UNM Housestaff Campaign

We’re on Our Way!, 11/9/06

Dear Colleagues,

 

Dr. Jose Sterling.

I’m excited to report an important update on our efforts to form a housestaff union here at UNM. We’ve come a long way in the last month. Over 75% of UNM interns, residents, and fellows have signed our petition in support of unionization! That’s almost 400 of us out of a total of 511. Congratulations to all, especially those housestaff who collected the signatures.

We have now filed the petition with the public labor board that governs UNM and University Hospital employees. This labor board will set an election date when all housestaff will get a chance to vote on unionization. It will be a secret ballot election on site at locations and times to be determined.

The petition is the first step, but now we must win the election. If a majority of the votes are in favor of forming a housestaff union chapter of the Committee of Interns and Residents, we will have a union. At least 40% of all housestaff must vote for the election to be valid, so let’s all make sure we cast a vote.

As we head towards an election, we need to stay focused on why we started this campaign. Over 75% of us believe that forming a union is the best way to have an effective voice at work and develop lasting solutions to issues at our hospital, for ourselves and our patients. It’s time to stand up and have a voice as the professional physicians that we’ve all worked hard to become.

Sincerely,
Jose Sterling, MD
Resident Council Chair
For the UNM Organizing Committee
jsterling@salud.unm.edu