RSVP to attend one of our upcoming Bargaining Sessions!
On November 19 we held our eighteenth bargaining session with WCM. We are pleased that we reached tentative agreements with the WCM administration on two economic articles, professional development and insurance benefits (see below). We also responded to WCM’s economic counter proposals (in which they refused to deviate from the status quo in most areas) with counters of our own. Our economic counters are crucial to improving postdoc quality of life here at WCM, including:
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Salary: We rejected WCM’s proposal of a minimum of $73,500 with no considerations for prior postdoc or equivalent experience. We formally countered their proposal with a minimum salary of $78,000 with increases based on total years of experience. We proposed that union members receive 90 days back pay once a contract is reached. Furthermore we proposed annual step increases or increases of 3%, whichever is greater.
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Emergency Support Fund: We proposed a fund to support postdocs experiencing an unexpected significant financial hardship.
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Housing: We proposed guaranteed housing, capping rent increases at 2%. Additionally, we proposed that domestic partners do not need to provide documentation as proof of relationship.
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Childcare: We proposed that WCM pay into a dependent care flexible spending account for postdocs to use to pay childcare expenses.
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Sick Days: We proposed 15 sick days.
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Vacation: We countered the WCM proposal with 20 days of vacation.
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Birth Parent / Parental leave: We proposed 8 weeks of birth parent leave, and an additional 12 weeks of parental leave.
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Relocation: We proposed that each newly hired postdoc would receive $2,500 for relocation expenses.
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Parking & Transportation: We strongly believe that postdocs living on Roosevelt Island shall maintain access to timely shuttle services to and from WCM campus, and therefore reiterated this in our counter proposal.
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Wellness: In an effort to improve postdocs work life balance, and quality of life, we proposed access to Lasdon and Olin gyms for postdocs who do not currently live in a building with gym facilities.
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Holidays: We proposed adding 4 personal days (distinct from vacation) to our existing calendar.
It is crucial that postdocs show the WCM administration that we are united! At the next bargaining session, we hope to hear WCM’s responses to our economic counter-proposals. Show your support for equity and fair compensation by signing up to be an observer at the next bargaining session on December 2 12pm-4pm.
In solidarity,
Caitlin Weiss
WCMPU-UAW Bargaining Committee
Summary of provisional tentative agreements:
Professional Development: Enshrines WCM’s support for postdocs’ professional development opportunities, including the ability to request financial support from PIs without being unreasonably denied.
Insurance Benefits: Preserves our current access to medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance benefits, including a plan with partial coverage for oocyte cryopreservation.