(PART2) The ongoing action for a better working life of the post docs

Today 21.05.23 various post docs were present (via Zoom or in person) to the meeting we scheduled for progressing in our campaign for the Post-doc working and financial conditions. At the meeting there was present also a reference person from TRFO Segel, who helped us clarifying doubts and concepts.

In particular, we focused - as said before- to these points.

1. University could (or should) hire Post docs as workers?!

    the common opinion (more than 6 people in favor, 3 against) is that possessing a working visa would be advantageous for the post docs for a series of reasons: better pay, more welfare, account for pension years, easier visa management (renewal etc...). This has the disadvantage to put the post doc in a compromising situation with their supervisor, which would be the most affected person financially speaking. Hiring a worker is a higher cost that the PI has to cover (considering that in average, 100% of the scholarship is paid by the PI and 50% by the faculty). Additionally, paying taxes is not something that everyone agrees upon.

The tendency of supporting the demand of a working visa comes with the condition that the various pros and cons will be clarified, and we should gather as much information as possible in order to evaluate the difference between being considered students or workers.

2. Financial and welfare help in the Relocation of the Post Doctoral Fellows.

 The idea is to ask for some specific subsidiarity for the incoming researcher, so that the costs for settling down will be buffered (in particular, we spoke about the costs of insurance and renting, the need of one to adjust to Tel Aviv cost of life and so on) in a manner that is actually a standard in many other universities worldwide.

3. More information and better support/benefits for health care and welfare.

 We demand more transparency on the contracts, the agreements, the way in which the scholarships are calculated and allocated and our rights as researchers in TAU. In particular, we need specific statements regarding the illness leave, the vacation and the maternity leave.

It has also been proposed to subsidize the cost of life with a special agreement between the university and some local restaurants/cafeterias/supermarket and other facilities around the university and the dorms. For example, the university might negotiate a student discount for several market activities or create a new market where the businessmen offer common goods at cheaper prices.

4. Equalize minimum wage for every Post doc, with regard of the difference between Israelis and Internationals.

 Provided that the international researchers have to deal with additional costs when settling down in Israel, and then in their staying (given the absence of a social network such as a family or the citizenship) have more challenges, from the point of view of the skills and the expertise, any post doc is a high profile researcher / employee and therefore they deserve a dignified amount of money that makes them financially independent and satisfied. At this age, it is not opportune to rely on parents or struggle to build a family or a future. In particular, the new olims and the non-Israeli spouses of National Israeli live many of the challenges foreigners like us have as well.

5. Recognition of Union representation of Post docs. 

 Provided that the post doc position is not officially recognized neither as a job nor as a study course, it is unacceptable that the Post docs don't have proper labor union representatives within the bodies of the university. This puts this category of people in a vulnerable position and in a grey zone, without clear rules or possibilities to define the conditions of specific cases. Without any representative, the post docs don't have any support during the working hours and they can't claim benefits that are normally provided to the rest of the people. For example, without the possibility of contributing to the welfare tax, they can't access several services such as the university lawyer. Post docs are currently a community of around 400 people, of which 300 are Internationals.

Other two points that came up in the discussion were:

6.CPI compensation to the Post docs right about now.

    Given the raising CPI index (month after month it is increasing), it is unfair that the PhDs and the Master students were granted a compensation to front this period, while the post docs were not entitled because of point 5 above. Post docs have a shorter period to spend in a country and they can't buffer the volatility of the cost of life in the same way as the others. This also means that they are in a more fragile financial position. The promised 5% of raise of the scholarships (hopefully) happening in the next semester could be too late for many post docs, who are struggling now. 

7. Better and smoother Visa management.

 It is frustrating and counterproductive to obtain a (student) visa once in a year when we already know that our contract might end in 2 years or more. The Visa system in TAU is overwhelmed (a few employees deal with a huge amount of bureaucracy) and the ministry of interior in Shalma Road in Tel Aviv is quite inefficient, considering the long hours of waiting even when there is an appointment. In order to keep up with our academic and personal scheduling, we need the flexibility of traveling when we need (for example for a visit to the family or a conference, to enter Europe through Schengen visa). This is even more important in periods like the COVID era or the current situation where the visas are elongated instead of being renewed. The unclear policy on the visa handling and these unpredictable occurrences (strikes of the office, the "passport marathon", etc...) make the people anxious about their situation and stressed about the long bureaucracy in order to obtain a visa that needs necessarily to be renewed every year.

Also, one should be able to handle their visa according to their specific needs. For example, given the low scholarships or some interesting work opportunities, some of us would like to get a job other than their position in the university. Considering that with the student visa one is NOT allowed to work, and that the university has a clause in its regulation of the working relationship between PIs and Post docs, it is extremely risky or inopportune to try making some more money or a new working experience here in Israel. The same is true for the Spouse visa, which prevents the spouse of a post doc from working or having any legal remunerative activity here in Israel, as it is expected that a researcher, with their own (low and insufficient) scholarship, can pay for themselves and their spouses (and maybe also their children).

Even if one was able to turn their visa into a work one, there would still be the "clause" from the university, which does not allow one to work outside the university. Controversially, this clause is not necessarily binding the person to the university, so we need to know its legal value.

CONCLUSION

Either way, we need support from TAU to improve our experience as international scientists and scholars, possibly acting in a manner so that our Israeli counterparts can benefit as well. It is important to work in a welcoming environment, where the focus is on the job and our scientific goals. In these conditions, it is annoying and challenging to go through the days. We therefore demand either more money availability or more welfare services in order to live a dignified and appropriate life as a high skill expert who are bringing their knowledge and solutions in a complex and always evolving world, for the benefit of a state that can use this human and knowledge capital to be competitive internationally.  

Lastly, a better environment for the most vulnerable job categories would provide benefits also for the ones that are more protected. Let's not forget that the research is based on the constant dedication of the Scholars, Master students, PhD students and Post docs. Better working conditions for all of them will be translate in a more effective, high quality level and enthusiastic working environment and deserved fame nationally and abroad.