The University of California and the Committee of Interns and Residents/Service Employee International Union (CIR/SEIU) officially began negotiations yesterday for a new contract covering roughly 6,300 medical residents and fellows across the UC system.
This marks the first time the two parties are bargaining for a unified, systemwide agreement. Previously, CIR-SEIU maintained local contracts at individual UC locations, including at UCLA, UCSF, UCSF Fresno, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Riverside. The new effort aims to standardize key terms across all UC locations and streamline representation for resident physicians.
"As we begin negotiations, we're committed to good-faith discussions that recognize medical residents' essential role in our hospitals," said Missy Matella, Associate Vice President for Systemwide Employee and Labor Relations. "UC's medical residents and fellows are essential to delivering high-quality care and advancing health across California, and we look forward to collaborating with SEIU-CIR to reach a fair agreement."
At the opening session, CIR-SEIU presented a comprehensive set of proposals addressing issues such as salary and leave protections, as well as workplace conditions and support for resident well-being. Resident physicians' testimonies emphasized their critical role on the frontlines of patient care and the financial challenges many face, including student debt, high cost of living, and long working hours.
Federal and state funding for graduate medical education (GME) programs that train medical residents does not cover the full cost of these programs. UC’s academic health centers, schools of medicine and affiliate partner institutions absorb the costs for resident positions that are either unfunded or underfunded. Non-profit health systems and higher education institutions are financially strained due to rising labor and supply costs, constraints in research funding, uncertainty associated with newly implemented federal legislation, and complex care for a publicly insured patient population that is increasing at UC's health locations.
Medical residents and fellow physicians at UC occupy a unique dual role as both essential employees providing patient care and trainees advancing their medical education in their chosen specialties and subspecialties.
Negotiations began at a mutually agreed-upon location in Sacramento. The two parties plan to meet every two weeks, exchanging proposals on a number of articles and appendices, and are anticipated to continue through the end of the year.
“Our proposals will ensure fairness, support safe working conditions, and provide competitive compensation and benefits, while helping residents become the next generation of physicians to improve health outcomes for all Californians — a core part of UC’s education and training mission,” Matella added.
To stay informed about the progress of negotiations, visit: https://labor.universityofcalifornia.edu