Bargaining Session: September 16, 2019
On September 16, 2019, representatives of the University attended the sixteenth bargaining session with the union committee that represents Postdocs and ARSs.
The Union presented its remaining economic proposals covering Titles and Classifications, Childcare, Housing, Parking and Transportation, Campus Facilities, Work-Incurred Injury or Illness, and Professional Development.
The University presented a revised Grievance Procedure proposal, reflecting changes that were discussed during previous bargaining sessions. The revised proposal provides that a Postdoc/ARS may elect to pursue a grievance under the currently applicable grievance procedures in the Faculty Handbook as an alternative to the grievance provisions of the Agreement. The parties discussed the revised Grievance Procedure proposal and, more generally, whether the Faculty Handbook would apply to issues covered under the Agreement.
The Union acknowledged that its economic proposals as a package were ambitious and explained that the motivation for them overall was to address the uniquely expensive elements of living in New York City that pose particular challenges to researchers. The University asked clarifying questions about several of the Union’s proposals and deferred further response pending analysis of them.
A partial summary of the proposals presented by the Union follows.
The Union’s Titles and Classifications proposal requires that Postdocs/ARSs shall be appointed to the highest title and pay classification to which they are eligible based on their qualifications and experience.
The Union’s Childcare proposal requires the University to contribute $5000 per year to a childcare FSA for children up to the age of 13 for all eligible Postdocs/ARSs electing such benefit.
The Union’s Housing proposal requires that the University guarantee housing for Postdocs/ARSs during their first year for up to 12 months and requires that housing units available for renewals must be equally accessible, without priority to Postdocs/ARSs currently occupying such units. In addition, the proposal requires that no monthly rent shall be due prior to a Postdoc/ARS’s receipt of a first paycheck and that rent charged shall not exceed 30% of the Postdoc/ARS’s gross income. The proposal also requires the University to make all housing fully accessible as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Union’s Parking and Transportation proposal requires the University to provide Postdocs/ARSs fully-subsidized transportation passes for all local services including the MTA, NJ Transit, Metro North, LIRR and PATH trains and provide the Transit/Parking Reimbursement Program for Postdoctoral Fellows.
The Union’s Campus Facilities proposal requires free access to all University gym/recreational facilities.
The Union’s Work-Incurred Injury or Illness proposal requires that the University maintain full pay and benefits to a Postdoc/ARS who is unable to work due to a work-related injury or illness, without time limitation.
The Union’s Professional Development proposal requires that PIs must approve at least one request per year for Postdocs/ARSs to attend conferences, workshops, events, courses or travel to perform research that is not required but may further professional development. The proposal also requires that the University establish a $250,000 annual fund, which shall increase by 10% per year, to provide Postdocs/ARSs with paid professional development opportunities, to be awarded in amounts up to $4000 per applicant by a committee created by the OPA and the Union. In addition, the proposal requires the University, where possible, to offer teaching positions to qualified, interested Postdocs/ARSs, in conjunction with reduced research appointments.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for September 26, 2019.