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BU 325 Bargaining Team
Bargaining Update 9/2009
Negotiations began in August between UAPD’s two Los Angeles County Bargaining units and the County. UAPD Bargaining Unit 324 represents County-employed Physicians, and Bargaining Unit 325 represents the Psychiatrists and Dentists. While the two units negotiate separately, the proposals being presented by Los Angeles County for each unit so far are the same.
At the table the County has expressed its willingness to honor the salary step increases that were negotiated in the last contracts for each group. The County negotiators say that it is working to avoid furloughs and layoffs for Bargaining Unit members. To save money, they are proposing that the Physicians, Dentists and Psychiatrists bear the cost of any increases in the health insurance premium in the coming two years. They are proposing a two-year agreement with UAPD, but they also want language that allows them to renegotiate the contract during that time should they declare a financial emergency.
UAPD has not yet responded to the County’s proposals regarding financial emergencies and health care increases. Both UAPD teams have proposed language to make low-cost improvements to the existing contracts, for example, by upgrading the personal emergency alarm system so that panic buttons are properly positioned, maintained, and operated.
General Membership Meeting 9/3/2009
A General Membership Meeting, open to all UAPD members in Los Angeles County BU 324 (Physicians) and BU 325 (Psychiatrists and Dentists), will be held on Thursday, September 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the San Antonio Winery in Downtown Los Angeles. Attendance is strongly encouraged, as the meeting will be the first opportunity for the Bargaining Teams and UAPD members to discuss the progress of negotiations in full detail.
What: UAPD General Meeting for BU 324 and BU 325 Members
When: Thursday, September 3, 2009
5 pm to 7 pm. Dinner served until 6 pm.
Where: San Antonio Winery, 737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031, (323) 223-1401
RSVPs to Nancy Baldovinos (310-398-4038 or nbaldovinos@uapd.com) are appreciated.
Los Angeles County Dentist and Psychiatrist Negotiations Have Begun (BU 325)
Negotiations between the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) Bargaining Unit 325 and the County of Los Angeles have begun. Bargaining Unit 325 represents Los Angeles County Dentists and Psychiatrists. The first bargaining session took place on Thursday, August 27, 2009.
In the first meeting, the County gave a presentation on its financial situation. Just as they did during the opening session for Bargaining Unit 324 (Physicians Unit), the County representatives characterized their budget as badly strained, but not to the point of crisis. In its opening remarks the UAPD Bargaining Team expressed its position that even during a bad budget year our contract has a number of low-cost or no-cost improvements that can be made. We delivered a proposal to improve safety by requiring regular testing of and reporting on the emergency alarm system. Another UAPD proposal would require that the paycheck correction procedure be followed for an underpayment of any amount, not just for errors greater than $100. The proposal would also require that the County notify an employee before correcting an overpayment on a paycheck. Our team will deliver more proposals to the County at the next meeting. The County plans to give proposals to UAPD at the next session as well.
The UAPD Bargaining Team for Bargaining Unit 325 consists of Chief Negotiator Steve Cook, Regional Administrator John Murillo, and Los Angeles County Dentists and Psychiatrists. They are: Dr. Richard King (Psychiatrist, West Central MH), Dr. Julie Wu-Hsieh (Psychiatrist, Arcadia MH) , Dr. Felipe Oamar (Dentist, Sheriffs/Twin Towers), Dr. Joseph Mirkovich (Psychiatrist, Sheriffs/Twin Towers).
The next bargaining session will take place on Thursday, September 3, 2009.
Los Angeles County Physicians Negotiations Have Begun (BU 324)
Negotiations between the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) Bargaining Unit 324 and the County of Los Angeles have begun. The first bargaining session took place on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
In the first meeting, the County gave a presentation on its financial situation. The county characterized its budget as badly strained, but not to the point of crisis. In its opening remarks the UAPD Bargaining Team expressed its position that even during a bad budget year our relatively new contract has a substantial number of low-cost or no-cost improvements that can be made. Our team plans to deliver a set of proposals to the County starting at the next meeting.
Additional bargaining sessions have been scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th and Wednesday, September 2nd. A General Membership Meeting, open to all UAPD members, will be held on Thursday, September 3rd from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the San Antonio Winery in Downtown Los Angeles. Attendance is strongly encouraged, as the meeting will be the first opportunity for the Bargaining Team and UAPD members to discuss the progress of negotiations in full detail. RSVPs to Nancy Baldovinos (1-800-504-8273 or nbaldovinos@uapd.com) are appreciated.
The UAPD Bargaining Team for Bargaining Unit 324 consists of Chief Negotiator Lux Irvin, Regional Administrator John Murillo, and twelve Los Angeles County Doctors. They are:
Dr. Joe Chauvapan, Vascular Surgeon, Harbor /UCLA
Dr. Rex Cheng, Anesthesiology, Harbor/UCLA
Dr. Shahid Khan, Internal Medicine, High Desert
Dr. Michael Medici, Pediatrics, Claude Hudson
Dr. Janice Nelson, Pathology, LAC/USC
Dr. LL Nelson, Internal Medicine, Public Health SPA 6 South
Dr. Pedro Ortiz-Colom, Coroner, Coroners Department
Dr. Orlando Pile, Internal Medicine, Sheriff’s Department Twin Towers
Dr. Gary Posner, Pediatrics, Olive View
Dr. Claudette Robbins, Radiology, Olive View
Dr. Edwardo Velayos, Surgery, Rancho
Dr. Ron Zodkevitch, Psychiatry, MLK/MACC
Questions or comments about negotiations can be directed to any Bargaining Team member. Stay tuned for further updates.