Baltimore Sun: UMMC residents and fellow physicians ratify first union contract

By MATHEW SCHUMER | mschumer@baltsun.com

UPDATED: August 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM EDT

Residents and fellows at the University of Maryland Medical Center voted unanimously Thursday to ratify their first-ever union contract, after months of negotiations.

The workers, who are among UMMC’s 900 residents and fellows, are represented by the University of Maryland Resident and Fellow Alliance, which is an affiliate of AFT Maryland, the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

The contract includes a 20% salary increase over the next three years, as well as four weeks of paid vacation and reimbursements for travel costs from long shifts, according to a union news release Thursday.

“Residents and fellows at UMMC are the backbone of Baltimore’s healthcare system, and this first-ever contract is a monumental leap forward in improving their working conditions and quality of life, so they can continue to deliver critical care to all Marylanders,” wrote AFT Maryland President Kenya Campbell in the release.

The drive to unionize began last April when residents and fellow physicians notified hospital leaders of their intent to seek collective bargaining. Two months later, the group voted overwhelmingly to form a union in an election held by the National Labor Relations Board.

UMMC released a statement Friday morning underlining its continued commitment to medical education.

“We are pleased that following nearly nine months of good faith negotiations, we reached a collective bargaining agreement with the University of Maryland Resident and Fellow Alliance (UMRFA) union. Throughout this process we have remained focused on providing high-quality and compassionate care for our patients and communities, and we appreciate the passion and innovation our residents and fellows provide to make this possible,” the statement read.