Twenty seven UB dental residents have unionized under the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) on Jan. 23 and are soon to begin contract negotiations with their employer, University Dental Resident Services P.C. (UDRS), to improve clinical training, staffing support and salaries.
The unionization comes one month after 96% of 830 UB physician residents ratified their first labor agreement with University Medical Resident Services, an employer similar to UDRS, to increase salaries and employee benefits.
In an email to The Spectrum, UAPD Buffalo representative Cary Lane said the union looks forward to representing the dental residents at the bargaining table.
“We are hopeful for a quick and successful effort to improve the dentists' workplace as well as regain their salary parity with the UB medical residents,” Lane wrote.
UDRS said that it expects a shorter and less complex negotiation process compared to UAPD’s negotiations on behalf of UB medical residents, in an email to The Spectrum
“Certain key issues such as salaries and benefits for UB dental residents must be identical to those agreed upon by UB medical residents and may not be disputed,” the statement reads.
The news desk can be reached at news@ubspectrum.com
