Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Postdoctoral scholars and research associates at the University of Pennsylvania voted in favor of forming a union, Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn (RAPUP-UAW), with a vote of 95% saying, “Union, yes!”
“We are thrilled with tonight’s results, and ready to work with the university towards a more democratic workplace,” said Emily Perkins, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology. “We love our jobs, but the increasing threats to international scholars coupled with inadequate compensation made a union the obvious choice. We’re ready to speak in one voice for fair pay, better job security, and a more equitable university.”
Postdocs and research associates form the backbone of research at Penn, performing groundbreaking studies in laboratories and offices across campus. Their work attracts hundreds of millions of dollars in funding each year. But despite these contributions, many struggle to make ends meet, with very limited job security, no meaningful protections against harassment and discrimination, and spotty benefits that are not guaranteed.