The Postdoc bargaining survey is open, and now is the time to add your voice! Each Postdoc has a unique experience at UW, and this survey is how we find what Postdocs shared priorities are for our next contract! For example, different sources impact Postdoc experiences at UW.
Did you know?
When a Postdoc at UW receives a fellowship, UW policy is for that Postdoc to be placed into a separate tier (Scholar-Fellow) in Workday that receives critical losses in benefits packages?
Seems a bit strange to penalize post-docs for securing their own funding, don’t you think? Especially when securing this funding is not only necessary for career development, but supports the entire lab and brings prestige to the UW.
“My name is Jacob Sacks, and I began my Postdoc as a Scholar, but once I was awarded an NIH T32 training grant and became a Scholar-Fellow, I was no longer able to contribute to my retirement account, nor was I eligible for Washington’s Paid Family Medical Leave. Postdocs shouldn’t be punished by losing these critical benefits for winning fellowships that benefit our careers and bringing money to the University.”
“My name is Ryan Friedman, and I started my Postdoc as a Scholar, but once I got on a T32 grant and became a Scholar-Fellow, I lost the ability to contribute to my 403(b) retirement account, and became ineligible for Washington’s Paid Family Medical Leave. Recently I transitioned back to a Scholar, and the differences in tax deductions have made managing my budget challenging. Postdocs shouldn’t have to navigate such a convoluted process each time they make a transition from one funding source to another.”
The current UW Postdoc contract is set to expire on August 31, 2026! Join the fight for equal treatment of all UW Postdocs, and share other issues that you think need to be addressed by taking the Bargaining Survey now!
By bargaining alongside Research Staff at UW, our combined Postdoc & Research Staff union-strong power can secure fair contracts for all of us!
After taking the survey, sign up as a dues-paying union member of your union TODAY. With solid union membership, Postdocs can win the fair treatment we deserve.
In Solidarity,
Postdoc Bargaining Team
Jacob Sacks, Computer Science and Engineering
Cassandra Henderson, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Winston Dredge, Genome Sciences
Mateo Lopez Espejo, Psychology
Haruki Hirasawa, Atmospheric and Climate Science