A little after 12pm on May 13, dozens of physicians at Westchester Medical Center gathered in a grassy area outside the hospital and began to chant. 

Over the course of about 45 minutes, as more and more doctors joined the crowd, CIR physicians across specialties rallied, told their stories, and made clear their demand to CEO Dr. David Lubarsky: Fair pay and benefits for their work caring for the people of the Hudson Valley. The physicians held their unity break after 5 months of bargaining with WMC leadership for a new contract that will better meet their needs amid rapidly rising living costs in the Westchester area. 

Over the din of construction at the hospital in the background, physicians talked about having to take on babysitting gigs to make ends meet, traveling hundreds of miles to rotation sites without adequate compensation, and their mounting frustrations with WMC’s refusal to respond with fair offers. Fed up with ongoing disrespect from hospital leadership, physician leaders on the bargaining team are organizing their coworkers to take more escalated action than they have in years. 

“I don’t want my colleagues to be distracted or losing sleep over what might happen if they can’t afford rent, or how they’re going to afford child care, or car repairs,” said Dr. Garrett Smith. “We aren’t asking for their executive level salaries, we’re just asking for the support we need to thrive in these jobs and care for our community.” 

WMC is a public, county hospital and a critical health hub for the entire Hudson Valley region, including communities of color facing high barriers to care. WMC residents were joined at the unity break by peers with IATSE Local 52, Local 338, New York State Nurses Association Chapter President Merima Lynch, as well as elected supporters Judah Holstein, Emiljana Ulaj, Jewel Williams Johnson, David Tubiolo, James Nolan, and Shelley B. Mayer staffer Christine Fils-Aimé. 

Following the unity break, the physicians continue to take action to fight for their core demands, including fair wage increases, compensation for travel to outside rotations, and living stipends. On Tuesday, June 3, the doctors led a car parade around the hospital, supported by a mobile billboard calling out CEO Dr. Lubarsky. They know that with sustained pressure, they can push WMC to properly support the doctors at the center of care.