Anesthesiologist
"We had a situation where our salaries were below market and new hired doctors were making more money than those of us who have worked for years at our hospital.  As members of Doctors Council, our contract covered this with language that required the wages of comparably qualified doctors to be raised to the higher salaries of new hires.  We filed a grievance and proceeded to arbitration and we won!  For some of us, our salaries will increase by 36% and we received $127,333 in back pay.  Another series of arbitration victories resulted in the doctors in our hospital receiving close to 1 million dollars.  This victory is due to our Doctors Council contract and greatly helps in recruiting good doctors and retaining those doctors who have given years of service.  More doctors results in better staffing and improves quality and safe patient care."

Cardiologist
"As a Cardiologist, it is important to me that I feel that my issues are understood and addressed, as well as those of my department.  With Doctors Council, I know that I have someone on my side to advocate for my specialty and someone who knows my issues."

Child Health
"When proposed budget cuts threatened the child health clinics, Doctors Council stepped in and lobbied hard politically to keep the necessary funding so the clinics could stay open and the children could still have access to their doctors.  We took our fight to the steps of City Hall.  The child health clinics are located in some of the poorest neighborhoods and in many cases are the only means for families to receive medical care in their communities.  I have worked over 25 years in the clinics and am a member of Doctors Council SEIU.  Any true commitment to public health must include the restoration of funding to these clinics to ensure that our children continue to get the health care they deserve and need."

Dentist
"I have been a dentist for over 30 years, since 1972,  and have been a member of Doctors Council for over 25 years.  Over the years I have seen how our union has been active in addressing the issues that affect us as dentists and that affect our patients.  This includes such issues as requiring us to work short-staffed or without dental assistants, as well as when our employer tried to triple our CME requirements without allowing us the time or money to obtain the CME.  Doctors Council worked with us and we won on these issues, including staffing and maintaining our CME requirements in accordance with the state and not at burdensome amounts."

Dentist
"I want to thank Doctors Council for what our union has done for dentists, including the part time dentists, our families and myself.  When we almost lost our health insurance due to an attempted reduction in hours, Doctors Council stopped this and saved our hours, our income and our health insurance.  I started working in public health as a dentist in 1984.  Then, most part time dentists worked without health insurance and pension benefits and received lower salaries.  Today, through the efforts of Doctors Council in both bargaining and in litigation, we have higher wages and better benefits, including health insurance and a pension.  This is just one example of what Doctors Council does.  We are represented in regard to work related issues."

Department of Health (School Health)
"With Doctors Council, help is not only just a phone call away- it is right here with each of us where we work.  We receive the professional assistance and coordination that allows us to protect our patients and our jobs.  When proposed budget cuts affected our staffing and that of nurses, Doctors Council worked together with us to speak with the politicians and media to explain the issue.  Our voices are heard.  Not only do we win as doctors; our patients- the children in school- and the care they receive benefit by our efforts through Doctors Council."

Emergency Medicine
 "Over the years, I have seen how our department is represented.  When there are problems in our clinic, Doctors Council helps us.  Year after year I have seen how Doctors Council wins many grievances and arbitrations for our doctors, including promotions and being placed into higher classifications and titles that result in more pay.  One recent Doctors Council arbitration victory could result in over 1 million dollars for the doctors in my hospital." 

Emergency Medicine
"A recent grievance involved complicated situations in our Emergency Department. 
Doctors Council worked with us, knew our  issues and this resulted in a big victory for our ED doctors." 

Gastroenterologist
"Those of us who were longer term doctors and who had worked many years at our hospital wanted some recognition for our years of service.  With Doctors Council we were able to obtain a longevity bonus differential that rewards our tenure.  We also wanted some compensation for the extra hours and days that we work.  Before Doctors Council, we had no longevity and very few if any of us received any compensation for all the extra work we did.  With Doctors Council, we gained longevity and sessional pay compensating us for our extra work."

Medicine
"Our employer attempted to lay off many doctors and to reduce the work hours of other doctors in our hospital.  This would hurt patient care in our community and reduce the staffing of doctors.  Doctors Council rallied the community, including churches, civic groups, community organizations and politicians.  We had a rally outside our hospital where hundreds of people gathered in support of our patients and safe staffing.  As a result, there were no layoffs of doctors and our employer actually committed to hiring more doctors.  This is a victory for our patients in our community and shows that through our union doctors can speak as one strong voice and win."

Nursing Home Care
"We work at the state's largest nursing home facility, Coler-Goldwater, providing rehabilitation and long term care to 2,700 patients daily at an occupancy rate over 98%.  When proposed state budget cuts to Medicaid would have cost our facility 26 million dollars, Doctors Council engaged in a petition drive collecting over 2,100 signatures to protect our patients and our facility.  These were presented to the Governor, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly and at City Hall.  Doctors Council speaks as a strong unified voice for our patients and us as doctors, in this case protecting our funding and our ability to deliver quality and safe patient care to the most vulnerable patients."

OB/GYN
"I take the time to come to meetings to be informed and involved.  When I cannot, Doctors Council goes out of its way to keep me informed and up-to-date.  Information and knowledge is power.  Sometimes as doctors we can get very busy.  Doctors Council is never too busy to help us."

OB/GYN
"Some of the newer doctors wanted to make sure that our issues were not lost in the mix.  When we had questions, Doctors Council arranged department meetings and took the time to meet with us and know us and our issues.  This led to a great contract that benefited each of us and our department."

Ophthalmologist
"When there were complicated medical and clinical issues in our department, Doctors Council had the expertise to work with us to successfully resolve the issue." 

Ophthalmologist
"As President of the Medical Board and as an Ophthalmologist, I find Doctors Council professional and knowledgeable as well as a pleasure to work with."

Pathologist
"Whenever I need a question answered or advice concerning my rights, Doctors Council is there for me.  I can meet with my Contract Administrator whenever I need to.  I can have my issues addressed as well as those of my colleagues in my department."

Pediatrician
"I have been a doctor for over 25 years and had worked for nearly 20 years at my hospital.  One Friday near the end of the day I was informed that I was soon to be being laid off, and would have been out of work with no benefits, including health care.  Doctors Council did everything in its power and I never was laid off.  I maintained all my benefits and health care.  As a long-term doctor, I also maintained my pension and contributions into the plan.  More than that, I also kept my job that I love and have dedicated my life to and this allows me to take care of the patients and children in the community that I care so much about."

Podiatry
"As Podiatrists, it is important to
us that we know our issues are not lost amongst the other specialties.  With Doctors Council, their structure ensures that not only each department and facility is represented, but also that each specialty and subspecialty is also represented and has a voice."

Radiologist
"We have a major problem at work with backlog in reading films in radiology.  Through Doctors Council we are able to speak as one strong voice in addressing our concerns and issues with our chair and administration."

Radiologist
"I have witnessed how Doctors Council can be both a professional representative for doctors and one that is as aggressive as is needed.  Our issues are understood, analyzed and addressed.  The structure in Doctors Council is one that makes me want to be involved and make where I work a better place."

Surgery
"Doctors Council does what it takes to bargain a good contract for the doctors, even in tough fiscal times.  Doctors Council understands not only the issues that affect all doctors in general, but also how specific issues affect certain departments and different specialties and sub-specialties."

Surgery
"We all now feel we have representation and a strong voice at work to speak up and address our working conditions and to advocate for patient care.  As one doctor alone, my voice may not be listed to.  We are stronger together."