POSTDOCS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES DESERVE MORE REGULAR AND TIMELY BARGAINING SESSIONS TO CONTINUE PROGRESS ON A FIRST CONTRACT
On Tuesday, Postdocs and Research Associates met with the Penn administration for our fourteenth bargaining session. The session was productive, with a room full of observers and Tentative Agreements reached on three proposals: Workloads, Grievance and Arbitration, and No Strike/No Lockout. At the same time, Penn continued its pattern of bargaining with a lack of urgency that is disrespectful to postdoctoral workers across campus. Not only are we waiting on responses from Penn on seventeen outstanding proposals, but Penn did not confirm any upcoming bargaining dates. Postdocs and Research Associates see these delay tactics for what they are, and remain committed to organizing our coworkers and escalating our campaign to achieve a fair contract in a timely manner.
Also during Tuesday’s bargaining session:
- We reached Tentative Agreements on Workloads and Grievance and Arbitration. This means that for the first time ever, Postdocs and Research Associates will have enforceable protections against excessive overwork, as well as a defined process to hold Penn accountable when any provision of our contract is violated.
- We also reached a Tentative Agreement on No Strike/No Lockout, which stipulates that no strikes or lockouts will occur while the contract is in effect.
- We continue to wait on responses from Penn to seventeen other proposals, including to our latest proposals on International Researcher Rights and Appointments and Reappointments.
- Penn did not confirm future bargaining dates. Postdocs and Research Associates will continue to push for timelier and more regular bargaining sessions so that we can achieve the contract we deserve without delay.
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.
In solidarity,
Chadni Sanyal, Postdoctoral Researcher, Cell and Developmental Biology
On behalf of the RAPUP-UAW Organizing Committee