WMed residents vote to unionize, await authorization
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Doctors at a medical school in West Michigan hope working together can help them address burnout in the health industry.
More than 260 residents and fellow physicians voted last week to form a union at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, according to a release from AFT Michigan. Ninety-three percent of the total votes cast last Thursday certified the union, which will be known as the Resident & Fellow Alliance (RFA).
According to the release, the union seeks to improve many areas, including salary, flexibility in time off and fair educational stipends, along with being a voice for residents and fellows.
“Residents everywhere work hard, and we deserve fair contracts which reflect the value we bring to our organizations and our communities,” said Jamil Khondker, a resident physician in psychiatry. “The RFA will give us a voice in the workplace, the ability to negotiate for fair contracts and working conditions, and protection from exploitation. It’s my hope that this process benefits all stakeholders, including the WMed residents and fellows, WMed as an organization, and the Kalamazoo community that we serve.”
WMed’s interim dean told the Detroit News that the school administration is aware of the vote to unionize, and that the election results will still need to be certified by the national labor relations board. However, it’s not clear if or when that will happen.
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