UW & UAW Postdocs Negotiations Recap for February 13, 2025 and February 19, 2025
Background
This recap details the twelfth and thirteenth sessions of the negotiation for the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UAW Postdocs. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
The parties agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement expiration date from January 31, 2025 to February 28, 2025.
UW Counter Proposals
The Employer proposed a last, best, and final package proposal that included all remaining articles with compensation impact. These included: Article 5 – Childcare, Article 23 – Time and Effort Commitment, Article 32 – Compensation, MOU – PDRs, Article 34 – Duration, and MOU – Overtime.
As part of this package the Employer reiterated their 1/22/25 compensation proposal. The proposal was as follows:
Article 32 – Compensation
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.
UAW Counter Proposals
MOU – Immigration Status and Visas
On 2/13 the Union proposed to add H-4/TD I-539 filing fee and cost of insurance plans required to maintain visa status up to $600 per year to the list of visa related fees the Union proposes the Employer would reimburse.
Next Steps
The next UW & UAW Postdocs bargaining session is scheduled for February 26, 2025 and will be held virtually.