Union leaders tell News12 about 480 doctors will be outside Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla today to hold a rally over contract negotiations and the way talks are being handled.

The hundreds of doctors are part of the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR). The CIR is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union.

Leaders with the union say they've been in contract negotiations for the last 5 months and talks have not been going well. They claim negotiators for the hospital have canceled numerous bargaining sessions and repeatedly offered unacceptable wage increases. Union officials for the interns and residents say they are demanding salaries that are on the same level as other interns and residents in the area, a housing stipend, and compensation for travel expenses on the job.

Union officials say the demands are needed not only to help doctors make ends meet but also to attract good doctors to Westchester Medical Center.

In response, hospital officials sent this statement to News12:

"We have had a number of productive meetings with our medical residents, most recently on May 5, and remain actively engaged in negotiations with another bargaining session scheduled for this week. We look forward to continuing these conversations and look forward to reaching an agreement on a new contract that reflects the respect we have for our residents and the invaluable role they play in patient care."

The hospital is the only Level 1 trauma center in the Hudson Valley.

The rally is scheduled for later this afternoon, hospital officials say the rally will not affect operations, they will be fully staffed, and patient care will go on as usual.