Unionization has long been a right exercised by workers in various industries to secure better wages, benefits, working conditions, and job security. In the veterinary industry, unionization has started gaining momentum, particularly for veterinary team members who often face demanding work environments and low compensation compared to their skills and education. The National Veterinary Professionals Union (NVPU) and several unionized veterinary practices represent a shift in how credentialed veterinary technicians (CVTs) and other support team members advocate for their rights and improve the profession's standards.
Labor unions in the United States have a long-standing history, traced back to the early 19th century during the Industrial Revolution when workers began to organize in response to poor working conditions, long hours, and low pay. These early unions helped establish fundamental labor rights such as the eight-hour workday, child labor laws, and the weekend, substantially improving workers' quality of life.
By the mid-20th century, unions were a powerful force in the American labor market, especially in the manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare industries. Workers typically form unions on a workplace-by-workplace basis, typically in a specific trade or profession, and represent the collective interests of their members. In the veterinary field, unionization has emerged more recently as a way to address specific challenges faced by CVTs and support team members, who are often underpaid, undervalued, and overworked.
Unionization in the veterinary industry
Credentialed veterinary technicians, the backbone of veterinary practices, are skilled professionals who provide critical care to animals but often face challenging work conditions. Despite their advanced training, certification, and educational requirements, many CVTs are paid relatively low wages, have limited benefits, are underutilized, and experience high levels of burnout due to demanding workloads and emotional stress. Other support team members face the same challenges, from the front desk to the kennels and everywhere in between. These factors have led to growing calls for unionization to improve working conditions.
