About Us
Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn-UAW is an organization by, of, and for Penn postdocs and research associates who want to unionize in order to improve our research and employment experience at the University of Pennsylvania. Our research not only benefits the university and the economy, but our groundbreaking research advances have worldwide positive impacts. We work in many different fields and have varied experiences, but our dedication to research unites us all.
I want a postdoc union at Penn because I want to make being a postdoc at Penn better. I want better pay and benefits, and I want the same for my fellow workers. When the terms of our employment are better for us, we will spend less time and energy balancing our finances and health, and ultimately do better work for ourselves and Penn.
A postdoc union is needed to protect international postdocs from unfair and unlawful retaliation and termination as well as provide a mechanism to combat labor exploitation.
As an international postdoc, I’ve noticed a significant gap in information about working conditions and visa renewals. I strongly believe that joining a legally recognized community, such as a union created by and for us, would improve our access to crucial information and empower us to make more informed decisions about our professional careers.
Postdocs and research associates at Penn and beyond are treated as temporary trainees, despite our significant expertise and contributions to world-changing research advances. Most postdocs are in a stage of life where they would like to be doing the major tasks of adulthood, like buying a house, supporting a family, or saving for retirement. None of this is feasible under current working conditions. We need a union so that we can have a strong and legally protected voice in our workplace and stop operating in a vulnerable liminal space where we are unable to move forward with our lives. We join with a national movement pushing for labor rights in academia so that we can live the lives we want while doing the science we love.
Postdocs make significant contributions to the progress of research and to their university’s reputation, but are vastly underpaid and under-appreciated by their institutions. The precarious nature of our employment also poses great risk for this line of work, particularly for international postdocs. I want a union so I and my fellow postdocs can feel secure in our positions and empowered to push for better pay, more benefits, and more respect within our academic communities.
I believe that the formation of a union will provide Penn postdocs with a representative group equipped to provide positive change. It will generate elevated job security for the postdoc community, help combat inequalities faced by internationals, enhance the overall quality of life and importantly, provide a resource that postdocs can use to address concerns affecting their career and research. As of now, many universities across the US have successfully formed postdoc unions and have demonstrated that change is possible. Here at Penn, we strive to develop a union that will do just that.
Coming from a country where union membership is the default, I have developed a deep appreciation for the role unions play. Beyond negotiating salaries, unions are crucial for addressing power imbalances between employers and employees. This is particularly vital for international postdocs, who may face additional challenges due to their visa dependence on their employer. With union support, postdoctoral researchers gain enhanced negotiating power to improve their working conditions and access legal protection when needed. Everyone deserves a safe and fair work environment, and unions help ensure that these standards are upheld.
Coming from abroad, I am acutely aware that us international postdocs are in a particularly vulnerable position in academic research. I know that a union will help us protect our status here in the US and will support our unique needs.
A postdoc union at Penn will finally give us a say in the conditions of our employment and the often opaque and frustrating policies put forward by the administration. We will also strengthen our sense of community and empower each-other to create an environment in which we all can thrive personally and professionally.
As a CSE Grad Student at UW, it was easy to feel isolated and siloed, head-down in my research. It was through our union (UAW 4121) that I had the chance to meet my fellow graduate students and understand the diversity of workplace experiences across the university. Additionally, between increased pay, transportation benefits, and most importantly health benefits, the return-on-investment of my union dues were substantial. I believe that a similar union among postdocs at Penn can foster that same sense of community and enable us to bargain for those same benefits, commensurate with our education and experience.
Postdocs and research associates are the backbone of academic research. Despite playing this critical role, we are not compensated adequately and are often treated as temporary workers. Through a union, our voices will be heard, and we will be able to advocate for the positive change necessary to make Penn a more equitable place to work.
Postdocs and research associates at Penn deserve benefits and protections that reflect our role as skilled academic workers and scientific collaborators – not as trainees held back by university stinginess at a multi-billion dollar institution.
I want to form a union to ensure all postdocs have equitable access to benefits. It is shameful that a leading research institution will not provide 401K, commuter benefits, or maternity leave. Many who decide to stay in academia feel as though they are putting their life on hold to do so.