UC and CIR-SEIU Exchange Wage Proposals, Address Resident Safety, Reach New Agreements During Negotiations for the First Systemwide Contract for the CIR Unit
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The University of California and the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU) continued negotiations during three bargaining sessions for a first systemwide contract covering approximately 6,300 Medical Residents and Fellows, with sessions held March 17-18 and March 24. UC passed 23 proposals over the bargaining sessions, and the parties have now reached seven tentative agreements, reflecting steady progress across a range of issues, including resident well-being and workplace conditions. During these sessions, residents shared perspectives on workload, fatigue, and safety, which remain central to ongoing discussions. The existing, location-based contracts for Medical Residents expire on June 30, 2026.
During the March 17–18 session, UC put forward a strong, sustainable economic package aimed at delivering consistent, system-wide salary growth over the four-year contract term. The proposal includes annual across-the-board increases of 3.5%, along with additional yearly step increases, reflecting steady annual pay growth with predictable increases over time.
The Union passed counterproposals on the Immigration Side Letter and an accompanying proposal on the UC’s systemwide policy on Responding to Immigration Enforcement Issues Involving Patients in UC Health Facilities. The Union also passed proposals relating to Childcare, Duration, Educational Fund, Fatigue Mitigation, Holidays, Housing Allowance, Labor Management Meetings, License Reimbursement & Required Training, Location Meal Details, Moonlighting, Nondiscrimination in Employment, Program Closure, Relocation Reimbursement, Lead Workgroup Side Letter, Health and Safety, Resident Lounges and Call Rooms, Travel, and Uniforms.
During the March 24 session, CIR passed counterproposals on the Immigration Side Letter and articles relating to Holidays, Educational Fund, Labor Management Meetings, Uniforms, and Retirement Benefits, and a response to UC’s Compensation offer.
During the March 24 session, UC passed counterproposals on Holidays, License Reimbursement and Required Training, and Travel. The UC and CIR achieved a Tentative Agreement on Labor Management Meetings.
Medical Residents are Vital to UC’s Mission
Medical Residents play a crucial role in advancing the UC’s mission, working long hours to ensure patient needs are met and remain among the highest-paid trainees at public universities nationwide, with a strong overall compensation and benefits package.
UC is encouraged that negotiations are moving steadily forward and will continue to work with CIR-SEIU to reach a mutually beneficial agreement as we transition from multiple local contracts to a single systemwide framework that aligns diverse campus practices, priorities, and existing agreements into a single cohesive structure.
We recently finalized agreements with the California Nurses Association, University Professional and Technical Employees, and the United Auto Workers, and are engaging in productive negotiations with unions representing our clerical employees, medical residents, and police officers. We are confident we will continue making progress and reach a resolution with CIR-SEIU as well.
In the meantime, UC is committed to good-faith bargaining that recognizes the essential role residents play in patient care and in training the next generation of physicians.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for a virtual session on April 1.
Learn how contracts are bargained on UCnet.