PHYSICIAN UNIONS: Chicago Hospital Residents Test NLRB
In what appears to be the first test of a "landmark" National Labor Relations Board r uling permitting collective bargaining for residents at private hospitals, nearly 200 physicians-in-training at the Chicago-area Lutheran General Hospital are attempting to unionize, the Chicago Tribune reports. The American Medical Association is "throwing its considerable weight" behind the effort, and experts say that if the unionization campaign is successful, the AMA's new labor organization, Physicians for Responsible Negotiation, could foster similar movements at hospitals throughout the Chicago area, as well as the nation. Though there has been little formal activity since the NLRB ruled in November that residents are hospital employees rather than students, experts predict a coming "groundswell of union activity" as residents seek to improve working conditions. Last month, for example, residents at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital announced they were forming a "house staff organization," stopping short of a full union but leaving the latter option open.
Hospital Scoffs
Lutheran General residents contend that the hospital has "ignored their concerns about health benefits and working conditions," such as an increase in the number of days residents must be on call. Hospital officials, however, said residents receive a "fair and competitive package compared to local and national residency programs," adding that they would prefer to deal with residents directly rather than through a third party such as PRN. The AMA's labor group filed a unionization petition with the NLRB yesterday; a vote by the residents could come within the next two months (Japsen, 8/17).