PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Major health systems in the Philadelphia region could be in for a big change.

Thousands of resident doctors have announced their intention to unionize in order to improve their living conditions and those of their patients.

“For all the work we do, we deserve better and so do our patients,” said Dr. Natalie Labossier, who works at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Nearly 3,000 medical residents and fellows announced plans to unionize with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU) outside Hahnemann University Hospital on Thursday.

The doctors work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Temple University Hospital and Einstein Health Network.

“We are the doctors on the front lines caring for our communities here in Philadelphia,” said Dr. Taylor Walker, president of CIR/SEIU. “You know we must have a say in changing the shape of health care in Philadelphia for our patients.”

Some doctors have expressed concerns for themselves and patients as they work in hospitals every day.

“We are fighting for a say in our working conditions, reasonable working hours and patient ratios, for the equipment we need to treat patients and, for some, we are fighting for our lives and our future,” said Dr. Matt Nguyen, who works at Einstein Healthcare. Network.

“I was regularly caring for 17 hospitalized children for 28 hours straight, many times working over 80 hours a week,” Labossier said.

The doctors said that by coming together, they can create a union election and contract victory similar to the historic one recently won by Penn Medicine residents.

They also received the support of local elected officials.

“Resident physicians who lead world-class facilities deserve world-class salaries and contracts,” said board member Jamie Gauthier. “Our healthcare facilities must recognize the humanity of their workers and the value of your work.”

A Jefferson Health spokesperson said in a statement that its residency program offers competitive salaries and benefits as well as exceptional training. The statement goes on to say:

“While we respect our residents’ right to explore unionization, we believe that a direct working relationship between our health system team members and our leaders creates the most empowered and successful teams. more productive.

Action News reached out to the other hospitals for comment but did not receive a response.

“When hospitals fail to invest in appropriate support staff, residents are overstretched and it directly impacts our ability to do our jobs,” said Dr. Trishya Srinivasan who works at Jefferson. “Jefferson has always been a leader in health care, and now it’s time for them to lead the way by supporting their resident physicians as well.”

Residents of Christiana Care in Delaware announced they had officially filed their candidacy Thursday.

Walker said Philadelphia doctors will now focus on filing and voting to certify the union before Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, fearing the leadership change could threaten their right to unionize.