Physicians, psychiatrists, and dentists employed by Solano County, represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), have voted unanimously in favor of authorizing a strike after months of stalled contract negotiations and ongoing concerns about the County’s bad faith bargaining.
The strike authorization vote comes amid a broader wave of collective action across all unions representing County employees who are moving forward together to demand fair treatment at the bargaining table.
Key issues leading to the strike authorization include:
- Bargaining Impasse: Eight bargaining sessions were scheduled, two of which were canceled by the County. Several meetings lasted only a few minutes, and the County canceled the most recent scheduled session at the last minute.
- Rejection of Union Proposals: The County has rejected all UAPD proposals, including equity adjustments needed to bring physicians and dentists up to current market conditions.
- Inadequate Wage Offer: The County’s sole proposal is a three-year contract with across-the-board wage increases of 3% in the first year, 2% in the second year, and 1% in the third year, with no retroactive pay.
- Potentially Illegal Proposal: The County proposed reopening base salary wages in the third year only if the union waives its right to the state-mandated impasse procedure, a condition UAPD believes is unlawful.
- Bad Faith Bargaining Concerns: The County has presented identical proposals to multiple County unions, undermining UAPD’s role as the exclusive representative of the County’s physicians and dentists.
What Happens Next
Union members will be notified of potential strike dates and receive detailed information about actions to be taken.
The strike authorization represents a unified stance among County employees demanding fair compensation and good faith negotiations. UAPD will coordinate its efforts with other County employee unions that are also conducting strike authorization votes.