LOS ANGELES, SACRAMENTO, and OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Doctors at all ten University of California campuses began a one-day strike against UC at 7:30 am on Tuesday morning.  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 their yearlong bargaining for a first contract.  This marks the first time in 25 years that fully-licensed doctors have gone on strike against a US employer. 

On Tuesday the picket lines will run from 7:30 am until 2:30 pm at the campuses listed below.  Doctors at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, and UC San Diego will also hold rallies at 12 noon, featuring speeches by UC workers, UC students, and local elected officials, as well as striking doctors.

The doctors are striking because UC has failed to resolve 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 UC doctors, filed several ULPs over UCs refusal to provide information about its finances.  "Our team has asked for financial information from UC – such as how much money is in the discretionary funds that each chancellor controls.  We think that money would be helpful for rendering more support to student health services," said Dr. Sean Kennedy, a primary care physician and bargaining team member who walked the picket line at UC Davis on Tuesday.  UC has refused to provide that information, as well as other information that is essential to bargaining.

UAPD President Stuart A. Bussey, M.D., walked the picket line in Davis and Berkeley.  "In our union's 43 year history we've never needed to strike to compel an employer to treat doctors fairly.  Today is a first for us.  We've been encouraged by the outpouring of support we've seen from UC students and other UC workers, and hope it moves UC to return to the table and bargain with doctors in good faith."   

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SOURCE Union of American Physicians and Dentists