{"id":64542,"date":"2025-07-14T09:47:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/64542\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T09:47:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:47:16","slug":"city-councilmembers-urge-penn-to-respect-union-election-for-postdocs-research-associates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/64542\/","title":{"rendered":"City councilmembers urge Penn to ‘respect’ union election for postdocs, research associates"},"content":{"rendered":"

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City councilmembers, including those that represent University City, sent a letter to Penn urging respect for the researchers and postdocs union election.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Kylie Cooper<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Members of Philadelphia\u2019s City Council issued a letter on July 7 urging Penn to respect the rights of the University\u2019s postdoctoral researchers and research associates seeking to unionize.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The letter<\/a>, signed by eight councilmembers and addressed to Penn President Larry Jameson and Provost John Jackson Jr., called on Penn to honor a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that granted postdoctoral researchers and research associates at Penn the right to vote on unionization in a July 16 and 17 election<\/a>. The councilmembers urged the University to \u201crefrain from any further legal challenges\u201d and \u2014 in the event of unionization \u2014 \u201cpromptly bargain with them in good faith for a fair contract.\u201d\n\t\t<\/p>\n

According to first district Councilmember and letter contributor Mark Squilla, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier \u2014 who represents Philadelphia\u2019s third district, including University City \u2014 requested to publicly express support for Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c[Gauthier] had reached out to see if any other councilmembers had interest in signing on to a letter to help support the efforts of having a vote to unionize there,\u201d Squilla said in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Along with Squilla and Gauthier, Councilmember Cindy Bass \u2014 along with at-large members Nina Ahmad, Kendra Brooks, Rue Landau, Nicolas O\u2019Rourke, and Jim Harrity \u2014 signed the letter.\n<\/p>\n

The councilmembers cited RAPUP\u2019s upcoming election and their growing concern over what organizers called an \u201canti-union campaign<\/a>\u201d carried out by the University.\u00a0\n\t<\/p>\n

Due to \u201cthe challenge to the election coming up in July,\u201d Squilla said that the councilmembers thought it was \u201cimperative\u201d for them, as \u201cmembers supporting the unions,\u201d to \u201creach out\u201d and say \u201cthere should be a fair election.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

They criticized Penn\u2019s legal response to recent organizing efforts by research associates and postdocs, which included initiating a hearing with the NLRB after a majority of eligible researchers signed union authorization cards and filed for an election in April 2024.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The councilmembers wrote that the hearing delayed and potentially denied workers the right to vote, and compared the University\u2019s legal arguments to those used \u201cto weaken workers\u2019 rights\u201d by employers such as Whole Foods.\n<\/p>\n

Ahmad \u2014 who participated in a postdoctoral fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University \u2014 described feeling \u201cintimately\u201d aware of the benefits of unionization in an interview with the DP.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI am deeply supportive and understand the need,\u201d Ahmad said. \u201cPostdocs particularly are very much overlooked, overworked, [and] underpaid.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

She also said that, despite the \u201coverwhelming\u201d support for unionization among workers, the University has opted to \u201csilence students, particularly international students.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

According to Squilla, Penn\u2019s administration has not directly explained its opposition to the union effort, especially given the University\u2019s existing relationships with other labor groups.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Ahmad suggested that Penn\u2019s resistance may be financially motivated, emphasizing the \u201ccheap labor\u201d offered by postdocs and research associates.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey \u2026 [bring] in billions of dollars to the University,\u201d Ahmad said. \u201cAll these proposals for grants, guess who writes them? Mostly postdocs. The principal investigators are not in the labs. It\u2019s the postdocs who are actually managing in that space.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Ahmad also raised concerns about the future of Penn\u2019s relationship with the City Council, particularly as it relates to what the University \u201cneeds and wants\u201d from the city.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could have a critical eye on some things that they need,\u201d she said. \u201cThey need collaboration with us.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Squilla also noted that the University failed to explain its motivations \u2014 despite the extensive relationship between Penn and the City Council.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201c[Penn] didn\u2019t reach out to us and say, \u2018hey, this is the reason why we\u2019re fighting this\u2019 or \u2018this is the reason why we believe we should maybe hold off the vote at this time,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cIf they have a really good reason, then they should share that.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The letter emphasized that unionization contributes to \u201ca stronger and more prosperous city and commonwealth,\u201d and highlighted the importance of job security, fair salaries, and benefits for University researchers.\n<\/p>\n

The councilmembers also addressed Penn\u2019s use of institutional resources to delay the union process, referencing the broader national instability<\/a> around research funding.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be disappointing to see Penn expend additional resources delaying workers\u2019 democratic rights when research institutions, public officials, and workers are in a fight together to defend the research enterprise itself,\u201d the councilmembers wrote.\n<\/p>\n

In response to the letter, RAPUP emphasized its gratitude for the widespread support of unionization, including among Philadelphia legislators.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe, as postdocs and research associates at Penn, agree that we share a mutual interest with Penn administration in sustaining Penn\u2019s research enterprise in the face of recent attacks on research funding,\u201d Will Drayer \u2014 a postdoc researching material science engineering \u2014 wrote in a statement to the DP on behalf of RAPUP. \u201cWith our union, we will be joining over 100,000 academic workers also affiliated with the UAW in a broad movement to make the academic workplace more just, fair, and equitable.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The councilmembers concluded their letter by reinforcing that they \u201cbelieve it is in the mutual interest of the Penn administration, Penn Postdocs and Research Associates, and the City of Philadelphia for the Penn administration to respect researchers\u2019 democratic choice.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing from Philadelphia, we\u2019re a pretty strong union town,\u201d Squilla said. \u201cWe believe in these rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation<\/a> to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.<\/p>\n

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