Resident dentists at the University of Buffalo in New York voted to unionize and negotiate for better training, staffing and pay, NBC affiliate WGRZ reported Jan. 28.
Five notes:
1. There are currently 27 dental residents at the University of Buffalo who are employed by third-party company University Dental Resident Services.
2. The resident dentists voted to join the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.
3. The union will focus on negotiating a contract providing more standardized clinical training and improved staffing support, as well as salary and benefits that are more aligned with medical residents at the university.
4. The union vote comes a month after University of Buffalo medical residents and fellows came to a contract agreement with University Medical Resident Services.
5. When contacted by WGRZ, University Dental Resident Services said in a statement that it looks forward to negotiations with UAPD.
"UDRS anticipates a shorter, less complex negotiation with dental residents compared to UAPD’s negotiations on behalf of UB medical residents," the statement said. "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."