Mass General Brigham, the largest health system in the state, finds itself embroiled in accusations of unfair labor practices and possible retaliation. The Committee of Interns and Residents, a local of the Service Employees International Union, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming that the health system modified stipends and benefits without bargaining in good faith, and in retaliation for a successful unionization vote earlier this year, according to The Boston Globe.
The complaint alleges that Mass General Brigham cut department-specific stipends covering electronics, board certification fees, licenses, and other professional development expenses. This came after medical residents and fellows at the institution voted to join the Committee of Interns and Residents in June, with no first labor contract negotiated yet, as reported by The Harvard Crimson.
Federal labor law prohibits employers with unionized workers from making changes in wages, hours, working conditions, or other mandatory subjects of bargaining before bargaining with the union to agreement or overall impasse. The union contends it did not receive proper prior notice about the benefit cuts, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review. Diego Lopez, MD, a newly elected bargaining committee member, stated that "everything was kind of up in the air at the moment about which benefits we'll still have and which ones we're going to lose."
However, Mass General Brigham, denies cutting benefits, asserting that changes to trainee benefits, including a $10,000 stipend for residents and clinical fellows, were announced in March before the unionization vote. A spokesperson for the health system said they "disagree with the assertion that benefits have been cut" and "look forward to continuing our dialogue with union representatives as we work toward a mutually beneficial labor agreement" according to Becker's Hospital Review.
