Striking junior doctors have been labelled ‘hypocrites’ for wearing union-branded merchandise manufactured in China.
The medics will take to picket lines for five days from 7am tomorrow for what will be their 11th walkout in 15 months.
Many will be dressed in bright orange clothing emblazoned with the British Medical Association logo, as they seek a 35 per cent pay rise and better working conditions.
But the Mail can reveal the bold beanie hats, which have featured prominently in photographs of previous strikes, have been imported from China.
Critics today called out the hypocrisy, highlighting that workers in China are often subjected to ‘terrible working conditions’ and are prevented from forming trade unions independent of the state’s oversight.
Many striking medics be dressed in bright orange clothing emblazoned with the British Medical Association logo, as they seek a 35 per cent pay rise and better working conditions
But the Mail can reveal the bold beanie hats have been imported from China
The orange beanies have become synonymous with BMA picket lines during previous industrial action. Pictured striking medics outside St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster on February 26 earlier this year
Paul Bristow, who is a standing to be re-elected as a Conservative MP and previously sat on the Commons health and social care committee, said: ‘The BMA militants show themselves to be hypocritical by dishing out merch made in China with their terrible working conditions.
‘They need to stop their posturing and strikes and get their members back to work.’
Dr Sean Phillips, head of health and social care at the Policy Exchange think tank, said: ‘It is becoming difficult to sympathise with the cause of BMA members masquerading in cut-price merchandise while they talk of “cut-price doctors”.’
He warned patients will be harmed by the walkout, which is taking place days before the general election and at a time when the government is unable to commit to a new pay deal.
Dr Phillips added that an ‘ideological commitment to disrupt those managing the NHS seems to outweigh a genuine will to seek compromise and settlement amongst the present leadership’.
In 2022 local governments in cities and provinces across China offered reprieves for ‘minor’ breaches of worker’s rights, including forcing employees to work dangerously long hours, in a bid to boost the economy post-pandemic.
A BMA spokesperson said: ‘The BMA has ethical procurement policies in place which we adhere to when purchasing goods and we believe that engaging with ethical suppliers in other countries is beneficial to them.
‘Before putting in the order for the beanie hats, due diligence was done to make sure they were produced in factories where employment conditions and workers’ rights, as well as their supply chains and services they procure are maintained in line with internationally recognised conventions and local laws, as a minimum.’
