Brown postdoc union wins University recognition

After receiving word on Tuesday that their card check agreement is complete, the University officially recognized the Brown University Postdoc Labor Organization as a union, according to a BPLO Instagram post.

BPLO announced their intention to unionize Dec. 8 and filed a representation petition with the National Labor Relations Board Dec. 28 to demonstrate adequate support to form a union. After the petition was filed, federal mediators certified that BPLO’s list of signatories matched the list of people Brown considers to be part of the postdoctoral bargaining unit. Because the University agreed to voluntarily recognize the union, BPLO did not have to undergo an election process through the NLRB to be formally recognized. 

A spokesperson for the University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prior to the card check’s completion, University spokesperson Brian Clark told The Herald that if the mediators determine that “a majority of the proposed postdoctoral bargaining unit wishes to be represented by the union,” the University is prepared to “recognize the union and begin work toward negotiating a collective bargaining agreement,” The Herald previously reported.

According to the post, the voluntarily recognized bargaining unit represents “postdoctoral research associates, postdoctoral fellows and Dean’s Faculty Fellows paid directly by Brown.” The post adds that hospital-affiliated postdocs not employed by the University are not officially considered part of the currently recognized bargaining unit at this time.

Now that the union has received official and voluntary recognition from the University, BPLO representatives and University administrators can begin contract negotiations. 

“The fact that the union was recognized so quickly is a testament to how united, enthusiastic, and determined the whole postdoc community has been about forming our union,” wrote Postdoctoral Research Fellow and BPLO organizer Sarah Neville.

In an interview with The Herald prior to the completion of the card check agreement, postdoctoral research associate and BPLO organizer Caroline Keroack said the goal of BPLO “is to get a contract put together” this year. Keroack continued, “We’re looking forward to … seeing what we can win for the postdocs. Everyone deserves to have a union, and we’re really excited to see who does it next. We’re excited to help the next people.”

Now, BPLO is also turning its sights to include hospital-based postdoctoral fellows — who are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior — in the union, wrote Neville, who is part of the group of postdocs currently unrecognized by the University as part of the bargaining unit, in an email to The Herald.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.