More than 500 physicians and practitioners at Minneapolis-based Allina Health organization notified the National Labor Relations Board of their intent to unionize, the Star Tribune reported Aug. 11.
This is the second campaign by the health system's physicians this year, having previously taken initial steps to unionize in March, according to the publication. This unionization effort involves 550 physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians employed by Allina Health Primary Care and Urgent Care.
The group aims to hold a vote by early fall, the Star Tribune reported. If successful, it will be the largest private sector group to unionize, according to Joe Crane, national organizing director for the Doctors Council.
Physicians at Allina cited burnout, stressors exacerbated by the pandemic and a lack of physician control as reasons to unionize, according to the publication. They said they hope unionization will allow practitioners to negotiate more time for administrative work, more support and more time per patient.
Allina has previously responded to physician complaints by incorporating scribes and hiring a resiliency coach to help with stress management, the Star Tribune reported.
"We are actively engaged in listening to them and responding with changes to better support their well-being," Allina said in a statement shared with the newspaper.