Last updated: July 30, 2026
This recap details the seventh session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University of Washington and UAW Postdoctoral Scholars.
Tentative Agreements
The parties agreed to maintain current contract language in the following Article:
- Article 25: Titles and Classifications
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Union Counter Proposals
Article 4: Appointments and Reappointments
The Union reasserted its proposal to increase the initial appointment length minimum for Postdoctoral Scholars or Postdoctoral Scholar Follows from one (1) to two (2) years, but counter proposed additional language that would allow the University the discretion to release a Postdoctoral Scholar on their first anniversary date. The Union also reasserted their proposal to increase the notice period for a Postdoctoral Scholar reappointment from thirty (30) calendar days to sixty (60) calendar days.
Article 5: Childcare
The Union adjusted its proposal to increase the Postdoctoral Scholar childcare fund from $75,000 annually by counter proposing to increase the annual fund pool to $175,000 annually reduced from their previous proposal of $200,000 annually.
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The Union presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. The full contents of the package are outlined below:
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Article 1: Purpose and Intent
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to maintain current contract language in this Article.
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Article 3: Management Rights
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to maintain current contract language in this Article.
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Article 15: No Strikes, No Lockouts
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to maintain current contract language in this Article.
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Article 27: Transportation
As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to the Employer’s initial proposal as presented during the June 29 bargaining session.
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Article 28: Travel Pay
As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to the Employer’s counter proposal as presented during the July 13 bargaining session.
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Employer Counter Proposals
Article 14: Layoff
The Employer countered the Union’s initial proposal in this Article and instead proposed maintaining current contract language.
Article 27: Transportation
The Employer reasserted its initial proposal as presented during the June 29 bargaining session.
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The Employer presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. The full contents of the package are outlined below:
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Article 8: Health and Safety
As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s counter proposal as presented during the June 29 bargaining session.
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Article 16: Non-Discrimination and Harassment
The Employer counter proposed to include language that falls outside of UW Executive Order 81 in the workplace behavior section which maintains those protections in the proper place. The language states the Employer and the Union would agree that all employees would not engage in any practices or pursue any policy that would be discriminatory against any employee based on ethnic origin, political affiliation, medical condition, or membership in a Union.
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Article 36: Reasonable Accommodations
As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s counter proposal as presented during the June 12 bargaining session.
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MOU: Empowering Prevention and Inclusive Communities (EPIC) Training
The Employer adjusted its proposal around FTEs allowed for trainers so that unfulfilled Postdoctoral Scholar appointments as a trainer could be combined and offered at either 0.3 FTE or 0.4 FTE and that the total FTE between the UAW Postdoctoral Scholar and UAW Research contracts would not exceed 0.8 FTE.
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MOU: Transition Support
As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to withdraw their proposal to create this new MOU.
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The Employer presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. The full contents of the package are outlined below:
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Article 23: Time and Effort Commitment
The Employer proposed to move the provisions of MOU: Overtime into this Article.
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Article 32: Compensation
The Employer presented its initial compensation package and proposed to increase the minimum salaries/stipends for Postdoctoral Scholars and Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellows by one percent (1%) effective January 1, 2027, and an additional one percent (1%) increase to salary/stipend minimums effective January 1, 2029. The Employer also proposed to increase individual Postdoctoral Scholar and Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow salaries/stipends by one percent (1%) effective January 1, 2027 and an additional one percent (1%) effective January 1, 2029.
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MOU: Overtime
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to strike this MOU and incorporate its provisions into Article 23: Time and Effort Commitment.
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MOU: Postdoctoral Scholar Paid Direct
The Employer proposed to replace healthcare stipend amounts for Postdoctoral Scholars Paid Direct with placeholder amounts to be determined when an agreement is reached.
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Next Steps
The next UAW Postdoc bargaining session is scheduled for Monday, August 10 and will be held virtually on Zoom.