Physicians at Allina Health in Minnesota have reached a tentative agreement on their first union contract after a four-day strike. The deal, which still awaits ratification, includes protections for doctors who speak up on behalf of patients and a more transparent compensation process.
Saul Singh, a member of the bargaining team, described the strike as "liberating" and said it gave physicians a chance to be heard. He noted that 90% of doctors voted to authorize the strike. The walkout ended when Allina reached out to bargain, leading to the deal.
Before unionizing, physicians were at-will employees who could be fired without cause, which Singh said made it difficult to advocate for patients without fear. The new contract changes that. It also replaces a closed-door compensation committee with a transparent, yearly process based on geographic labor analysts' data.