Responding to COVID

Student Researchers play a key role in powering UC research. We are also integral to the ability of UC to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, continue to perform leading-edge research, and drive a robust economic recovery.

Student Researchers are working to improve our understanding of COVID19, are helping to scale testing, or are the first workers returning to physical labs to continue other critically important research. But Student Researchers do not have an equal voice in determining lab safety policies. With a union, UC would have to negotiate with Student Researchers like it has negotiated with Postdocs, Academic Researchers, and Teaching Assistants over workplace safety and the effects of COVID-19. 

The rights negotiated by Postdocs and Teaching Assistants in their contracts give them protections that Student Researchers do not have. For instance, Postdocs called into the lab to do non-essential work can refuse to put themselves needlessly at risk, and insist on appropriate PPE. Teaching Assistants have won workspace materials necessary to perform their jobs remotely, and additional compensation to reflect increased workload, among other victories.

“I am a PhD candidate in UCLA’s Physics and Astronomy department. When the COVID pandemic began in March, I was working as a Teaching Assistant in UAW 2865. My coworkers and I felt unprepared to teach online in the coming spring quarter, so we met and organized. Citing our union contract, we asked our department to immediately purchase iPads and software for all our TAs who did not already own tablets. We also presented the general concerns of TAs who were now suddenly teaching online without the proper technology, internet connection, training, or domestic stability.

Our department quickly bought over thirty iPads for TAs and shipped them directly to their homes. Soon after, three TAs and I organized a training session on teaching physics online for our coworkers and department faculty. We asked for and received full compensation for our time, again citing our union contract. Finally, our department paid an additional $500 stipend to all its TAs to cover incidental purchases and paid training during the switch online.

Our wins were possible because we were organized and had a strong union contract for TAs through UAW 2865. I now work as a Graduate Student Researcher and want to form a union so that my rights and working conditions are contractually guaranteed.”

– Nick Geiser, UCLA GSR and TA

“After campus reopening in early May, I was pressured along with fellow lab members to work onsite for five full days in the lab, even for meetings and data analysis that could be performed remotely. I also raised health and safety concerns, such as people not wearing masks and researchers being forced to work in close proximity, but these were ignored. As a member of UAW 5810, I filed a grievance under the Academic Researcher contract, as we have health and safety protections that protect us from having to work under unsafe working conditions and from retaliation for reporting safety issues. These protections are especially important during the COVID19 pandemic. My union helped me negotiate a better onsite work schedule that addressed my concerns, and I was able to identify health and safety issues without fear of retaliation. I very much appreciate all the help my union provided me, and I encourage all researchers to consider help that their union could provide them in the future.” – Michael D. Nunez, Assistant Project Scientist, UCLA (now UCI)