We are thrilled to share that a supermajority of the 1,500 research associates and postdocs at Penn have signed over 1,000 cards in support of forming our union! Yesterday, we filed our petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to have an official vote to form our union. Once an election is scheduled and a majority of postdocs and research associates vote “yes,” we will elect a bargaining committee made up of research associates and postdocs, decide on our shared priorities democratically, and start negotiations with Penn.
On Wednesday, we also delivered a letter to Penn admin signed by over 100 research associates and postdocs from across the university calling on Penn to remain neutral and meet with us to discuss a fair and efficient process to verify our majority support. You can still read the letter here.
The next step on the road to securing the improvements and security we deserve will be voting yes in a union election!
Still have questions about the unionization process? Penn research associates and postdocs are organizing a town hall to discuss lessons learned from other postdoc unions and answer any questions about our upcoming union election. Stay tuned for more information!
In solidarity,
Will Drayer, postdoc in Materials Science and Engineering
Nathan Hager, postdoc in Psychiatry
Jani Bilchak, postdoc in Psychiatry
On behalf of the RAPUP-UAW Organizing Committee