The British Dental Association sent a message of support to UCU over the pension strikes. Staff in the School of Dentistry have joint membership arrangement with UCU and the BDA. (See

The BDA statement says:

The British Dental Association (BDA) has offered its support to academics participating in ongoing industrial action over the future of the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

University leaders are planning to close the defined benefit element of the USS. While many dental academics would have started in the NHS pension scheme, some may have opted into the USS.

While it would not be lawful for BDA members who are not members of the University College Union (UCU) to participate in the industrial action, the BDA has expressed its solidarity for all academics involved, and its commitment to support dental academics who may be impacted by the changes.

Giles McCracken, Chair of the BDA’s Central Committee for Dental Academic Staff said:

“The proposal by USS to close its defined benefit scheme is damaging not only for the pension prospects of dental academics, but will have a wider impact on the dental academic profession. For senior clinical academics it encourages early retirement from academic activity and also from clinical service; for younger dentists it creates a deterrent to taking up academic activity as a long-term career.

“We share UCU’s concern at this fundamental reduction in the benefits available to members of the scheme. We have great sympathy for the decision that UCU members have taken and will, of course, support any BDA member who is also a member of the UCU or is otherwise affected by the industrial action.”

If you are a BDA member and need advice about your employment rights you can contact the BDA’s Employment Relation Officers on 020 7563 4541. If you wish to discuss pensions in particular you can email Philip McEvoy, the BDA’s pensions manager or get in touch by telephone on 020 7563 4161.

There is more information from the BDA to their members about the dispute at bda.org/academicpensions