This past Tuesday, Postdocs and Research Associates met with the Penn administration for a sixth bargaining session.
During the session:
- We reached a Tentative Agreement on Recognition. This proposal spells out the job titles that are included in our union and recognizes RAPUP-UAW as our union. This represents the ninth agreement we have reached with the university.
- We introduced a third counterproposal on Union Access and Rights and second counterproposals on Grievance and Arbitration and Prohibitions Against Discrimination and Harassment. These three articles are crucial for Postdocs and Research Associates to be able to effectively communicate the rights and protections established by our contract (Union Access and Rights), to secure additional protections against harassment and discrimination at work (Prohibitions Against Discrimination and Harassment), and to establish a clear process to enforce our contract.
- Penn introduced counterproposals for Workload, Discipline and Dismissal, and Job Postings. Most notably, Penn admin repeatedly insisted that there is no need for language that would establish protections against overwork in our contract, which our initial Workload proposal included.
- During a caucus, we drafted our own counterproposal on Workload that reinserted language that would protect against instances of overwork by including language asserting that work schedules should be “reasonable and related to research needs.”
- The next bargaining sessions will occur on Thursday, April 16, from 1-5pm at The Study (20 S 33rd St) [directions here].
The text of all proposals and counterproposals can be read using the RAPUP-UAW 2025-2026 Bargaining Tracker that will be published on our website and updated after each bargaining session.
Penn admin still has not responded to our proposals that would establish longer initial appointments and increased support for international researchers. Postdocs and Research Associates need to show Penn that we are serious about winning the security that these proposals would secure! That is why researchers are continuing to sign on to a letter of support for these proposals. Over 500 Postdocs and Research Associates have added their name. If you have yet to do so, take thirty seconds to add your name – every signature puts more pressure on Penn to take these priorities seriously at the bargaining table! Take a moment to add your name and help reach a goal of 800 signers!
Upcoming Events
- Bargaining Sessions: Our next bargaining session is on April 16th from 1-5pm. RSVP here. You can attend for any portion of the day. Check the #organizing channel on Slack for live updates of bargaining (and reply to this email if you want to be added to Slack).
- RAPUP-UAW First Friday Happy Hour: Join Postdocs and Research Associates at a monthly union happy hour at The Post (129 S 30th St) from 5 – 8pm. Friends and family are welcome. Direction here.
In Solidarity,
Anabel Zabala-Peñafiel, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pathobiology
On behalf of the RAPUP-UAW Organizing Committee