A group of healthcare workers used their two minutes during the public comment period Monday evening at Burlington’s bi-weekly city council meeting to ask councilors to support them as they work to reach a new fair contract with the hospital.They want better wages. They have had to work long past their scheduled shifts due to staffing shortages at the University of Vermont Medical Center. They are burned out, calling for competitive wages, benefits and time off.The Committee of Interns and Residents has been in negotiations with the hospital since January.On Monday, they joined the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and Support Staff United to call on councilors to pass a non-binding resolution that would encourage the hospital to negotiate fair contracts with union workers.”I know personally that I spent my entire paycheck on daycare for my first three months of residency,” said resident physician Rhys Nidecker. “Working 80 hours in the hospital, not taking home a cent, is really tough. We want to make sure these hardships that residents face living here are addressed and reflected in our new contract.”Council Democrats worried about endorsing the resolution. They wanted to remain neutral as contract negotiations between unions and the hospital are already in the works. However, the resolution passed 9 to 2.NBC5 reached out to UVMMC for a comment, but we did not hear back.
A group of healthcare workers used their two minutes during the public comment period Monday evening at Burlington’s bi-weekly city council meeting to ask councilors to support them as they work to reach a new fair contract with the hospital.
They want better wages. They have had to work long past their scheduled shifts due to staffing shortages at the University of Vermont Medical Center. They are burned out, calling for competitive wages, benefits and time off.
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The Committee of Interns and Residents has been in negotiations with the hospital since January.
On Monday, they joined the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and Support Staff United to call on councilors to pass a non-binding resolution that would encourage the hospital to negotiate fair contracts with union workers.
“I know personally that I spent my entire paycheck on daycare for my first three months of residency,” said resident physician Rhys Nidecker. “Working 80 hours in the hospital, not taking home a cent, is really tough. We want to make sure these hardships that residents face living here are addressed and reflected in our new contract.”
Council Democrats worried about endorsing the resolution. They wanted to remain neutral as contract negotiations between unions and the hospital are already in the works. However, the resolution passed 9 to 2.
NBC5 reached out to UVMMC for a comment, but we did not hear back.
