1UC: Uplifting All for California’s Health
In recent years, University of California resident physicians and fellows have led the way nationwide in improving medical training, working conditions, and patient care through our union, the Committee of Interns and Residents.
From 2024-2025 UC housestaff united 10 different CIR bargaining tables to become one stronger statewide team as 1UC. Currently, with the bargaining power of over 6,400 residents and fellows, we are negotiating our first UC systemwide contract that will set a new standard of training experience across California. We’ve secured amazing victories separately through our coordinated collective actions; now, in these precarious times, we will protect what we have and fight for what we deserve together, as one unstoppable, unified force. The best wins from across our UC contracts serve as building blocks towards our future.
There is nothing that is out of our reach: From leading wages, to stronger family building benefits, to safe staffing wins that directly benefit patient care. As 1UC, we seek to uplift standards of training and care for California, and for the country.
Compelling stories will help us win fair raises, better parking, enhanced education benefits, and more!
The University of California Health system belongs to the people of California.
As 1UC, the doctors powering this system will fight to ensure physicians are able to thrive, training and education is centered on patient care, and that our programs continue to recruit great doctors who also reflect the diversity of our communities.
We know that as the doctors at the center of patient care, our well-being as UC housestaff is inseparable from the health of California.
MEET THE FIRST 1UC BARGAINING TEAM: ELECTED TO NEGOTIATE THE 2025 UC HEALTH SYSTEM WIDE CONTRACT:
Fighting for Better Wages and Working Conditions
The Statewide Bargaining Team Is a powerful force of 56 representatives from every health campus, all over the UC Health System. They meet regularly to develop strategies, finalize proposals, and prepare to tackle the challenges that affect us both at work and in our day to day lives. These elected members will be your voice at the negotiating table, ensuring that the concerns of all UC Interns, Residents and Fellows are addressed and fighting tirelessly for a contract that protects and enhances our rights.
Want to know who’s representing you?
See below – these are the people you can reach out to with your ideas and feedback during contract negotiation. Your input helps shape our priorities and strategies, making sure we’re fighting for what truly matters to you.
1UC/CIR 5 Point Platform
We are advancing a five-point platform to uplift frontline physicians systemwide, which uplifts patients statewide, because when you invest in us, you invest in patient care.
1. Raising the Floor for All Residency Programs
No doctor should make a wage that is barely livable, and no training site should be left behind. We are calling for fair salaries that reflect the value of our training and the high cost of living in California. We deserve increases to our education funds, licensing reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Raising the floor across programs ensures a strong pipeline of physicians for every community UC serves and increases the chances of physicians staying in California after completing their training.
2. Respect as Frontline Workers
Our labor is the central value proposition of the UC Health System. Residents work at all hours of every day of every year in our hospitals. Respect means recognizing the labor we put in day after day, and night after night. That includes compensation for extra work, parking that is accessible and affordable, and meaningful meal support, including delivery options. These are fundamental expressions of respect and dignity for front line healthcare workers who consistently put the needs of the patients above our own.
3. Resources to Provide Quality Patient Care
Physician working conditions are patient care conditions. To provide excellent care, we need adequate ancillary staffing so that we’re not performing clerical or transport duties instead of practicing medicine. We need safe, functional workspaces and protected time for research that supports UC’s academic mission. We also need proper equipment to be able to do our jobs. From properly fitted lead aprons for protection, and to Loupes to see with when operating on patients.
4. The Right to a Safe Work Environment and Free Speech
We must be able to get home safely — which means rideshare for overnight shifts and safe transportation stipends. It is unacceptable that residents risk falling asleep at the wheel, or worse that suffer fatal consequences of traffic collisions, because we lack accessible transportation when fatigued from 24 hour shifts. We also need protections for advocacy and speech, especially when we speak up for patient safety or against unjust policies. As doctors we are advocates for our patients and communities, and we should be able to advocate without fear or censorship or retaliation.
5. The Ability to Live Robust Lives
Every one of these demands is grounded in the core values UC claims to uphold: equity, excellence, and commitment to public service. If UC wants to continue leading in healthcare, it must lead in how it treats the people delivering that care. The proposals we presented is an opportunity to do so — not just leading in innovation or prestige, but in building a healthcare workforce that is valued, respected, and supported.
Your Regional Vice Presidents
Northern CA:
Marysol Encarnacion
Psychiatry, UCSF Medical Center
Paul Glasheen
Internal Medicine/Psychiatry, UC Davis Medical Center
Olivia Harden
Internal Medicine, UCSF Medical Center
Southern CA:
Asha Ayub
Urology, UCLA Medical Center
Diana Dayal
Emergency Medicine, UCLA Medical Center
Nekisa Haghighat,
Psychiatry, UC Riverside
Garrett Kneese,
Family Medicine, UC San Diego Health
Connect with your Organizer
Questions about your contract? Want to get involved? Please fill in the information below and we’ll be in touch:
