Physicians group targeted by union

The North Shore Physicians Group, which is affiliated with the North Shore Medical Center, has become the subject of informational picketing from a union because the union claims work is being performed by non-union employees.The North Shore Physicians Group has offices in Danvers, Lynn, Saugus, Peabody, Salem, Swampscott and several other communities.Earlier this week at the obstetrics and gynecology office in Swampscott, one man stood outside with a sign telling people to visit www.northshorephysiciansexposed.comThe Web site consists of two pages, one of which claims “doctors affiliated with North Shore Medical Center may be putting the health of patients at risk” and the second page lists names of physicians who have paid at least one malpractice claim.According to the site, “NSPG doesn’t care for the well being of workers in our community. North Shore Physicians Group showed its disregard for workers by hiring A.S. Jones, a contractor with working conditions that are below community standards.”The site was established by Local 103 IBEW, 256 Freeport St., Dorchester, which is affiliated with the Massachusetts Building Trades Council.Frank Callahan of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council said handbills are being handed out at numerous NSPG locations on the North Shore because the unions are opposed to the use of non-union workers being used on an ambulatory care facility under construction in Danvers, which NSPG has a financial interest in.”Our main point is that we have 75,000 members in the state with comprehensive health insurance,” he said. “Our members are paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year into the health care system. It is very upsetting that (a company) profiting off our health-care dollars use non-union contractors that don’t provide health care to their employees.”NSMC Spokesman Kevin Ronningen said the medical center and NSPG is not associated with the project in Danvers.”The North Shore Medical Center and its owned physician practice, North Shore Physicians Group, are strong supporters of union labor,” he said.”Our excellent track record includes the use of union labor (including IBEW) on the construction of the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care in Danvers and on the $30 million renovation project now under way at Salem Hospital. The IBEW incorrectly claims that North Shore Physicians Group has hired non-union electricians to complete the Medical Office Building adjacent to the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care.”Ronningen said the office building is being developed separately from the outpatient center by a private developer and a group of physicians whose practices are not owned or controlled by the Medical Center and its physician group.”Neither the Medical Center nor its physician group has a role in the selection of contractors for the Medical Office Building project,” he said. “The IBEW’s misdirected communications impugn the reputations of many fine North Shore physicians. The majority of those named are not members of North Shore Physicians Group.”When asked what the connection is between the alleged malpractice suits and use of non-union employees to build a physicians’ office building, Callahan said, “They are using underperformers in the construction industry by not using union workers,” he said. “It is analogous to underperforming medical professionals.”Callahan said the unions have been handing out leaflets at area physicians for two weeks and would continue to do so.