BADN members to vote on merger with Community

The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association and independent trade union for dental nurses, is considering a proposal to join forces with Community Union.

Ruth Garrity RDN, the BADN’s Chairman and General Secretary, said:

“It is now for our members to decide on what we believe is an exciting opportunity for BADN’s future. Since our foundation in 1940, BADN (under various names, for example the British Dental Nurses’ and Assistants’ Society, or the Association of British Dental Surgery Assistants) has been a strong voice for the UK’s dental nurses, and we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the last 86 years with extremely limited resources. It is important that we celebrate the legacy of our predecessors in BADN, as well as the role our officials and reps play every day in standing up for dental nurses across the country.

“At the same time, we should always look to the future and seek to grow. That means extending our influence, expanding our membership and enhancing the offer we provide to everyone who pays their subs.

“Whilst BADN continues to punch well above our weight as a small union, our resources are strained and we have very little political influence. We want to ensure that our dental nurse members have the strongest possible voice and highest level of support and therefore it is essential that we look to expand our reach. This could only be achieved through a merger with a larger organisation which shares our vision, and which can help us to provide the best support and representation to our members in a fast-changing world of work. Through the relationship we have built, it is clear that Community is an organisation which shares our values and aims, and we feel positive about what we could achieve together in partnership.”