In the bargaining session yesterday, we were back with more proposals to improve Postdoc working conditions at UC. We passed counterproposals on several topics including International Scholars and Immigrant Support, Professional Development and Career Counseling, and Respectful Work Environment (anti-bullying protection). We reached agreement on two articles, Health & Safety and Travel Reimbursement, and UC made significant movement towards us on Layoffs, on which we aim to have an agreement in place at the next session on November 1. All the proposals we passed and UC’s proposals can be found in our proposal tracker.
Results of Housing and Cost of Living Survey
UC is still trying to move backward on compensation — under UC’s proposal, Postdocs would see smaller raises than under our current contract. This is unacceptable for many reasons, including its failure to address cost of living, housing, and childcare costs. Based on our recent Postdoc Housing and Cost of Living survey:
- 61% of respondent Postdocs are rent-burdened (rent consumes more than 30% of income);
- 20% of respondents have children, and childcare expenses were commonly reported as a substantial stressor;
- Housing was reported as a high source of stress among the majority of Postdocs, and over 50% of respondents said housing is a top priority for our next contract;
- Only 12% of respondents said they currently reside in UC housing, and long wait lists were reported as a limiting factor.
Here are what some of your peers are saying on these topics:
“We have to cut down on non-essential expenses because rent and preschool take up about 90% of my salary.” — LBL Postdoc
“I’m in the prime working years of my life, but I live paycheck to paycheck because housing and childcare are so expensive.” — UCB Postdoc
Take action to support Postdoc bargaining
Winning on affordable housing, fair compensation and on all our demands including anti-bullying protections, childcare benefits, green transportation and more will take all Postdocs standing together. Attend the SRU Rally on Thursday, October 28* from 12-1pm! RSVP here.
*UC Santa Cruz is rallying on Tuesday, October 26 at 12pm.
In solidarity,
Postdoc Bargaining Team and Alternates
Sarah Arveson, UC Berkeley
Gilbert Bernstein, UC Berkeley
Chris Hart, UC Davis
Adam Schneider, UC Irvine
Zachary Zeidler, UC Los Angeles
Lejla Medzikovic, UC Los Angeles
Brad Barker, UC Merced
Ingrid Padilla Espinosa, UC Merced
Tyler Bell, UC San Diego
Adam Caparco, UC San Diego
Jade Moore, UC San Francisco
Putu Ustriyana, UC San Francisco
Caitlin Taylor, UC Santa Barbara
Heda Agic, UC Santa Barbara
Jacob Porter, UC Santa Cruz
Jasmeet Dhaliwal, UC Santa Cruz
Follow your union on Twitter @UAW5810!