Primary care physicians and advanced practice providers at Banner Medical Group, part of Phoenix-based Banner Health, are voting on whether to join the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, according to National Labor Relations Board filings.
Five things to know:
1. The union filed a representation petition June 17. The proposed bargaining unit covers all primary care medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in Banner’s outpatient clinics in Arizona. The union told Becker’s there are 268 eligible voters. The union said the unit would be the first physician union at Banner and the first representing physicians and advanced practice providers in Arizona, NBC affiliate KPNX reported Aug. 20.
2. Banner Medical Group and the union reached a stipulated election agreement June 30, and the NLRB issued a notice of election the same day.
3. The election is being conducted by mail. Ballots are scheduled to be counted Sept. 2 in Phoenix, according to KPNX.
4. The clinicians work across 31 clinic locations in the Phoenix area, according to a June 22 union news release. The union said the organizing effort stems from concerns about patient panel sizes, staffing levels and scheduling practices, and that clinicians are seeking a greater role in decisions affecting patient care.
5. Banner said in a statement shared with Becker’s the unionization campaign does not “reflect the experience of thousands of our clinicians and team members.” The health system said its most recent employee engagement survey and its retention rate point to a workforce that feels heard and valued.
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