UW & UAW Postdocs Negotiations Recap for January 22, 2025
Background
This recap details the tenth session of the negotiation for the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UAW Postdocs. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
UW Counter Proposals
Article 32 – Compensation
In response to the Union, the Employer changed their proposal from, Postdoctoral Scholars and Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellows would receive no less than a one percent (1%) salary/stipend increase on the anniversary date of their most recent appointment during 2025, 2026, and 2027 to Postdoctoral Scholars and Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellows would receive no less than a two percent (2%) salary/stipend increase on the anniversary date of their most recent appointment during 2025 and no less than a one percent (1%) salary/stipend increase on the anniversary date of their most recent appointment during 2026 and 2027. Any increase beyond two percent (2%) in 2025 or one percent (1%) in 2026 and 2027, is at the discretion of the supervisor and is dependent upon available funding. An individual Postdoctoral Scholar who has received a retention increase in the past 12 months is not automatically entitled to an additional salary/stipend increase for 12 months from effective date of the last retention increase.
MOU – Immigration Status and Visas
In response to the Union, the Employer added that in addition to the J-1 SEVIS I-901 fee and the OPT I-765 filing fee that the University currently reimburses, the Principal Investigators/Departments may cover the cost of the H-1B/TN I-539 filing fee and/or up to $1000 per year for the cost of insurance plans required to maintain visa status. The amount and decision to cover additional visa related fees is at the discretion of the PI/department, is dependent upon available funding and must follow department procedures for reimbursement or payment.
UAW Postdocs Counter Proposals
Article 32 – Compensation
In response to the Employer, the Union changed their proposal to:
Effective January 1, 2025, a minimum of $78,000 for all job titles.
The Union maintained their proposal that the minimum would increase by 9% on January 1 of each consecutive year of this agreement. The Union proposed that all Postdoctoral Scholars be raised to at least to the minimum salary rate level on January 1 of each year, or receive an increase of at least 2% on the anniversary date of each year of their appointment, whichever is greater.
The Union maintained their proposal that when extramural agencies establish stipends at a rate less than the University established stipend/salary minimum, the University would provide a supplement such that the total stipend/salary is at least equal to the experience scale minimum in this article.
The Union maintained their proposal that Postdoctoral Scholar Fellows and Postdoctoral Paid Directs would receive a payment in the amount of 5% the total stipend/salary amount for each month period in the title of Postdoctoral Scholar Fellow and Postdoctoral Paid Direct. The stated intention of this payment is to support the Postdoctoral Scholar Fellow’s and Postdoctoral Paid Direct’s long-term financial planning.
Article 5 – Childcare
The Union lowered their proposal for the University’s Postdoctoral Scholar childcare fund, that assists in childcare expenses, from $150,000 per year up from $120,000 per year. The Union is still proposing that the Employer would provide a 10% discount to all Postdoctoral Scholars to for local area childcare facilities for full time daycare services. The Union proposed that the Employer would provide 50 hours of care at a local childcare facility for the purpose of childcare emergencies, per year, for each Postdoctoral Scholar.
MOU – Immigration Status and Visas
In response to the Employer, the Union proposed to add H-1B/TN I-539 filing fee and cost of insurance plans required to maintain visa status up to $900 per year to the list of visa related fees the Union proposes the Employer would reimburse. The Union added language that the Employer could reimburse additional fees and cost of insurance plans beyond the above with the amount and decision to cover additional visa related fees would be at the discretion of the PI/department, and is dependent upon available funding.
MOU-Postdoctoral Scholar Paid Direct
In response to the Employer, the Union proposed that only Postdoctoral Scholar Paid Direct’s making less than the current the Postdoctoral Scholar minimum salary would be eligible for the stipend that is intended to help defray the costs related to healthcare. The Union lowered their proposal for the amount from $889.54 to $800 per month. The Union is proposing that Postdoctoral Scholar Paid Direct’s receiving more than the current Postdoctoral Scholar minimum salary but less than the current Postdoctoral Scholar minimum salary plus the amount of this healthcare stipend would receive the difference between these amounts, distributed as their monthly healthcare stipend.
Next Steps
The next UW & UAW Postdocs bargaining session is scheduled for January 28, 2025 and will be held virtually.