Washington, DC – The resident physicians of George Washington University (GWU) will rally this Thursday for a fair first contract that supports their ability to continue providing exceptional care to the communities they serve. Represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU), the almost 500 frontline doctors work up to 80-hours a week providing the majority of patient care in one of DC’s largest safety-net hospitals.
After eight months of negotiations without an agreement, GWU residents say that their inadequate pay and chronic understaffing means they must exhaust themselves to fill in the gaps and ensure the safety of their highly vulnerable patients. The devastating cost of living crisis in the region has left many suffering from widespread burnout and struggling to afford the rising costs of housing, food, and childcare, on top of their existing debt, which averages $200,000 for medical school graduates.
WHO: Resident and fellow physicians employed by George Washington University and their community and political allies
WHAT: GWU resident physicians and fellows will hold a “unity break,” where they will call on the university system to agree to a fair contract that will support the physicians, their families, and safeguard the health of the communities they serve. Their core demands include a living wage, crucial mental health care benefits for an increasingly overloaded hospital environment, and improvements to their working conditions so they can continue providing exceptional care without compromising their own wellbeing.
WHERE: Pedestrian Plaza between George Washington University Hospital and the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Ross Hall)
WHEN: Thursday, May 23, 6:30 pm
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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 33,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
