What are the benefits of forming a union?
When we come together as housestaff, we have a unified voice for safe working conditions and better patient outcomes. This pandemic has demonstrated that having workplace representation is urgent and necessary. Thousands of residents across the country have organized union chapters and have won historic improvements for housestaff and patients through collective bargaining agreements.
What’s legal? What’s not?
The laws vary from state to state as well as the type of employer you are paid by – private or public.Generally, however, most laws give employees the right to act together to try and improve their working conditions, with or without a union.It is illegal for employees to be fired, suspended, or otherwise penalized for taking part in protected group activity.
Generally, it is illegal for employers to S.P.I.T.:
(Document any activity that may look like this)
| Surveil
Administration and department leadership may not conduct unlawful surveillance of employees’ union activity. Identifying, tracking and surveillance of employee discussions about the union or union meetings is illegal. |
Examples:
Supervisors cannot inquire about what goes on at union meetings, ask which employees attend the meeting, or even give the impression of such surveillance. |
| Promise
Administration and department leadership must not directly or indirectly promise any benefits or reward employees for refusing to sign a union card, or for voting against your union. They may not promise a wage increase or give preferential treatment in exchange for refraining from union activity. Encouraging employees to withdraw or repudiate union authorization cards is also unlawful. They may not solicit grievances about working conditions while expressly or impliedly promising corrections if residents do not form a union. |
Examples:
“I can get you a job here or give you a good recommendation letter if you don’t get involved.”
Reminder: There is nothing holding management accountable to any promises they make and they do not have to follow through. |
| Interrogate
Administration and department leadership should not interrogate, or ask, any employee whether or not he or she favors the union, has signed a union card, or has gone to a union meeting.
You can always say you’re not comfortable answering their questions. Remember to ask whether they’ve talked to others, whether they know if they’re allowed to ask, and if they have concerns about residents forming a union and what they are. |
Questions they may ask:
Have you heard of a union being formed? Are you involved? Have you been asked to sign a card? Do any of your colleagues have interest in forming a union? Who have you heard union talk from? Do you think you’ll join? |
| Threaten
Administration and program leadership must not threaten employees with harm or reprisals (economic or otherwise) if they decide to get involved with the union or sign a union card. |
Examples:
Administration may not threaten to take away residency spots or current department benefits if the residents decide to form or join a union. |
What can we do to protect ourselves?
Despite being generally protected, it is always a good idea to be extra careful:
- Remember to be discrete and never seek advice or reveal to management/administration that you are considering unionizing
- Refrain from using hospital property – both physical (printers, computers, phones) – and intellectual (email, paging/messaging systems) – in communicating regarding union matters
- Be mindful of where and when you discuss unionization with your colleagues – being overheard talking about unions in the hospital “on company time” can be considered “solicitation,” so exercise caution and discretion
- As long as you are using personal means of communication such as personal phones, emails, and only talking to other interns, residents, or fellows, the hospital cannot discipline you
Reminder: Forming a union is 100% our legal right and our vote is anonymous.
I joined the union and served as a delegate and regional VP at the University of New Mexico during my residency. Next year I’ll be doing a program on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Bradley Hospital/Brown University as I serve as CIR Executive Vice President.
