Northwestern’s new union of postdoctoral researchers is bargaining for its first contract that covers numerous aspects of working conditions.

The Northwestern University Postdoctoral Union represents 1,195 postdoctoral researchers and research assistants. More than 500 members voted to unionize in August.

Nick Vieira, a first-year postdoctoral researcher studying astrophysics and member of the union’s nine-person bargaining committee, said he joined NUPU after bargaining for graduate students at McGill University. 

“There’s something really magical about being united in a common struggle against someone who frankly thinks you deserve nothing,” Vieira said. 

The committee proposed 18 articles at its first meeting with NU on March 17.The parties have agreed on three articles so far, he added, including one on health and safety protections in the workplace.

However, they’re still far apart on other key points, like a clause on academic freedom or protections for international researchers, Vieira said. 

The next bargaining session will be May 21, and Vieira said negotiations will continue well into the summer. 

Almost two months after their first meeting, he said the University returned counteroffers to all 18 of the union’s initial proposals at their May 7 meeting.

“I would say I’m a little bit more optimistic after that last session,” Vieira said.

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