**Please read carefully**
Our bargaining team heard from you and your colleagues that OHSU’s current behavior is unacceptable with more than 87% in favor of authorizing a strike. Our team’s assessment is that a strike vote will pass and is the necessary next step in reaching a contract with OHSU.
Why are postdocs ready to strike?
OHSU is not negotiating with us on key economic issues.
OHSU is prioritizing billions of dollars into acquisitions, bonuses and executive payouts.
OHSU is using layoffs to dissuade union support.
On Friday July 05, 2024, your bargaining team has declared an impasse, meaning OHSU has 1 week to change their position before we hold a strike authorization vote. Your bargaining team will meet with OHSU to compare the last best offers before they are published. OHSU can no longer stall our negotiations or hide from public scrutiny. Together we will hold them accountable.
On July 17th, we are moving forward with a strike vote because your colleagues are ready to vote “yes.” This is a democratic process that allows your bargaining team to call for a strike. We want to make sure your voice is heard and that you can make the best informed choice. Abstaining or voting “No” tells OHSU that they can continue to bully and exploit postdocs and researchers. We want you to get the best contract possible so that you do not have to live in fear or live paycheck-to-paycheck.
Arrange a time to meet or bring questions about the next steps by contacting [email protected]
Quick note on layoffs:
OHSU is using layoffs to scare you. Initially, layoffs impacted non-union managers and research staff with expiring contracts. The recent round of layoffs have now reached local 328 and AURN members. However, the unions have stepped in to negotiate severance, reassignments. In some cases layoff decisions were rescinded because whole departments would cease to function. Layoffs are OHSU’s biggest threat to union power, which means we have an important choice to make with PWU if we want a strong future for our union. OHSU leadership decisions to layoff employees is based on OHSU clinics not meeting their projected financial goals. We must keep in mind that research operates on separate budgets that are at an all time high and these budgets are flexible so long as we reach an agreement with OHSU on our minimum salaries. THis has been demonstrated at Mt. Sinai, Columbia, UCs, UW, Rudtgers, and other institutions who set postdoc minimums above the NIH federal standards. We must hold OHSU accountable to their bad leadership decisions by staying committed to PWU’s mission and organized as we prepare for a potential strike. A strike is our most effective tool to stop layoffs because it demonstrates to OHSU and the community that we are organized, and willing to hold OHSU accountable by withholding our labor.
We deserve better:
The NIH scale OHSU insists on implementing as their maximum pay for Postdocs, means we are left behind when other OHSU employees get raises. The 2024 strategic alignment report released by OHSU shows the dollar and percent growth for various employee classes at OHSU. We’ve added in Postdocs, as we were left out from their initial report:
The numbers speak for themselves - OHSU doesn’t think we deserve increases equitable with the increases offered to our PIs and labmates. Make no mistake, underpaying Postdocs is exploitation of our labor.
In solidarity,
Your colleagues with Postdoc Workers United
FAQ
“I saw OHSU is laying off employees, so I’m worried they can’t afford to pay us more”.
While OHSU is projecting a budget deficit and are restructuring some positions, they are also investing millions of dollars to recruit and retain top talent. OHSU’s position towards our unit makes it clear they don’t view postdocs as top talent; they are wrong. Postdocs here are highly trained, highly specialized workers that cannot be easily replaced or made redundant.
“We just got a raise from the NIH, so it feels greedy to ask for more”.
Postdoctoral pay increased by 3.75% on an annualized basis (i.e. per year) since 2020. Pay for other researchers increased by 6% on an annualized basis since 2020, and 6.5% for faculty. Is it fair for postdocs to get significantly less increases than other researchers?
Check out more strike FAQs from postdocs like you!
