Doctors At Third Queens Hospital Vote To Authorize Strike

QUEENS — Resident doctors at Elmhurst Hospital voted to authorize a strike Tuesday, gaining 92 percent of votes in favor, joining two other hospitals in Queens citing unfair labor practices.

Resident physicians at the hospital in Elmhurst are demanding Mount Sinai pair pay between union doctors and non-unionized physicians, who are allegedly paid more.

“Mount Sinai residents perform the same job across our hospitals,” said Dr. Tanathun Kajornsakchai. “Yet Mount Sinai is paying its union doctors who work in crucial safety net hospitals less. Striking is the last thing that we want to do but we feel we will have no choice if Mount Sinai does not address our demands.”

The union said that resident physicians will be prepared to provide notice to the employer if there's no movement made at the table.

Resident physicians at Elmhurst Hospital, who have been bargaining with Mount Sinai since July 2022, total about 170. That would bring the number of striking doctors in Queens to about 500 if they move forward with the walkout.

Staff at Elmhurst Hospital are also asking for transportation benefits and hazard pay, similar to demands from Mount Sinai physicians at Morningside and West Hospitals in Manhattan