Health Professionals Joining Unions at Increased Rates

Labor Landscape

Advanced health professionals are flocking to join unions for improved working conditions and increased access to administrative decision-making but the move will probably increase costs to consumers.

A group of 60 advanced practitioners has voted to join hundreds of nurses at UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital in forming a union.

The advanced practitioners – including certified registered nurse practitioners, neonatal nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and other positions – voted to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Health Care Pennsylvania, following some 800 nurses at the Oakland hospital who had taken a similar vote last month.

This marks the first time the Western Pennsylvania health care giant has seen advanced practitioners unionize, according to the SEIU. The unit does not include certified registered nurse anesthetists, directors, managers or supervisors, according to the National Labor Relations Board.

“The election is the latest in a nationwide wave of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals unionizing to have more time with their patients and have a seat at the decision-making table,” the SEIU said.

“Clearly, health care professionals are seeking unions to help them get better working conditions,’’ said Paula A. Calabrese, a Pittsburgh consultant. “It no doubt will increase health care costs for all."

Market analysts point out that unions are becoming more prominent in healthcare, including by unionizing doctors at unprecedented rates and by becoming more involved in government-funded projects. At the same time, federal agencies are imposing significant new labor obligations on healthcare employers, regardless of whether or not they have unions representing their employees.

A UPMC spokesperson said the health care giant “appreciates the respectful dialogue that preceded this vote and looks forward to continuing to work with some advanced practice providers and nurses at UPMC Magee.’’

The vote has yet to be certified by the labor board, the UPMC spokesperson said.

Advanced practitioners voted 35 to 24 in favor of forming a union, according to the SEIU. The large pool of nurses at the hospital had voted to unionize by a margin of 402 to 305.

The unionizing Magee workers have called for better staff-to-patient ratios, higher pay and more transparency from UPMC.

According to UPMC, nursing turnover at Magee is 4.8 percent compared to 16.7 percent at unionized hospitals within their system. The national average is 16 percent.

Entry-level nurses can earn over $50 per hour within four years, according to UPMC. It is still unclear whether the advanced practitioners would operate as a standalone unit or be wrapped into the larger union with nurses at the hospital.

Nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession, with nearly 4.7 million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide. Of all licensed RNs, 89 percent are employed in nursing, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Share This Article: