This past Thursday, Postdocs and Research Associates met with the Penn administration for a seventh bargaining session.
During the session:
- We passed the Penn admin two counterproposals on Discipline and Dismissal and Job Postings. The former proposal will protect Postdocs and Research Associates from being unfairly dismissed from their positions while the latter provides clarity regarding the information to be included in job postings for Postdocs and Research Associates.
- The university passed three counterproposals on Union Access and Rights, Grievance and Arbitration, and Prohibition Against Harassment and Discrimination.
- The next bargaining date offered by the university is May 14th, nearly a month from now. While steady progress has been made thus far, Penn admin has yet to respond to fourteen of our proposals, including those relating to high priorities such as Appointments and Reappointments and International Researcher Rights. We hope that a month will provide Penn admin the time necessary to craft serious responses to more of our proposals, but know that it is up to Postdocs and Research Associates to demonstrate our collective strength, drive momentum in the bargaining room, and win on our biggest demands.
- The next two bargaining sessions will occur on May 14th and May 19th 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.
By our next bargaining session on May 14th, it will have been four months since we introduced proposals on Appointments and Reappointments and International Researcher Rights. It’s time for Postdocs and Research Associates to show Penn that we expect them to craft a serious response to these proposals. That is why over 550 Postdocs and Research Associates have signed on to a letter of support for these proposals. If you have yet to do so, take thirty seconds to add your name – every signature puts more pressure on Penn to act with the urgency we deserve!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Bargaining Sessions: Our next bargaining session is on May 14th 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).
- May Day “Workers Over Billionaires” Rally: On May 1st, 2026 at 4:00pm, Postdocs and Research Associates will join thousands of workers from across the region for a May Day rally at City Hall as we call for a Philadelphia that stands with workers over billionaires!
In solidarity,
Allison Cohen, Postdoctoral Fellow, Pathobiology (member of RAPUP-UAW Bargaining Committee)
Naomi Zucker, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nursing (member of RAPUP-UAW Bargaining Committee)
Estela Noguera-Ortega, Research Associate, Radiology (member of RAPUP-UAW Bargaining Committee)
On behalf of the RAPUP-UAW Organizing Committee