Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - University at Buffalo medical residents are continuing their call for fair wages and benefits, having already been at the bargaining table for 14 months.
Robert Boreanaz, one of the lead negotiators on behalf of the union, believes this should not have dragged on as long as it has and that many parties have failed to come to the table that should be there.
"We're here today to let the community know that we, on behalf of 830 medical residents throughout Western New York, have been at the bargaining table now for 14 months, trying to gain average, respectable wages and benefits for those frontline healthcare workers that are providing healthcare services to all members of the community. We just left a bargaining session with the shell company," said Boreanaz on Wednesday. "There were no representatives there from any of the hospitals. There were no representatives there from University of Buffalo. I guess the only thing we can tell you about the progress of negotiations, it has been, ultimately slow."
Boreanaz continued on calling on the citizens of Buffalo, who these residents take care of, to take action and hold the institutions accountable.
"The program itself is not being shed in the light that it deserves for the hard working residents that make up this program. It would make sense for UB to be more attentive at the bargaining table and about the issues that are being brought there by the bargaining reps," he said. "We ask the community to reach out to their local politicians, reach out to UB, reach out to their hospitals and ask, why are these residents not being paid a fair wage and being provided a fair benefit so they can afford the medical services that they provide on a day to day basis?"
Mackensay Saxton, a fourth-year anesthesiologist and member of the bargaining committee, details financial struggles residents face although working 80 hours per-week.
"We work 80 hours a week, happily, most of the time. We are here because we love what we do. We love taking care of our patients, and we love taking care of the Buffalo community, and it's something that we are all passionate about. We wouldn't be here otherwise, but in doing so, we make less than minimum wage," said Saxton on Wednesday. "Most of us have to make a decision between rent payment, car payment or groceries on a monthly basis. We're not asking for a lot."
Joshua Head, a family med. resident and member of the bargaining committee, is speaking out for his friends and colleagues being affected.
"We're residents. We're fighting to keep this community healthy, and we're making less than minimum wage doing it so many of my friends and colleagues are struggling to pay for medications that they need daily just to stay healthy," said Head. "They're avoiding doctor's visits that they can't pay to pay for their you know, double checking that they have enough money to buy groceries, living paycheck to paycheck while keeping the community healthy. And I really think that it's really time to push for this contract to be be signed soon."
When asked about the possibility of another strike, Boreanaz says all options are on the table. Having gone on strike a few weeks ago, Saxton supports another strike if necessary but does not want one.
"Would I be willing to? Yes, do I want to? Absolutely not. That's not the goal, that's not what any of us are hoping to achieve, and especially right now with the way that medical students apply for residency programs, their application deadline was yesterday," Saxton said. "At this point, it is too late for us to make any progress on the volume of applicants that UB residency receives from the medical students across the nation."
Bargaining meetings are expected to continue on Oct. 15.
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