The British Medical Association (BMA) is facing a stark reality: despite achieving a record membership of 200,000 – largely due to its high-profile campaigns for improved pay and conditions – the doctors' union is struggling financially. With a significant shortfall looming, it's planning to cut up to a third of its workforce in England, potentially affecting around 200 staff out of a total of 600.
The financial struggles come despite £86.8 million in subsidies from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) since 2008, averaging £5.1 million per year. This support has been crucial in keeping the BMA solvent, but it highlights the organisation's vulnerability to financial instability. The internal restructuring aims to sharpen the BMA's focus on core trade union activities, potentially reducing its emphasis on professional association work.
Staff have voiced strong objections, accusing the BMA of 'appalling behaviour' and 'hypocrisy', citing concerns that redundancies are being handled poorly and that staff are being prevented from discussing the situation publicly. The organisation's own HR protocols regarding redundancies may not be being followed, according to some claims. It's also been reported that the union's membership has not been informed of the reorganisation or potential job losses.
The proposed cuts could have significant implications for BMA staff responsible for producing reports for boards of science and ethics, with up to 20 of 45 roles at risk. Additionally, the number of industrial relations officer (IRO) posts is set to be reduced from 23.5 to 14 – a move that has been criticised by some senior BMA figures and local negotiating committees as being counterproductive.
Senior BMA leaders have received a strongly worded letter from chairs of 110 local negotiating committees expressing formal concerns about the proposed IRO and head of region position cuts. The consultants committee has also passed a motion criticising the changes, although it was not debated at the recent annual conference. A BMA spokesperson stated that the restructuring is designed to support members in organising and campaigning more effectively.