Postdoc Unionization
Last Updated: August 26th
Information on Unionization Efforts Among Postdoctoral Researchers
On August 15, 2024, the United Postdoctoral Researchers of Rockefeller-UAW (“UPROR-UAW”), affiliated with the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), seeking to unionize Postdoctoral Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Research Associates at The Rockefeller University.
The results of the upcoming union election will have far-reaching implications for both current and future postdoctoral researchers at Rockefeller University. Here, we provide general information about union representation and current support and benefits for Rockefeller Postdoctoral Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Research Associates. We will use the term “postdoctoral researchers” to include all members of these groups, making clear where there are differences between the groups. We will make reference as appropriate to provisions in the published postdoc collective bargaining agreements at other institutions, particularly Columbia University and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which recently underwent postdoc unionization, and provide useful comparisons. Lastly, we will provide updates on related topics as needed.