RFPU Working Group Teams are made up of both Board Members and rank and file RFPU/CIR members. All dues-paying RFPU/CIR members can join. You can join at any point in the year – we always need more hands on deck!

Members also have access to join CIR’s national committees where you will be able to network and advocate for residency improvements with coresidents/fellows across the country. All committees are listed below working groups on this page.

If you are interested in starting a new RFPU working group, reach out your Organizer, bwalker@cirseiu.org!

Membership Engagement Team

Recruit incoming interns and current residents and fellows to dues-paying membership. This team is also responsible for communications and outreach to members year round, including social events and workshops. This team also oversees the Program Representatives program. 

Sign-up here to join the ’23-24 Membership Engagement Team!

Political Advocacy Team

Advocate for pro-labor, pro-healthcare, intersectional issues. Work with RFPU-NW staff to leverage key political allies to influence at a local and state level. Lead efforts to identify campaigns and initiatives to endorse and partner with. Team members lead the endorsement process for state and local elections. 

Sign up here to join the Political Advocacy Team!

Grievance Team

Assist the Lead Negotiator with handling grievances and enforcing the contract. Team members will speak with members about potential contract violations and closely coordinate with other groups (particularly Public Relations and Collective Action) as their work relates to grievances.

Sign-up here to join the ’23-24 Grievance Team!

Queer Caucus

Discuss issues facing LGBTQ+ residents at work, fostering community for LGBTQ+ residents, and advocacy for improvements to our work environment for LGBTQ+ residents and patients.

Sign-up here to join Queer Caucus!

Inter-Union Relations Team

Serve as liaisons to the other UW unions. Team members should attend via phone the monthly Union Coalition meeting in which all UW unions discuss the issues they are facing.Team members coordinate with other unions to address shared issues and provide solidarity.Team members also coordinate with resident unions across the nation.

Sign-up here to join the ’23-24 Inter-Union Relations Team!

Collective Action Team

Mobilize the membership to engage in collective actions to support contract negotiations or grievances. This involves formulating strategies for escalation, coordinating board requests for escalation, distributing communication, and assigning various escalation actions to the members of the board. This team works closely with RFPU staff.

Sign-up here to join the ’23-24 Collective Action Team!

Negotiation Team

Lead bargaining at the negotiating table with Labor Relations. This requires prepping all initial proposals and subsequent follow up proposals, in addition to communicating progress with full membership. This team works closely with the Collective Action Working Group to coordinate priority issues with the action timeline. 

Sign-up here to join the ’23-24 Negotiation Team!

Task Force for Care of Patients Experiencing Incarceration

Co-led with trainees from the Housestaff Quality and Safety Council (HQSC), Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows (NURF), and RFPU – NW.

Exploring issues related to the care of incarcerated patients and armed law enforcement presence in our hospitals and clinics. Interest in this topic was spurred by multiple trainee reports of a lack of knowledge regarding how best to care for these patients as well as concerns about patient safety and privacy in the setting of forensic restraints and armed law enforcement officers.

Sign-up here to join the Task Force for Care of Patients Experiencing Incarceration

CIR Reproductive Justice Committee

In addition to robbing patients of human rights and privacy, the criminalization of reproductive healthcare is negatively impacting the ability for residents to obtain training that is comprehensive, safe for patients, and evidence-based. The committee is working to expand access to medication and procedural abortion training, creating resources for residents to understand potential civil and criminal ramifications, and supporting the work of others in repro justice advocacy. 

Sign up here with any interest or questions!

CIR Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DIAR) Task Force

Aims to develop national strategy and advance local organizing around health equity, racial justice and improving social determinants of health for our patients, members and communities. 

Sign up here with any interest or questions!

CIR Committee of Political Education (COPE)

In addition to robbing patients of human rights and privacy, the criminalization of reproductive healthcare is negatively impacting the ability for residents to obtain training that is comprehensive, safe for patients, and evidence-based. The committee is working to expand access to medication and procedural abortion training, creating resources for residents to understand potential civil and criminal ramifications, and supporting the work of others in repro justice advocacy. As many of you may know, we are working on the second year of filing our Interest Arbitration bill, HB 1307. COPE has been and will be integral to passing this legislation to strengthen our bargaining power, and any other legislative or political projects you and your co-residents want to prioritize.

Contact Marisa Szeps at mszeps@cirseiu.org to get involved or with any questions.

CIR Student Debt Committee

The literature demonstrates that debt levels carried by the U.S. physician workforce are negatively associated with mental well-being and academic outcomes, an issue of grave concern given that physicians are most at-risk for burnout and suicide. Debt is also a prime driver in the underrepresentation of minorities in medicine, as rising levels of educational debt disproportionately affects minority students and limits their representation in health professions. The SDC is working to influence the United States Department of Education to implement further debt relief expansions/improvements

Contact Marisa Szeps at mszeps@cirseiu.org to get involved or with any questions.