Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) – Tuesday marked Day 1 of a weeklong strike outside of Oishei Children’s Hospital, as hundreds of University at Buffalo medical residents and fellows are fighting for livable wages.
“When I found out these guys were making $58,000 a year at the time, working 80 hours, like $14.60 an hour. I thought back at all the other contracts we’ve had. We have about 7000 doctors nationwide that are a part of our union. And I say this, these people need us. These people have no voice,” said Dr. Stuart Bussey, President of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD).
“They have the lowest salary in New York [State] of any of the other comparable residencies. The health care benefits are poor, no retirement, no contingency funds or meal funds, or anything on a side-by-side comparison. It really delineates how screwed up [this is].”
About 830 UB medical residents, over a year ago now, signed onto organizing with UAPD to get their voices to the bargaining table.