Physicians Say the City’s Public Hospitals Are Losing Great Doctors Due to Pay Disparity

New York City, NY – Starting on Tuesday, January 30th, and going until Wednesday, February 7th, thousands of frontline resident physicians will hold speak-outs outside their hospitals to demand Mayor Adams safeguard care at New York’s public hospitals, amid what they say is a critical juncture in the future of the NYC Health + Hospitals system. The frontline physicians, who are unionized with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIRSEIU), will hold eight “unity break” events at some of the city’s largest and most essential hospitals, which remain under the strain of high patient loads amid COVID, flu and RSV season. 

WHAT: Residents are speaking out to demand Mayor Adams address their pay disparity with physicians at private sector safety net hospitals, a gap they say threatens the city’s ability to attract and retain great doctors to the largest public healthcare system in the country. On the heels of the union’s first strike in over 30 years at Elmhurst Hospital, the core physicians at Health and Hospitals are taking action to safeguard their well-being and to preserve the legacy of care at H+H, where patients receive care regardless of their immigration status, income, or insurance coverage. 

The physicians have not received a raise since March of 2020, and if Mayor Adams fails to agree to a fair contract soon, their pay will be on average $5,000 behind physicians at comparable safety net hospitals by 2025. 

WHERE AND WHEN: All actions will take place from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST. Physicians will hold “unity break” actions at Bellevue Hospital, Harlem Hospital, Kings County, Jacobi, Woodhull, South Brooklyn, Metropolitan, and Lincoln, and the press are encouraged to attend the following events:

• January 30th: Bellevue Hospital, 462 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (Adjacent Main entrance 1st Ave and 27th Street)
• January 31st: Kings County Hospital, 451 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203 (Sidewalk Clarkson Avenue East 37th-East 39th)
• February 7th: Lincoln Hospital, 234 E 149th St, Bronx, NY 10451 (Sidewalk on Morris Ave between 149th and 147th)

WHO: Frontline doctors representing over 2,300 physicians across New York Health and Hospitals that are the primary care providers for some of the city’s most vulnerable New Yorkers. They are working to protect the standard of care for their patients and communities. 

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.

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