Our Path Towards a Strong Contract

As the Bargaining Committee, we are committed to uniting our coworkers to work for a contract that makes Penn more accessible, inclusive, and competitive by securing essential workplace protections and benefits, such as: financial security and fair compensation for all that keeps up with rising costs of living; improved and expanded healthcare coverage and support; protection from harassment, discrimination, and bullying; strong and fair grievance procedures; improved protection support for international students workers, student workers with disabilities, and student workers with children and dependents; and more. 

To ensure that we can win these demands, we will: 

  1. Make every effort to keep all grad workers informed throughout bargaining
  2. Encourage a majority of grad workers to participate in the process of winning a strong contract

We hope Penn admin will not push back on grad workers’ key priorities as some other institutions have. Either way, we know that in order to win the strongest possible contract we will need a decisive supermajority of grad workers to actively participate in the bargaining process. Having the majority of all grad workers united around our contract campaign will give us the strength and leverage at the bargaining table to win a fair agreement with Penn. We will use strategies from our own and other campaigns in order to build the strength and leverage we need to win the comprehensive contract we all deserve. These strategies include:

  1. Strong organizing through supermajority participation: We will continue to have regular conversations with our coworkers to help keep each other updated, informed, and provide lines of ongoing communication with the Bargaining Committee, building on the strong track record of supermajority participation and support throughout our campaign so far. If you want to get involved in organizing please let us know here!
  2. Bargaining updates: We will provide regular, timely updates on bargaining sessions to keep our coworkers informed of which proposals are being passed, as well as any progress or challenges in the negotiations.
  3. Regular town-halls: We will host regular town halls to update our coworkers on our progress, to get feedback on updated proposals and to answer any questions. Participation in these forums by as many grad workers as possible will be critical.
  4. Open email communication: We remain committed to being responsive to the priorities and needs of all Penn grad workers by answering any emails that you send to organize@getup-uaw.org with specific concerns in a timely manner. Such concerns include, but are not limited to, reports of Unfair Labor Practices.The Bargaining Committee will keep these reports confidential and will work with you to help find immediate solutions. Identifying unfair practices also helps us to make sure that the contract will prevent these practices in the future. 
  5. Contract working groups: In order to draft and negotiate a contract that addresses the diverse needs of Penn grad workers, we have established contract working groups. These groups include members of the Bargaining Committee and other graduate workers who are committed to fighting for particular issues in our contract. The working groups will help shape articles, discuss proposals and counter proposals, and drive issue-based campaigns that add to our leverage at the bargaining table.To get involved with a contract working group, please fill out the interest form.
  6. Open negotiation sessions: While actual exchange of proposals in bargaining sessions will be between our Bargaining Committee and Penn’s administrative team, we will prioritize large, open bargaining sessions. We ask that you RSVP for bargaining sessions in advance to prepare. Bargaining dates will be shared when scheduled.

With these strategies and tools, we can all work together to win a contract that significantly improves the lives of all graduate workers at Penn. We look forward to organizing together!

 

In solidarity,

 

The GETUP-UAW Bargaining Committee

 

Clara Abbot

Emily Aunins

Peter Bailer

Oishi Bardhan

Kal Brown

Eli Fastow

Adina Goldstein

Sam Herrmann

Austin King

Sam Layding

George Lin

Clancy Murray

Jonathan Nadraws

Izzy Navarro

Jonas Peeters

Lauren Perry

George Porter

Anne-Marie Zaccarin