Resident physicians at the University of Minnesota have voted to unionize, filing for recognition March 24 with the Committee of Interns and Residents, according to a CIR/SEIU Facebook post.
The union, a local of the Service Employees International Union, said that a “supermajority” of the 1,000 resident physicians and fellows voted to join CIR/SEIU.
The physicians cited their desire to address issues such as hours, working conditions and compensation as key reasons for their unionization efforts, according to MPR News. They seek to begin negotiations for a first union contract as soon as possible.
“We are the future of Minnesota’s health, and it’s time for us to have a seat at the table,” the union’s post said. “Together, as a union, we can win the support we need to be our best selves, inside and outside of the hospital, so we can keep attracting and retaining great doctors to care for our community.”
To begin collective bargaining, the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services still needs to officially recognize the union as the bargaining representative for the physicians, according to MPR News.
In a statement shared with Becker’s, the university acknowledged receipt of a communication from the union that a petition for representation has been submitted on behalf of resident physicians and fellows to the bureau.
“The university recognizes the process for organization and petition and will be responsive to both the BMS and SEIU,” the statement said.
“The university values our relationship with labor-represented employees and honors its obligations under the Public Employment Labor Relations Act.”
Resident physicians at Minneapolis-based Hennepin Healthcare also recently moved to unionize.