In a historic move, nearly 150 unionized doctors at two Twin Cities hospitals have embarked on a four-day strike, marking what is believed to be the first walkout of private-sector hospital physicians in U.S. history.

Dressed in their white coats, the striking doctors rallied outside Allina Health’s Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and the Unity campus in Fridley. They carried signs proclaiming slogans like “patients over profits” and “burnout hurts,” highlighting their concerns about working conditions and patient care.

The strike comes after over three years of stalled negotiations for a labor contract aimed at addressing wages and working conditions. Union leaders emphasize that the protest goes beyond salary issues; it’s a stand against profit-driven hospital management that they argue is pushing doctors to the brink of burnout.

“We need to be able to stand up for ourselves,” said Dr. Amber Galarowicz, a hospitalist and member of the Doctors Council SEIU’s bargaining team. “The voice that we’ll be able to have for our patients far outweighs the next four days.”

Allina Health, which operates a large network of hospitals in Minnesota, has attempted to downplay the significance of the strike, noting that the union represents only a small percentage of the physicians at both facilities. The healthcare system assured the public that operations would continue without disruption.

“A strike does not benefit anyone. It only adds pressure for patients, families, care teams, and the broader community,” Allina Health stated, defending its operational capacity amidst the strike.

The strike is not an isolated incident in a climate of rising labor unrest within Allina Health. Just days before the doctors’ strike, over 60 hospice nurses initiated their own seven-day strike, driven by concerns over insufficient staffing levels.

“We have spent so much time caring for our patients and not feeling that we matter,” shared Susie Smerz, an Allina hospice nurse, during a news conference outside Mercy Hospital.

Last November, hundreds of Allina doctors and advanced practitioners staged a historic day-long strike across the network’s primary and urgent care clinics, looking for similar resolutions to their grievances. After extensive negotiations, these clinicians reached a three-year contract agreement.

Now, the striking doctors at Mercy and Unity hospitals, who voted to unionize in 2023, have met with Allina Health representatives over 60 times in their quest for a first labor agreement, which includes addressing issues like paid sick leave.

Dr. Alia Sharif, a hospitalist and member of the bargaining committee, explained that while Minnesota law mandates paid sick leave, their rights have seemingly been overlooked. “It’s become unsustainable for us to continue working like that. Doctors get sick,” she said.

Disputes also linger over salary increases. Doctors argue that amid rising inflation, they have not received cost-of-living adjustments, exacerbating their financial stress.

Complicating the negotiations is the overlapping issue of whom exactly the union agreement will cover, as many doctors operate across various Allina facilities. The criteria for union inclusion is a contentious point.

At the heart of these negotiations lies the proposed merger between Allina Health and California-based Sutter Health, which aims to create a $26 billion healthcare system comprising 39 hospitals serving millions.

Labor unions have voiced strong opposition to this merger, raising concerns about how healthcare consolidation affects patient care, drives up costs, and stifles wage growth for medical professionals.

Dr. Sharif expressed that, while the union may not prevent the merger’s progression, they hope to negotiate a community benefits agreement akin to recent contracts aimed at avoiding service cuts and layoffs.

As the strike continues, the implications for patient care remain uncertain. For now, the doctors stand united in their call for accountability and improved working conditions, underscoring their commitment to both their patients and their profession.

The outcome of these negotiations could very well set a precedent for hospital labor relations across the country, in a time when healthcare workers are increasingly vocal about their rights and working conditions.