University of Chicago Resident Doctors Land First-Ever Union Contract After Year-Long Negotiations
The University of Chicago Medical Center has finally reached a tentative contract with its resident doctors, marking a historic milestone for the nearly 1,000 residents and fellows who will now have a unified voice in their working conditions. The five-year agreement, which was secured after months of intense negotiations, promises to bring about significant improvements for the medical professionals, including a substantial wage increase, additional stipends, and enhanced benefits.
According to the Committee of Interns and Residents, the union that represents over 40,000 resident physicians and fellows across the US, the new contract will have a direct impact on both their well-being and ability to provide high-quality patient care. The deal includes a 17% wage increase over the life of the contract, as well as a $9,000 annual stipend and reimbursement for rideshare services after long shifts.
The victory is part of a growing trend in Illinois and nationwide where residents are unionizing to secure contracts that prioritize their humane working conditions and sustainability. The Committee of Interns and Residents has seen its membership nearly double over the last four years, with many residents facing extreme burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing corporatization of healthcare.
Residents often work excessively long hours for significantly lower pay compared to fully board-certified physicians, providing the majority of patient care at University of Chicago's hospitals, clinics, and trauma center. The new contract aims to address this disparity, with many of its provisions designed to reduce burnout and make the medical profession more sustainable.
"We chose medicine because guiding our patients through health and illness is both an honor and a privilege, but we had enough of sacrificing our own well-being," said Jasmine Chaparro, a second-year resident in family medicine. "We're excited about this new contract and its potential to improve our working conditions and make the medical profession more sustainable for us."
The tentative agreement will be presented to the union's members, with a ratification vote expected to take place early November. The news comes on the heels of similar victories at Northwestern McGaw Medical Center, where residents secured their first union contract in September, and University of Illinois Chicago, where they got their first deal in February 2023.
As these wins continue to roll in, it's clear that the tide is shifting towards greater solidarity and collective bargaining for resident physicians across the US. With U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders among their supporters, the Committee of Interns and Residents has proven that residents will no longer be silenced or ignored when it comes to advocating for their rights and working conditions.
The University of Chicago Medical Center has finally reached a tentative contract with its resident doctors, marking a historic milestone for the nearly 1,000 residents and fellows who will now have a unified voice in their working conditions. The five-year agreement, which was secured after months of intense negotiations, promises to bring about significant improvements for the medical professionals, including a substantial wage increase, additional stipends, and enhanced benefits.
According to the Committee of Interns and Residents, the union that represents over 40,000 resident physicians and fellows across the US, the new contract will have a direct impact on both their well-being and ability to provide high-quality patient care. The deal includes a 17% wage increase over the life of the contract, as well as a $9,000 annual stipend and reimbursement for rideshare services after long shifts.
The victory is part of a growing trend in Illinois and nationwide where residents are unionizing to secure contracts that prioritize their humane working conditions and sustainability. The Committee of Interns and Residents has seen its membership nearly double over the last four years, with many residents facing extreme burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing corporatization of healthcare.
Residents often work excessively long hours for significantly lower pay compared to fully board-certified physicians, providing the majority of patient care at University of Chicago's hospitals, clinics, and trauma center. The new contract aims to address this disparity, with many of its provisions designed to reduce burnout and make the medical profession more sustainable.
"We chose medicine because guiding our patients through health and illness is both an honor and a privilege, but we had enough of sacrificing our own well-being," said Jasmine Chaparro, a second-year resident in family medicine. "We're excited about this new contract and its potential to improve our working conditions and make the medical profession more sustainable for us."
The tentative agreement will be presented to the union's members, with a ratification vote expected to take place early November. The news comes on the heels of similar victories at Northwestern McGaw Medical Center, where residents secured their first union contract in September, and University of Illinois Chicago, where they got their first deal in February 2023.
As these wins continue to roll in, it's clear that the tide is shifting towards greater solidarity and collective bargaining for resident physicians across the US. With U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders among their supporters, the Committee of Interns and Residents has proven that residents will no longer be silenced or ignored when it comes to advocating for their rights and working conditions.
this is awesome news!!! a 17% wage increase and additional stipends? that's huge! i'm glad to see the resident doctors finally getting the recognition they deserve after going through all those tough negotiations 
. burnout has been such an issue in the medical profession for years, so it's great to see this contract aiming to reduce it 
. kudos to jasmine chaparro and the committee of interns and residents for standing up for their rights 
. this is just the beginning of a bigger movement towards better working conditions for healthcare workers 
!
. so good news for resident docs at chicago med center... but also super worrying that burnout is a huge issue in healthcare right now 
they're talkin' 100 hour workweeks and still gettin paid less than the full on doc crowd. i mean, who wouldn't wanna sacrifice their mental health for more cash? 
meanwhile, all these new union deals are gonna change things... but how many of those docs can actually afford to take time off when they're tryin' to pay off student loans? 
this is a step in the right direction, but there's still so much work to be done 
! It's crazy how burnout has been an issue for so long in the medical field, especially with those who are basically the backbone of healthcare - residents 
. I mean, can you imagine working 100+ hours a week just to make ends meet? 
Not fair at all! 
This is exactly the kind of change we need in the healthcare industry to make it more sustainable for all involved.
. It's time to give these docs the respect and compensation they deserve! 
for these amazing docs who are finally gonna get the respect & benefits they deserve 
. We've been talking about this stuff on my blog 
"The DIYer" for ages - it's like, we need to prioritize our health & well-being, too! 
it's so cool to see a whole group of people coming together to advocate for themselves, especially considering how burnout has been such a huge issue in the healthcare industry over the past few years 
the 17% wage increase and $9k annual stipend are huge wins 
ugh, another example of how outdated this platform is 
... anyway, gotta say tho, congrats 2 the resident docs @ U of C! 
finally getting some recognition & change 
. I'm glad to see the Committee of Interns and Residents taking a stand, but I wish this trend would spread faster - we need more voices speaking up for our healthcare workers everywhere! 
That shows that collective action can make real change happen 
. It’s a step forward for healthcare workers everywhere, and I hope this sets off a wave of positive change across the industry 
you know how these doctors are already putting their lives on the line every day and now they finally get some recognition and respect for their hard work? its not just about the money or benefits, its about being able to care for patients without sacrificing your own well-being. and I think this is a huge win for the medical profession as a whole, it shows that we can make change when we come together and support each other