Today, over 500 grad workers picketed to demand a fair contract now! After marching between 34th and 36th Streets, we publicly announced that grad workers have begun pledging to authorize a strike if Penn fails to reach a fair agreement with us, and to strike if necessary. If you have not already done so, you can sign your strike pledge here.
At today’s picket, over 500 grad workers showed Penn admin that we are ready to take action to win the rights and protections we deserve. We were joined on the picket line by our friends and allies at Penn and across Philadelphia, including the AFL-CIO and Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval.
Grad workers spoke before and after the picket about the issues that matter to us. “We have gathered here to demand Penn pay us a fair wage because our stipend is thousands of dollars below standard living wage in the city of Philadelphia”, said Guru Shabadi, a Ph.D. student in Computer and Information Science. “In addition, more than a third of our coworkers are international. In these dire times when international and immigrant workers are threatened, when our livelihoods and dreams are threatened, we have gathered here to demand Penn to support us and protect our rights.” “Penn’s stalling of the bargaining process denies us these essential rights during this unstable and uncertain time in America,” said Peter Bailer, a Ph.D. Candidate in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Chemical Biology.
Grad workers began bargaining our contract with Penn admin one year ago. It is unacceptable that Penn has not come to a fair agreement with us already. Every day that goes by without a contract is another day that grad workers’ pay continues to fall behind the rising cost of living in our city, another day that workers are vulnerable to discrimination and harassment, and another day that international workers are burdened by inequitable financial obligations and undue stress.
We look forward to continuing to meet Penn admin at the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract that improves our compensation and benefits and upholds our rights. Our next bargaining session is Tuesday, October 14, from 10:30am – 4:30pm at the Inn at Penn. RSVP to attend here.
Sign your strike pledge and talk about it with your coworkers. Today’s action made it clear: we are strong, we are united, and we are ready to fight for what we deserve!