Victory for AHS Doctors! Arbitrator Rules in Favor of UAPD

July 6, 2018

UAPD decisively won at arbitration against Alameda Health System (AHS). Two years ago, AHS contracted out psychiatrists’ jobs in the psychiatric emergency services/triage services to Traditions Behavioral Health (TBH), flagrantly violating both UAPD’s MOU and a California statute, sponsored by UAPD, which protects those jobs. The arbitrator ruled AHS was clearly in violation of the MOU and the statute. The arbitrator then ruled that all of those positions MUST be returned to us! AHS and UAPD need to quickly work out the way to rid PES/Triage of TBH. The arbitrator will retain jurisdiction should AHS drag its feet. Our next task is to bring PES/Triage wages to market, which has been on the table since May 2017, with absolutely no response to date from AHS. Now, AHS will have to respond or face the wrath of the arbitrator.

Special thanks go to all of our bargaining team members, especially Dr. Milton Lorig, MD, JD and Senior Representative Patricia Hernandez, JD. Kudos as well to our legal team and those who testified. Lastly, thanks to out UAPD Lobbyist, Doug Chiappetta, who guided the legislation that helped achieve this victory.

More Doctors and Advanced Providers Unionize in Washington State

August 1, 2018

We would like to congratulate the physicians and advanced practice providers at Multicare’s Indigo Urgent Care centers who voted Monday to join the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD). Indigo providers sent a message that they want collective bargaining rights and a voice in providing care to patients. “I am excited that we have formed a union because, as a collective voice, we can work cooperatively with Multicare to create an organization that excels at providing high-quality patient care and provider satisfaction”, said Sara Pederson, an Indigo Physician Assistant.

Indigo providers now join UAPD bargaining units previously formed at Legacy Urgent Care Centers and Auburn Medical Center. The drive to unionize Indigo centers came about because providers perceived that they were having too little impact on patient care decisions. Many of these decisions appear to have been cost driven by Multicare. Profits have been placed before patient care and employee welfare.

Now begins the process of better understanding the specific priorities of Indigo providers. We want to start contract negotiations as soon as possible. In the next several days Indigo providers will receive a bargaining survey that will help evaluate their concerns on compensation, working hours, benefits, and other issues. One of the most important issues concerns an effective and reasonable urgent care closing policy. “In the past Multicare has forced many of its providers to work late into the night, seeing patients after an already long shift. This presents a real safety issue for both providers and patients”, stated Stuart Bussey, M.D., UAPD President. Our union is excited to begin negotiating a contract for Indigo providers.

Mad As Hell And Not Going To Take It Anymore: AHS Physicians Walk Out

June 29, 2018

Physicians of UAPD working in ambulatory at Alameda Health System (AHS) walked out of a meeting at the Hayward Wellness Center on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in protest of AHS’ intransigence. Those physicians have been out of contract for a year. AHS, rather than bargain in good faith over conditions at AHS, propose disrespectful and unethical mandates that would harm our most vulnerable patient population by demanding a “factory style” approach to patient care, treating our patients as “widgets” with physician pay linked to the number of “widgets” seen. Our physicians confronted AHS’ Chief Medical, Ghassan Jamaleddine, M.D., and made clear to him that AHS’ position is unacceptable. The group overwhelmingly voted to strike if AHS continued in its present course at negotiations. Our physicians are unwilling to sacrifice the doctor/patient relationship by delivering substandard care under an “assembly line” approach to the delivery of healthcare.

Doctors, Unite—Celebrate Interdependence Day!

June 27, 2018

By Stuart A. Bussey, MD, JD, UAPD President

Today, in the shadow of the Independence Day weekend, the US Supreme Court declared by a 5-4 vote that public union “fair share” agency fees are unconstitutional and not mandatory. They chose fuzzy borders of free speech and association over the gritty reality of free ridership to justify this potential financial blow to labor unions. The Janus vs AFSCME decision marks the final chapter of the 75-year-old “Right to Work” anti-labor law playbook which has progressed through 26 state legislatures. Now the rule is federalized.

Many of the fair share members who did not join UAPD as full members were unaware of the important differences between these two categories. Now after the Janus decision there won’t be any more fair share members, only non-members. There are big advantages to being a full member. Most importantly, when UAPD has a robust roster of full members, committed to the principles of unionism, the employer takes notice. There is strength in numbers. We have greater staff resources. This power leads to more favorable contracts, grievance outcomes, better representation and greater respect for the bargaining unit. Higher membership leads to greater member involvement, optimism, community, and synergy of ideas to improve the workplace. Only full members can participate in contract surveys and bargaining sessions, be on committees, participate in legislation, attend free CME, and enjoy our legal defense fund. There are monetary union perks as well–reduced mortgage payments, rental and insurance discounts, etc.

Corporate and billionaire interests will continue their efforts to deconstruct unions in the US because they see them as one of the last roadblocks to a plantation economy–where there is little resistance to unreasonable and self-serving policies. Where they can pay less and expect more from their employees. Let’s fight back! The words “doctors and union” have been an oxymoron. We traditionally are individualists and have been likened to herds of cats. Following today’s Janus decision, however, we must unite to survive. Stay or become a full member… but don’t turn into a non-member! Seek out a fair and a satisfying workplace by working together. Please consider this over the long weekend. It is good to be independent, but it is crucial to interdependent.

UC Student Health Doctors Supporting Upcoming AFSCME 3299 Strike

May 4, 2018

Dear UC Colleagues:

Next week on Monday, the 7th, to Wednesday, the 9th, AFSCME 3299 frontline patient and service workers will be striking against UC for racial, economic, and gender equality. We have consulted with our UAPD attorney about your potential participation and support of this strike. It is perfectly legal for you to support another union’s activities, including walking their picket lines, as long as it is on your own time. This includes your lunch and break times. What you cannot do, according to article 42 of your MOU is to engage in a sympathy strike or to have an unauthorized absence during these 3 days. Click the link below for the schedule of the rallies at the various UC campuses. If you have any questions, contact the UAPD for more details.

Click Here For Rally Location and Schedule

Are You in or You Out? Top 10 Reasons to Be a Full UAPD Member

May 24, 2018

By Stuart A. Bussey, MD, JD, UAPD President

With the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision expected in days or weeks, we UAPD full and fair share members face an important decision. The Court will likely decide that public union fair share fees are not legal or collectible and that there will be only two possibilities-full membership and non-membership–Do you fair share fee payors really want to stop paying your fair share fees and become nonmembers, jump ship, free ride? Many of our fair share payors incorrectly believe that because they pay fair share fees of 0.86% of their salary, for union services, that they are full members. They are not. For only .04% more of your salary, you may enjoy UAPD full membership benefits- participating in bargaining, voting for the contract, being on union committees, running for office, free CME and legal consultation. to name a few. Over the last year UAPD stewards, staff, and representatives have been asking you to become full members. It’s not too late to convert over to full membership. Just click on the link at the bottom and fill out the appropriate membership form.

To our doctors and providers who are already full members, you have our unwavering gratitude for your loyalty and service. We need you to recommit your full membership by clicking the link at the bottom of this article and fill out the appropriate membership form. If the Janus decision is adverse to public unions, we anticipate that big money and union busting organizations like the Freedom Foundation will try to contact you. They will argue that you should drop your full membership and not pay any dues money for your union services. That makes no sense. Don’t listen to them. Would a patient not pay anything for medical services? A patron not pay a shopkeeper for a product? A citizen not pay taxes for government services? New York State has already passed legislation that would make certain benefits applicable only to full union members. California lawmakers are also considering similar legislation. Your membership is critical to our union’s survival! Without your full membership and dues, we cannot provide you with a good contract and representation services. It’s time for us all to acknowledge the value of UAPD.

The TOP TEN REASONS we must remain or become full UAPD members

A Good Union Contract is Your Best Return on Investment- where else can 0.9% dues yield several percent annual salary and other monetary increases? We need a robust staff to bargain for good contracts
Grievances Matter- without adequate resources our representatives cannot comprehensively address and correct contract violations.
Pension and Benefits – We need strong political alliances and resources to maintain good pensions, defined contributions, and health benefits.
Just Cause and Just Culture– The best defenses against capricious discipline and system dysfunction have been negotiated and maintained by UAPD
Time off- Vacation, leave and flexible work hours become as important as money as you age. Ensure UAPD has adequate staff to fight for them.
Relevant Legislation- Whether union, health care, or socially conscious UAPD’s political arm needs membership muscle and resources to advocate
Legal Defense- To supply our members with top legal advice, defense and advocacy we must maintain a superior legal program and consultants
CME and other free perks- only members may enjoy free CME, legal consultation, union plus insurance, discounts on mortgages and more
Leadership and Involvement- only as a member can you become a steward, vote for contracts, serve on union committees, or run for union office
Fighting for Equity in health care- For half a century UAPD has stood for fair treatment of our patients, doctors, and providers. Let’s keep it up!

Colleagues, sisters, and brothers, please click on the link below and choose the appropriate Docusign form to commit to full membership. Don’t go it alone and miss out on UAPD benefits.

JOIN UAPD

The Results are In: Congratulations AFSCME 43rd International Convention Delegates

May 4, 2018

The following were elected to serve as delegates at AFSCME 43rd International Convention in Boston, MA., July 16, 2018 – July 20, 2018. The theme of this year’s convention is, “Rise Up”.

Julie B. George, M.D. Department of State Hospitals

Ronald H. Lewis, M.D., F.A.C.P. Private Practice

Milton L. Lorig, M.D., J.D. Private Practice

Rufus W. Moore, M.D. Los Angeles Department of Mental Health

Rosa Nguyen, D.M.D. State Department of Correction & Rehabilitation

Gary Pedneault, M.D Los Angeles Department of Health Services

Shakalpi R. Pendurkar, D.D.S., M.P.H. Gardner Health Services

In accordance with the UAPD constitution and bylaws, the UAPD President, Stuart A. Bussey, M.D., J.D., is automatically included as one of the UAPD’s eight delegates.

Thank you to our UAPD members who voted in this election, the 11 nominees for their effort and enthusiasm on behalf of the Union, and congratulations to our elected delegates.

Stuart A. Bussey, M.D., J.D.
UAPD President

We Have a Winner! Results of our May Day E-mail Raffle

May 2, 2018

UAPD Members,

I would like to congratulate Dr. Ron Leino of Rancho Santa Margarita. He is the winner of our May Day e-mail raffle and has won a $500 Amazon gift certificate. Dr. Leino works as a Psychiatrist at the UC Irvine Student Health Care Center. We had 149 personal emails sent to our UAPD office and his name was chosen at random.

Your personal emails provide a valuable link between our union and its members. With the impending Janus Supreme Court decision, it is more important than ever to communicate with our members in a timely fashion. If you haven’t already done so, please send your personal email to our Oakland office at uapd@uapd.com. Thanks for all that you do!

Stuart Bussey,MD,JD

UAPD President

CSU Victory! A Strong Contract for 2017 -2019

April 25, 2018

Unit 1 unanimously ratified the tentative agreement with CSU. We are waiting for the May Trustee meeting for the contract to be signed off on. Pay letters will be sent to the controller in June. Overall, the unit receives 3% retroactive to July 1, 2017, and 3% in both 2018 and 2019.

In addition, unit members receive equity based on years of service to get them to the median of the new salary ranges by 2019. It works out to be roughly an additional 8% for most of our unit members that have more than ten years of CSU service. The equity pool of three percent was more than any other union was able to negotiate for its members. We also have 2 new classifications that will help with recruitment and retention and allow the unit to grow. In total, between 2014 and 2020, Unit 1 will realize a minimum of 19% and a maximum of close to 30%, depending on years of service. This is quite substantial considering that between 1998 and 2014 there were 12 years where the unit received no raises.

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