Strike Authorization Vote Called by Caltech Postdocs and Grad Workers Union

C/GPU-UAW, the union for more than 2,000 postdocs and graduate workers at Caltech, announced Wednesday that it intends to hold a strike authorization vote on December 4 and 5. A majority vote in favor would authorize the union’s Bargaining Committee to call a strike, should circumstances justify, according to the union-authorized statement.

Results will be tallied the evening of December 5. 

C/GPU-UAW represents 2,000 postdocs, academic researchers, who work to power Caltech’s research and academic mission. 

The Union said its members perform a significant bulk of the Institute’s teaching and mentoring, grading of papers, and performing of cutting-edge research. 

“But,” the union statement said, “too many face outsized burdens on the current salary, including parents and international scholars, with little support from the institution for healthcare, childcare, and visa renewal expenses.”

A Caltech spokesperson told Pasadena Now that negotiations between the Institute and the union have been highly productive and are progressing quickly. 

“In just six months, the Institute and CGPU-UAW have reached tentative agreements on the bulk of the contract, 31 provisions, which represents a pace well ahead of the average of a year-plus negotiation timeline for similar first contracts,” Caltech Chief Communications Officer Shayna M. Chabner McKinney wrote in an email.

“We have worked with the Union at each step of the bargaining process, coordinating and mutually agreeing to bargaining times and topics, and continue to believe that the best approach to reaching a fair agreement remains collaborative discussions at the bargaining table.”

“The Institute is working in good faith to reach a fair first collective bargaining agreement with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, represented by the Caltech Grad Researchers and Postdocs United – United Auto Worker (CGPU-UAW), that will reflect the Institute’s values and mission,” Chabner McKinney said.