UC Doctors Set To Walk Out Over Alleged Unfair Labor Practices
On Tuesday, 150 doctors at the University of California's student health centers are holding a one-day strike over alleged unfair labor practices, AP/U-T San Diego reports (AP/U-T San Diego, 1/26).
The doctors are members of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, which is in the middle of contract negotiations with the university system. The union has been negotiating its first contract since 2013 and has filed several unfair labor practice complaints against UC (Murphy, San Jose Mercury News, 1/26).
The union alleges that the UC system has participated in unfair labor practices and bad-faith contract negotiations (Williams, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/26).
Union spokesperson Sue Wilson said that the university system allegedly has withheld information that could assist in the negotiations (AP/U-T San Diego, 1/26).
During a UC Board of Regents meeting, union President Stuart Bussey urged officials to examine the issue, adding, "Until now, we have never needed to strike to get fair treatment for doctors."
The daylong strike will affect 10 UC student health clinics, but the clinics will remain open. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the centers will be staffed by management and non-union workers However, some non-emergency appointments might be rescheduled.
UC Response
However, UC spokesperson Shelly Meron said that the allegations have not been proved, noting that its most recent contract proposal -- which includes an immediate 3.5% wage increase -- is fair.
She said, "The main sticking point in all of this is wages, and our latest proposal has raises that we feel are fair. The issues don't warrant a strike that will impact students" (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/26).
Kaiser Nurses Ratify Contract
In related news, the California Nurses Association has approved a three-year contract with Kaiser Permanente, the San Jose Mercury News reports (Parr, San Jose Mercury News, 1/26).
On Jan. 16, CNA called off a two-day strike scheduled to begin the following week after reaching a tentative agreement with Kaiser (California Healthline, 1/20).
The new contract includes a 14% pay increase over three years and increases Kaiser's contribution to the nurses' 401k plans.
CNA spokesperson Chuck Idelson said the contract was approved by 93% of union members (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 1/26).
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