

“The BMA is asking the government for pay restoration for their doctor members but have failed to restore the pay of their own staff, who have seen their wages eroded nearly 17 per cent.

“Our members will be going ahead with further strikes on 6th and 7th April, which means BMA staff won’t be on the resident doctors’ picket lines for the start of their strike.