‘None of my colleagues want to strike, but I don’t know what else to do at this point’: UB resident physicians discuss intended strike

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — After a year of being at the bargaining table with the University at Buffalo and hospitals, over 800 UB resident physicians are set to go on strike in September.

The resident physicians, 830 in total, intend to strike for two days on Sept. 3 and 4, it was announced earlier this week. The unionized workers discussed their upcoming strike at a news conference on Thursday.

The physicians are seeking higher wages, affordable healthcare for themselves and “dignity and respect” in the workplace. Union officials claim that some physicians sometimes work up to 80 hours per week, which breaks down to minimum wage.

The union says that workers have dealt with unfair labor practices, bullying, dirty working conditions, dangerous parking lots, no lunch breaks, withdrawn salary offers, no retirement plans and more.

UB resident physicians work at several hospitals across the area, including ECMC, Buffalo General, Buffalo VA Medical Center, Oishei Children’s Hospital and more. Medical residents and fellows in UB-sponsored resident training programs are employed by University Medical Resident Services and the National Labor Relations Board identified URMS as the employer and negotiator.

“Last week, UMRS provided the medical residents’ with a proposal in good faith that would increase residents’ pay and improve working conditions,” the organization told WIVB News 4 in a statement Thursday. “UMRS is awaiting an official response from the medical residents’ union to the proposal, and are hopeful we can reach an agreement soon.”

“Although neither UB nor the Jacobs School are the legal entity responsible for negotiations with the medical residents, we remain hopeful that progress will be made in the negotiations and a strike will be avoided,” UB said in a statement to WIVB News 4 earlier this week. “Medical residents play a very important role in the delivery of outstanding health care in local hospitals. As this situation resolves, we can assure medical residents that the Jacobs School is committed to providing them with the outstanding educational opportunities, training and experiences they need to become highly skilled physicians within the health care community.”

Still, the residents plan to hold their strike if they are not able to come to a deal in the coming few weeks.

“They’re going to say we jeopardized care, they’re going to say we have a moral obligation to go back to work,” said Dr. Steven Moran, a second-year resident physician. “They’re going to play on our innate sense of empathy for our patients.”

The union claims that they are the lowest-paid resident physicians in the state, including ones in Rochester and Albany.

“I don’t want to strike. None of my colleagues want to strike,” said Dr. Amy Beattie. “But I don’t know what else we can do at this point.”

The group of resident physicians is still hopeful that the two sides can come together and work out a deal that will provide them the ability to provide medical care for Western New Yorkers as well as get more physicians to come to the area.

“We’re fighting. And I want you to watch what happens,” first-year pediatrician Dr. Joanne Adams said. “Wait for us to make things better.”

You can view Thursday’s press conference in the media player below.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here .