A unionization election is currently underway for medical providers at Banner Health clinics across the Phoenix metropolitan area. Approximately 250 doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants have until early September to submit their ballots, with results scheduled to be tallied on Sept. 2. The vote concerns membership in the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, a California-based organization that contacted staff about 16 months ago.
Candace Napier, a nurse practitioner with nearly three decades of experience at the health system, stated that the current workplace culture has shifted significantly. She noted that operations staff now make most decisions, reducing the influence clinicians previously held.
Napier described the environment as one where employees feel constrained, stating, “People live in fear; they're afraid.” She supports the union effort as a means to address what she views as unfair treatment.
Dr. Justin Watkins, a family medicine physician in Gilbert, expressed concerns about workload and patient access. He reported that there is no limit on the number of primary care patients he accepts, resulting in wait times of three to four months.
Watkins also highlighted that clinicians are allotted only four hours per week for administrative tasks, a burden he said has increased due to digital patient communication. This has led some providers to take paperwork home, which he characterized as unpaid work.
Dr. Diana Elizalde, an internal medicine specialist in Phoenix, stated that some primary care physicians work approximately 60 hours per week. She argued that such long hours lead to exhaustion and an increased risk of clinical errors, ultimately affecting patient care. Elizalde noted that providers have been informed there are insufficient funds to hire additional medical assistants to handle administrative duties.
