Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I organize?
Organizing is essential. It enables collective advocacy for fair working conditions, competitive salaries, and reasonable workloads, protecting our rights and interests. Organized members can influence policies to improve patient care and secure agreements that support work-life balance, reducing burnout and enhancing job satisfaction. Unionized hospitals enhances patient care, and positively impacts the healthcare system.
Why NWMU?
By joining Northwest Medicine United, you are joining the largest union of physicians in the Pacific Northwest, and the pioneering labor movement. You will also be joining the National union AFT, who represents physicians and APPs across the United States.
What does the AMA say about physicans organizing?
How do I unionize?
Reach out to one of our representatives and we can walk you through the process and answer any questions. CONTACT@NWMU.ORG
What can you bargain over?
While there are many subjects that can be bargained over, wages, hours, and working conditions are mandatory subjects of bargaining and must be bargained over in good faith as per law.
Whats a mandatory subject of bargaining?
While there are many subjects that can be bargained over, wages, hours, and working conditions are mandatory subjects of bargaining and must be bargained over in good faith as per law.
What is bargaining in good faith?
Bargaining in good faith is essential in labor relations, requiring parties to meet at reasonable times and negotiate with a genuine willingness to reach an agreement.
How will a union affect my salary, hours, and working conditions?
A union can positively impact your salary, hours, and working conditions by negotiating collectively with management. This can lead to higher wages, better benefits, improved working conditions, and more predictable schedules. Unions strive to ensure fair compensation and safe, supportive working environments for their members.
How does bargaining work?
You and your coworkers will create a representative bargaining team responsible for writing the contract language. A professional negotiator will assist in the process. These proposals will then be discussed with management, and a tentative agreement will be voted on by members for ratification.
If I am satisfied with my current employment, what advantages does union membership offer?
Union membership helps secure your current employment conditions, preventing arbitrary changes and providing a legal framework for bargaining improvements. It strengthens your collective bargaining power for better wages and benefits, and enhanced protections against unfair treatment, and offers a structured grievance process, contributing to a fair and equitable workplace environment.
We need change, but are worried about “a third party” coming in.
A union is not an external third party; it is composed of you and your colleagues. It functions as a collective voice for the members within your workplace, ensuring that decisions are made with direct input from those affected. Union representatives are often your peers who understand the unique challenges and needs of your environment. By uniting under a union, you retain control over workplace negotiations and policies, ensuring that they reflect the collective interests and priorities of the physicians they represent.
Have a question? Want to understand the organizing process?
Unable to find the information you need? Reach out!