Crystal Lewis at The Chief Leader reports Post-Doctoral Workers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who’ve been in negotiations for a first contract for more than a year, have set a December 6th strike date.  The Sinai Postdoctoral Organizing Committee-United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents about 550 researchers, allege Mount Sinai has “stalled and undermined the bargaining process” and has refused to budge on their demands for fair raises, fully paid Parental Leave and improved Child Care Benefits.  The Union stated on its website that Sinai Administrators were ill-prepared during a bargaining session held earlier this month and did not provide any economic counter proposals.  Little progress was made on non-economic demands, the Post-Docs said.  The research institution’s apparent lack of urgency frustrated Union Members, who in turn decided to set a strike date.  The lack of Child Care Benefits and Paid Parental Leave contributed to one former Post-Doc, Jessica Wang, deciding to leave Mount Sinai in October.  “I was forced to choose between my baby and doing quality research that furthers science and my career,” said Wang, who started working at Sinai’s Cardiology Lab in 2020 and gave birth in June.  Union Members are also seeking to increase protections against bullying and harassment in the workplace, and improved job security. “Post-Docs can be fired at any point.  We want just-cause protections,” Joseph said.

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