The Physicians Say the Victory Will Help Support BMC’s Mission of Health Justice
Boston–Representing more than 700 resident physicians at Boston Medical Center, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIRSEIU) announced on Friday that the union reached a tentative agreement with Boston’s primary safety net hospital after 4 months of negotiations. The physicians say the tentative agreement–which includes raises of about 20% over three years, an additional living stipend totaling $11,000 per resident, four weeks annual paid vacation, and key language preserving and strengthening BMC’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives–will help ensure BMC can continue to attract doctors from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. The compensation package is one of the most significant increases the union has won nationally.
“Most of us came to BMC specifically because we wanted to provide great care to everyone who needed it, and to fulfill BMC’s mission to promote health justice across Boston,” said Dr. Denisse Rojas. “We’re so proud that we won a contract that will help ensure that physicians coming out of the same communities we serve can actually afford to work here and can thrive while they’re here, which has a profound impact on patient care.”
The deal comes just a few weeks after more than 300 BMC residents came together outside the hospital alongside their fellow union workers, community groups, patients, and elected officials to call for a fair contract.
“When healthcare workers have everything they need, when they’re not taking on second jobs just to scrabble together a living, that’s better for those workers and it’s better for patients,” said Dr. Taha Khan. “As a union, we really are out to change medicine–to make it more compassionate and humane, and I think contract wins like this are an amazing, concrete way to do that.”
The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest house staff union in the United States. A local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing over 30,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
