Happy Halloween!
Our bargaining teams have just finished another two days of negotiations on 10/28-29.
Current progress: Caltech admin were resistant to guaranteeing any rights around H1-B visas, but with the latest iteration of the article regarding Support for Immigrant and International Workers, advisors would no longer be allowed to withhold necessary paperwork for H1-B visas in bad faith (i.e. without cause). Proposals on Tuition and Fee Remission, Leaves, and the Emergency Fund were also made.
While we’ve made major progress on the non-economic topics, there’s still more work to be done in the coming months. As we begin the sixth month of bargaining, we STILL have not heard back about wages and healthcare, including dependent costs. Per the results of the Top Pay for Top Worksurvey, these are the highest priority items for the over 750 GSWs and Postdocs who filled out the survey. This week, to demonstrate our collective power and united front, these results along with other data were shared at the bargaining table. Information about our collective fight for compensation, healthcare, childcare, and protections for international scholars can be found on the new Our Fight page.
The longer these negotiations go on, the longer it takes to ratify our contract, and the longer all of us have to wait to access the rights and benefits we’ve already won. This means that GSWs and Postdocs who are currently waiting to grieve unfair and unsafe working conditions have no recourse. Those who are financially burdened continue to struggle under the shadow of an uncertain federal election with consequences for everyone, but especially parents and international scholars. Learn how we can push the administration to respond to our proposals at the Mass Membership Meeting on 11/19 at 5 pm.We need an enforceable contract now—it cannot wait.
In solidarity,
Tessa Rusch
Postdoc, HSS