NYC Doctors Reach a Tentative Agreement, Avoiding 5-Day ULP Strike

Averting what would have been the second physician’s strike in New York City, and the 8th healthcare worker strike in the country this year, Morningside and West resident physicians announced on Monday that they have reached a tentative agreement with their employer Mount Sinai after 6 months of bargaining. Represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU), residents say they are relieved and looking forward to providing care to their patients.

The 5-day ULP strike set to take place on Tuesday, June 13, would have been the second strike by Mount Sinai resident doctors within a month’s time. Elmhurst residents, who ended their strike on May 24 after a 3-day strike, were the first resident physicians to strike in New York City in 33 years. The strikes would have come on the heels of a historic win at arbitration for Mount Sinai Nurses, where an arbitrator held their employer liable for a $127,000 penalty after they proved a persistent pattern of understaffing.

“This fight was about demanding that Mount Sinai treat us equitably. The Elmhurst residents who went on strike two weeks ago were fighting for the same things that we are–parity across Mount Sinai residency programs. There’s no reason why doctors doing the same job should be paid differently,” said Dr. Aliza Grossberg, psychiatry. “We’re thrilled to have avoided this strike, because we want nothing more than to care for our patients. We are inspired by the nurses and our fellow residents across the city and country for standing up and fighting for what’s right for healthcare providers.” Read more here.