Philadelphia resident physicians seek to unionize
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Thousands of resident physicians at four major Philadelphia regional hospitals are launching a drive to unionize.
Why it matters: Physicians in training could see their pay and protections boosted amid massive workloads and high student debt.
The big picture: New doctors and other caregivers have fueled a wave of unionization across the country's health system in recent years.
Driving the news: The unionization effort spans nearly 3,000 resident physicians and fellows at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Temple University Hospital, and Einstein Healthcare Network.
- The union push is being coordinated with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR).
What they're saying: Physicians are suffering from "chronic understaffing, extreme hours, and an endemic lack of support," union organizers said in a news release.
- They also say forming a union would improve patient care, per the statement.
The other side: Jefferson hospital officials aren't backing the unionization effort.
- "While we respect our residents' right to explore unionization, we believe that a direct working relationship between our health system's team members and our leaders results in the most empowered and productive teams," Jefferson spokesperson Damien Woods tells Axios in a statement.
Flashback: Around 1,400 Penn Medicine physicians unionized and joined CIR last year. They became the first doctors in the state with a union contract last month.
- The historic agreement led to wage increases, expanded paid parental leave, and improved working conditions, per the union.