Yesterday, for the first time, postdoctoral workers and research associates sat across the table as equals with the Penn administration in our first bargaining session. In a show of strength and unity, over 25 postdocs and research associates joined our nine-person Bargaining Committee to observe the session and present the 700+ ratification signatures of our ten Initial Bargaining Demands. The crowd arrived energized and ready to negotiate the improved benefits, protections, and rights that we deserve as the workers driving Penn’s world-class research enterprise.
During this first bargaining session:
- Members of our bargaining committee introduced themselves and provided brief commentary on each of our ten initial bargaining demands, which have been ratified by a strong majority of over 700 postdocs and RAs at Penn. They also introduced their academic fields and their own groundbreaking research, emblematic of the work postdocs and research associates do every day at Penn.
- The RAPUP-UAW Bargaining Committee proposed a package of 9 proposals: Severability, Labor Management Meetings, Discipline & Dismissal, Training, Travel, Health & Safety, Worker’s Compensation, Employment Files, and Communication of Agreement. Penn admin has already agreed to the language of these proposals during their negotiations with GETUP-UAW (the union of Penn graduate workers), and we are hopeful that Penn admin will agree to them in the context of our contract without delay.
- Our Bargaining Committee also proposed 5 additional proposals for Penn admin to consider: Recognition, Workload, Workspace & Materials, Job Posting, and Union Security. Penn admin asked clarifying questions about Workload and Job Postings, but otherwise provided little comment on the substance of these proposals.
The session ended with Penn admin stating their intent to respond to the above proposals during the next bargaining sessions, which are scheduled for Thursday, January 8th from 1:00-5:00pm and Thursday, January 22nd from 1:00-5:00pm [locations to be determined].
Click here to RSVP to observe bargaining sessions on 1/8 and 1/22
Bargaining sessions are open to all postdocs and research associates. A key factor to winning a strong contract is for postdocs and research associates to stay informed of the bargaining process and continuously demonstrate our broad and deep support. Attending bargaining helps achieve both of these goals! Plus, the meetings can be suspenseful and informative. So RSVP here to attend an upcoming session.
Postdocs and research associates can read the text of all contract proposals and counterproposals using the RAPUP-UAW 2025-2026 Bargaining Tracker that will be published on our website and updated after each bargaining session.
In solidarity,
Louis Prahl, Postdoctoral Fellow, Bioengineering
Bridget Begg, Postdoctoral Researcher, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Allison Cohen, Postdoctoral Fellow, Pathobiology (Bargaining Committee member)
Will Drayer, Postdoctoral Researcher, Materials Science and Engineering (Bargaining Committee member)
Geordan Stukey, Postdoctoral Researcher, Physiology (Bargaining Committee member)
Monsif Shawkey, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cell and Developmental Biology (Bargaining Committee member)
On behalf of the RAPUP-UAW Organizing Committee