AFT RELATED QUESTIONS 

1. Who does the AFT represent? 

The 1.7 million member American Federation of Teachers (AFT) includes  healthcare, K-12, higher education employees, and public employees.  o AFT’s healthcare division, AFT Nurses and Health Professionals is one of  the largest and fastest growing healthcare unions in the United States with a membership that includes 200,000 healthcare employees representing  a wide category of professions including attending, fellow, and resident physicians, PAs, NPs, CRNAs, RNs, Nurse Midwives, Respiratory  Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists, and many more. 

2. What has AFT achieved for residents through collective bargaining? 

  • New York’s Stony Brook Hospital has a seven-step pay scale that ranges from $67,833 to $97,127, which includes a $2,500 resident stipend and a  $3,026 location stipend.  

  • The New York State/United University Professions Joint Labor Management Committee Certification and Licensure Exam Fee  Reimbursement Program reimburses the cost of examinations for first-time certification and licensure. The NYS/UUP Program enables employees to improve job-related skills in their profession and gain the knowledge and skills necessary for promotional opportunities and career mobility within the State University of New York (SUNY).  

  • The Individual Development Awards Program is the most extensive  NYS/UUP JLMC program. This award reimburses conferences and exam  prep courses up to $2,000. Each campus is assigned proportional allocations based on the number of UUP-represented employees. Each Campus Professional Development Committee determines award decisions and deadline dates. 

3. Where have healthcare workers won recognition with AFT in the recent past? 

In 2023, AFT has organized close to 8,300 new members in the healthcare field. The most significant single NLRB election victory this past year (so far) has been AFT  Vermont’s win of ancillary staff (e.g., nurse aides) and technicians (e.g., EMTs)  totaling 2,200 workers at the University of Vermont Medical Center.  

Other recent victories include the organization of: 

  • 110 Residents at Wayne State University 

  • 910 diagnostic imaging technicians at Michigan Medicine

  • 414 RNs, professionals, and technicians at The University of New Mexico’s  Sandavol Regional Medical Center. 

  • 360 RNs at Legacy Mount Hood, Oregon. 

  • 180 home health and hospice professionals at Providence in Portland,  Oregon. 

  • 62 Physicians, NPs, and nurse midwives at Providence Women’s Clinic in  Portland, Oregon. 

  • 25 Physicians, NPs, and PAs at Providence Medford, Oregon. 

  • 260 Residents at Western Michigan University organized and won an election on April 21st, 2024.

  • 1020 Residents filed for an election at Detroit Medical Center and are awaiting an election order from NLRB. 

4. How will the AFT strength in sectors other than healthcare benefit us as residents and fellows? 

Power confers the ability to win gains. For unions, power comes from an active and involved membership, outspoken policy advocacy, strong community involvement, and comprehensive political and legislative action.  That means support from members throughout Maryland and the country,  resources needed, and community and political relationships. When residents and fellows employed by UMMC advocate for enhancing patient care and gaining the rights and benefits you deserve, the entire AFT is with you.