The Region - News from Oct. 30, 1985

Psychiatrists hired by Los Angeles County to treat the homeless and mentally ill have overwhelmingly voted for union representation, alleging poor working conditions and low pay, a union spokesman announced. The 120 psychiatrists employed by the Mental Health Services Department chose the Union of American Physicians and Dentists by an 86-8 vote. “With this election victory, the mental health psychiatrists become the first county-employed physicians, besides interns and residents, to choose union representation,” union spokesman Joe Bater said. He said budget cutbacks, chronic understaffing, unsafe working conditions, non-competitive salaries and increasing bureaucratic interference with medical practices have prevented doctors from providing quality care through 28 outpatient county clinics. County Mental Health Services Director Roberto Quiroz was unavailable for comment.