Categories: Updates

Discussions continue on Compensation, Transit, Childcare

During Wednesday’s bargaining session:

Penn admin passed counterproposals on Compensation, Childcare, and Transit and Parking
Graduate workers passed counterproposals on International and Immigrant Grad Workers Support, Compensation, Transit and Parking, and Childcare.

On Childcare, Penn admin proposed annually earmarking $180,000 for PhD’s from existing funds in the Graduate Student Center’s childcare grant pool. To put this in perspective, this amount could only guarantee 36 graduate workers a $5,000 childcare grant. This leaves a significant obstacle to those of us who already support our family or want to start one during our time at Penn. Admin also proposed that graduate workers with a household income greater than $59,000 would not be eligible for childcare grants, meaning that two grad workers who had a child together would be ineligible for childcare benefits.

Admin continues to refuse grad workers the same public transit benefits that they offer other employees, and they are not willing to use the Septa Key Advantage program that could provide all-access transit benefits to all grad workers at a low cost. While this is disappointing, we have made progress on guaranteeing improved access to parking for graduate workers with disabilities on the same basis as other full-time Penn employees. Grad workers also passed a counterproposal on Compensation that admin responded favorably to, and we look forward to seeing their response at our next session.

It’s clear that the pace of bargaining is accelerating as we move closer to the Strike Authorization Vote next week. In order to win the raises and benefits we need, it’s essential that all grad workers vote YES between November 18th through 20th to authorize a strike. If you haven’t done so already, sign a strike pledge and commit to vote YES to authorize a strike and to strike alongside our coworkers if necessary. If you have more questions, check out this FAQ or reply to this email.

Our next bargaining session will take place next Monday, November 17th from 10:30-4:30 (Location TBD).

In solidarity,

The GETUP-UAW Bargaining Committee

Clara Abbott

Emily Aunins

Peter Bailer

Oishi Bardhan

Caitlin Frazee

Katelyn Friedline

Sam Herrmann

Jimmy Kelliher

Sam Layding