Categories: Updates

Progress continues following pressure on admin

Yesterday, graduate workers met with the University for another bargaining session. After over 150 graduate workers packed the bargaining room last Friday, we came to this session ready to make movement on our contract. Following a day of back and forth on several articles, we reached a tentative agreement on Job Postings. The progress we made in today’s session demonstrates that admin takes note when grad workers show up. We also had a productive discussion on multiple articles and received a total of four counters from the University.

Here is a summary of yesterday’s session:

We presented a new article on Leaves. This article seeks to ensure that graduate workers are entitled to time off for a number of life circumstances– sickness, pregnancy and birth, visa renewal, medical procedures, bereavement, and more.
We reached a tentative agreement on Job Postings.
Penn admin presented four counter-proposals: Job Postings, Intellectual Property, No Strike No Lockout, and Grievance and Arbitration
We presented a counter-proposal on Intellectual Property.

Admin’s counter on Grievance and Arbitration was a significant step towards a strong, enforceable contract that protects our rights. This article outlines a process through which we can address violations of our contract with recourse to third party arbitration. The University had not responded to our last proposal on Grievance and Arbitration since November, but we made our stance clear last week in the presence of a packed room of graduate workers. Our collective action last week demonstrated our power as workers and pushed them to make progress.

Given the current political landscape, winning a strong and enforceable contract is more important than ever. Despite today’s progress, we have been bargaining for almost five months and have only reached five tentative agreements. Penn admin still hasn’t responded to many outstanding proposals that they have been sitting on for several months. When pushed, admin responds with non-answers that don’t leave any clarity. Getting the contract we deserve is going to require putting pressure on the University outside of the bargaining room through collective action. Join your coworkers at the next bargaining session on Wednesday, March 19 from 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM. RSVP here!

In Solidarity,

The GETUP-UAW Bargaining Committee

Clara Abbott

Emily Aunins

Peter Bailer

Oishi Bardhan

Kal Brown

Eli Fastow

Adina Goldstein

Sam Herrmann

Sam Layding

George Lin