A “supermajority” of 1,000 resident physicians and fellows at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis have voted to unionize.
The residents and fellows filed for recognition with the Committee of Interns and Residents, a local of the Service Employees International Union, on March 24. According to MPR News, the physicians cited hours, working conditions and compensation as key reasons behind their unionization. The union seeks to begin negotiations for a first union contract as soon as possible.
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.”
