Queens Hospitals Avert Physicians Strike, Reach Deal With Operator

QUEENS — Hundreds of resident physicians at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals reached a tentative agreement with the facilities' operator on Monday just hours before city doctors were heading for a strike.

The union representing the doctors announced the deal with MediSys Health Network on Monday, avoiding what would have been the first physicians' strike in over three decades.

“This agreement is one that will ensure that our class and future generations of resident doctors at MediSys are protected in the event of a public health emergency, while prioritizing both the community’s health care needs and our training,” said Dr. Neha Ravi.

The operator agreed to raise salaries by 18 percent over three years. The agreement also approved proposals to limit patient loads through enhanced resources.

"Banging pots and pans at 7pm was great," Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards, said in a tweet. "But the best way to thank our healthcare heroes is to pay them a fair wage and prioritize their wellness."

The last strike, held by 600 nonmedical workers at Jamaica Hospital, took place in 1990.

Unionized physicians at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals voted to authorize a strike in late April, gaining 93 percent of votes in favor.