As New Interns Start, About 500 Doctors at Pivotal Hospital Ratify New Contract
After about seven months of negotiations, resident physicians and fellows at Westchester Medical Center (WMC), unionized with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), officially ratified their new contract Thursday night with Westchester Medical Center management, helmed by new CEO Dr. David Lubarsky. While WMC negotiators were slow to address the physicians’ concerns, after months of consistent collective action–including a petition delivery and headline-making rally–the new contract includes the doctors’ central demand for wage equity with nearby peers. The deal comes as hundreds of new interns are starting their residency at WMC this summer.
The CIR members say their union actions forced hospital leadership to address their urgent needs, resulting in a contract that will support their well-being and significantly impact WMC’s ability to keep attracting talented doctors. Along with wage increases that will put them on par with their peers in the region by 2026–with 22 percent in total wage increases over the five-year life of the contract–the final deal includes demands at the center of the doctors’ fight, like reimbursement for parking costs for off-site rotations.
“This new contract is a huge victory, because the truth is, we were really struggling just to pay our rent and for things like childcare–with some of us even taking on second jobs to pay the bills,” said Dr. Daniel Bassily. “I hope this shows Dr. Lubarsky that we are entering a new era at WMC–that we know our worth and that we will always fight for ourselves, our patients, and future doctors.”
Over the course of their negotiations, the doctors took more action than they have in years, marching on the CEO to deliver a petition, rallying outside the hospital with the support of their union siblings and elected officials, and mass-calling Dr. Lubarsky. Through their actions, they also won several critical new benefits, including Juneteenth as a paid holiday and a hospital-paid Uber service to keep physicians safe after long shifts.
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 40,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
A spokesperson for WMCHealth said, “Westchester Medical Center has secured a transformative five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR)—a milestone that reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the physicians who are the backbone of care, innovation, and healing across our network.
“This agreement isn’t just a contract—it’s a bold investment in the future of medicine and a testament to what’s possible when mission-driven professionals come together with purpose. It delivers the stability our institution needs and sends a clear message: when we support our people, we unlock the full potential of patient care.
“We’re grateful for the principled, forward-looking dialogue that shaped this outcome—and proud to stand alongside our resident physicians as we forge ahead to drive exceptional experiences for the patients we proudly serve.”
