Phoenix, Ariz. – More than 240 physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants at Banner Health—Arizona’s largest healthcare system—have filed for union representation with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD). The clinicians provide care across 31 clinic locations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, serving more than 500,000 patients annually.
The organizing committee, a group of Banner Health clinicians leading the union effort, released the following statement:
“This election is about more than forming a union it’s about bringing physicians and APPs together around a shared vision for the future. Our goal is to help create a workplace built on respect, transparency, equality, and partnership. We invite every NP, PA, MD, and DO to stand with us as we move toward this monumental election. With every vote cast, we move closer to a future where our expertise is valued, our concerns are addressed, our professional autonomy is strengthened, and our well-being is prioritized.
As Banner itself has said: ‘Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.‘
As healthcare has transformed over the last two decades, too much has changed without the meaningful input of the physicians and APPs who provide patient care every day. As medicine continues to evolve to meet the needs of our patients, we have a responsibility to help shape the future of healthcare. By standing together, we hope to take the first step toward reclaiming professional autonomy, strengthening trust within our profession, and preserving the compassionate, patient-focused care that our communities depend on.
NOW is our opportunity to have a voice in our own future while helping build a stronger foundation for the next generation of physicians and APPs.”
The decision to unionize comes after years of frustration over clinicians being excluded from decisions made by Banner’s executives that directly affect the conditions in which they’re able to care for their patients. Concerns about patient panel sizes, staffing levels, and scheduling practices have repeatedly gone unaddressed, leaving many clinicians worried about patient safety, continuity of care, and increasing administrative burdens. One clinician reported working significant hours of unpaid administrative time each week on top of an already demanding workweek, all while caring for a full patient load.
Those concerns worsened when Dr. Syerra Lea was disciplined after identifying a scheduling error that could have resulted in hundreds of patients arriving at the Gilbert clinic location for appointments with clinicians who were not scheduled to be on duty. If the error had gone uncorrected, patients would have faced delays in their care by several months. The incident led to the filing of a unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in May 2026.
Clinicians say that the incident reflects a broader workplace culture that prioritizes productivity metrics over meaningful clinician input. They believe union representation and a legally binding collective bargaining agreement would establish enforceable protections that allow clinicians to advocate for safer staffing, sustainable workloads, and high-quality patient care without fear of retaliation.
“What’s happening at Banner Health is part of a pattern we’re seeing across large healthcare systems. The gap between executive leadership and frontline clinicians keeps widening and that distance has serious consequences for patients,” said Dr. Stuart Bussey, UAPD President. “These clinicians aren’t asking for much. They want their input taken seriously and a workplace where advocating for patients is welcomed, not punished. Their expertise isn’t just valuable to the patients they see every day, it’s essential to the long-term health of the communities they serve and the sustainability of Banner Health itself.”
About the Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Established in 1972, the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) is the largest bicoastal union for licensed doctors and advanced practice clinicians in the nation—representing more than 7,000 private and public-sector healthcare practitioners. Affiliated with AFSCME and the AFL-CIO, UAPD brings the strength of the labor movement to the aid of providers in the interest of better medicine for all. Learn more at www.uapd.com.
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