Bargaining Update
Yesterday we met with UW Admin for our 25th bargaining session. Unfortunately, we were not able to Tentatively Agree (TA) on any new articles of our contract. See here for overviews of the proposals that we are still bargaining.
We made substantial progress on the Retaining Institutional Knowledge proposal. This would allow RSEs who are PI’s to apply for UW’s Bridge Fund. If their submission is approved, this fund would allow RSE PIs to “bridge” from one grant to the next one with the goal of retaining talented RSEs working here at UW.
We are still incredibly far apart on our economic proposals. Many RSEs are struggling to work at UW and live in Seattle. One of our main goals is to help the hundreds of RSEs in this situation. Yesterday, we made the difficult choice to withdraw our Housing proposal in order to focus UW on addressing the issue of paying livable wages via our Compensation proposal.
We reminded UW of the data contained within their own salary survey and that our compensation proposal addresses the low salary issue that has worsened every year for the past decade due to UW’s neglect/mismanagement.
UW Admin acknowledged that it is difficult to afford to live in Seattle but also stated that UW does not have a problem with recruitment and retention of RSEs, which to them, indicates that there isn’t a problem with wages for UW RSEs. Simply put, they are suggesting that they have not heard from RSEs that salary is an issue.
April Mass Meeting
Today we held a Mass Meeting on Zoom where over 250 UW Postdocs and RSEs joined to discuss our upcoming actions to hold UW accountable at the bargaining table! At the meeting we adopted a plan to hold a mass rally later in April, along with additional upcoming actions. It was incredibly energizing that members of both units are ready to take action so we can win the fair contracts we deserve.
If you couldn’t make it to the meeting and want to chat with an organizer about it or if you have a question from the meeting please feel free to reach out: contact@uwresearchersunited.
Fair Contracts Now Rally
Please mark your calendars for 4/24, 1pm, at Mary Gates Hall and plan to join for our Fair Contracts Now rally.
Postdocs and RSEs are united in our need for livable wages, equitable workplaces, and holding UW accountable for the Unfair Labor Practices they have committed in bargaining with both units.
RSVP here to attend the Fair Contracts Now rally!
Stay Informed
Stay up to date with our latest news and actions by following our social media accounts: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and also, reach out if you have any questions.
Additionally, if you’d like to keep up with what’s happening more broadly than just our Research Scientist unit, check out the UAW 4121 email updates. Also we are part of UAW Region 6, which represents over 100,000 people across 9 states.
In solidarity,
UWRU/UAW Bargaining Committee
Thaddeus Armstrong
Nick Bolten
Jai Broome
Erin Carll
Morgan Crotta
Iván Cruz
Abby Gambrill
Jay Mas Gilvydis
Anya Kalata
Julia Kobelt
Katherine Lasdin
Ellen MacLachlan
Katie Osterhage
Deborah Nemens
Van Redila
Annelise Smith
Galen Stewart
Jacob Tietsort
Stacey Wedlake
Ryan Will
Tricia Wu