Our Press Release: Resident Physicians and Fellows at University of Maryland Medical Center Petition for Union Recognition
Contact:
Ray Baker
Communications Director, AFT Maryland
rbaker@aftmd.org | (410) 585-7862
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS AND FELLOWS AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER PETITION FOR UNION RECOGNITION
Baltimore, MD - Resident physicians and fellows at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) delivered a petition to the President and CEO of the institution declaring their intention to form a union and expressing their desire to begin collective bargaining. This action follows years of organizing efforts. The residents and fellows will unionize with AFT Maryland who currently represents a number of health care professionals throughout the state.
“We want nothing less than to work collaboratively with the leaders at UMMC to develop and cultivate a program that attracts some of the greatest medical minds to our city. But to do that, we need to have parity with the other institutions in our city,” said Andrew Gilmore, a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellow at UMMC.
Collective bargaining provides residents and fellows with the best opportunity to create safe and supportive work environments which are best suited to improve learning conditions and most importantly patient outcomes.
Ari Goldstein, the 2023-24 Resident of the Year, from Family Medicine noted “I am supporting our union because I believe in giving residents and fellows a collective voice to advocate for ourselves, our patients, and our communities. We work tirelessly to support each other and our patients, and deserve to be heard. We demand better for not only ourselves, but for everyone we serve as well.”
Chelsea Cosner, a Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry added, “I support our Union…to give us the resources to better support our patients.” AFT Maryland is pleased to welcome the residents and fellows to the union family.
“Our state federation is wide and diverse with members in education, public safety, and health. We are eager to welcome the residents and fellows of UMMC into the AFT Maryland and broader labor family to support them as they advocate for themselves and their patients,” said AFT Maryland President Kenya Campbell.
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2024-04-25