On Thursday, June 05, 2025, we met again with the administration for our 20th bargaining session.
We presented our counters on Training and Professional Development. Although Einstein expressed disagreement with some of our proposed language for Professional Development, our discussion seemed to indicate that they understood and agreed with our broader goals on this subject. We believe both sides understood the other’s position more clearly, and we hope that Einstein’s next counterproposal will bring us closer to an agreement.
We reached a Tentative Agreement on Training during this session. After going back and forth on this matter for months, we decided to reintroduce scientific meetings in this article instead of Professional Development. Einstein finally agreed to our language in Training, which will ensure that postdocs are not required to pay costs and are provided paid time for any type of training that is either required or pre-approved by a Postdoctoral Fellow’s PI. This is an important step forward and upholds the standard set by postdocs at Mount Sinai.
Einstein also presented their counterproposal on Research Integrity. Despite the conversations we had during the previous session, they continue to oppose key provisions—specifically, the enforcement of research integrity protections through a neutral third party and the recognition of Postdocs’ rights over their own work.
In addition, we revisited topics that remain unresolved, including Discipline and Dismissal, Appointments and Reappointments, and Union Rights and Access. We had a useful discussion on minimum initial appointment lengths, particularly advocating for the consideration of cases where Postdocs are supported by longer individual fellowship awards. Regarding offer letters, we reiterated our position: Postdocs should receive clear information not only about the source(s) and availability of funding but also about the conditions required for reappointment. This transparency ensures Postdocs understand their responsibilities and what is expected for continued employment.
When discussing Discipline and Dismissal, we clarified that our proposal for a pre-disciplinary notice and conference meeting is intended to de-escalate potential issues and avoid formal grievance procedures where possible—an approach we believe the administration appreciated.
Our next in-person session is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET. Click here to RSVP if you’d like to attend this or a future session and see the process firsthand!
You can access the full text of these proposals using our online bargaining tracker.
The fight for fair and transparent working conditions continues, and your voice matters. We urge you to stay engaged, share your experiences, and stand with us as we push for the rights every Postdoc deserves.
Have questions or feedback? Don’t hesitate to reply to this email — your input strengthens our collective power.
In Solidarity,
Silvia C Hernandez, Medicine – Cardiology
ERU-UAW Bargaining Committee