Primary care physicians and unions

One of the phenomena that have led to increased income inequality and the hollowing out of the middle class in America is the decline of unions. Recently, it appears that some workers are trying to claw back some of that lost economic ground.

Now I don’t count PCPs as middle class or working class. Yes, they are among the most poorly compensated docs, but they still make well over the median income. But I’m happy to see this class of workers press for unionization. The alternative is a further decline in the number of PCPs, which has been declining for years.

“Nearly 300 primary care physicians employed by Massachusetts General Brigham have notified federal authorities that they want to join a union, citing “burnout” and the “corporatization of medicine” at the state’s largest health system.

 

“The doctors comprise the “vast majority” of primary care physicians employed by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, according to Dr. Michael Barnett, a primary care doctor at the Brigham and associate professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“Barnett, one of the organizers of the effort, said the physicians signed cards saying they wanted to join the Doctors Council of the Service Employees International Union, Local 10MD. The cards were delivered to the Boston office of the National Labor Relations Board on Friday along with a petition to hold a union election.”

Boston is a blue city in a relatively wealthy blue state. I hope they are successful and provide inspiration for PCPs in other states.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/18/business/mass-general-brigham-doctors-unionize/