Banner Health physicians vote to unionize

Arizona doctors made history Wednesday afternoon.

Phoenix area primary care physicians overwhelmingly voted to form a union to collectively bargain with Banner Health for better pay, working conditions and patient protection.

The election created Arizona’s first physicians’ union at the state’s largest private employer. 

Inside the National Labor Relations Board Region 28 office in central Phoenix, two NLRB officials opened and read aloud the votes of 215 mail-in ballots from Banner employees. Physicians voted to unionize, with 149 voting in favor and 66 voting against.

“I feel so honored to have been part of it,” said Dr. Syerra Lea, a former Banner doctor who was a leader in the unionizing effort. “I’m happy for all the healthcare workers in Arizona now. Having this happen at Banner, as the biggest employer in Arizona, I think is just going to remodel how all the healthcare organizations see their employees.” 

While NLRB officials still need to certify the election, Banner physicians have formed Arizona’s only physicians union. The election count itself was an elaborate and tedious process. Banner physicians first connected with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists more than 18 months ago after concern over a policy change. Under the policy, physicians’ success metrics were measured on how well the company was doing financially, rather than using patient care as the measure.

Organizers ramped up their efforts earlier this year and called for an election after more than 30% of Banner Health physicians signed union authorization cards. In late July, NLRB officials mailed ballots to the Valley’s Banner Health physicians in the Phoenix metro area. Eligible doctors, which include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, family medicine physicians, internal medicine physicians and pediatricians, had until Aug. 26 to mail their ballots back. A total of 226 ballots were returned to the NLRB.

“I’m beyond ecstatic for this group of clinicians and their patients,” said Sebastian Gomez, a UAPD organizer. “This was a very long 18 months.”

After the NLRB officially certifies the election, the union will request to begin the collective bargaining process with the company, Gomez told New Times. He plans to file that request as soon as next week. Gomez isn’t expecting any election challenges from Banner as the company’s representatives signed off on the election count on Wednesday afternoon.

“There’s no stopping. We want to use the momentum to drive right into negotiations,” Gomez said. “I’m excited to start getting working on their first contract.” 

Physicians like Napier and Watkins said they hope the union can reach a contract with Banner to improve physicians’ workflow and lives. That would include factors like improving pay, enshrining workplace protections so clinicians can safely speak about patient safety without fear of retaliation, adding staff to handle administrative work so physicians can focus on patient care, and allowing practitioners more control over their schedules and workflows so they can spend more time with patients, if needed. Watkins, who has worked with Banner for four years at Gilbert Health Clinic, hopes to join the bargaining unit. 

“I hope that it’s a wake-up call for (Banner),” Watkins told New Times. “One of the official statements they put out while voting was going on was that they felt like we were the voice of a minority, and that is not true. A greater-than-2-to-1 victory shows that we are not a minority. We are a majority. And they have a responsibility to listen to their clinicians.” 

In a statement to New Times, Banner Health recognized that the majority of physicians voted to be represented by the UAPD. 

“We respect that decision, and if the results are certified by the National Labor Relations Board we’ll consider our next steps in meeting our obligations to the Union, our clinicians and the community we serve,” the company wrote. “We remain deeply committed to the culture we have built together, which is grounded in trust, respect and a shared dedication to our patients and communities. The contributions our clinicians and team members make every day are what make Banner exceptional, and that will not change.”

What does a contract look like? 

Working with UAPD, physicians and dentists nationwide have formed more than 30 bargaining units across more than 100 healthcare settings. UAPD represents more than 7,000 physicians across the country. Six UAPD bargaining units in California have formed through the state’s university system, among county and non-profit employees and an anesthesiologists’ corporation. Two UAPD bargaining units are in New Mexico: La Familia Health and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services. No other physicians are organized in a Banner Health setting.

Last year, UAPD reached a contract with the County of Alameda, California, for a 4% wage increase, plus a 3% annual wage increase. The contract also secured up to $2,750 in personal development funding per employee, per fiscal year, that could be used to cover continuing education courses and any needed travel. Plus, the contract ensured that employees would be reimbursed for their three-year Drug Enforcement Administration registration fee. That contract runs through 2028. 

The year prior, the union also reached a contract with the Community Health Center of Snohomish County in Washington. Similarly, the contract ensured practitioners would receive a 5% raise upon ratification, plus an annual 3% salary increase. All quarterly incentive bonuses would also be terminated and discontinued after 2027. Physicians also received more time off and protection, requiring the company to pay for clinicians’ malpractice insurance. Family practice obstetricians also received a guaranteed two hours of weekly on-site administrative time to coordinate the program. 

In December 2024, the union secured a contract with University Medical Resident Services in New York, which represents residents and fellows employed by University of Buffalo-affiliated hospitals. The contract mandated salary increases and supplements, a set-aside emergency expense fund for residents who may experience a family medical emergency and annual funds for clinicians to attend conferences, textbooks or exam registration fees, 

In New Mexico, the union secured a contract with the La Familia Medical Center to raise case salaries for primary care doctors, dentists and psychiatrists, provide a 3% match to employee retirement funds and access $5,000 a year in professional development funds. Primary care providers are also guaranteed one hour of administrative time for every four hours of clinic time, ensuring providers aren’t doing administrative work after hours. 

Do you have information about this story? Contact the reporter on Signal at 623-295-9472 or over email at morgan.fischer@newtimes.com.