Resident physicians at a Mount Sinai program at Elmhurst Hospital began day one of a five-day strike on Monday.

About 160 members from the Committee of Interns and Residents Union are demanding equal pay to their contemporaries in Manhattan.

What You Need To Know

  • About 160 members from the Committee of Interns and Residents Union are demanding equal pay to their contemporaries in Manhattan

  • Picketers said they will strike from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for all five days unless a deal is made

  • While Elmhurst is a public hospital, the union doctors picketing are part of a training program run by Mount Sinai

Union officials claim there’s a roughly $7,000 pay gap for first-year residents.

They say a first-year resident at Elmhurst earns $68,000 a year, and a first-year resident in Manhattan makes an annual salary of $75,000 a year.

Without an increase, that gap will increase to $11,000 in July.

“What we are looking for is parity,” said Contract Organizer Omara Gerardo Valdez.

While Elmhurst is a public hospital, the union doctors picketing are part of a training program run by Mount Sinai.

The union said they have negotiated with the hospital for a year with no resolution. Their last contract was in 2021.

Normally, union members call for what’s called a three-three-three — a three percent increase for the first year, the second year and the third year.

Due to inflation and pandemic-related hardships, this year the union has called for a seven-six-five, but are asking for more for the Elmhurst-Mount Sinai group because their doctors aren’t being equally payed to their contemporaries.

“Working here throughout the pandemic, I was here. We are proud to serve this community. We love this community, but working with Mount Sinai was difficult,” said Tanathun Kajornsakchai.

In a statement released on Monday the hospital said, “We are committed to working towards an equitable and reasonable resolution that is in the best interest for both our residents at Elmhurst as well as for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and are working closely with partners at Elmhurst Hospital to ensure the same quality and level of care and services that the local community expects and deserves are not affected by the strike.”

“We have offered a package that is commensurate or above the tentative agreement between residents at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals and are committed to finding a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible.”

Picketers say they will strike from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for all five days unless a deal is reached.