STAFF at the British Medical Association (BMA) have entered into a formal pay dispute with their employer, GMB announced today.

The union said the BMA’s offer of 2 per cent follows pay erosion of nearly 17 per cent since 2012. 

The association has itself heavily criticised the Labour government over an “insulting” pay offer to doctors of 2.5 per cent.

A GMB rep working for the BMA said: “It is nothing short of hypocritical for the BMA leadership to make their staff a pay offer that they would encourage their own members to reject.

“We stand in solidarity with resident doctors in England and Scotland, many of whom we have got to know on the picket lines and who are speaking out against real-terms pay cuts on this campaign for several years now.”

BMA chief executive Rachel Podolak said: “We do not recognise the pay award for BMA staff for 2026 is just 2 per cent.  The total in-year award ranges from 3 per cent to 16 per cent. 

“When the total offer to our staff is considered — including three extra paid days’ leave on top of 30 days contractual annual leave and bank holidays, enhanced paternity leave and a non-consolidated lump sum — we are confident it is at or above market rates for comparable organisations and we regularly benchmark against industry standards.

“I am grateful for the constructive discussions that have been held with members of the GMB and the mutual understanding of the financial recovery pathway the BMA is on to ensure we have and continue to have a financially sustainable future for our members and our staff.”