Categories: Updates

Admin proposes gutting international support and excluding RAs on rotations

At yesterday’s bargaining session, Penn admin responded to two important articles proposed by grad workers: Support for International and Immigrant Workers and Recognition. Unfortunately, both responses were severely inadequate.

Admin rejected our proposed support for visa fees, assistance in cases of denied entry to the United States, a commitment to prevent immigration agents from entering campus property unless required by law, and other important rights and protections. We are disappointed by admin’s reluctance to properly invest in ISSS services and support for international workers, particularly in light of the significant and concerning policy changes being pursued by the Trump administration. In response to our proposal on Recognition, which outlines what job titles are included in our union, admin added language explicitly excluding RAs on lab rotations in BGS and Biology. These RAs do the exact same work as other workers in our union and should have the same rights and protections!

Despite having over 20 articles sitting in their court, during yesterday’s session, admin provided us with only 4 counterproposals: Workers’ Compensation, Job Expectations and Scheduling of Work, Recognition, and Support for International and Immigrant Workers. We exchanged proposals with admin and provided responses to Workers’ Compensation and Job Expectations and Scheduling of Work, hopefully coming close to Tentative Agreements on these two articles.

During yesterday’s session:

Admin presented counterproposals on Workers’ Compensation, Job Expectations and Scheduling of Work, Recognition, and Support for International and Immigrant Workers
Graduate workers presented responses to Workers’ Compensation and Job Expectations and Scheduling of Work

As always, to continue to make movement in the bargaining room, grad workers must show that we have power outside of it. Sign up here to attend an upcoming bargaining session! Furthermore, you can pick up an international student worker rights button at any GETUP-UAW event.

In solidarity,

The GETUP-UAW Bargaining Committee

Clara Abbott

Emily Aunins

Peter Bailer

Oishi Bardhan

Kal Brown

Caitlin Frazee

Katelyn Friedline

Adina Goldstein

Sam Herrmann

Jimmy Kelliher