Nearly 10,000 attending doctors in the University of California (UC) system have launched a unionization effort, seeking to improve working conditions, patient safety, and protections for physicians.
Nearly 10,000 attending doctors within the University of California system announced their intention to unionize during a press conference held on Thursday outside the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. The initiative, dubbed UC Doctors United, aims to advocate for enhanced working conditions, increased patient safety, and better protections for physicians.
This campaign is part of a broader movement within the healthcare sector, involving the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Doctors United, which encompasses a network of 45,000 doctors and 1.2 million healthcare workers nationwide. The union aims to address key issues affecting the medical profession and the quality of care provided to patients.
Key Objectives of UC Doctors United
In their announcement, UC Doctors United outlined several objectives, including:
- Improved working conditions for attending physicians.
- Stronger patient care and safety measures.
- More comprehensive medical education opportunities.
- Enhanced protections for academic freedom and the peer review system.
Dr. Frances Quee, President of the Doctors Council SEIU, highlighted the growing frustration among physicians, stating, “Attending physicians across the country have been uniting together to take back their profession and the expert care patients need and deserve. We’re overworked. We’re burnt out. We’re frustrated that decisions made about our work are based on the bottom line, not patient outcomes.”
University’s Response to the Unionization Effort
The University of California acknowledged the unionization efforts, emphasizing its commitment to supporting skilled professionals. Heather Hansen, Head of Employee and Labor Communications for UC, stated, “UC recognizes employees’ right to make their own decisions about union representation. UC is committed to supporting these highly skilled professionals through competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and programs that recognize the distinct demands of academic medicine.”
Erica Brode, a family medicine doctor at UC San Francisco, shared her perspective regarding the changing atmosphere at UCSF. With nearly 19 years of experience at the institution, Brode expressed concern over what she describes as a shift in priorities away from patient-centered care. “I really felt a distinct shift focused more on profits and expansion of UCSF over patient care and the people that work here,” she said. This sentiment resonates with many colleagues who have experienced similar pressures in their roles.
Concerns Over Working Conditions
Brode elaborated on the changing metrics by which physicians are evaluated, noting a transition from value-based metrics to profit-centered metrics. This has resulted in increased workloads for doctors, who often find themselves working extended hours without adequate breaks to meet institutional expectations. “I’ve seen quite a bit of turnover,” Brode remarked, suggesting that excessive workloads could ultimately compromise the quality of patient care.
Brode has contemplated leaving her position due to these pressures but has chosen to remain and advocate for UC Doctors United, citing the strong relationships she has built with her patients. “The goal is to have a longitudinal, lifelong relationship with your patient panel, and if our providers are being overworked and deprioritized to the point that they leave, then that harms patients as well,” she stated.
Significance of the Unionization Movement
The formation of UC Doctors United represents one of the largest unionization efforts of attending doctors in the United States. The campaign has garnered support from several prominent organizations, including SEIU California, the California Nurses Association, and United Auto Workers Local 4811, which collectively represent a significant portion of the UC healthcare workforce.
This announcement follows a recent tentative contract agreement reached by UC resident physicians and fellows, who negotiated a statewide deal that includes an 18% salary increase, preservation of fertility benefits, enhanced access to radiation exposure equipment, and improved emergency room capacity. Diana Dayal, a UCLA emergency medicine resident, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of their negotiations, highlighting the importance of addressing both physician needs and patient care considerations.
Looking Ahead
The tentative agreement for UC resident physicians and fellows will soon be presented to the union’s full membership for ratification. If approved by a majority of members, the contract will take effect, marking a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to improve conditions within the UC healthcare system.
Trina Van, President of CIR/SEIU, emphasized the necessity of giving doctors a voice throughout their careers, stating, “Doctors deserve a voice at every stage of their career. From interns, residents, and fellows to attending doctors, University of California doctors are getting spread thin from the increasingly corporatized structure that overloads doctors and limits patient time.” The unionization movement signals a critical moment for healthcare workers advocating for reform within the UC system.
