The Crisis of "PhD graduates and Early-Career Scientists" is "Anomaly in the Anatomy of Academy!?.

The Crisis of "PhD graduates and Early-Career Scientists" is "Anomaly in the Anatomy of Academy!?.

In the latest "Nature Editorial", the following Editorial piece appeared (linked below). While the piece carries grim reality check on PhD graduate students based on results from a recent survey done by Nature,intention sure is a good one, they do not know how to write a title. The title itself is a questionable one, the plight of early career or PhD graduates low pay or living wage according to nature is a Scandal, like a Hollywood movie scandal or Washington DC scandal, is it?,Really Nature?. 

The living wage for graduate students or Post Docs or early scientists is not a Scandal, it is rather endemic, intrinsic system wide corrupt practice, because the academic structure is "Designed" that way?. 

It is not a temporary issue or a scandal between a supervisor or University admin or govt funding agencies, it is a crippling bigotry in "Equitable" treatment of young graduates and PostDocs, and it is a chronic debilitating structural issue of American Universities, Institutions as well as the global academic centers.

It is a Crisis that will deteriorate scientific endeavors and future scientific discoveries, once the young generation of scientists realize what they see or undergo is by design, interest and involvement in such field will take a nosedive, it is too late but still can be repaired and fixed. 

Ofcourse time is running out

Quote:"This year’s survey should set loud alarm bells ringing for anyone involved with recruiting and training the next generation of researchers. It demands swift, decisive action from governments and funding agencies to secure the future of science and the broader economic and social benefits that flow from it"".

fortunately Science still is meaningful and attractive to young minds around the world regardless of so much fakery and political derailing of science and research that recently happened or still happening in the name of Covid-19!?. Massively politicized, manipulated and utterly faked, mane made pandemic that lots of Scientists knowingly participated, events and unscientific approach like this would push the young minds that are already weary of "living wage or pay crisis" away from research..!

However, the fight and protest  

Quote: " On 11 October, a graduate-student group at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, staged a walkout as part of an ongoing protest calling for a guaranteed living wage and for the kinds of rights and benefits that come with academic employment contracts. The group is also looking to form a union, which it wants Dartmouth to recognize"

these young scientists put up to resolve these living wage and benefits issues that catapulted into "Unionization", the union way of fix up sure can help and heal the academic fractures to some extent, some centers like Uconn Health Center (UCHC) where the first Postdoctoral Union was formed prospered, became one of the finest research centers in America contrary to what most thought, unionization will fail, will create rift and not the right path ultimately bow down to the unionization, that is spreading all across US. However, I caution that Unionization works and it is fine to embrace, but the leaders and policy makers and stakeholders got to "overhaul" the way academic and research centers function with regard to "living wages and Pays" to graduates, PhD students and PostDocs, they are the Pillars of Science, medicine and Research!. A nation without best scientists and research will ultimately fail, will be a failed society. 

This Scientific crisis must never be looked at as a temporary or short term issue or a scandal that will go away or carpeted under academic ladder? but this is a pervasive existence of  "anomaly in the anatomy of academy!?.", the pain and endurance among early career students and graduates, PostDocs is not felt only during economic crisis or inflation or wall street crash!!!! 

 Quote:"The resulting financial pressures weigh more heavily on some than on others. They bear down particularly hard on people from low-income households, those who might be first in their families to go to university, and people from under-represented or historically marginalized groups — the very people whom universities are working diligently to recruit and retain.

perhaps little more pain during inflation or economic crisis but like a long lasting chronic pain, living wages and standard of living pain endurance for them continue through any and all state or countries economic condition..!.

Quote: "Institutions need to re-evaluate their approach to PhD support"

Exactly, not just re-evaluate, be proactive and make changes to their policies to lend support and encourage in healthy ways than damn discouraging atmosphere, a "wholesome" academic structural change and upliftment is inevitable to safegaurd the young scientists future, thereby Science's future.

Link to Nature Editorial:

The scandal of researchers paid less than a living wage (nature.com)

This is a system wide structural corruption within the academic

 Link to the Nature Article below:

• EDITORIAL
• 02 November 2022

The scandal of researchers paid less than a living wage

The cost-of-living crisis is a fundamental threat for PhD scholars and early-career researchers. They need to be paid properly.

PS:

THIS IS AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE, UNITE AND VOICE FOR THE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS/POSTDOCS IN USA. ALL THE POSTDOCS AND POSTDOC WELL WISHERS ARE WELCOME TO CONTRIBUTE AND POST YOUR MESSAGE HERE. GOOD LUCK, GOD BLESS POSTDOCS.

Unionization at Yale?- Graduate Students anticipate Yale to recognize Union...!!!

Unionization at Yale, that is pretty hard to believe right?, let us first clear the fact that this is graduate student union [not PostDoc Union] along with AFL-CIOs local 33, according to this "Courant" report, the graduate students have been trying to appeal to the Yale University to recognize their union effort for many years and the struggle between them is still ongoing. It has reached a point where both parties must make their final decision and it is now...!! From this Blog, wish them good luck.

The PostDocs at Yale are not yet unionized (some day PostDocs too will Unionize...!!, I am sure they know and watched the unfolding, look no further than your neighbor UCHC at Farmington, the first ever PostDoc union, UCHC has become one of the finest medical/scientific/research facility in America, when the administration understands and support the various stakeholders of the University or Institution, it will become a great place for higher learning and research, it's a wholesome growth and progress after our unionization, everyone is happy including the administration, PostDocs and the Union, hope others will learn from their story).

Courant's Report:

Yale Grad Students Fasting To Win Union Negotiations With School

The graduate students have been trying for years to get Yale to recognize their union, but the university has refused.
Last August, the National Labor Relations Board found that graduate students who assist in teaching and research at private universities are employees and have the right to unionize. Six days later, the Yale organizers filed their petitions to unionize.

In January, the regional office of the NLRB ordered elections, which were held in February. Eight departments voted to unionize including students from the departments of English, geology and geophysics, history, history of art, math and sociology. Only the physics department voted it down.

THE POSTDOC CONTRACT BETWEEN UNION & UCONN HEALTH CENTER

Do you know that Uconn Health center PostDoc unionization helped the postdocs to improve their postdoc experience, their life and their science better, these are the proudest postdocs in US. Here is the latest contract they have signed, and you can read the full details of the contract. It is signed by the postdocs through the local University Health Professionals (a union affiliated with AFL-CIO) and the Uconn Health center, the employer.

Ok, go ahead and compare your institute's policies, benefits and greatness with the UCONN Health Center, do your home work to find who is the best?, hope this helps lot of postdocs sitting on the fence to not know which side to jump to get some clear ideas?.

"An ambiqous mind is no better than a mind that is ceased to function"
quote by Dr.Muni, 09-26-2007

http://employ.uchc.edu/information/pdfs/bargaining/UHPContract2006_2010(Complete).pdf

CONTRACT

Between
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER

and

UNIVERSITY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

LOCAL 3837 AFT/AFT-CT/AFL-CIO
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2010

Article 1
RECOGNITION
1.1 The State of Connecticut through the Board of
Trustees for the University of Connecticut Health Center,
Farmington, (hereinafter known as the Employer) recognizes
the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, (hereinafter
known as the Union) as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent
for the purposes of establishing salaries, hours and other
conditions of employment for the professional employees on
the regular payroll in the bargaining unit which excludes per
diem employees, University Hospital Resident Physicians and
Dentists, Graduate Assistants, Faculty, and
Managerial/Confidential Exclusions as defined in C.G.S. 5-270.

1.2 The Board of Trustees reserves its right under the
State Collective Bargaining Statute, Section 5-270 to exclude
additional positions which are or which may become managerial
during the life of this contract. Such exclusions shall be made
in accordance with the process delineated in the Memorandum
of Agreement regarding management exclusions.

1.3 The Department of Human Resources shall send
to the Union every six months a list of all individuals and their
titles who are managerial or confidential exclusions.

1.4 Whenever in this Agreement eligibility for a
benefit is premised on an employee’s having an assignment
authorization of fifty (50) percent or more (such as but not
necessarily limited to personal leave, tuition waiver, payment
for jury duty, disability insurance):

a. The employee must actually be paid the
percentage of time specified in the assignment authorization.

b. The assignment authorization must be in effect
for sixty (60) days. Therefore, an employee whose assignment
authorization is increased from below fifty (50) percent to fifty
(50) percent or more shall not be eligible for the benefit until the
assignment authorization has been in effect for sixty (60) days;
an employee whose assignment authorization is decreased, shall
not have such benefits reduced or eliminated until the reduction
has been in effect for sixty (60) days. In the case of benefits

2
which coincide with the calendar month, the change shall take
place on the first of the month which follows a period of 60
days or a major portion thereof.
The above does not apply to vacation, sick leave
and seniority. Sick leave and vacation shall continue to be
prorated as specified in the Agreement. Seniority shall continue
to be prorated based on assignment authorization percentage.
An employee’s previously accrued leave shall
not be increased or decreased as a result of a change in
assignment authorization; however, eligibility for leave and/or
the rate of accrual shall be modified as provided in Section 1.4.
With respect to personal leave:

a. An employee shall lose personal leave time
accrued upon a decrease of assignment authorization to below
fifty (50) percent.

b. An employee whose assignment authorization is
increased to fifty (50) percent or more shall receive pro rata
personal leave.

Article 2
CHECK-OFF
2.1
a. Employees who join the Union shall pay dues
and initiation fees (if applicable) in accordance with the terms
of this Article.

b. Employees who do not join the Union shall pay
agency fees in accordance with the terms of this Article.

c. Compliance with Article 2.1a and 2.1b is a
condition of employment.

d. The Health Center may deduct contributions in
the amount specified from the gross paycheck of each person in
the unit who authorizes in writing payments to fund-raising
drives sponsored by the Health Center.

3
2.2 The Employer shall deduct from the biweekly
wages Union dues and initiation fee, or agency fees, as
established by the Union. Such deductions will begin no later
than the first pay period following the completion of the
employee's first thirty (30) days of employment. The initiation
fee shall be paid in five (5) consecutive biweekly installments.

2.3 An employee who fails to become a member of
the Union, or an employee whose membership is terminated for
non-payment of dues; or who resigns from membership shall be
required to pay an agency service fee under Section 2.4.

2.4
a. Employees who do not join or who terminate
their membership in the Union shall be required to pay agency
fees equivalent to and on the same basis as the applicable union
dues and initiation fees.

b. The Employer shall deduct agency fees
equivalent to and on the same basis as dues and initiation fees
from employees who do not join the Union. The Union shall
publish its procedures for reimbursing to non-members that part
of the agency fee deducted for purposes not related to collective
bargaining, contract administration and grievance adjustment.

2.5 Should an employee's status change from parttime
to full-time, or from full-time to part-time, the amount of
Union dues or agency service fee shall change accordingly.

2.6 The amount of dues or agency service fee
deducted under this Article shall be remitted to the Union as
soon as practicable after the payroll period in which the list of
employees for whom any such deduction is made. Each month
the Employer shall give to the Union a list of employees who
have paid dues or fees for that month.

2.7 No payroll deduction of dues or agency service
fee shall be made from workers’ compensation or for any
payroll period in which earnings received are insufficient to
cover the amount of deduction, nor shall deduction be made
from subsequent payrolls to cover the period in question.

4
2.8 The Employer shall continue its practice of
payroll deductions as authorized by employees for purposes
other than payment of union dues or agency services fees,
provided any such payroll deduction has been approved by the
Employer in advance.

2.9 The Employer agrees to furnish the Union each
month with the names of newly hired employees.
a. Reports and computer runs developed
specifically for the Union will be furnished at the going rate.

2.10 Union dues shall not be deducted for any other
employee organization.

2.11 The Employer shall deduct contributions in the
amount specified from the gross paycheck of each person in the
unit who authorizes contributions to the Union's Political Action
Fund. The Union will hold the Health Center harmless and
indemnify it from any claims, actions or proceedings resulting
from this deduction.

2.12 The Employer assumes no obligation, financial
or otherwise, arising out of the provisions of this Article, and
the Union hereby agrees that it will indemnify and hold the
Employer harmless from any claims, actions or proceedings
hereunder. Once the funds are remitted to the Union, their
disposition thereafter shall be the sole and exclusive obligation
and responsibility of the Union.

Article 3
NONDISCRIMINATION
3.1 The provisions of this Agreement shall be
applied equally to all employees in the bargaining unit without
discrimination as to age, sex, marital status, race, color,
religious creed, national origin, sexual orientation, physical
handicap unrelated to job performance, or membership or
participation in any employee organization, or any other
characteristic protected by law.

3.2 All references to employees in

Read the full contract details at the above or following link:

http://employ.uchc.edu/information/pdfs/bargaining/UHPContract2006_2010(Complete).pdf

Uconn Health center: http://www.uchc.edu/

University Health Professionals: http://ct.aft.org/uhp3837/

University of California- UC PostDocs Unionization

The PostDocs Plight- Latest Union Activity at UC

The most recent news release about UC POSTDOC Unionization depicts as though some great failure occurred in the Unionization effort of University of California Postdocs. In contrast, it is a sensationalistic propoganda of these news reporters who use all these terms like "UC unionization is a bust", UC unionization is a failure, UAW failed to unionize postdocs and what not? to put this unionization heat off, not knowing that it is a great initiative that kicked off few years ago, going at its own speed, an effort like this at this juncture, should not be treated or construed as a failure. It is infact, a very successeful organization effort, because the postdocs are not sitting quite now and sleepaway thinking it is over, they need better respect so they will keep working on it.....in that respect it is a successeful effort.

Beyond these media liars lies the reality, postdocs obviously are working together in this effort to push forward some reformations that will help them respected and paid well besides fullfilling other basic benefits like regular employees. Wherever there is a union effort to bring employees together to fight for their rights, there are bound to be huge anti-union rallys by puppets who are paid agents of union busting activities, especially some paid writers, anti union busting companies news papers and news magazines that work under the disguise that they tell the truth.

It sounds like those postdocs who complained to the university and state labor board seems to be intimidated by peers, colleagues and the so called PIs (people do refer them as Boss, or the PIs refer themselves as Bosses, oh yeah, what boss?). It will not take long enough time for us to discover and learn that this is a terrible act of union busting by the bullies on innocent postdocs, who are intimidated about their career, the present job and their future. The self proclaimed saviors of PostDocs, the national postdoctoral association is a bunch of joke, despite they do not have any record of their own success in helping postdocs to gain better employment package, they keep waging their tails everywhere as if they have any power or ability to bargain, which is pitiable.

What this current director of NPA knows about PIs and Postdoc relations? to bring forth her arguments that this unionization will destroy relationships... No ...it did not!?. What does she know about UCONN Postdocs unionization, they even got the second best contract negotiated successefully and the PIs world did not turn upside down because postdocs got unionized, infact, the respect and life of postdocs after unionization got better and better, because they can afford better child care, because they can afford to have health and dental coverage, because they have access to vacations and leaves as good as a regular employees, because they can now sit with PIs, the University Administration accross the table and discuss the issues and problems and find amicable solutions, whether it is financial matter or work related.

So, what do these union busting people know, except their assumptions and handwavings on innocent postdocs. The worst of these union busting was created by the so called anti-union blogger who posses to the world as though he/she is the greatest soul on earth who fights for the rights, he/she is after all a paid agent of the very union busting agency that might fund NPA. NPA has the tradition of standing in the middle ground, because they cannot stand on their own to institute changes, they do not have any bargaining power, resources or mind set, then how can they help postdocs except for arranging some cynical meetings, conferences and wining and dining in the name of postdoc advocacy. What postdocs need is a voice, a protection and respect, will you ever get this oh NPA?.

But, there is no mention of these acts in the news, only the higher education news article did say some thing along this line that this is not a failure but a good effort that might continue. The other news reports including the one written by the science magazine writer simply assume this unionization is a failure, no it is not a bust you self-imposed postdoc advocates!?. It is just the beginning at UC unionization that will smell the success soon...!

The UAW might have not done enough home work and careful handling of this unionization effort, though the UAW is not the best choice for postdocs and scientists in my view. The UC postdocs need to choose the right union, such as the one we UCONN postdocs affiliated with the AFT or other better unions in California. Neverthless, if UAW came forward to undertake this organizing effort to bring the postdocs together and help them in labor issues, UAWs harwork and interest must be appreciated. As unionizing postdocs is unarguably the most difficult one compared to any other type of employees, to deal with this huge UC postdoc pool is such a huge task and tremendous challenge.

Let us wait for the change of this course, and time will be the best answer.
Here are some of the news, starting from the one I liked "the higher education" news then the others....!!!

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/11/07/postdocs
Nov. 7
Unionizing Postdocs
They’ve been called “the invisible scientists,” and while that’s probably hyperbole, postdoctoral researchers are, on many university campuses, neither fish nor fowl — not yet professors, and yet no longer students, either. Their numbers have risen steadily in recent years with the increase in biomedical and other research spending, to an estimated 50,000 to 60,000, but the length of time that many postdocs spend in this in-between stage has been growing, too. Also on the rise, among some of them, is frustration at low pay, insufficient benefits and the reality that fewer of them may find a full-time faculty or research job at the end of their stint.

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/1102/1
UC Postdoc Union Fizzles
By Yudhijit Bhattacharjee
ScienceNOW Daily News2 November 2006An attempt to form what would have been the first major union of postdocs in the United States has ended in failure. But supporters of the controversial effort at the University of California (UC) system say they haven't given up.
U.S. postdocs began joining together more than a decade ago to press for improvements in their working conditions and to clarify their ambiguous status on most campuses. But they have traditionally avoided affiliations with labor unions. So it was a shock to many in the scientific community when the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Workers Union (UAW) filed a petition in July with California's Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) seeking to represent 6000 UC postdocs based on having collected a majority of their signatures. Some UC postdocs alleged that UAW representatives had collected signatures from many of their colleagues without fully explaining the implications of forming a union. Under state rules, signing up a simple majority of workers is enough to declare victory.

HERE IS THE STATMENT OF PRO/UAW, though the actual reason according to UAW website is the 100 cards lesser for unionization that are signed by, but due to the intimidation tactics and this STRANGELY, MANIPULATED title change of PostDocs does sound like a foul play?

PRO/UAW PRO/UAW PRO/UAW

PRO/UAWThe Union for Postdoctoral Researchers at the University of CaliforniaPostdoctoral Researchers Organize/ International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
CURRENT UPDATE ON PETITION FOR UNION CERTIFICATION:We have withdrawn the petition for certification of the Union that we had filed at the state labor board in July. During the PRO/UAW organizing drive, we did not have a list of all Postdocs working at the University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. In the course of working through the petition process with the University we learned that 500-600 of the cards we submitted to PERB were from people who identified as Postdocs at the time they signed, but now are not Postdocs and are not on the list, largely due to the transition of Postdoc job titles under APM 390. As a result, we are approximately 100 cards short of majority.PAST UPDATES:
On September 21st, 2006, the Union filed an amended petition with PERB. The amendment excludes Postdoctoral Scholars who are not employees of the University. Please check back here for updates on the progress of the petition.
On August 2, the UC's outside, private counsel filed an objection to our petition at PERB. At no time prior to the filing of these objections did the University ever contact the Union to verify any of the information contained therein. Rather, while there are nearly 6000 postdocs in the University of California system, the University decided to file an objection based on some unsupported and vague claims of a few individuals. Indeed, the University's filing includes only 14 affidavits from postdoctoral fellows. Those individuals allege a range of unclear and general claims that run counter to everything the Union has ever stated about the organizing process, including the clear statements on this very website.
Great news! A strong majority of UC Postdocs statewide have signed up for the Union. The petition has been filed with the state labor board.

So, you have learned the drama so far at the UC campuses. Here is one of the original article about postdocs and their Pathetic status in the academia?/././
May be a good time to refresh your memories with this article:
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/0299web/postdoc.html