Doctors Council Members at Four NYC Health + Hospitals Announce January Strike Amid Ongoing Understaffing Crisis

Physician members of Doctors Council - Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the union representing thousands of frontline doctors across New York City, have provided a 10 day notice to NYC Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) and its private sector affiliates, PAGNY (Physician Affiliate Group of New York) and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, of their intention to commence unfair labor practice strikes at Jacobi Medical Center, North Central Bronx Hospital (NCB), Queens Hospital Center, and South Brooklyn Health on Monday, January 13. This historic strike action comes amid a dire understaffing crisis threatening patient care, and would represent the largest work stoppage of attending physicians in New York City history, with nearly 1000 doctors across three boroughs taking part.

More than 2500 attending physicians across NYC H+H, who provide vital care to New York City’s most vulnerable populations, have been fighting for a contract since September 2023 that provides sufficient resources for the hospitals to be competitive in a highly tight medical job market. Additionally, while negotiations have stalled, some doctors are facing employer cuts to their benefits, including a reduction in sick leave by 20%, that threaten their own health and well-being.

"We are on the front lines of healthcare every day, working tirelessly to provide the best possible care to our communities," said Dr. Joplin T. Steinweiss, a primary care physician at Jacobi. "But H+H and its affiliates are failing to offer a contract that addresses the rising costs of living, the long hours we work, and the increasing stress and burnout we face as our hospitals struggle to recruit and retain qualified doctors. Without a fair contract, our communities will continue to face a critical shortage of doctors, and patients will ultimately bear the brunt of the system's failure." Read more here!