UCSF physician assistants secure equity adjustments, staff research associates and lab assistants march for recognition
UPTE members in the healthcare and research units at UCSF are flexing their collective muscles, winning equity adjustments, and putting management on notice that we're organized and serious about our demands. Recently, some physician assistants (PAs) achieved a significant eight percent mid-contract pay equity adjustment for effective June 23, 2024, while staff research associates (SRAs) and lab assistants marched on university management demanding recognition of their vital work.
PAs provide direct patient care—they can diagnose and treat illnesses, perform physical examinations, order and interpret tests, develop treatment plans, assist in surgery, prescribe medications, and much more. Despite doing the same work as nurse practitioners (NP), UPTE members around the state, including at UC Irvine and UC Davis, have been fighting to achieve pay equity with their NP colleagues.
The campaign started in January 2023, when members hand-delivered a petition signed by over 100 PAs, NPs, and Attending Physicians to the Chief Medical Officer demanding pay equity with our Nurse Practitioner colleagues. That was followed by a Zoom presentation to the Office of Advanced Practice and emails to the CEO and key stakeholders. When management refused to respond to our requests for a follow-up meeting, we took to the streets with a flyering action outside the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay.
"This victory wouldn't have happened without the tireless advocacy of UPTE members, colleagues, and our community. It was possible because we did the hard work of engaging with our colleagues and increasing our membership to over ninety percent before we finally were granted this well-deserved adjustment for our non-senior PA colleagues," said Matthew Stephen, a UCSF PA who serves as an UPTE Chapter Co-Chair and our statewide Secretary. "However, our work continues, as this adjustment has only been offered to non-Senior Physician Assistants at UCSF. We will continue to pressure management to do the right thing until every PA at UCSF and across the UC system achieves pay parity with Nurse Practitioners. As UC continues to consolidate and acquire hospitals across the state, now is the time for union members to stand together during bargaining to reset UC's priorities to better serve PAs and our patients."
In a parallel show of solidarity and strength, SRAs and lab assistants at UCSF recently organized a march on their boss to highlight ongoing workplace issues. Kaley Vittoria, an SRA 2 at UCSF for nearly a year-and-a-half, shared her experience of the action and the underlying issues driving their protest. “There are multiple layers of issues within our lab, starting with underappreciation for the hard work that we do. Pretty much everything that they do, our bosses and the higher-ups, comes from us, and I think that’s underappreciated and underpaid,” Kaley commented.
“There have been many issues with our supervisors with bullying that several of my coworkers have dealt with. That’s one of the worst things that could come from a workplace because we have no say when someone in a position of power comes after us. Whether it’s our work, how well we’re doing it, or anything else,” Kaley shared, “For instance, whether you’re being targeted for being a female or for other discriminatory reasons, it’s very troubling. I definitely stand behind my coworkers who deal with that. You can push back and uplift everyone around you with a union. That’s what we did today.”
Despite these challenges, Kaley emphasized the power of collective action. “At first, I felt nervous about confronting management directly. However, my coworkers give me some support. That’s what solidarity is all about. I felt empowered because I knew I wouldn’t do it alone. We’re all in this together. Dealing with the crap we’ve been dealing with, but dealing with it together is so much more manageable,” she conveyed.
Reflecting on the action, Kaley hoped their story would inspire others facing similar challenges. “Just remember, it starts with one action together, and when you get that ball rolling, it will continue. It’s scary at the moment, but after the fact, now I feel even more powerful because I know the ball is rolling. Whatever will come after that, management will be aware of our issues. If they don’t respect those issues, we will continue to fight for what’s right,” she asserted.