The UAPD will provide regular updates throughout negotiations. Every Wednesday, the bargaining committee has a full day of caucus to discuss strategy and prepare counter proposals followed by bargaining with the state every Thursday. If you have any questions or would like to attend a caucus day, please reach out to your representative.
Friday, June 2, 2023
The State had very few counter proposals and no economic proposals for the UAPD.
Given the Governor’s May revised budget, it’s anticipated the legislator will not have a finalized budget by the conditional deadline of June 15. In past years, unions were under pressure to reach an agreement by June 15. This round of bargaining has been much slower and the State has delayed all economic proposals. Bargaining is expected to go beyond July 1.
In light of this and the tough economic proposals submitted by the UAPD, we urge our members to prepare for work actions that will demonstrate to lawmakers we are serious about parity with contractors.
Reach out to your colleagues and implore them to become union members at this critical time. The Union is only as strong as its members.
Friday, May 26, 2023
The State has not responded to our economic proposals asking for significant wage increases for all of our bargaining unit members. The State did have a presentation from the CDCR recruiter. The presentation was nearly identical to one presented three years ago during bargaining. In 2023, CDCR hired 18 psychiatrists. This figure barely makes a difference in the department’s vacancy rate of more than 40%. The recruiter was unable to provide data on the turnover rate for newly hired physicians.
The CCHCS recruiter emphasized a 40-hour week offering work-life balance. The bargaining team noted this as false advertising. Since the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program was implemented, office visits have tripled and the administration has not hired additional staff to handle the workload. As a result, physicians are working 50 to 60-hour workweeks.
In addition, the UAPD and CDCR psychiatrists continue to request more funding for the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists from members of the legislature and the Secretary of Corrections. Next week, there will be more meetings discussing CDCR psychiatry.
Friday, May 19, 2023
Bargaining committee members and members at large met with Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services. The UAPD asked for Arambula’s support in filling vacancies with civil service doctors and reversing the trend of employing contractors that has grown over the last decade. In years of budget deficits, replacing contractors with employee doctors saves the State and California taxpayers half a billion dollars.
The team also met with members at Patton State Hospital via Zoom during our lunch caucus on Thursday, 5/18. Although turnout was low, the team expressed their appreciation for those who took the time to attend. Committee members also strongly encouraged the doctors to reach out to their colleagues to participate.
Dr. Peter Dang, DPM, Metropolitan State Hospital said, “The bargaining process is a time of excitement and opportunity to change their work environment. This is a time for all of the doctors to come together and show their strength as a Union! This is the time to be present.”
Dr. Lazarus Chanza, DDS, California Rehabilitation Center, perfectly summarized the message stating, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Negotiations with the State only accomplished a handful of rollover agreements (no change to current language in MOU) and a few counter proposals. When asked to provide a estimate of when the Union can expect a response to our salary proposals, the State responded, “We are working through our parameters with folks we need to work through our parameters with.”
Given that statement, the Union doesn’t expect a response in the next week.
Friday, May 12, 2023
The bargaining committee signed off on more rollover language that will not change for the term of the contract. Proposals about office space license renewal fees, voluntary transfers, and telecommuting were also passed. The team worked with several at-large members who made presentations to the team during caucus days. The Union’s proposal guarantees the right to telecommute for members whose work can be performed remotely.
The State responded to the Union’s proposal giving stewards the right to use State emails and computers for Union communications and updates.
The Governor’s May revised budget was published today, citing a $31.5 billion deficit, the Union expects the State to respond to our economic proposals next week.
Friday, May 5, 2023
Bargaining with the state was called off on Thursday, 5/4, because the State did not release the team for our caucus the day before. The State informed UAPD that it didn’t think the Union should caucus given that the Governor will not publish the May revised budget until after mid-May. UAPD immediately threatened an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the State for surface bargaining and bargaining in bad faith. The State then conceded to allow our team to caucus on Thursday and resume bargaining next week while preserving our regular caucuses on Wednesday until the end of June.
On Thursday, 5/4, the bargaining committee met with doctors from the Department of Social Services who presented their telework proposal. The meeting was very productive and the committee will revise its proposal to reflect a clearer telework proposal, which will balance recruitment and retention with operational needs—not management bias.
During the team caucus next week, DSH physicians and surgeons will present their telework proposal for consideration.
Friday, April 28, 2023
The bargaining committee caucused all day on Wednesday, 04/26, to strategize and respond to proposals in preparation for bargaining on Thursday, 04/27. Moving forward, the team will caucus every Wednesday and bargain with the State every Thursday until the end of June or until an agreement is reached.
Several “rollover” proposals were signed off by the Union in order to maintain the current contract language in sections that do not need to be updated or changed. By doing this, it focuses attention on substantive issues, such as wages and benefits.
The Union also passed several counter proposals in response to the State’s proposals from last week. Most of these proposals have to do with the Union’s right to represent BU 16 more effectively and strengthen the role of our stewards.
The State indicated they will not present any economic proposals until the Governor finalizes the May budget revise in mid-May.
Next week, the Union will present its Telework proposal. Several members will be invited to join the working caucus on Wednesday to formulate the proposal.
Friday, April 21, 2023
The BU16 bargaining committee met with the state on Thursday, 04/20. The State rejected several of our proposals. Among them:
- Stewards Rights (release time in whole-day increments)
- State’s Rights (any rule or policy change should apply evenly among all BU16 members)
- Meal Periods (arduous meal should be paid automatically instead of having to apply for it)
- Shift Changes (any changes to shift should not increase doctors workload)
- Additional Appointments (additional appointments shall be automatic to any volunteers)
- Progressive Discipline (clinical reviews and administrative inquiries shall be subject to arbitration)
- Professional Judgment (issues of professional judgment shall be subject to arbitration)
- Out of Class Assignments (guarantees at least 5% above current salary)
- Voluntary Transfers (guarantees an expeditious transfer and favors employed doctors over contractors)
The State also proposed eliminating payment of the DEA fee. This is a take-away. Other than the DEA fee proposal, no economic proposals were presented by the State.
This process is very important for all of us. The committee knows that salary increases are at the center of these discussions but we cannot lose sight of the overall impact each one of these issues has on your colleagues who work in other departments. The employer’s goal is to divide and isolate our members so that they cannot present a collective voice in this process.
“Every issue is important. Doctor support of each issue builds power. A united voice brings change.”
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The bargaining committee had its first bargaining session with the state of California. The committee spoke out strongly and advocated on our members’ behalf.
The UAPD’s sunshine package proposal submitted on March 9, 2023, was reviewed by the State’s negotiating team. The State inquired about our intent for each proposed adjustment. A considerable amount of time was spent deliberating on our proposal to include a “Dignity Clause.”
The financial measures in the package, such as salaries and on-call, received minimal attention. Proposals related to money were postponed by the State until later in the negotiation process.
No proposals or counter proposals were passed in this session. The State will wait until the next meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2023, to respond to or submit individual proposals.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
The proposal for upcoming negotiations has been submitted by the bargaining committee. The proposal is now available to the public for review. We encourage you to read it here and make comments on the sunshine package proposal by Wednesday, March 16.
The package proposal includes the following:
- Hourly Rates comparable to contractor hourly rates
- Hour for hour on-call rate (now in MOD section)
- Increased vacation and annual leave accruals
Please email your comments to: Lr.info@calhr.ca.gov with the Subject Line: BU16 Sunshine.
Monday, March 6, 2023
The UAPD bargaining committee is preparing to negotiate a successor agreement to the expiring contract. The team is submitting a complete proposal package the morning of Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 10 a.m. The union’s proposal will be made public for comment for seven days. After which, we will begin to bargain directly with the state.
The union is proposing an aggressive package to save the state money by asking for pay parity and supplanting contractors with state-employed doctors.
A huge part of bargaining a fair contract relies on our membership. It shows that our voices are backed up by the power of our members.