UC is very disappointed that the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) has announced plans for strikes from 7 a.m. Thursday, April 9 to 7 a.m. Sunday, April 13 at campus student health centers at the northern campuses (Berkeley, Davis, Merced, San Francisco and Santa Cruz), and from 7 a.m. Saturday, April 11 to 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 15 at the southern campuses (Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Barbara).

Related Links
These strikes notices come even as UC works diligently toward an agreement to bring these protracted negotiations to a close. As recently as Thursday, April 2, UC offered enhanced contract proposals that included annual wage increases and a lump sum payment upon contract ratification. The UAPD rejected our offer.

Our latest proposal offered student health center physicians and dentists:

Guaranteed wage increases:

  • 3.5 percent wage increase upon ratification, with a lump-sum payment calculated based on each employee’s earnings back to July 1, 2014
  • 3.5 percent increase on July 1, 2015
  • 3 percent increase on July 1, 2016
  • 3 percent increase on July 1, 2017
  • Current employees would receive an annual salary of at least $165,000 a year — higher than the minimum annual salary for comparable positions at California State University. In addition, the UAPD recently settled a three-year contract with CSU that calls for a 3 percent increase in the first year and 2 percent increases in 2015 and 2016 — much lower than UC’s offer.

Healthcare and pension: The same healthcare and retirement benefits as non-represented UC employees at the same affordable rates.

Layoffs: An improved layoff provision, in which employees receive up to 16 weeks of severance pay depending on their years of service.

Lump sum payment upon contract ratification: $500 lump sum payment for each career employee upon contract ratification.

Contract length: The proposed contract would expire June 30, 2018

These are the most recent strikes the UAPD has called during negotiations. UC sees this as an unfair bargaining tactic. The UAPD is ironically citing unfair labor practices as the basis for a strike. However, the only new unfair labor practice charge the UAPD has issued since its first strike on Jan. 27 complains about restrictions allegedly placed on using bullhorns at UC Irvine and UC San Diego during the earlier strike. That charge does not justify another strike. More importantly, everyone should know that union leaders refused to discuss their unfair labor practice complaints they filed when the university broached the topic on April 2 at the bargaining table in an effort to resolve and address them.

UC believes the UAPD’s first strike was unlawful and is planning to file an unfair labor practice charge against the union.

Like the first strike, UC believes the UAPD’s planned April 9-15 strike is really an attempt by the union to use the student health centers as leverage to force UC to accept the union’s very steep demands.

UC has shown repeated flexibility and movement with its proposals. We are asking that the UAPD leadership focus its energy on working collaboratively to resolve differences at the bargaining table — instead of striking at the student health centers where it impacts students.

Physicians who participate in the strikes and choose not to come to work would lose at least about $600 a day in pay. We hope our employees come to work during the strikes and continue serving the students who rely on them for care.

Attached is some important information about strikes, including information about your right not to strike.