The following provides a list of organizations, unions, and associated resources that offer additional information on unionization. In addition to the Bibliography used to develop the unionization FAQs, additional peer-reviewed studies are available in the JAMA Network, The New England Journal of Medicine, and the Journal of Graduate Medical Education.
Organizations
National Labor Relations Board
The federal agency that oversees union elections and labor rights, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and its online resources explain how to form a union and your legal rights as an employee. For example, the NLRB-affiliated Work Organizing Resource Center provides a step-by-step guide on unionizing (e.g., forming an organizing committee, filing petitions, etc.) and outlines protections against retaliation. This is a go-to source for legal procedures and understanding the election process.
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest and only national association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders. Additionally, the AMA Resident and Fellow Section has hosted discussions on the pros and cons of unionization.
American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is a diverse, global community of internal medicine specialists and subspecialists united by a commitment to excellence.
American College of Emergency Physicians
The exists to support quality emergency medical care and to promote the interests of emergency physicians.
Association of American Medical Colleges
The Association of American Medical Colleges leads and serves the academic medicine community to improve the health of people everywhere.
Neurocritical Care Society
The Neurocritical Care Society is the only professional society representing multidisciplinary teams of neurocritical care providers around the world whose mission is to improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening neurological illnesses.
Unions
Union of American Physicians and Dentists
The Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) is the first national union representing licensed physicians and dentists in the US. It is affiliated with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations. UAPD’s website offers resources on organizing, collective bargaining, and member services.
Service Employees International Union
Doctors Council
Established in 1973 and affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) since 1999, Doctors Council SEIU is the oldest and largest union representing attending physicians in the US. It advocates for physicians’ rights, professional autonomy, and quality patient care. The union has a significant presence in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Delaware, and Maryland. Its website provides information on membership, services, and advocacy efforts.
Committee of Interns and Residents
The largest house staff union in the US, representing more than 40,000 residents and fellows across more than 100 hospitals and multiple states (California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, DC), the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU offers FAQs about forming a union, success stories from different hospitals, and contract highlights.
Resident and Fellow Physician Union—Northwest
Residents and Fellows in medicine and dentistry at the University of Washington negotiate through the Resident and Fellow Physician Union—Northwest.
House Officers Association
The House Officers Association at the University of Michigan is the bargaining unit for house officers. Their websites often post contract summaries, FAQs, and newsletters. Reviewing those can give a sense of what specific wins have been achieved (from salary scales to parking fee reimbursements). It is also useful to see sample union contracts (many are public PDFs) to understand the typical clauses and protections included for residents.
