Last updated: August 18, 2026
This recap details the tenth session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University of Washington and UAW Postdoctoral Scholars.
Union Counter Proposals
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:
-
MOU: Immigration Status and Visas
The Union accepted the Employer’s proposed language that the University would make good faith efforts to respond to employees requiring assistance from International Scholars Operations (ISO), as well as language allowing units to request employees be moved to H-1B status before exhausting their employment authorization, and language stating that costs of the H-1B premium processing fee would not be passed onto the Postdoctoral Scholar. The Union also accepted the Employer’s proposal to include the TN-129 filing fee as being eligible for reimbursement but also proposed that filing fees for I-539 status and I-765 for dependents would be eligible for reimbursement as well. The Union reasserted their initial proposal elsewhere in this MOU.
-
New Side Letter: Immigration Support Program
As part of this package proposal, the Employer would agree to the Union’s initial proposal for a new side letter as presented during the June 29 bargaining session.
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:
-
Article 19: Professional Development and Career Counseling
The Union proposed new language that would require the University to maintain a centralized website containing professional development resources available to Postdoctoral Scholars and to issue a twice-yearly newsletter with current and upcoming professional development opportunities for Postdoctoral Scholars. The Union adjusted its proposed fund amount for their proposed UW Postdoc Travel Awards Program, now proposing that fund be $40,000. The Union also reasserted their proposed new language that Postdoctoral Scholars not be excluded from serving as an official instructor of record and receiving compensation for teaching for-credit classes.
-
MOU: Professional Development
As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to the Employer’s initial proposal to strike and remove this MOU.
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:
-
Article 5: Childcare
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to the Union’s proposal as presented during the July 29 bargaining session.
-
Article 20: Retirement Benefits
As part of the package proposal, the parties would agree to maintain current contract language in this Article.
-
Article 23: Time and Effort Commitment
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to the Union’s proposal as presented during the June 29 bargaining session.
-
Article 24: Time Off and Leave
The Union dropped its proposal that up to five (5) days of unused paid vacation time off be rolled over each year but reasserted their prior proposal elsewhere in this Article.
-
Article 32: Compensation
The Union presented its second compensation counter proposal, which would increase the base minimum for all bargaining unit members to:
| Postdoctoral experience level | Minimum effective (Ratification Date) | Minimum effective January 1, 2027 | Minimum effective January 1, 2028 | Minimum effective January 1, 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (0-11 months) | $90,000.00 | $92,700.00 | $95,481.00 | $98,345.43 |
| 1 (12-23 months) | $90,900.00 | $93,627.00 | $96,435.81 | $99,328.88 |
| 2 (24-35 months) | $91,809.00 | $94,563.27 | $97,400.17 | $100,322.17 |
| 3 (36- 47 months) | $92,727.09 | $95,508.90 | $98,374.17 | $101,325.39 |
| 4 (48+ months) | $93,654.36 | $96,463.99 | $99,357.91 | $102,338.65 |
The Union reasserted its prior counterproposal elsewhere in this Article.
-
MOU: Overtime
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to the Union’s proposal as presented during the June 29 bargaining session.
-
MOU: Postdoctoral Scholar Paid Direct
As part of this package proposal, the parties would agree to let this MOU expire.
Employer Counter Proposals
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:
-
Article 1: Purpose and Intent
As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to the Employer’s counter proposal as presented during the August 10 bargaining session.
-
Article 4: Appointments and Reappointments
As part of the package proposal, the parties would agree to maintain current contract language in this Article.
-
Article 12: Intellectual Property and Academic Rights
As part of the package proposal, the parties would agree to maintain current contract language in this Article.
-
Article 14: Layoff
The Employer accepted the Union’s proposal to reduce the timeline for the Employer to provide layoff notice to the Union from five (5) to one (1) working day from when the notice was provided to the Postdoctoral Scholar.
Next Steps
The next UAW Research and UW bargaining session is scheduled for Monday, August 24 and will be held virtually.