Today, our Bargaining Committee had our sixth bargaining session with the UMass Chan Administration. UMass presented counterproposals on Job Postings, Employment Offer Letters, and Union Dues. We presented counterproposals on Paid Time Off and Prayer Space. We have asked for increased paid time off, consistent with other employees at UMass with similar employment status. We also asked that UMass provide quiet spaces for prayer and meditation. They previously provided us with a current list of these types of spaces, half of which are lab storage spaces and which are only located in two buildings where postdocs work. You can find all of the proposals and counterproposals on our bargaining tracker here.
We are glad that UMass is responding to our proposals. However, their counterproposals are largely a restatement of the status quo policies that postdocs have dealt with for years. While some parts of these policies are acceptable, we did not unionize to maintain the status quo. We will continue to push for improved conditions and a fair contract that serves our members.
Show your support for our fight for a fair contract now by coming to our next bargaining session on Wednesday, January 7 from 2-4pm—RSVP here.
In solidarity,
Courtney Price, Systems Biology, Shank Lab
Dan Bollen, Department of Medicine, Pukkila-Worley Lab
Ivano Mocavini, Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Rando Lab
Karthika Nagalekshmi, Program in Molecular Medicine, Luban Lab
Brittany Rosener, Systems Biology, Mitchell Lab
CORE-UAW Postdoc Bargaining Committee