Mass General Brigham Doctors Push Lawmakers To Back Union Petition

Primary care physicians urge state legislators to press health system to drop NLRB appeal and begin bargaining after decisive union vote.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Primary care doctors at Mass General Brigham packed the Massachusetts State House, pressing lawmakers to sign a petition urging the health system to drop its legal challenge to a doctors' union and begin contract talks. Organizers said the drawn-out fight is harming clinics and patients and argued that a formal bargaining process would help stabilize schedules, staffing, and pay. The physicians say they voted overwhelmingly to unionize last spring and view the appeal as a tactic to stall bargaining.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights growing tensions over physician unionization efforts, which have gained momentum amid concerns over burnout, staffing shortages, and access to primary care in Massachusetts. The outcome could set a precedent for how large health systems respond to union drives by medical professionals.

The details

At a packed State House briefing, physicians including Dr. Zoe Tseng, Dr. Michael Barnett, and Dr. Kristen Gunning asked legislators to add their names to a petition calling on Mass General Brigham to recognize the Doctors Council and start negotiating a contract. Mass General Brigham has challenged the composition of the bargaining unit, arguing that doctors who work in practices integrated with acute care hospitals should not have been eligible to vote, a legal argument that has moved the dispute to the National Labor Relations Board and put bargaining on hold.

  • A mail ballot held last spring included 237 eligible physicians; 209 ballots were returned and about 88% of those votes favored unionization.
  • Mass General Brigham rolled out an AI-powered 'Care Connect' intake and telehealth service this fall for about 15,000 patients without a primary care doctor.

The players

Mass General Brigham

A large health system in Massachusetts that is facing a union drive by its primary care physicians.

Doctors Council

The union that the Mass General Brigham primary care physicians voted to join.

Dr. Zoe Tseng

A Mass General Brigham primary care physician who spoke at the State House briefing.

Dr. Michael Barnett

A Mass General Brigham primary care physician who spoke at the State House briefing.

Dr. Kristen Gunning

A Mass General Brigham primary care physician who spoke at the State House briefing and warned the NLRB appeal could take 18 months.

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What they’re saying

“We trust our doctors with our health, our wellness, and our life.”

— Senator Paul Feeney (The Boston Globe)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Mass General Brigham's appeal to the NLRB to proceed.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the growing tensions over physician unionization efforts, which have gained momentum amid concerns over burnout, staffing shortages, and access to primary care in Massachusetts. The outcome could set a precedent for how large health systems respond to union drives by medical professionals.