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WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DOCTORS ALLIANACE’S STANCE ON STRIKES?

As doctors, we have all taken the Hippocratic Oath, and have sworn to
“Do no harm”. It is an oath we take seriously, and at no time will a
strike ever threaten our patients’ care.




ABOUT THE NATIONAL DOCTORS ALLIANCE/SEIU

Founded on March 1, 1999, the National Doctors Alliance/SEIU is the
largest organization of salaried physicians and dentists in the United
States, representing approximately 15,000 unionized doctors nationwide.
The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU is an organization of doctors, by
doctors, and for doctors. Its major functions are to address issues of
common concern for doctors, protect patient rights, and to determine the
best and most efficient course of action for organizing new members
throughout the country.

The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU fights those who would limit a
doctor’s ability to diagnose and treat according to the highest
standards of medical care and technology available. We will make sure
that medical decisions are made by doctors, not by corporations,
hospital administrators. The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU represents
doctors on economic as well as professional issues.

The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU can negotiate wages, work hours,
benefits, due process protections, and other conditions of employment.
It strives to give doctors more say in the treatment of their patients.
NATIONAL DOCTORS ALLIANCE/SEIU will help enhance the quality of
healthcare by giving doctors a greater say in how they treat their
patients and help ensure that doctors work in an atmosphere where they
have the authority that matches their skill, knowledge and responsibility.

The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU links Doctors Council, the Committee
of Interns and Residents and the United Salaried Physicians and Dentists
- the three physician unions affiliated with the Service Employees
International Union (SEIU). It was formed on March 1, 1999 and
represents 15,000 organized doctors in SEIU.

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HISTORY

The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU is the result of an affiliation
between Doctors Council and the Service Employee International Union
(SEIU). As part of the affiliation, Doctors Council has linked up with
two of SEIU’s locals: the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) and
the United Salaried Physicians and Dentists (USPD) to create the NDA.
The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU links Doctors Council, the Committee
of Interns and Residents and United Salaried Physicians and Dentists –
the three physician unions affiliated with the Service Employees
International Union (SEIU. It was formed on Mach 1, 1999 and represents
15,000 organized doctors in SEIU

With the addition of Doctors Council, SEIU bolsters its position as the
pre-eminent health care union in the country. Today, SEIU is the
nation's largest health care union with more than 600,000 members
working in every health care setting, public and private, from coast to
coast. In recent years, SEIU has expanded its ranks with the addition
of CIR, USPD, and 1199 (National Health and Human Service Employees
Union). SEIU is the AFL-CIO's third-largest union, and the largest
union in New York State (350,000 members).



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THE ALLIANCE ORGANIZATIONS

The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU links Doctors Council, Committee of
Interns and Residents and the United Salaried Physicians and Dentists
- the three physician unions affiliated with the Service Employees
International Union (SEIU). It was formed on March 1, 1999 and
represents 15,000 organized doctors in SEIU

Doctors Council

Doctors Council is the oldest doctors union in the United States,
representing approximately 2,500 physicians, dentists, and podiatrists
in the New York City area. Throughout its 24-year history, Doctors
Council has been a strong advocate for quality health care, stepping in
to save many vital community health programs from cutbacks and
elimination. Doctors Council is a multifaceted organization with
sub-divisions in law, public relations, government relations and
contract negotiation. Doctors Council is authorized by Federal, state
and city law to exclusively represent doctors in collective bargaining.


The Committee of Interns and Residents

The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest and most
experienced house staff union in the country and currently represents
over 9,000 interns, residents, and fellows in New York, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, Florida, California, and the District of Columbia.

Since its founding in 1957, CIR has negotiated collective bargaining
agreements with over 50 public and private hospitals. With an
experienced and professional staff of more than 40 to support its
members’ collective bargaining, organizing, and patient care advocacy
efforts, CIR has been the strongest voice for resident work hour reform
for over 40 years. CIR affiliated with SEIU in 1997 to better respond
to the rapid consolidation and changes in the US health care system.



United Salaried Physicians and Dentists

United Salaried Physicians and Dentists (USPD) is a very active union
of post-residency doctors. USPD represents over 1000 doctors on both
the East and West coasts. Within the past year USPD has doubled in
size, successfully organizing the largest network of health clinics in
Seattle, Washington and its second public hospital in New York City.
Currently, it is conducting an affiliation drive among doctors in
Pennsylvania


The Service Employees International Union

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is the pre-eminent
health care union in the country. Today, SEIU is the nation's largest
health care union with more than 600,000 members working in every health
care setting, public and private, coast to coast. In recent years, SEIU
has also been joined by CIR, USPD, Doctors Council and 1199 (National
Health and Human Service Employees Union). SEIU is the AFL-CIO's
third-largest union and the largest union in New York State with 350,000
members, and the largest in California with -------- members



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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY DO DOCTORS NEED TO UNIONIZE?

Doctors’ and patients’ rights are under attack like never before. As
hospitals, insurance companies and managed care companies amass power
through consolidation and mergers, it is becoming harder and harder for
doctors to be heard. Unions provide an effective voice for doctors at
the bargaining table to fight threats like unrealistic productivity
agreements which reduce the amount of time doctors can spend with patients.

Only by increasing our numbers can we gain strength in this healthcare
environment. And only by gaining strength, can we take back control of
our profession. A union provides doctors with greater access to key
decision makers in the government and medical communities.

AREN'T DOCTORS RIGHTS ALREADY SAFEGUARDED BY OTHER PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES?

Although other organizations provide important educational and
professional services to doctors, they can not provide doctors with the
same protections and services as a union.

Under their current structures, other professional medical societies are
prohibited from entering into economic negotiations on behalf of their
constituents. Only unions like Doctors Council, Committee of Interns and
Residents and United Salaried Physicians and Dentists have a proven
track record of collective bargaining representation for physicians. .

IS IT LEGAL FOR DOCTORS TO ORGANIZE?

Federal law clearly permits salaried physicians (i.e. employees who
receive a W-2 form from their employer) to be organized into a union. A
union can negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions, in addition
to providing legal assistance to assure due process in instances of
disputes with management.

Current anti-trust law prohibits unions from negotiating fees for
private practice fee-for-service doctors.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DOCTORS ALLIANACE’S STANCE ON STRIKES?

As doctors, we have all taken the Hippocratic Oath, and have sworn to
“Do no harm”. It is an oath we take seriously, and at no time will a
strike ever threaten our patients’ care.

Strikes are usually the first issue raised by critics in any discussion
about doctors’ unions. In reality, strikes are the last resort; the
overwhelming majority of contracts are settled without having to strike.
There are many other effective strategies that doctors can utilize to
ensure that they are treated fairly by their employers. . Building
coalitions with community and patient groups, and employing political
pressure are just a few actions that doctors can take to win a fair
contract.

Only you and your colleagues decide whether or not you go out on strike.
The union does not force anyone to strike; it is solely the decision
of the bargaining unit members as to what action you agree to take. A
very large majority of the members would have to vote to strike, and
again, it would be the very last resort. The history of the doctors
unions in the Service Employees International Union has shown that those
few instances over the last 40 years, where doctors have gone on strike,
they have done so to insure proper patient care, and not for any other
reason.


WON'T A UNION STRAIN DOCTORS' RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADMINISTRATORS?

In today's world of changing medical economics, managed care companies
increasingly are in control. To many, Medicine in the 90's has become
just another business; in consequence, doctors' compensation, working
conditions and their methods of treatment are being dictated by third
party payers. Often, hospital administrators are caught in the middle.
Doctors unions should not be feared by management, rather they can
offer administrators support for innovative programs that enhance the
quality of patient care within their institutions.

A union provides a structure that enables doctors from all clinical
services to voice their concerns and provide input regarding issues that
affect them and their patients. The union can also facilitate the
settlement of disputes between the administration and individual doctors
so that workplace grievances do not become personal. Finally, any
process that brings about communication and forges partnerships between
health care administrators and health care providers enhances the
vitality of the medical institution itself.


WHAT IS THE SEIU?

SEIU (Service Employees International Union) is the AFL-CIO's
third-largest union, representing more than 600,000 healthcare workers.
It is also the largest union in New York State with a total of 350,000
members. Doctors Council, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR),
United Salaried Physicians and Dentists (USPD), and 1199 (National
Health and Human Service Employees Union) have all joined SEIU in recent
years, making it the pre-eminent health care union in the country.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DOCTORS ALLIANCE/SEIU?

The National Doctors Alliance/SEIU comprises approximately 15,000 member
doctors from across the country, making it the largest organization of
unionized doctors in the United States. The Alliance’s major goals are
to address issues of common concern for doctors and to organize new
members across the country.

http://www.ndaseiu.com/aboutndaseiu.htm

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