Postdocs delivered an open letter to President Lifton’s office on Tuesday
On Wednesday, February 18th, we held our 23rd bargaining session with the University. This session included important progress on several core articles, as well as a powerful demonstration of unity from our membership.
On February 17th, postdocs delivered an open letter to President Rick Lifton, signed by 245 of us (85% of all postdocs), urging the University to reach a fair contract without further delay. We emphasized that postdocs are united in demanding strong and enforceable protections against discrimination, harassment, and bullying; a fair and timely grievance procedure; stable and predictable appointments; and important union rights. The overwhelming participation in this letter sent a clear message that postdocs expect a contract that meets the standards increasingly common at peer institutions.
Yesterday’s session started with the Union presenting a counterproposal on the Health and Safety article, and we are pleased to report that we reached a Tentative Agreement on this article. This article secures important protections, including clear reporting following investigations, protections related to reproductive health, and a joint committee to proactively address health and safety concerns. This represents a major step forward in ensuring a safer and more transparent working environment for postdocs.
The Union then presented our counterproposals on Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation; Grievance and Arbitration; Union Rights and Access; and International Researcher Rights. This was followed by the University’s presentation of their counterproposal on Appointments and Appointment Security.
Later in the session, the University presented a counterproposal on International Researcher Rights that brought us closer to agreement. We are now aligned on most core protections, including timely processing of paperwork, institutional support for immigration processes, and safeguards for maintenance of visa/work authorization process. The remaining open items are primarily economic and will be addressed during economic negotiations.
We also had productive and detailed discussions on Appointments and Appointment Security following the University’s latest proposal. These conversations brought both sides significantly closer to agreement. Our focus remains on ensuring stable and predictable appointment terms that allow postdocs to plan their research and careers without unnecessary uncertainty.
This session demonstrated both the strength of our collective voice and continued progress at the bargaining table. While important work remains, we are making meaningful advances toward securing the protections and standards that postdocs deserve.
The most important factor in our success bargaining a strong contract is the participation of postdocs — observe a session, join an action, and help us keep the pressure on. Our next in-person session is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 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.
Have questions or feedback? Don’t hesitate to reply to this email — your input strengthens our collective power.
In solidarity,
Merve Deniz Abdüsselamoğlu
On behalf of the UPROR-UAW Bargaining Committee
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Tentative Agreement:
UPROR-UAW Proposals:
International Researcher Rights
Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
University Proposals: