On Thursday, September 25, 2025, about 200 resident physicians employed by the University of Chicago Medical Center and their allies rallied outside UChicago hospital in Hyde Park to demand a fair first contract. Represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), the doctors have been in negotiations with the hospital system for more than a year.
Wearing scrubs and holding signs that said “Care for the physicians who care for Chicago” and “Fair Contract Now,” the doctors represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), called out hospital leadership for their continued refusal to agree to fair wage increases, transportation to and from work after working 24 hour shifts, and family-building support, like egg-freezing.
“I’m fed up with the disrespect we’ve faced over the last year of negotiations,” said Dr. Jasmine Chapparro, a Family Medicine Resident Physician at the University of Chicago NorthShore/Endeavor Health campus. “Fed up that UChicago negotiators had the audacity to call us greedy for asking for a fair contract — all while hospital execs are pouring huge sums into flashy new buildings.”
Working up to 80 hours a week while carrying an average of $200,000 in student loan debt, UChicago residents say they are struggling to afford housing, childcare, and basic necessities. They warn that the administration’s refusal to support the doctors’ demands could threaten UChicago’s ability to recruit and retain top medical talent in its residency programs.
“As we know and have experienced, burnout has a direct impact on patient care, as numerous studies have linked it to an increase in medical errors and a decrease in the quality of care that we provide,” said Dr. Samantha Rodriguez, a Pediatric Resident Physician. “Which is why it is of the utmost priority that we have the ability to access mental healthcare and be provided benefits that help us have peace of mind when it comes to bills, rent, and student loan repayments.”
Residents continue to appeal to UChicago’s leadership to do the right thing and agree to a fair contract for its essential physician workforce right away. Their next bargaining session with UChicago’s negotiators is Monday, September 29.
“A wave of unionization is sweeping across training programs, and it’s with our grit, and with our pride, that we demand our institution negotiate a fair contract that recognizes the absolutely essential role we play in the nearly 4 billion dollars of revenue reported in 2024,” said Dr. Bradley Heinz. “We’re doing our part, and now our administration must do theirs.”