After months of pressure, UW Admin responded to our demands for stronger protections for international Postdocs by:
- Clearer timelines for International Scholars Operations responses
- Allowing more flexibility for H1-B applications
- Ensuring Postdocs do not pay Premium Processing Fees.
However, their proposal does not address our demands for greater support for Postdocs experiencing immigration crises or to protect international Postdocs’ data from outside organizations. Admin also flatly rejected our proposals for longer initial appointments, more flexible PI status, and better access to teaching opportunities.
We also proposed a counter to Admin’s unpleasant “July Surprise” wage offer, insisting on a proposal that stays above the WA state overtime exempt threshold, accounts for cost of living changes, and provides scholar/fellow benefits equity. But we know real changes in Admin’s bargaining position happen only when Postdocs take action by joining your union and joining your colleagues at the meeting for your College/School this month.
We reached tentative agreement (TA) on three articles: Article 3: Management Rights & Responsibilities; Article 15: No Strikes, No Lockouts; and Article 28: Travel Pay.
Turn out to an August Area Action
In Solidarity,
Winston Dredge
Mateo Lopez Espejo
Ryan Friedman
Cassandra Henderson
Haruki Hirasawa
Gourav Khullar
Audrie Langlais-Elliott
Jenna Morris
Jake Sacks
Marsalis Smith
Natalie Wellen