Bargaining Session: September 6, 2019

On September 6, 2019, representatives of the University attended the fifteenth bargaining session with the union committee that represents Postdocs and ARSs.
 
The Union presented a first set of economic proposals covering Compensation, Insurance Benefits, Retirement, Relocation Benefits, Tuition Benefits and Tax Assistance. 

The Union’s Compensation proposal establishes minimum pay rates applicable to new appointments of $61,500 for Postdoctoral Research Scientists/Scholars and Postdoctoral Research Fellows (a 20% increase from the current minimum for PDRSs and a 23% increase from the current minimum for PDFs), and of $75,000 for Associate Research Scientists/Scholars (a 30% increase from the current applicable minimum for ARSs).  The proposal also provides that the minimum pay for new appointees with prior years of experience must be adjusted at the time of the initial appointment to include an additional 4% compounded per year of experience on the applicable minimum pay.  In addition, the proposal requires initial increases (effective July 1, 2020 or on the effective date of the Agreement, whichever is sooner) to all current Postdoc and ARS salaries of 5%, and a reset of any salary up to the new applicable minimum pay rate based on experience if after such 5% initial increase the salary remains below that level. The proposal also requires that minimum base pay rates applicable to new appointments increase annually by at least 2.5% and entitles all Postdocs and ARSs to an annual 4% pay increase.

The Union’s Insurance Benefits proposal calls for coverage of all Postdocs and ARSs at the Choice Plus 100 Plan level for medical and vision, as well as dental coverage, with all premiums paid by the University.  The proposal also calls for the creation of a joint committee to pursue enhancements to those benefits including lower out-of-pocket maximums, lower co-pays, and lower drug costs.  In addition, the proposal entitles all Postdocs and ARSs to Long-Term Care Insurance paid for by the University and provides Long-term Disability Insurance at no cost to all Postdoctoral Fellows.

The Union’s Tuition Benefits proposal entitles all Postdocs and ARSs to tuition benefits for their dependents with no 4-year waiting period, including the Primary Tuition Scholarship Program, the College Tuition Scholarship Program, and the Tuition Exemption Program, as well as Tuition Exemption for themselves with no 2-year waiting period for 2 courses per term up to 6 courses per academic year.

The Union’s Retirement proposal entitles to all Postdocs to retirement benefits at the level of Senior Officers of Research, with no vesting period for contributions by the University and additional compensation as needed to Postdoctoral Fellows for retirement benefit equity across all Postdocs and ARSs. 

The Union’s Relocation Benefits proposal entitles all newly appointed Postdocs and ARSs to up to $1500 for relocation expenses, and the Union’s Tax Assistance proposal provides up to $300 towards professional tax assistance annually as well as access, free of charge, to all necessary software for completion of federal, state, and local tax returns, including software for preparation of returns for international employees.

The Union agreed to present its remaining economic proposals at the next bargaining session scheduled for September 16, 2019.