The 27 dental residents at the University of Buffalo have voted to unionize for better training, staffing and pay, local media reported Tuesday.
“We are excited by the changes that resulted from the hard work of the union and UB’s medical residents,” Riley Steed, PGY1 dental resident, said in a press release. “We are looking forward to building a strong dental training program through collaboration with the university, the union, and our employer.”
It is estimated that about 8% of the physician workforce (or 70,000 physicians) belong to a union, according to statistics gathered in 2022. This comes after more than 74 per cent of practicing physicians are now hospital employees, a stark contrast to just a decade ago, when 60 per cent of physician practices were independent, and they now represent a distinct minority.
“Like their fellow medical residents, they deserve a contract that reflects their contributions to patient care and supports their professional growth,” Dr. Stuart Bussey, UAPD President, said.
