Welcome or welcome back to RFPU/CIR SEIU (Now CIR NW) 
Congratulations on taking this next step in your career and we can’t wait to welcome you to our campus, hospitals, clinics, and organization. We are so happy to have you!
We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some info about the Committee of Interns and Residents Northwest (CIR NW), formerly RFPU, which affiliated in 2022 with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), our union for residents and fellows at the University of Washington!
In the last several years, our union has collectively fought and won huge improvements to training at UW that didn’t exist before. Immediately when you start at UW, you’ll receive benefits that are a direct result of our union fighting for you – like a $8,500 dollar a year housing stipend, a FREE ($600/year) public transportation pass, a 4th week of vacation (and many more). If you want to learn more about what benefits and protections you will receive, check out our contract (collective bargaining agreement). Dues-paying members also receive access to additional benefits. In 2022, we affiliated with the national union representing interns, residents, and fellows, CIR SEIU, giving members access to a number of new benefits, committees, and resources. We were able to score these wins, and can continue to fight for better financial benefits and protections, because so many of us join as dues-paying members of our union.
As you prepare to start in your program, we encourage you to:
- Sign your membership card! We have a strong union because over 70% of residents and fellows at UW are dues-paying members! Membership dues are 1.6% of your salary.
- Join us for a New Member Town Hall to learn more from current residents and board members about residency, Seattle, and being part of your Union.
- Join our Buy/Sell group on Facebook to find an apartment (or even a roommate!), furniture, and more!
- Follow CIR NW and CIR on Social Media to stay up to date on what we’re all doing
- Get Involved! Our union is strong because we all fight together to improve our workplace. We need you too! Reach out directly below to our organizing team about getting involved. for your program. You can also get involved nationally on one of the CIR national committees listed here.
Congrats, again! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about CIR NW, CIR/SEIU, residency, Seattle, or anything else about this new chapter in your life. You can always reach our organizing team for questions below.
Bryce Walker: bwalker@cirseiu.org | 206-247-8192
Sonny Mehta: smehta@cirseiu.org | 929-722-0053
In solidarity,
Your CIR NW Board and Staff
CIR Northwest 