We Are Einstein Researchers United-UAW
ERU-UAW is an organization by, of, and for Albert Einstein College of Medicine Postdocs who want to unionize in order to improve our research and employment experience at Einstein. Our work not only benefits the College and the economy, but also has positive impacts worldwide through groundbreaking medical research. We work in many different fields and have varied experiences, but our dedication to research unites us all.
“Many of us arrive at Einstein, most often from abroad, with a dream to develop a career in science through creating new technologies that contribute toward the treatment of diseases, work that helps secure hundreds of millions in NIH Grants for Einstein annually. Despite our contributions, we must live for years without job security, meaningful career progression, or support to start families. I believe forming a union is a democratic way to win the rights our dedication to science and long hours truly deserves. As a union, we will have a stronger voice to advocate for long overdue improvements to pay and working conditions for all postdocs at AECOM and those who come after us.”
“As a postdoc, I’m expected to produce world-class science with minimal wages and benefits, an unsustainable situation made even more so when living in one if not the most expensive cities in the world. Unionizing would give postdocs more power to improve our salary and benefits through negotiating our working conditions. We would go from having no way to talk as equals with Einstein to having a guaranteed right to engage in dialogue, in which we would all have a voice through a democratic process.”
“As a European postdoc in the US, I understand the stress associated with moving to a different continent and culture, facing intricate visa hurdles and inadequate social support systems, let alone the challenge of adjusting to new workplace norms. A union will give us more power to collectively address the specific stressors international postdocs face by negotiating for streamlined visa processes and more inclusive policies. By joining together, including with tens of thousands of international researchers in the UAW, we can create a more supportive environment that recognizes the unique challenges faced by this crucial segment of the research community.”