Media and Op-Eds
Op-eds by UAW 5810 Members
- Equitable Working Conditions are Essential to Improving Research at UC by ARU / UAW 5810 Bargaining team member Christina Priest (Medium, 7/11/2019)
- UC Must Improve Job Security and Provide Clear Paths to Career Advancement by ARU / UAW 5810 Bargaining team member Benjamin Lynch (Medium, 6/09/2019
- Forced Out of the Academic Pipeline by Sandra Koch (UAW 5810 member) (Medium, 5/22/2019)
- Sustainable Careers Paths Will Mean Better Research Outcomes and a Better UC by Jocelyne Fadiga (ARU / UAW 5810 bargaining team member) (Medium, 5/13/2019)
- UC Academic Researchers need better working conditions by Fred Bauman, UC Berkeley Project Scientist and Jocelyne Fadiga, UC San Francisco Junior Specialist (Daily Cal, 1/29/2019)
- On and After Election Day, We Keep Organizing Against Attacks on Immigrants by Anke Schennink (President of UAW Local 5810), Kavitha Iyengar (President of UAW Local 2865), and David Parsons (President of UAW Local 4121) (Medium, 11/06/2018)
- Unionized Scientists March in Protest of Attacks on Facts by Carly Ebben Eaton and Kathy Setian (SF Chronicle, 4/11/2017)
- Securing Workplace Rights in the Age of Trump by Anke Schennink (Nature, 4/5/2017)
- Letter to the editor: UAW is a strong ally for international students and postdocs by 5810 Executive Board (Columbia Spectator, 12/5/2016)
- Short-Term Appointments Make UC Postdocs Vulnerable to Sexual Harassment by Anke Schennink (Medium, 8/11/2016)
- Postdocs Ask University of California to Stop Delaying Negotiations by Matt Grimmer (Medium, 7/24/2016)
- Guest Post: UC Postdocs Demand Paid Parental Leave by Lydia Majure (Tenure She Wrote, 7/13/2016)
- UC Must Prioritize Prevention and Protection in its Sexual Harassment Policy by Carlena Ebben Eaton (Huffington Post, 6/13/2016)
- UC Must Make Good on Commitment to Fix Gender Equity Policies by Neal Sweeney (Huffington Post, 6/13/2016)
- UC’s Opportunity to Shape the Future of Scientific Research by Anke Schennink (Medium, 5/30/2016)
- UC Postdocs are Worth $50K (and Then Some…) by Neal Sweeney (Huffington Post, 5/12/2016)
- UC Must Have Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment by Anke Schennink (Sacramento Bee, 3/30/2016)
- Postdoctoral Researchers Ready to Fight by Lydia Majure (Daily Cal, 9/29/2015)
- UC Must Follow Department of Labor Rule For Postdoc Staff by Carly Ebben (Daily Cal, 9/25/2015)
- UC Must Repair ‘Leaky Pipeline’ in STEM by Carly Ebben (Daily Cal, 7/20/2015)
- Postdocs Strengthen University Community by Anke Schennink (Daily Cal, 5/28/2015)
- Point of View: How Postdocs Benefit from Building a Union by Ben Cain, Jessica M. Budke, Kelsey J. Wood, Neal T. Sweeney, Benjamin Swessinger (E-Life, 11/21/2014)
- UC Officials Need to Adhere to Labor Contract by Neal Sweeney (Daily Cal, 4/15/2014)
- Funding Cuts Leave Wounds in Research by Neal Sweeney(Daily Cal, 1/27/2014)
- Union calls on UC to Reimburse Postdocs for Health Care Costs by Neal Sweeney (Daily Cal, 10/28/2013)
- Pay-back Berkeley Postdocs by Neal Sweeney (Daily Cal, 5/28/2013)
- The Fiscal Cliff Casualties You Won’t See by Neal Sweeney (Huffington Post, 12/12/2012)
- Union Improves Postdocs’ Rights by Neal Sweeney (Nature, 15 November 2012)
- Postdocs: The Power of Unions by Neal Sweeney (Science, Volume 336, 6/29/2012)
- Super Committee Fail Jeopardizes Science Research by Neal Sweeney (Huffington Post, 1 December 2011)
Media Coverage of Academic Researchers United's Bargaining Campaign
- Majority of UC system researchers ratify Academic Researcher Union contract by Maxine Mouly (Daily Cal, 11/14/2019)
- Nontenure-track researchers ratify first contract with the University of California by Michael Price (Science Careers, 11/14/2019)
- UCOP reaches tentative agreement with Academic Researchers by Aditya Katewa (Daily Cal, 11/5/2019)
- University of California, Researchers reach contract deal (US News & World Report, 11/5/2019)
- UC researchers reach first contract deal by Colleen Flaherty (Inside Higher Ed, 11/4/2019)
- Academic Researchers United, UC announce tentative agreement by Jackson Guilfoil (Daily Nexus, 11/4/2019)
- University of California researchers reach contract deal (San Diego Union Tribune, 11/4/2019)
- Academic Researchers seek contract with UC system by UAW 5810 members Samantha Hurst and Lisa Schwarz (Santa Cruz Sentinel, 10/5/2019)
- Union groups rally at UCSF, meet with UCSD chancellor to discuss rights for academic researchers by Meera Srinivasan (Daily Cal, 7/24/2019)
- U of California Academic Researchers Unionize by Colleen Flaherty (Inside Higher Ed, 4/4/2019)
- Staff scientists at the University of California set to form a first-of-its-kind union by Rebecca Robbins (STAT, 4/3/2019)
- University of California staff researchers opt to form a union, joining postdocs by Beryl Lief Benderly (Science Careers, 2/6/2019)
- Academic Researchers Vote to Unionize by Aaron Liss (The California Aggie, 1/16/2019)
- UC Academic Researchers Choose Union Representative by Alexander Teodorescu (Daily Cal, 11/28/2018)
- U California Researchers Form Union by Colleen Flaherty (Inside Higher Ed, 11/28/2018)
- University of California Researchers Form Union by Paige Smith (Bloomberg Law, 11/28/2018)
- UC Researchers Unionize by Rebecca Rainey (Politico, 11/28/2018)
- ‘A long time coming’: UC academic researchers file for union representation by Amber Tang (The Daily Cal, 10/3/2018)
Media Coverage of UAW 5810 and Postdoc Working Conditions
- Fallout From Pregnancy Bias Claim by Colleen Flaherty (Inside Higher Ed, 6/11/2019)
- Editorial: Pregnancy discrimination looms large at UCLA, forces women out of academia by Daily Bruin Editorial Board (Daily Bruin, 6/6/2019)
- UAW moves beyond auto industry to colleges, expands by nearly 70K members by Phoebe Wall Howard (Detroit Free Press, 2/19/2018)
- Interview with UC Berkeley Postdoc and Postdoc Union Trustee Lydia Majure on the 11/29 Grad Tax Protests (interview begins at minute 50) by Normon Solomon (KPFA Public Broadcasting, 11/29/2017)
- Standing Up for Science in the Age of Trump by Congressmember Salud Carbajal (Santa Barbara Independent, 9/4/2017)
- Is Janet Napolitano Deepening Economic Inequality at University of California? by Joel Warner (Capital and Main, 6/1/2017)
- State of Resistance: Labor Will Double Down in Trump Era by Bobbi Murray (Capital and Main, 1/25/2017)
- UC postdoc scholars to vote on new salary, paid-leave terms by Ryan Leou (Daily Bruin, 10/11/2016)
- Postdoctoral researchers’ union reaches tentative contract agreement with UC by Harini Shyamsundar (Daily Cal, 10/11/2016)
- Postdoctoral Union Continues Contract Bargaining with UC by Megan Cole (New University (University of California Irvine, Official Campus Newspaper), 9/20/2016)
- University’s Postdoctoral Researchers’ Union Votes to Authorize Strike by Harini Shyamsundar (Daily Cal, 9/8/2016)
- Postdoc union demands faster contract negotiations from UC by Catherine Liberty Feliciano (Daily Bruin, 8/29/2016)
- San Diego Researchers Could Receive Pay Raise by David Wagner (KPBS Public Broadcasting, 5/19/2016)
- Millions of Americans’ Pay Could Rise Thanks to New Overtime Rule (NBC Nightly News, 5/18/2016)
- Fair Pay for Postdocs: Why We Support New Federal Overtime Rules by NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. and US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez (Huffington Post, 5/17/2016)
- Employers to White House: Give Us More Time on Overtime Rule by Ben Penn (Bloomberg BNA, 5/16/2016)
- Postdoctoral union hosts teach-ins on sexual harassment by Adam Iscoe (The Daily Cal, 4/27/2016)
- A Push for Stronger Sexual Harassment Policies at the University of California by Beryl Lieff Benderly (Science, 3/10/2016)
- What Does Dept of Labor’s Overtime Rule Mean for Higher Education? by Ellen Wexler (Inside Higher Ed, 2/25/2016)
- California Postdocs Win New Rights by Helen Shen (Nature, 12/3/2015)
- Postdoctoral Scholars Vote to Ratify Agreement with UC Postdoc Union by Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs (Daily Nexus, 11/6/2015)
- UC, Postdoctoral Researchers’ Union Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract by Anderson Lanham (The Daily Cal, 10/18/2015)
- UC Postdocs Negotiate for Better Benefits, Rights by Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs (Daily Nexus, 10/15/2015)
- Postdocs Petition for UC Wide Improvements by Cheryl Sun (Daily Nexus, 9/17/2015)
- In Immigration Reform Debate, Labor Should Focus on Uniting the 99% by Jorge Cabrera and Daraka Larimore-Hall (calitics, 7/29/2013)
- Postdoc payday: Salaries for Fellows are on the Up by Suzanne Elvidge (New Scientist, 5/28/2013)
- Postdoctoral Training: Time for change (Nature Cell Biology, 7/1/2011)
- No Fixed Address (Paul Jump, Times Higher Education, 6/2/2011)
- The Best of Times and the Worst of Times (Amber Dance, HHMI Bulletin, Volume 24 No. 2, May 2011)
- Thanks for the Great Postdoc Bargain – Article by Harvard economist Richard Freeman pointing out the low pay of postdocs despite their crticial role in US research programs (2002)
Articles About UAW 5810's Fight for a First Contract (2008-2010)
- Taken for Granted: The New California Postdoc Contract (Beryl Lieff Benderly, Science Careers, 9/3/2010)
- UC Researchers Ratify Their First Union Contract (Larry Gordon, LA Times, 8/13/2010)
- UC, Postdoctoral Researchers Achieve Labor Pact (Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 August 2010)
- California Postdocs Win Better Employment Terms (Jump, Times Higher Education, 12 August 2010)
- UC Postdocs Ratify First Contract (Maitre, Contra Costa Times, 12 August 2010)
- UC Researchers Approve Labor Contract (Guzman-Lopez, KPCC Radio, 12 August 2010)
- Campus Officials, Union Approve New Postdoc Contract (Panzar, Daily Californian, 5 August 2010)
- Postdoc Union Reaches Tentative Contract Agreement with University of California (Benderly, Science Careers, 2 August 2010)
- The Green 960 Labor Report— Radio interview and story regarding UC delaying our contract negotiations, 2 July 2010
- House Committee Questions University of California’s Accounting for Research Funds (Benderly, Science Careers, 28 June 2010) —Follow-up story on Congressional action in the wake of the April 30 hearing.
- UC Researchers Struggle to Obtain Better Wages (Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 June 2010) – Extensive news story outlining recent events in our contract campaign.
- Postdoctoral Researchers in University of California Labor Dispute (Albano, Free Speech Radio News, 25 June 2010) – Story on the contract campaign and ULP filing.
- Postdoc Union Charges Unfair Labor Practices by University of California (Benderly, Science Careers, 21 June 2010) – Follow-up story on ULP filing.
- Researchers’ Union Contests UC Labor Practices (Panzar, Daily Cal, 10 June 2010) – Story on our filing unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against UC for their unlawful bargaining tactics.
- Making a Federal Case of Young Scientists’ Concerns (Benderly, Science Careers, 4 June 2010) – Follow-up story on the April 30, 2010, Congressional hearing in Berkeley
- KPFA Evening News coverage of the April 30 Congressional hearing (Pacifica Evening News, 30 April 2010, at 27:30 in the news broadcast) – Story on the Congressional hearing highlighting committee members’ frustration with UC stalling
- Congressional Hearing Scheduled on U Cal Postdoc Union Negotiation (Benderly, Science Careers, 21 April 2010) – Story about announcement of Congressional committee hearing on our contract negotiations
- Where Two Issues Stand (Benderly, Science Careers, 5 February 2010) – Story about our fight for a first contract with UC
- UC Budget Numbers Don’t Add Up, Scholars Claim (Bachman, Santa Barbara Independent, 18 December 2009) – Story about our joint action with UPTE/CWA in December 2009
- Postdocs and Research Employees Picket U. of California Campuses – Chronicle of Higher Ed blog about our joint action with UPTE/CWA in December 2009
- UC Labor Union Significant for Postdoctoral Research (Hasemyer, San Diego Union Tribune, 6 July 2009)
- The Fat Lady Sings (Benderly, Science Careers, 1 August 2008)
Press Releases
- Majority of UC Academic Researchers Ratify First Contract with University of California (11/12/2019)
- UC Academic Researchers Reach Tentative Agreement on First Contract with University of California (11/04/2019)
- UCSF Academic Researchers Rally at Genentech Hall as Bargaining Continues (7/22/2019)
- UCLA Postdoc Secures Reappointment After Speaking Out Against Pregnancy Discrimination at UCLA (6/10/2019)
- UC Agrees to Drop Opposition to Union of Academic Researchers After Members of Congress and State Legislators Intervene (3/25/2019)
- Sixteen California Legislators Ask UC President Janet Napolitano To Stop Stalling And Recognize Union Of Academic Researchers (3/18/2019)
- UAW Responds to Trump Administration’s Plans to Weaken Title IX Protections for Students and Higher Ed Workers who Experience Sexual Harassment and Violence (1/29/2019)
- PERB Finds a Majority of University of California’s 5000 Academic Researchers Choose to Form a Union (11/27/2018)
- Majority of University of California’s Nearly 5,000 Academic Researchers File Petition for Union Representation (10/1/2018)
- UC Postdocs May Lose Access To Major Health Care Provider (12/12/2016)
- UC Postdocs Vote To Ratify New Contract (10/17/2016)
- Postdocs Reach Tentative Agreement With UC Administrators (10/10/2016)
- Majority of All UC Postdocs Vote “Yes” to Authorize Union’s Bargaining Team to Call Strike (9/1/2016)
- UC Postdocs Win Effort to Prevent University of California from Exempting Postdocs from New Overtime Rule (5/18/2016)
- Postdocs and Student-Workers Plan Two Days of Events Across UC Campuses to Urge Administrators to Reform Sexual Harassment Policies (3/1/2016)
- UC Academic Workers Launch Campaign to Pressure UC President to Eliminate the Causes and Prosecute Instances of Sexual Harrassment and Assault on Campus (11/23/2015)
- UC Postdocs Ratify New Contract With 98.8% of the Vote (10/29/2015)
- Postdocs Reach Tentative Agreement With UC Management (10/12/2015)
- UC Postdoc Union to Hold Strike Authorization Vote October 1 (9/28/2015)
- Postdocs Call On UC Administrators to Abide by Obama Administration Overtime Rules, Deliver a Fair Contract (9/24/2015)
- Postdocs Urge UC to Comply With President Obama’s New DOL Rule and Pay Them Fairly (9/21/2015)
- UC Postdocs Deliver More then 3,000 Signatures to Chancellors Demanding A Fair Contract (9/15/2015)
- 39 Members of Congress Join UAW to Stop Devastating Cuts to Science Programs (11/11/2013)
- UCSF Postdoc Union to Hold Panel on Childcare (8/8/2013)
- Joint UC/UAW Statement – 6,500 University of California Postdoctoral Researchers Ratify Inaugural Contract (8/12/2010)
- Over 6,000 University of California Postdocs Reach Tenative Agreement on Historic First Union Contract (8/2/2010)
- UAW Files Charges of Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs) by UC in First Contract Bargaining for 6,500 Postdoctoral Scholars at UC (6/9/2010)
- University of California postdoctoral researchers applaud U.S. House committee hearing on understanding problems in first contract negotiations (4/30/2010)
- UAW-CWA Joint Press Release: Grant Revenue Up Dramatically as UC Rejects Proposals to Increase Salaries and Improve Benefits (12/15/2009)
- UAW-CWA Joint Bargaining Flier December 15, 2009: UC: Stop Hiding Behind the State Budget Crisis and Use Increasing Federal Research Funds to Improve Salary and Benefits for 15,000 Employees Who Make UC a World Leader in Research (12/15/2009)
- 3,700 Postdoctoral Researchers Call for First UAW Contract at University of California By End of the Month (8/6/2009)
- 5,000 University of California Postdocs Want Union: State Labor Board Verifies Majority Support (8/20/2008)
- Majority of the University of California’s 5,000 Postdoctoral Researchers Choose Collective Bargaining (7/7/2008)
Recent Updates
Stop UC from shrinking the academic workforce
Postdoc Contract Ratification Vote Results
Academic Researchers Contract Ratification Vote Results
Postdoc Contract Ratification Vote Information
Academic Researcher Contract Ratification Vote Information
UC makes comprehensive economic proposal to ASE’s and SR’s
Major Victory: Tentative Agreements for ARs & Postdocs
Bargaining Update: Major Progress for Postdocs – More to Come
UC cited for 6 more unfair labor practice charges
More bargaining progress // Strike assistance update
Follow @UAW5810
Insightful analysis about the importance of Postdoc pay keeping up with the cost of living, and increasing transparency around Postdoc salaries and benefits. Read the twitter thread and their piece in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-023-01656-4
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We talk of postdoc shortage, inclusive excellence & retaining postdocs without acting on what has been said repeatedly. @NIH
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