Autoworkers and Postdocs

The United Autoworkers Union and the University of California system have reached an agreement over the salaries of about 6,500 postdocs that the union represents, blogger DrugMonkey says. The postdocs will be put on the NIH NRSA salary scale — the minimum salary will be $37,740 per year for new postdocs with less than a year's experience, DrugMonkey says, adding that he's in favor of the salary scale and that the agreement is a good step forward. A UAW press release states the agreement also includes experience-based and general annual increases, new provisions for time off, protections from discipline or dismissal, and better enforcement of health and safety standards.