TL;DR
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The postdocs have reached a Tentative Agreement with Sinai for their first contract and are voting on whether to ratify this agreement as their first contract.
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The agreement makes postdoc minimum salaries at Mount Sinai the highest in the country at $72,500. Read the full agreement here.
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We can build on the rights and improvements they win when we negotiate our own contract with Sinai.
On Sunday, the postdocs reached a Tentative Agreement for their first contract with Mount Sinai after over 16 months of bargaining and a historical strike, and they are currently voting on whether or not to approve this agreement as their first union contract. We are proud to have supported our postdoc coworkers at rallies and picket lines for the 12 days of their historic strike.
Read the full agreement here. Some highlights of the agreement include:
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Highest minimum salaries for postdocs in the country
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Minimum salary of $72,500 will be adjusted for years of experience, up to $80,000
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Postdocs will receive an immediate bonus due to their salary increase being backdated to 90 days before contract ratification
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The minimum salary will increase every year to keep up with cost-of-living
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Parental leave of six weeks at 100% pay for both birth and non-birth parents from the first day of employment in addition to 6-8 weeks medical leave after birth
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Yearly $50,000 emergency fund to cover expenses related to childcare, housing, and other forms of financial hardship
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First-ever housing article in a postdoc contract guaranteeing 3 years of subsidized housing for incoming Postdoctoral Fellows
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Greater job security including “just cause” protections against arbitrary discipline and termination
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Stronger protections against discrimination, harassment, and abusive conduct, including immediate and supportive measures and extended timelines for reporting harassment, pregnancy accommodations, and gender neutral facilities
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New rights for international researchers, including protected time off for visa renewal, up to $1,250 in reimbursements for visa-related expenses, and an option for extended DS2019 work authorization beyond appointment length
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A strong grievance procedure that allows them for the first time to enforce their rights under the contract with access to a neutral third-party arbitrator
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Relocation payments of $1,500 for incoming Postdoctoral Fellows
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Protected rights to authorship and intellectual property and for open access publication fees
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Increase in paid time off to 20 vacation days plus 4 personal days
We believe that this agreement not only sets a new standard for workplace equity and inclusion but will also have positive ripple effects for all of us. Student workers are next in line to win important improvements for researchers at Sinai. Lastly, the postdocs want to thank the student workers that joined a picket, spread word about the postdoc strike, and stood in solidarity throughout this process. The workers, united, can never be defeated!
In solidarity,
Alissa and Sanutha
Neuroscience
Members of Sinai Student Workers Organizing Committee