BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Hundreds of resident physicians hit the picket line outside Buffalo General Hospital fighting for higher wages, better benefits and better working conditions. An agreement to get resident physicians back to work still has not been reached.
Resident physicians at Buffalo General walked off the job at midnight Tuesday to join more than 800 resident physicians and fellows. The strike is affecting every hospital in the Buffalo area. Tuesday’s strike is expected to go to 8 p.m.
University at Buffalo resident physicians are conducting a four-day strike. The plan is for them to be at Buffalo General through Friday, unless a deal is reached.
Many resident physicians are in their 20s and 30s. They’re trying to raise families and they said the low pay they get and the long hours they work make it impossible for them to make a living wage.
“We don’t want to strike, but here we are and what we’re asking for is very basic, we are asking for us to have living wages in the region, average of competitive programs in the region,” said Amy Beattie, a psychiatrist.
They formed a union over a year ago and have been in negotiations with their employer, University Medical Resident Services (UMRS). Both sides have accused the other of being disingenuous in the contract negotiations.
“We’ve had enough waiting, so this is frustration you’re seeing behind it, now also it’s resolution because our union is resolute here, we don’t like exploiting doctors, which sounds like, ‘Well, they make a lot of money,’ these guys don’t, they’re making less than minimum wage,” said Stuart Bussey, the president of Union of American Physicians and Dentists.