UC recognizes Union of American Physicians and Dentists

On Thursday, the University of California formally recognized the Union of American Physicians and Dentists as the exclusive representative of doctors working at any of the student health centers.

The campaign to unionize began with a few University doctors who reached out to the union in December 2012. Physicians voted in April to appeal to the UC to recognize the union.

Doctors were motivated to join the union because they want more input and autonomy in running the UC student health centers, said Dr. Stuart Bussey, president of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.

“(The) UC respects employees’ right to decide whether or not to seek union representation,” said Brooke Converse, a UC spokeswoman, in an email statement.

According to the Union of American Physicians and Dentists’ website, the union will schedule collective bargaining negotiations with the UC as soon as possible.

The University already recognizes other unions that represent service workers, patient care workers, academic student employees, nurses and police officers in the UC.