California postdocs win better employment terms

After 18 months of wrangling, postdoctoral researchers have finally reached an agreement with 바카라사이트 University of California over a contract of employment that 바카라사이트y hope will set standards for postdocs across 바카라사이트 US.

More than 6,000 postdocs working across 바카라사이트 university's 10 campuses formed a union, affiliated to 바카라사이트 United Auto Workers union, in November 2008 amid complaints about pay, benefits, rights and working conditions.

About 60 all-day negotiation meetings culminated in a marathon 30-hour session at 바카라사이트 end of July, where an agreement was finally reached.

The contract, which will run for 바카라사이트 next five years if ratified in a ballot of postdocs this week, guarantees a pay rise of at least 3 per cent a year for those earning less than $47,000 (?29,500) annually, and at least 1.5 per cent for those earning more. A new minimum salary of $37,740 has also been agreed.

The new contract will also see University of California postdoctoral researchers' salary scales gradually brought into line with those at 바카라사이트 federally funded National Institutes of Health (NIH).

According to 바카라사이트 union's summary of 바카라사이트 agreement, NIH researchers receive average annual increases of 5 per cent as 바카라사이트y advance up 바카라사이트 experience scale.

The scale itself is also raised every year, with President Barack Obama proposing an increase of 6 per cent next year.

Also included in 바카라사이트 contract are redundancy protection, a one-year minimum length for appointment and a no-strike agreement.

The contract is not 바카라사이트 first of its kind in 바카라사이트 US, but 바카라사이트 Californian postdocs - who account for 10 per cent of all postdocs in 바카라사이트 country - are by far 바카라사이트 largest group to unionise.

Xiaoqing Cao, a cancer researcher from 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles and a member of 바카라사이트 bargaining committee, said: "We've improved compensation and our rights at UC, and have helped set standards for postdocs across 바카라사이트 country."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.