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UVM Medical Center unions reach tentative agreement in contract negotiations

Union doctors and staff workers at the University of Vermont Medical Center, along with their supporters, call for a fair contract during a rally in Burlington on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

By Olivia GiegerPublished Oct 6, 2026, 4:12 PMUpdated Oct 7, 20263 min read

A group holds signs reading "Support Doctors" in front of the University of Vermont Medical Center's emergency entrance sign.

" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/doctor-rally-3-20260604-1200x798.jpg" /> Union doctors and staff workers at the University of Vermont Medical Center, along with their supporters, call for a fair contract during a rally in Burlington on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Both the support staff and technical professional unions at the University of Vermont Medical Center have reached tentative, two-year contract agreements with their employer, both the hospital and union representatives confirmed Tuesday.

The agreement comes just days after both unions voted to give their bargaining teams the OK to call for a strike. The tentative agreement now goes to a vote for union members on whether to ratify the contracts. Voting is set to open on Wednesday and run through Sunday, according to union representatives.

“I’m grateful to our union partners for their collaboration and commitment to working with us, remaining at the bargaining table and reaching an agreement that recognizes the important contributions of our employees and supports our ability to care for our region for many years to come,” Dr. Steven Leffler, the president and CEO of UVM Medical Center and its parent company, wrote in a statement.

“Months of thoughtful work went into reaching this agreement and we look forward to building on the productive discussions that focus on supporting our people, providing high-quality care for our patients and our shared commitment to addressing the affordability challenges facing all Vermonters,” he said.

UVM Medical Center is facing steep losses in revenue and striving to cut its expenses. The network has cut more than 300 positions, in two rounds of layoffs in June and September, as part of its effort to reduce expenses. Those combined cuts included managerial staff and union members alike, all across the UVM Health system. More staff cuts are inevitable, hospital executives said in September.

The two unions have been jointly negotiating new contracts since April. Together, the support staff and technical professionals unions represent more than 3,000 employees at the Burlington medical center. The support staff union includes workers such as licensed nursing assistants and schedulers, while the technical professionals’ union includes roles such as lab and sterilization technicians.

Negotiations have centered around issues of staffing levels, with the unions pushing the hospital management for more say in how many employees per floor constitutes a safe number.

The joint-bargaining also pushed for a series of “common good” proposals, including a request for the hospital to cooperate with state efforts for universal healthcare and for the hospital to source dairy products through Migrant Justice’s Milk with Dignity program.

Representatives from both the union and the hospital declined to offer more details on what is included in this tentative contract agreement until after the union vote.

Read the story on VTDigger here: UVM Medical Center unions reach tentative agreement in contract negotiations.

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UVM Medical Center unions reach tentative agreement in contract negotiations

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