State of Physician Unionization

To provide an overview of the current state of physician unionization, potential factors surrounding increased unionization, and the ethical and financial issues that may arise.

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Over the last few years, there has been a recent surge in physician unionization. Union membership among residents and fellows is also at an all-time high and continues to increase, as seven residency programs voted to unionize in 2023. The resulting threat of strikes has grown considerably over the last year as residents across 6 hospitals have threatened to strike, resulting in New York's first physician strike in over three decades. As physician practice continues to shift from private to corporate health system-based employment, more opportunities for unionization will arise. Globally, these trends have been comparable, with thousands of physicians striking across the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, and New Zealand in the last year.

The current state of physician unionization is of increasing significance as more physicians are presented with opportunities for unionization. Physicians perceive a lack of autonomy, and the demand to deliver high level outcomes with diminishing resources is becoming an insurmountable challenge. Additionally, physician satisfaction with their workplace has decreased with increased burnout rates. Thus, it is important to understand the current state of unionization, potential reasons for unionization among physicians and residents, and its future impact on the field of medicine.