UC Student Health Doctors Picket UCLA Today

News provided by

Union of American Physicians and Dentists

Apr 13, 2015, 11:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Doctors from five UC campuses in Southern California (UCLA, San Diego, Irvine, Riverside, and Santa Barbara) started picketing in front of UCLA's Ashe Student Health Center (221 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles) Monday morning at 7:30 am. They plan to remain on the picket line until 2:30 pm today. A large rally featuring student and community supporters is planned for noon.

The doctors, who are employed by the University's student health centers, walked out of their jobs to protest the unfair labor practices committed by UC during bargaining for the doctors' first contract. The statewide strike began on April 9^th in Northern California and on April 11^th in Southern California. Northern California doctors returned to work today. Doctors in Southern California are planning to stay out on strike until Wednesday morning at 7 am.

Student health doctors also held a strike against UC in January; that was the first strike of licensed doctors in the US in 25 years. The doctors are striking again because UC has still not resolved the multiple unfair labor practices (ULP) charges that the union filed against them during bargaining. The Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), which represents the doctors, has filed multiple ULP charges, including several charges related to the University's refusal to provide information about its finances. "We think UC can afford to improve the student health centers without shifting those costs onto students," said Dr. Stuart A. Bussey, UAPD President. "Doctors are demanding that UC open their books."

On Saturday, a contingent of doctors protested during UCLA's Bruin's Day event for incoming freshmen and their families. The doctors brought the message that UC should prioritize student health care directly to the next generation of UCLA students.

SOURCE Union of American Physicians and Dentists