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Privacy Policy What type of information do we collect? We receive, collect and store any information you enter on our website or provide us in any other way. In addition, we collect the Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet; e-mail address. We may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information, and methods used to browse away from the page. We also collect personally identifiable information (including name, email, communications) when supplied to us by the user. How do we collect information? When you use the Contact Us form, as part of the process of replying to your message, we collect personal information you give us (your name and email address), and this information will only be used to reply to your message and provide follow up information as required. We do not directly collect cookies, but as a website hosted on the Wix.com platform, Wix.com collects a small number of essential cookies for website functionality. A list of these cookies can be found at Wix.com . Why do we collect personal information? We collect such Non-personal and Personal Information for the following purposes: To communicate back to individuals who contact us via the site; To create aggregated statistical data and other aggregated and/or inferred Non-personal Information, which we or Wix.com or Google Analytics may use to provide and improve our respective services; To comply with any applicable laws and regulations. How do we store our site visitors' personal information? HSACC.org is hosted on the Wix.com platform. Wix.com provides us with the online platform that allows us to offer online communication services to you. Your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases and the general Wix.com applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall. How do we distribute collected information? We will not disclose without your consent personal information collected about you, except for certain explicit circumstances in which disclosure is required by law. We will not sell personal information to third-party organizations. We will only distribute de-identified information to Wix.com and Google Analytics as required for the functioning of those services. How do we communicate with our site visitors? We may contact you to poll your opinions through surveys or questionnaires and to send updates about our organization. For these purposes we may contact you via email or other method if explicitly requested by you. How can our site visitors withdraw their consent? If you don’t want us to process your data anymore, please contact us using the Contact Us form. Privacy policy updates This Privacy Statement was last revised on April 14, 2022. We reserve the right to modify this privacy policy at any time, so please review it frequently. Changes and clarifications will take effect immediately upon their posting on the website. If we make material changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated, so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it. Responsibility for External Sites: This website may contain links to other web sites. Some of those web sites may be operated by third parties. We provide the links for your convenience, but we do not review, control, or monitor the privacy practices of web sites operated by others. We are not responsible for the performance of web sites operated by third parties or for your business dealings with them. Therefore, whenever you leave this website we recommend that you review each website's privacy practices and make your own conclusions regarding the adequacy of these practices. If you would like to: access, correct, amend or delete any personal information we have about you, you are invited to contact us using the Contact Us form. The following links explain how to access cookie settings in various browsers: Cookie settings in Firefox Cookie settings in Internet Explorer Cookie settings in Google Chrome Cookie settings in Safari (OS X) Cookie settings in Safari (iOS) Cookie settings in Android To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit this link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Your union is led by residents and fellows. The Housestaff Association is run by interns, residents, and fellows at Cook County Health who volunteer their time to represent their departments, support coworkers, raise workplace and education issues, and help enforce the HSA contract. Your HSA representatives are here to help you understand your rights, connect you with the right resources, and bring member concerns to HSA leadership, labor-management meetings, GMEC, MCRC, and other hospital committees. Representatives Contact HSA Not sure who your representative is or where to start? Email: admin@hsacc.org Website: hsacc.org Instagram: @housestaffassociation You can reach out with questions about scheduling, pay, benefits, reimbursements, leave, discipline/remediation concerns, patient care issues, safety concerns, or general union questions. Amelia Lerch HSA President Jessica Akpabio Vice President/Grievance Chair Sabrina Heline Treasurer Noelle Krueger Secretary Find your department rep Department RepresentativesDepartment representatives are the main point of contact between HSA and each residency or fellowship program. Reps help identify workplace issues, share union updates, connect members with resources, and bring department concerns to HSA leadership. Ashkhan Hojati Anesthesiology Warner Robinson Dermatology Jamie Naso Emergency Medicine Anirudh Chitale Emergency Medicine Marina Wolf Emergency Medicine Amelia Lerch President Family Medicine Joseph Rumenapp Grievance Committee Family Medicine Caroline Garcia Family Medicine Jude-Patrick Nnamdi Okafor Family Medicine Noelle Krueger Secretary Internal Medicine Ogaga Urhie Internal Medicine Jessica Akpabio Vice President Grievance Chair Internal Medicine Sabrina Heline Treasurer Internal Medicine Ahamed Milhan Radiology Mackenzie Flynn Organizer and Admin Don’t see a representative from your department? HSA is always looking for residents and fellows who want to help represent their program. You do not need to be a contract expert to get involved, HSA provides support and guidance. Download Representative Petition Download Officer Petition

Find answers to frequently asked questions Having a union means that we are responsible to ourselves and each other. When we stand together we can have power to make positive changes at Stroger/Cook County Health. It’s up to us to ensure that we take care of our patients, ourselves, and raise the standards for residents everywhere. That can only be done through collective bargaining, which gives us a seat at the table with top decision makers to negotiate for what we and our patients deserve. Although we know that residency should be hard work, we also know that it shouldn't mean cuts in staff wellness, and patient care. Throughout the country we have seen what other residents band together as union members and win huge improvements, such as: Paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick, personal, bereavement) Free union / legal representation on the job Fair pay / negotiated raises Health insurance benefits Paid Family and parental leave Paid time for Professional Conventions Education allowance Meal allowances Moonlighting pay Bereavement Leave Patient Care Standards Committee AND MORE Need more information? Contact HSA FAQs Jump to IMG Student FAQ What is a union? A union is simply you and your coworkers coming together to make positive changes you couldn’t otherwise make alone. How could joining HSA benefit me personally as a healthcare worker? By joining HSA, you would gain the power to negotiate collectively for better pay, improved working conditions, benefits, and job security. Unions amplify your voice and provide the opportunity to make positive changes in your workplace. Plus, being part of a union means having access to resources and support when you need it. What role do unions play in improving patient care and safety? Unions understand the critical link between healthcare worker well-being and patient care. HSA actively works to improve patient care and safety by fighting for adequate staffing, necessary resources, and safer environments for our members. This ensures healthcare workers can provide high-quality care to their patients. What are my rights as a union member? Union members get to vote on their own leadership as well as what goes into their contracts. If you have any workplace questions or need representation for a disciplinary meeting you can contact a union representative where you work, the members at each workplace oversee their own union. The union is not an “outsider.” The union is you! What are union dues and how much are they? Your union dues are your power. They pay for the resources you need to win the things you want in your contract, and to enforce that contract once you bargain it. Union members set the price of dues through your democratic governance structure and every penny of it goes to fighting to win better working conditions and grow our members power. They are 1% of the PGY2 Salary. How does collective bargaining work? Your union contract is renegotiated every 4 years. The current contract however has been extended to 2025. Next year you will nominate a group of HSA representatives to bargain collectively for your wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment (starting from where we are at, not zero). As a group you decide what you want to bargain for and your bargaining team will draft proposals and sit down with management / decision makers to negotiate contract changes. Once both sides reach a deal, HSA members will decide whether or not to accept those changes/additions in a vote. Will my employer retaliate if I am in a union? No! Employers cannot infringe on your section 7 workers rights. Meaning that employers cannot threaten you, they cannot spy on union activity - or create the impression of such surveillance, they cannot promise improvements/promotions (however if you were offered a raise your employer would only have to ask your union to ‘Okay’ it) - your employer cannot interrogate you about any union activity, and lastly, your employer cannot punish you for union activity - being involved, talking about your union at work, wearing HSA apparel or buttons, etc. Will I be forced to participate in strikes if I join HSA? No. People don’t choose to strike easily. To go on strike is a last resort that you and your coworkers decide on together through a democratic process when staying at work and accepting less is not an option for you and your families. The vote must show overwhelming support to strike (about 90%) for your bargaining team to be able to call a strike. Your Legal Rights On The Job Your Legal Rights On The Job Your Legal Rights On The Job Your Legal Rights On The Job International Medical Graduates, Visas & Union Rights Can international medical graduates join HSA? Yes. International medical graduates who are interns, residents, or fellows at Cook County Health are part of the HSA bargaining unit and can become dues-paying HSA members.HSA represents housestaff regardless of where they attended medical school, what country they are from, or what visa status they hold. Can J-1 or H-1B residents and fellows join the union? Yes. Residents and fellows on J-1 or H-1B visas can join HSA, participate in union activity, attend meetings, vote if they are dues-paying members, and raise workplace concerns. Union activity is about improving wages, benefits, working conditions, training conditions, and patient care. Joining HSA does not change your visa status. Can my program retaliate against me for joining HSA? No. HSA members have the right to join together to improve working conditions and advocate for themselves and their coworkers. Retaliation for union activity is not allowed. If you ever feel pressured, threatened, questioned, isolated, or treated differently because of union activity, contact HSA right away. I am worried because my visa depends on my training position. Should I still contact HSA? Yes. We understand that IMG residents and fellows may feel extra pressure because their training, employment, and visa status can feel connected. If you are facing a workplace issue, remediation concern, discipline, non-renewal, scheduling issue, pay problem, leave issue, or concern about retaliation, contact HSA early. HSA can help you understand the workplace process, your contract rights, and what support may be available.HSA does not provide immigration legal advice, but we can help identify workplace issues and connect you with appropriate support when needed. Does HSA handle visa sponsorship or immigration paperwork? No. Visa sponsorship and immigration paperwork are handled through the appropriate institutional and immigration channels, such as GME, Cook County Health, ECFMG/Intealth for J-1 physicians, or the relevant immigration office or attorney. HSA can help with workplace and contract-related issues, including if a workplace concern overlaps with training, employment, remediation, leave, or retaliation. Can HSA help if I have concerns about remediation, non-renewal, or advancement? Yes. HSA can help residents and fellows understand contract protections related to evaluations, remediation, discipline, due process, renewal, and advancement through training. If you are placed on remediation, called into a meeting, asked to sign a document, or told your advancement or renewal may be at risk, contact HSA as early as possible. Are IMGs protected if they speak up about patient care, safety, or working conditions? Yes. Residents and fellows should be able to raise concerns about patient care, safety, scheduling, training, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and working conditions. If you are concerned about how to raise an issue safely, contact HSA and we can help you think through the best next step. Who should I contact? For workplace or contract questions, contact HSA: HSA Board: admin@hsacc.org Grievance Support: grievances@hsacc.org For immigration-specific legal advice, visa status questions, or individual immigration strategy, contact the appropriate immigration office or a qualified immigration attorney.

HSA Statement and Solidarity Actions for Friday, January 23 Dear HSA Members, As healthcare workers and union members, we share a core commitment: hospitals must be places of safety, dignity, and care for all people. When policies or enforcement actions create fear in our communities or interfere with access to care, they directly undermine our work as clinicians, learners, and advocates for public health. In recent weeks, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity has intensified across the Midwest, with significant impacts in Minneapolis–St. Paul and here in Chicago. Community members, workers, and healthcare professionals have raised serious concerns about the effects of these actions on immigrant communities, public trust, and safety. In Minnesota, medical staff at public hospitals have publicly expressed alarm about ICE presence in and around healthcare settings, warning that enforcement activity may deter patients from seeking care and disrupt the delivery of safe, effective medical services. These concerns resonate deeply with us at Cook County Health. Many of the patients we serve — and many of our coworkers — are part of immigrant communities that already face structural barriers to accessing care. Actions that increase fear or uncertainty around hospitals risk worsening health outcomes, delaying treatment, and eroding the trust that is essential to patient care and medical education. Healthcare settings should be places of healing and learning — not sites of intimidation or enforcement. In response to the escalation of ICE activity, labor unions and community coalitions in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area have called for a Day of Truth and Freedom on Friday, January 23. This action asks people to withhold labor and economic participation and to engage in protests or solidarity actions as a collective statement in support of immigrant communities and accountability in federal enforcement practices. While Minnesota is the focal point, solidarity actions and conversations are unfolding in cities across the country, including Chicago, reflecting a broader labor and immigrant justice movement. It is important to understand that this call for action is not a traditional, contract-ratified strike under collective-bargaining protocols. Rather, it is a community- and labor-led mobilization grounded in shared values: dignity, safety, and care for working-class and immigrant communities. As healthcare workers and union members, we hold dual responsibilities — the right to engage in protected collective activity and the obligation to safeguard patient care and continuity of services. For this reason, the most responsible ways for healthcare workers to engage are those that honor both our solidarity and our professional commitments. Participating off-duty or in non-work-related ways — such as community events, advocacy, education, or mutual aid — allows members to show support while ensuring that patient care and training responsibilities are not compromised. Actions that interfere with clinical duties or continuity of care may carry professional or contractual consequences, and members should remain mindful of workplace policies. For those who are unable to attend protests or public actions, there are still powerful ways to support communities affected by ICE enforcement. This includes participating in Know-Your-Rights education, supporting mutual aid and legal defense efforts, and contributing to rapid-response funds that provide food, housing assistance, healthcare access, and legal support to impacted families. Collective care takes many forms — and all of them matter. There are also concrete, everyday ways to demonstrate solidarity that are visible, values-aligned, and compatible with our roles as healthcare workers. Solidarity does not have to look the same for everyone. For members who want to participate in visible, values-aligned ways while remaining attentive to patient care and workplace responsibilities, here are a few meaningful options: ·       Wear HSA or union apparel on Friday as a visible sign of solidarity with immigrant communities and the broader labor movement. ·       Participate in the economic blackout where possible by avoiding purchases at the hospital café or nearby businesses across the street during the day. ·       Contribute to mutual aid by bringing: o   Canned or boxed, shelf-stable food, or o   Clean, gently used coats Donation boxes will be available in the main lobby downstairs. If you have questions about appropriate items or distribution, social workers on your floor or in the Emergency Department can help guide you, or you can check in with a Family Medicine resident on the 8th floor. For members who want to take an additional step beyond visible solidarity or mutual aid, contacting elected representatives can also be a quick and effective form of advocacy — and you do not need to be an expert to do it well. Many tools provide short scripts and automatically connect you to the correct offices: ·       5 Calls ( 5calls.org ) — helps you find your federal and state representatives and provides brief call scripts on current issues. ·       USA.gov – Find Your Elected Officials ( usa.gov/elected-officials ) — a direct way to identify your representatives and their contact information. ·       ACLU Action ( aclu.org/action ) — offers advocacy resources and action alerts related to immigrant rights and civil liberties. If helpful, here is a short guiding script: “As a constituent and healthcare worker, I am calling to urge my representative to oppose ICE operations in our cities, particularly in and around healthcare settings. I also urge support for policies that ensure access to care and patient safety for immigrant communities.” These actions may feel small on their own, but taken together, they demonstrate collective care, shared values, and solidarity with communities directly impacted by immigration enforcement — all while honoring our responsibilities as healthcare workers. HSA stands in solidarity with immigrant communities, healthcare workers, and labor organizations calling for systems rooted in care rather than punishment. We remain committed to advocating for hospitals that are safe spaces for healing and learning, to protecting our members, and to supporting the communities we serve. If you have questions or want to talk through how to engage thoughtfully, your HSA representatives are here to support you. In solidarity, Housestaff Association Leadership

Residents united in support of patient safety and optimal learning conditions: Dear Leadership,  We are writing to express our outrage and deep disappointment regarding the sudden and unilateral curricular changes to the Neuro ICU and MICU rotation, changes being implemented in less than one month without adequate notice. Today, we join together in collective action alongside our IM, FM, and EM colleagues because it is clear our voices are not being heard through traditional channels.  These changes were crafted behind closed doors, with little transparency and even less regard for the concerns raised by the Curriculum Committee, our peer-selected representatives who are simply advocating for the best interests of the residents. This is not collaboration. It is dismissal.  With the academic year just over 2 weeks away, there is still no clear or finalized schedule for either ICU rotation. Why are we forcing residents into a mandatory Neuro ICU rotation when there are already issues getting elective time in their specialty of choice, not to mention critical staffing needs in Firm C Blue that would benefit from these same residents? Why not focus efforts on strengthening the general neurology curriculum first, rather than patchworking an ill-conceived plan at our expense?  As for the MICU, in an era when programs nationwide are abandoning 24-hour call structures, this administration is inexplicably reinstating a 24+4 q4 call model. This regressive move worsens the schedule, removes essential supervision for interns on post-call days, and eliminates a valuable learning role for day float seniors—undermining both education and patient safety.  To date, leadership has not even had the courtesy to formally announce these sweeping changes to the IM residents outside of the Curriculum Committee or hold a single Town Hall to hear resident concerns. Since we’ve been denied the opportunity to speak, we are presenting you with the results of our resident survey, which overwhelmingly reflect how deeply unpopular and unsafe these changes are.  We are left with no choice but to take action. This collective action is not symbolic—it is necessary. Our learning, safety, and dignity demand better.  The IM Residents  Click here to review the polling data from the Internal Medicine Residents.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our priorities! Your experiences and insights are incredibly valuable and will significantly guide us during negotiations. Cook County Hospital 1975 - Photo taken by the HSA Recently, we’ve identified several key issues that we plan to tackle: - A salary increase that reflects the current market value for our collective. - Ensuring that HR promptly informs the board when union representation is requested. - If residents are asked to take on leadership duties, such as creating schedules or organizing purchases for study materials and clothing, they should be compensated fairly, including an increase in pay for chiefs. - Updating the pay schedule to align with our start and transition dates of July 1. - Introducing new provisions regarding termination or leaves of absence. - Adding language for penalties related to violations of the contract. The bargaining process thrives on collaboration and requires compromise. While we may not be able to achieve all our goals right away, we can still make meaningful strides over time. It’s crucial for us to understand how these issues have impacted you and your program. Your feedback will help us hone in on what truly matters to all of us. Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective—we genuinely appreciate it! If you're serious about securing a strong contract, join the union today . Remember, only union members can vote on contract changes —By signing up now and working together, we have the power to advocate effectively for the changes we demand. For more information about the House Staff Association please visit our website: hsacc.org   or contact HSA @ admin@hsacc.org . To file a grievance, please email grievances@hsacc.org .