Negotiations are still ongoing between unionized staff and Rutgers.

This time, it involves resident physicians and fellows at Rutgers New Jersey and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Schools.

The doctors are calling for better pay and more mental health care coverage, citing the emotional toll of their jobs.

Mental health writer Bobby Brier joins me with the very latest.

Bobby, I mean, better pay has been part of a lot of the contract negotiations that are ongoing at Rutgers.

But what specifically are these residents looking for when it comes to mental health coverage?

Yeah, Briana, right now, residents are really focused on the sticking point with Rutgers University when it comes to an additional mental health care benefit.

Right now, a number of union members that are resident doctors at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson receive mental health care coverage through the state employee benefit plan, mostly through providers like Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

But they're saying that right now, due to the emotional tolls of extended work hours, that this just is not adequate enough to cover the costs.

So they're asking that the university pay into a union benefit plan at about $25 per resident per month, essentially to provide an additional or supplemental mental health care coverage in addition to what they receive from the state right now.

So how much would that add up to for the Rutgers administration?

And where do they stand on the request.

You know, right now, per year, per resident, Rutgers would be paying around $300 about their per resident into this plan.

Right now, a spokesperson for the university that I have spoken with said in a statement that they're continuing to negotiate in good faith, as they have said with the union.

They did not give any specifics as to whether they will support this as contract negotiations are continuing.

But and that demand is still very high among those union members.

Yeah, so I'm curious, I mean, does this differ from what similar workers get at other health care facilities and hospitals?

You know, as union members had pointed to that I spoke to, you know, this really doesn't differ that much at all.

And it almost makes it competitive edge that if union members had said if these medical students were able to get this, you know, or maybe attract even more residents to these programs, essentially a number of other programs throughout the region provide this additional supplemental mental health benefit that would help folks in serious times when they're, you know, making around $15 an hour.

Is there a potential, Bobby, for this to peak like it did back in April when the contract negotiations started?

There were a number of on campus strikes that was at Rutgers University proper the three campuses in the state.

I mean, could we see it get to that level where these medical workers are going on strike or at the very least picketing You know, Briana, I think it has that potential right now.

They have called what was at a time a unity break a few months ago, essentially you know, not doing a total work stoppage, but being outside and being vocal in front of University hospital in Newark, essentially expressing their demands.

It remains to be seen right now whether it would get to the point of a complete strike.

But they are getting to the point where these negotiations have continued since last summer and no contract has been fulfilled yet so there will be another hearing tomorrow between these two sides.

And it really remains to be seen whether a contract negotiation will come from this.

Yeah, it's been a long road for all sides there.

Bobby Brier, thanks so much.

Thank you, Briana.