The British Medical Association (BMA) is facing a dispute with GMB Union over redundancy payments following a major organisational restructuring, with the union accusing the doctors’ representative body of failing to honour contractual pay arrangements for departing employees.
GMB alleges that the BMA excluded contractual allowances when calculating redundancy payments for employees who volunteered to leave as part of a cost-cutting programme. The union argues that these allowances form part of employees’ contractual remuneration and should be included in their redundancy settlements.
The disagreement has intensified concerns about employment practices within one of Britain’s most prominent medical professional organisations, particularly because some affected employees are responsible for defending doctors’ contractual rights.
GMB Challenges BMA Over Redundancy Pay Calculations
According to GMB, employees who accepted voluntary redundancy did so partly to reduce the likelihood of compulsory job losses among their colleagues.
The affected workforce includes industrial relations officers, senior officials responsible for representing doctors in workplace disputes and challenging employers over contractual obligations.
GMB maintains that the BMA’s approach to redundancy calculations is inconsistent with the employment standards it advocates for medical professionals.
A GMB representative at the BMA said:
“Our members volunteered to go so their colleagues could keep their jobs. They should not have to fight their own employer for the redundancy pay their contracts entitle them to.
“The BMA expects other employers to honour doctors’ contracts. It should hold itself to the same standard.
“These allowances are part of our members’ contractual pay. Changing the label does not change the contract.
“BMA leaders must settle this now and show their own staff the respect they demand for doctors.”
The dispute centres on whether the allowances in question should be treated as contractual earnings when calculating redundancy entitlements.
The union has not disclosed the total amount of money contested or the precise number of employees affected.
Cost-Cutting Reorganisation Places Approximately 200 Jobs at Risk
The disagreement follows more than a year of organisational uncertainty at the BMA, during which approximately 200 employees were placed at risk of redundancy under a restructuring programme intended to reduce operating costs.
GMB says the departure of experienced employees has created additional pressure on remaining staff, who have raised concerns about increasing workloads and reduced organisational capacity.
Industrial Relations Staff Among Those Affected
The inclusion of industrial relations officers among departing employees has attracted particular criticism because these officials play a central role in supporting doctors during contractual negotiations and employment disputes.
Their responsibilities include advising members on workplace rights, representing medical professionals and challenging employment practices considered inconsistent with contractual obligations.
The loss of experienced personnel could create operational challenges for the association, although the extent of any disruption has not been independently established.
GMB represents more than 75 per cent of BMA employees, giving it a significant role in workplace negotiations within the organisation.
Its members at the association also participated in strike action over pay earlier this year, highlighting existing tensions between employees and management.
GMB Accuses BMA Leadership of Applying Double Standards
The latest disagreement has prompted stronger criticism from GMB officials, who argue that the BMA should apply the same contractual principles internally that it promotes when representing doctors.
Donna Thomas, GMB London NHS Officer, said:
“The people being short-changed are the same people who fight for doctors’ contracts every day. They have won remarkable results for BMA members, and this is the thanks they get.
“We have tried to resolve this around the table. We have told the BMA plainly that what it is doing is not just contractually wrong, it is morally wrong.
“Every day the BMA stands up to bad employers on behalf of doctors. Right now, it is behaving like one.
“Our message to the BMA is simple: practise what you preach. Honour the contracts and pay our members in full.”
Union Calls for Full Payment of Contractual Entitlements
GMB is urging BMA leadership to resolve the disagreement by including the disputed allowances in redundancy calculations and paying affected employees what the union considers their full contractual entitlements.
The supplied statement does not include a response from the BMA or confirmation that a settlement has been reached.
The dispute remains unresolved according to GMB’s account, with questions surrounding redundancy payments, employee workloads and management’s handling of restructuring continuing to affect relations between the association and its workforce.
George Orwell is a writer and contributor covering politics, society, culture, and current affairs. His work focuses on providing clear analysis and thoughtful commentary on the issues shaping modern Britain and the wider world, helping readers better understand complex topics.
