Union Petitions Involving Physicians Spiked in the Last 2 Years

The National Labor Relations Board reported a significant increase in union petitions filed by physicians in 2023-2024 compared to the period from 2000 to 2022. A total of 77 petitions were submitted, with 33 filed in the recent period versus 44 in the previous 22 years. This translates to an annual filing rate of 23.3 for 2023-2024, a stark rise from 2.1 during 2000-2022, according to research led by Kevin Schulman, MD, of Stanford University.

Of the petitions reviewed, 41 out of 66 were certified, highlighting a notable success rate in unionization efforts. Specifically, 24 of 44 petitions were certified from 2000 to 2022, versus 17 of 22 in the more recent period. The motivations driving these union campaigns primarily stemmed from concerns over working conditions (85%), a perceived lack of influence in management decisions (81%), and issues relating to patient care (54%). Financial compensation was only cited in one instance.

With a growing percentage of physicians employed by hospitals—now at 52%—Schulman pointed out that the increasing trend toward unionization is seen as one way to confront governance and operational challenges in healthcare. He emphasized that such collective bargaining allows physicians to advocate for their interests collaboratively. While there have been anecdotal observations of this trend, Schulman’s research substantiates the rise in formal union petitions over the last two decades.

The study found that the 77 petitions represented a collective of 7,064 individuals, with the size of bargaining units varying widely. Approximately a third were comprised exclusively of physicians, while others included a mix of healthcare professionals. The petitions were largely concentrated in western states such as California, Oregon, and Washington, and were filed against a variety of employers, including 49% targeting hospitals and 38% targeting community health centers.

The research did face limitations, such as excluding public-sector physician unions governed by state law and the potential biases in media statements that could skew the representation of motivations behind the petitions. As Schulman concluded, the emergence of unions represents just one avenue to combat the evolving challenges in healthcare governance, and there is still much to explore regarding the impact of these collective bargaining agreements on the objectives of unionization.