Highland Hospital Resident Physicians to Hold Unity Break Amid Contract Negotiation Misconduct
Oakland, CA —Resident physicians at Alameda Health System’s Highland Hospital, represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU), will hold a Unity Break on Tuesday, March 21, to bring attention to their fight for improved patient care and resident working conditions, and to urge their employer to bargain with them in good faith.
The Unity Break action was organized following six months of contract negotiations and with the physicians working out of contract since November 30, 2022. Residents at Highland are seeking a contract that will protect patient care in one of Oakland’s most underserved areas. Despite serving as the East Bay’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, Highland has seen major staffing issues, with residents frequently used as a stopgap without additional compensation. Physicians at Highland want to secure a contract that will improve working conditions and account for their mental and physical wellbeing.
Who: The resident and fellow physicians at Highland Hospital, represented by the Committee of Interns.
What: Highland Hospital residents will hold a unity break to bring attention to AHS’s misconduct in contract negotiations. Amid widespread understaffing and rising cost of living in the area, residents are overworked and underpaid. Serving on the frontlines of the county’s primary trauma care center, members will speak on the need for crucial contract improvements including mental health, fertility, sufficient parental leave, and childcare benefits.
Where: Highland Hospital, 1411 E 31st St, Oakland, CA 94602. The event will take place at the intersection of East 31st Street and 14th Avenue.
When: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. The event will start on time and run for an hour.
“Highland Hospital resident physicians provide critical care for our community,” said California State Senator Nancy Skinner (District 9). “It is far too common in medical training for resident physicians to work long hours, suffer from widespread understaffing, and take on stressful financial burdens. I urge Alameda Health System to respond to these concerns, continue to bargain in good faith, and reach a fair contract with the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU.”
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 25,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
