More than 100 physicians gathered outside Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on July 23 to launch what organizers describe as the largest unionization effort by attending physicians in U.S. history, announcing a campaign to organize nearly 10,000 University of California doctors under SEIU Doctors United.
The San Francisco press conference, originally announced in a media advisory before the event, featured UCSF physicians alongside Assemblymember Matt Haney and other supporters. Doctors said they are seeking a stronger voice in decisions affecting patient care, staffing, workloads, medical education and research throughout the UC system.
The campaign comes just one week after the University of California reached a tentative statewide contract agreement with approximately 6,400 resident physicians and fellows represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU. Organizers said that agreement demonstrated the growing momentum for physician organizing across UC hospitals and clinics…