CHO Residents Gear Up for Negotiations

Resident physicians at Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland (CHO) made a series of visits to local elected officials to enlist their support in advance of negotiations for CIR’s second contract with the hospital. The current contract expires June 30, 2010.

Drs. Mike Favazza and Senbagam Virduchalammet with State Sen. Loni Hancock and Assembly members Nancy Skinner and Sandré Swanson in December. They shared stories about working at CHO and also offered their support for upcoming state and federal health care fights. In particular, the CIR members explained their desire to bargain for a hospital-funded Patient Care Fund (PCF), which would allow residents to request equipment purchases necessary to improving patient care.

Unlike most PCFs, which are funded by the hospital and negotiated for during collective bargaining, the residents currently contribute to their own PCF.

“Our PCF is unique in that we fundraise for the money rather than the hospital funding it,” Dr. Favazza explained. “All the money goes toward paying for discharge meds for our patients who can’t pay for them.”

To get involved in the negotiations at CHO or at other Bay Area hospitals that are facing contract reopeners this year, contact Julia Donahue at jdonahue@cirseiu.org, or 415-572-0589