News & Views item - August 2010

 

 

University of California Postdocs Accept 5-Year Contract Proposal. (August 16, 2010)

Back in November 2008 a group of University of California postdoctoral researchers who were affiliated with the United Auto Workers were certified as the official bargaining agent for the over 6,500 postdocs (10% of the US total) at the system's 10 campuses (see Impasse Between the University of California and is Postdocs).

 

By May 2010 TFW reported that "after 18 months of trying to negotiate their first-ever labour agreement, [the matter came] to the notice of the US House of Representatives, and the Education and Labor Committee and after hearing testimony the Committee chairman  said that he had serious doubts about the university's allegations that the union's offer would pose a serious financial risk. 'What we learned today in this hearing is that so far there's no evidence that that's the case,' Miller said."

 

Now in a vote of 2,588 for, 121 against UC postdocs have accepted the agreement proposed by the PRO/UAW (Postdoctoral Researchers Organize/United Auto Workers), which will represent the postdoctoral researchers at the 10 UC campuses. According to the proposal, which now must be accepted by the University of California's Board of Regents, Postdoc salaries will rise from 1.5% to 3% this fall under the new contract, and then gradually conform with the standards set by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which lists recommended salaries for postdocs based on their experience. The NIH guidelines call for paying a first-year postdoc $37,740, rising to $47,940 by the fifth year.

 

University of California spokesman Steve Montiel says: "It'll cost UC millions more a year, but we're confident we can handle it."

 

In return the university will retain the power to impose layoffs and the postdocs agreed to a no-strike provision for the 5-year duration of the contract. However, the new contract forbids layoffs without "just cause" and the postdocs gained the right to file grievances for alleged discrimination or sexual harassment.

 

ScienceInsider points out: "The UC contract is not the first with a labor union for U.S. postdocs. The 125 postdocs at the University of Connecticut Health Center won representation in 2003 and negotiated their first contract in 2004, and postdocs at other institutions in New England have similar agreements. But the UC union is by far the largest unit."