Physician unions: organizing women in the year 2000

Interest in physician unions is growing, but surprisingly little has been written about whether union membership addresses the particular needs and interests of women physicians. We begin by looking at the history of physician unions in the United States and then examine physician unions today, and how labor laws influence union membership of physicians. The third section looks at why women join unions, whether these reasons hold true for women physicians, and what role women are playing in physician unions. Finally, we give examples of union responses to gender discrimination and such issues as maternity leave, salary inequities, sexual harassment, and promotions. Since women are prominent as leaders in physician unions, these unions seem to be responsive to the needs of their women members.