Researchers delivered an open letter signed by +400 postdocs, instructors, and scientists.
RSVP to observe our Bargaining Session tomorrow, May 7th!
Last Tuesday, April 28 a delegation of senior researchers and postdocs delivered an open letter signed by a majority of Sinai postdocs, instructors, and scientists to the Dean’s office, urging the administration to make greater progress towards a fair contract, so we can get back to focusing on doing world-class research.
On Wednesday, April 29 we had our 11th bargaining session with Sinai. After months of stalling by Sinai, we were pleased to see some more progress in this session. During this session, we presented two counter-proposals on Prohibition Against Discrimination and Harassment and Grievance and Arbitration.
Sinai also presented counter-proposals on Intellectual Property, Prohibition Against Discrimination and Harassment, Grievance and Arbitration, and a new proposal on No Strike. In Grievance and Arbitration, Sinai made some progress by proposing a slightly extended timeline for filing a formal written grievance, and agreed to an initial step in the process that includes the Department Chair. However, they continued to insist on an overall timeline that would prevent us from appealing a grievance to a neutral arbitrator outside of Mount Sinai for nearly two months.
On Intellectual Property, Sinai acknowledged that both Scientists and Instructors may be eligible to serve as Principal Investigators (PIs) on grants, while continuing to reject a wide array of protections that are included in the Sinai postdocs’ contract. In Prohibition Against Discrimination and Harassment, they included a mention of bullying for the first time, but stopped short of offering meaningful, enforceable protections.
We hope to see further progress at our next bargaining session, which will be Thursday (tomorrow), May 7th, from 9 AM to 12 PM. If you would like to observe the session, please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/6VAboLiNMBZUoYsr6.
To learn more about how you can help overcome Sinai’s efforts to stall negotiations, click here: https://forms.gle/9aMGCDSefqgYpxpC6.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or thoughts,
In solidarity,
Roman Kosoy
Senior Scientist, Psychiatry
ROCS-UAW Bargaining Committee