CIR Contract Ratified for 2009-2011!

CIR’s leaders delivered a major victory despite challenging economic times

Around midnight on September 29, 2009, the residents of CIR’s bargaining team came to a tentative agreement with the County of Los Angeles on their 2009-2011 union contract.CIR leaders bargained for seven sessions over key issues like health insurance, maternity leave, and preserving the salary and bonuses in the 2006-2009 contract.

On October 8, residents from Harbor-UCLA and LAC+USC voted unanimously to ratify the contract.

“We see this two-year contract as a major victory. We fought hard to keep the salaries and all the benefits that we had from 2006-2009, including the intern bonus, primary care bonus, and patient care fund,” said Michael Core, HUCLA Family Medicine resident and CIR bargaining team member. Resident leaders skillfully retained all the benefits from the previous contract despite a county-wide and statewide budget deficit, and other workers facing furlough days, pay cuts, and layoffs.

Highlights of the contract include:

• Preservation of salaries, of bonuses for intern and primary care specialties, and of the Patient Care Fund
• County will pay for 8% of the 9% scheduled increase in health insurance premiums
• Improved language on pregnancy leave and post-partum rotations
• Health care coverage reimbursement for the first two months of employment

For more information please call the CIR L.A. Office at 310-329-0111.