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

 Here below we report the summary of the meeting we had on 14.05.23 with the post docs and Segel (Teaching and Research Faculty Organization) and the conclusions we came to. The meeting was attended by 18 people, mostly Postdocs, from the schools of management, medicine, zoology, astrophysics, engineering, history, plant science, among others.

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Abbreviations: 

Postdoc (Pd), principal investigator (PI), Tel Aviv university (TAU), Segel (Teaching and research faculty organization), CPI (Consumer price index)

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WHAT HAPPENED

First point: an introduction by representative of the Segel was given to all of the participants. Here the most important points:

• The 2023 started with a +5% increase of CPI, while scholarships of post docs were not adjusted, probably at least since 2009.
• Segel started an initiative to convince TAU to reimburse its scholars, given inflation and its commitment to update scholarships according to CPI. 
• Segel decided to put the struggle on hold after TAU agreed to increase scholarships (by the next academic year) and to pay compensation for the scholars (i.e. PhDs and master students). 
• After 1.5.2023, Master and PhDs  received a partial compensation for the CPI increase. Post docs did not as their scholarships were not recognized by the university as part of the agreement to update according to CPI (while PhD and masters scholarships were)
• In the letter of commitment on the collective agreement (unchanged since 2009), the Pds are not excluded and therefore should be entitled to get their scholarship adjusted. 

Current situation: 

TAU is aware that Pd scholarships need to be updated. After the last agreements, they promised to raise the scholarships by 5%, but this increase will only take effect starting the next academic year, when some Pds will already have left, and while prices keep going up.

Since the CPI is still increasing, any compensation or adjustment of scholarship might have to be higher as the inflation could go much further. Therefore, Segel wants to push for immediate scholarship increase for Pds because of these reasons.

Segel represents 3000 scholars, of which approx. 400 are post docs. Segel is visibly making the effort of doing more reaching out, but they're understaffed and based on volunteers, so it's difficult to do it systematically. Additionally, at the moment, there is no Union representation of Pds.

Current financial situation of Pds:

• The Pds are paid mostly by third-party money (from the PIs).
• in general, 100% of the scholarship is paid by the PI and 50% by the faculty. There are also different cases.

- Audience assumption: The PIs do not know how much they can pay because there is no real information. The information about the scholarships is very vague. It should be made more clear, in order to have a basis for negotiations or for complete transparency (if TAU would not do anything to improve the work conditions, then at least it should provide proper information)

-Segel informed that there are some clear statements and rules about the amount of the scholarship, available also on their website. Also, an English copy of  Regulations for Postdoctoral Fellows is available at this link. 

-The audience asked a comparison of the conditions of the Pds of TAU vs the ones in Weizmann on the health insurance and other work benefits, in the intent of putting some pressure on TAU to match these „internal“ Israeli standards. 

- The audience proposed to get a link with the Senior Staff Union, as they have the same issues on their salary and they are struggling as well.

PLAN of ACTION

In order to tackle these problematic issues, the idea is to prepare a letter signed by the highest number of people possible (at least 50-60) where there main problems and issues are stated and where demands are forwarded to the competent appropriate recipient.

We already have 20 people available to sign the letter and support this struggle!

The points raised about this idea:

• We need more people to have support for the letter.
• Who should be the address of our demands? 
• Some claim that TAU is not interested at all, some that TAU can address the problems to because it can change the numbers on minimum income. After that the PIs and Pds can negotiate.
• TAU should hire Pds as workers and not have them here as scholars. TAU should be also responsible for the relocation of its students and scholars.
• Why are Israeli Pds getting only 100% minimum scholarship while internationals get 150%? It’s unfair. Both should be getting 150%.

Conclusions:

We decided to organize another meeting to compose and review this letter (plan of action) and express opinions on it. 

Demands that could be integrated into the letter, to be discussed in future meeting:

1. University should hire Pds as workers

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

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

4. Equalize minimum wage for Pds from IL and internationals

5. Recognition of Union representation of Pds

To participate in the next steps, fill this form.

Spread the voice, share the form and the link, involve more people 😃🙌