Doctors at Montefiore Medical Center have reached a tentative contract agreement with the facility after nearly two years of contentious negotiations.
The tentative agreement, reached late on Monday between the hospital and members of Committee of Interns and Residents, the union representing the doctors, would improve pay, family and health benefits for 1,200 residents and fellows, union officials said. The doctors have been without a contract since they unionized in 2023.
The agreement, which must still be ratified by the union’s rank-and-file, includes an 18% pay increase and better health care, according to the union and hospital. It also includes an annual child care allowance of $2,500 and a $3,000 housing stipend, along with better health benefits and other changes related to the process to resolve contract violations and protect residents from unfair discipline, said union spokeswoman Annie Della Fera.
Staff have long raised alarms with the administration about long working hours, often exceeding 80 hours a week. The residents claim to be among the lowest-paid doctors in the city.
In August, the union, part of the Service Employees International Union with 37,000 members, filed charges of unfair labor practices with Montefiore over claims that the health system refused to come to the bargaining table or provide key information about salary and staffing.
The union says the better contract terms will improve the staff’s wellbeing and create a setting of higher-quality care for patients in the Van Cortlandt Park-based facility.
A vote of the full union membership will likely take place between March 20 and 26, according to the union.
Montefiore did not provide a comment by press time.
This story may be updated with additional comment from Montefiore.
