Tomorrow, Tuesday May 19th, from 1-5pm at The Study [directions here], Postdocs and Research Associates will meet Penn admin for our ninth bargaining session. Last week’s bargaining session saw us win a tentative agreement on Protections Against Harassment and Discrimination, a hugely important part of our contract. Come observe tomorrow’s bargaining session for any portion of the afternoon and help continue the momentum.
Upcoming Events and Announcements
- Philadelphia Primary Elections (Tuesday, May 19): Polls for the 2026 Primary Elections will be open from 7am to 8pm. Find your polling place using this link. Additional information, including sample ballots, can be found at this link.
- RAPUP-UAW Petition for Longer Appointment Lengths and Increased Support for International Researchers (ongoing): In order to make progress in our upcoming bargaining sessions, Postdocs and Research Associates must show Penn that a strong majority of us expect to see responses to some of our highest priorities. 700 Postdocs and Research Associates across Penn have added their names to a letter demanding the university come to a fair agreement without delay on our proposals relating to Appointments and Reappointments and International Researcher Rights. If you have not already done so, take 30 seconds to read the letter and add your name using this link.
- Bargaining Session (Tuesday, May 19): Our next bargaining session is on May 19th from 1-5pm. RSVP here to attend as an observer. You can stay 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).
- Movie Night (Friday, May 29): From 4-5:30pm, join other academic workers for a screening of Partners: How Starbucks Baristas Started a Labor Revolution, a documentary about the origins of the growing movement to unionize Starbucks. Following the 40-minute documentary will be a Q&A with a local barista-organizer, after which the group will go to the RAPUP-UAW Spring Happy Hour (see below). RSVP using this link.
RAPUP-UAW Spring Happy Hour (Friday, May 29): From 5-8pm, join other Postdocs and Research Associates for a happy hour celebration at Frankie’s Summer Club at 15th and Pine [directions here].
In Solidarity,
Rebecca Risman, Postdoctoral Researcher, Cell and Developmental Biology
On behalf of the RAPUP-UAW Organizing Committee