The Rhode Island House of Representatives has passed a resolution congratulating resident physicians and fellows affiliated with Brown University for successfully organizing unions at Rhode Island Hospital-Brown University Health and Care New England Hospitals. This resolution acknowledges the significant challenges faced by these medical professionals, particularly in light of the financial burdens of medical education, the demanding nature of residency training, and the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their working conditions. It highlights the importance of unionization as a means to improve their working environment and address ongoing healthcare issues in the state.

The resolution also notes that resident physicians and fellows are entitled to organize and collectively bargain, as established by the National Labor Relations Board in 1999. It emphasizes the disparity in salaries between first-year physicians at Rhode Island institutions and their counterparts in unionized settings, underscoring the need for better support and recognition of their contributions to the healthcare system. The House expresses hope that the formation of these unions will contribute positively to the healthcare crisis in Rhode Island and encourages continued advocacy for the rights and well-being of resident physicians and fellows.

Introduced By: Representatives Stewart, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Handy, Donovan. Date Introduced: January 28. Referred To: House read and passed.