UMass PRO/UAW

BOSTON — A majority of approximately 300 postdoctoral researchers working at University of Massachusetts campuses in Boston, Amherst and Dartmouth have signed cards authorizing UMass Postdoctoral Researchers Organize/United Auto Workers (UMass PRO/UAW) to represent them in collective bargaining, triggering a process that will require the university to negotiate over wages, health insurance, job security and other workplace issues.

“We’ve taken this step so we can protect our rights on the job, and make sure postdocs working on different campuses and in different labs are treated fairly and receive comparable pay and benefits,” said Simona Maccarrone, a postdoctoral researcher from UMass Amherst who was part of a delegation of workers filing a petition asking the Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations (DLR) to certify their union, UMass PRO/UAW, as their representative for collective bargaining. “This will give us the same union rights as other workers and faculty at UMass.”

The UAW, which has one million active and retired members, represents workers at more than 40 universities and colleges across the country.  They include 25,000 teaching assistants, research assistants, graders, tutors and other student academic employees at UMass, the University of California, California State University, and the University of Washington, as well as 6,500 postdoctoral researchers at UC.  The union also represents over 4,200 adjunct faculty at the New School and New York University and thousands of support staff at major universities, including Columbia University and Boston University.

UAW Region 9A Director Bob Madore said the UMass workers are the first postdoctoral researchers in the Commonwealth to unionize.  “These are first-class academic employees working in a world-class institution, and they are pioneering on behalf of their colleagues at other colleges and universities in Massachusetts.”

Postdoctoral researchers perform basic scientific research and contribute to the development of new innovations in biomedical science and industrial technologies. They also publish scholarly articles and write grant proposals that help bring in millions of dollars in grants and contracts.  Their work contributes to UMass’s highly regarded reputation as a research institution and an engine of economic growth in Massachusetts and throughout the northeast.

“After receiving a PhD or equivalent degree, we work on average for five years in a faculty supervisor’s lab,” said Caleb Rounds, a plant biologist.  “We’re a vital part of the university workforce and leaders in our fields, yet our pay is very low.  With the economy rebounding, the university’s financial situation is improving, so it’s time to address our needs.”

In Massachusetts, workers have the right to form a union through a democratic process referred to as “written majority authorization” or simply “card check”. If a simple majority of employees (50% + 1) sign confidential union cards authorizing a union to represent them for the purposes of collective bargaining, then the union will be legally recognized by the state labor board. Authorization cards signed by individuals indicate they want union representation. After the state labor board confirms a majority of employees have signed authorization cards, the union will be recognized. Once the union is recognized, UMass will be compelled to negotiate with Postdocs over wages, benefits, and working conditions.

If a majority is reached and the union is certified, we will begin preparing for contract negotiations. In this case, Postdocs will come together to create a bargaining survey that will circulate among their co-workers in order to determine the issues that Postdocs would like to secure in a contract. In addition to the survey, a series of meetings will be held to discuss the issues and vote on a set of bargaining priorities and goals. Postdocs will then democratically vote for a group of their colleagues who are interested in participating on the bargaining team. This team of Postdocs, along with experienced negotiators from the UAW, will be responsible for crafting bargaining proposals and negotiating with representatives from UMass. As the bargaining process proceeds, our elected team will regularly provide updates on the speed and progress of the negotiations. Once all of the issues are addressed and a tentative agreement is reached, the bargaining team will present that agreement to Postdocs for review and a vote. If a simple majority of postdocs vote “yes” to ratify that agreement, it will become the contract that governs and protects Postdoc employment for a set period of time – usually three to four years (though the duration of the contract is also subject to negotiation). As that agreement approaches expiration, then we will begin to prepare for the next round of negotiations in an effort to improve upon or maintain the rights and benefits secured in the already existing agreement. It is also important to clarify that as stated on the union authorization card, Postdocs “will not pay any dues or fees until a first contract has been democratically approved by Postdocs”. Furthermore, any payment of dues or fees will take place only after individuals complete a dues deduction form that authorizes such payment.

That’s the process of establishing a public sector union in Massachusetts and the steps to negotiate the first contract. Underpinning the entire process are opportunities for direct participation and agenda shaping. Many have indicated discomfort with the uncertainty pertaining to the union’s agenda and what a contract can do for Postdocs. It is duly important to emphasize that nothing is predetermined in this process, except having the rights and power to negotiate with the UMass administration over working conditions.

We firmly believe that it is important for you to be well informed in making your decision.  Furthermore, we would like to emphasize that it is your legal right to form a union in order to collectively bargain with administration for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. It is also your right that your decision remains completely confidential.