Six Unions Representing State Workers for the State of California Unite to Oppose Budget That Undermines Essential Services for California’s Most Vulernable
Sacramento, Calif. – Frontline doctors, represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), working at California’s correctional facilities and psychiatric state hospitals will rally alongside state workers from five other unions in front of the California State Capitol on Thursday, June 5, 2025, to oppose Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal that would implement devastating budget cuts that threaten essential healthcare services for the state’s most vulnerable populations.
WHAT: State Employee Unions Rally
WHEN: Thursday, June 5, 2025
11 AM – Begin
11:30 AM – Press Conference
12 PM – March to Capitol Annex Swing Space
12 PM to 2 PM – Lobbying at Capitol Annex Swing Space
WHERE: California State Capitol, 12th Street and N Street
WHO: Union of American Physicians and Dentists, California Association of Professional Scientists, SEIU Local 1000, AFSCME Council 57, AFSCME Local 2620, and California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment
“The Governor calls this fiscal responsibility, but I call it the abandonment of California’s most vulnerable. This isn’t just a labor issue, it’s a public health crisis in the making,” Dr. Stuart Bussey, UAPD President, said. “Fair compensation is essential to keeping experienced doctors and public servants on the job and ensuring Californians get the services they need.”
UAPD’s state doctors provide essential medical care in facilities such as state prisons and psychiatric hospitals—considered one of the most dangerous and challenging healthcare environments—serving as the healthcare safety net for one of California’s most vulnerable populations.
“Public servants should not be the scapegoat for budget mismanagement,” Doug Chiappetta, UAPD Executive Director, said. “The Governor’s approach undermines the very foundation of public service and public health in California.”
With Newsom anticipating an increase in the prison population, implementing a wage freeze amid existing high vacancy rates will exacerbate the issue while jeopardizing the care of those incarcerated. The proposed wage freeze comes as state-run facilities face:
- Record vacancy rates of more than 35%
- Increased patient loads, compromising patient care and provider safety
- Recruitment crisis as doctors leave public service for higher-paying opportunities
- Service cuts that impact California’s most vulnerable residents
Together, all six unions represent more than 100,000 state employees who work across state agencies and departments, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of State Hospitals, Department of Public Health, and Department of Developmental Services.
The rally aims to send a unified message to lawmakers: California cannot solve its budget crisis by undermining the people who keep the state running.
About the Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Established in 1972, the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) is the largest union for licensed doctors and advanced practice clinicians in the nation—representing more than 7,000 private and public-sector healthcare practitioners. Affiliated with AFSCME and the AFL-CIO, UAPD brings the strength of the labor movement to the aid of providers in the interest of better medicine for all. Learn more at www.uapd.com.
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