Northwestern Postdoctoral Researchers Unionize with Overwhelming Support

Hundreds of postdoctoral scholars and research associates at Northwestern University have voted to unionize, marking a significant step for academic labor rights. The results, certified on March 15, 2023, showed that 515 researchers supported the union, while just 13 opposed it. The newly formed union, represented by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, aims to enhance working conditions and advocate for better compensation.

Julia Fadjukov, a 36-year-old postdoctoral fellow specializing in ophthalmology, expressed her enthusiasm about the union’s formation. “It’s beyond exciting to be part of something like this. Every postdoc that will now come to Northwestern, not just us, will have this. And we all built it together,” she stated.

The unionization comes during a period of significant financial strain for Northwestern, as the university faces a $790 million freeze on federal funding. To address the budget shortfall, administrators have implemented various cost-cutting measures, including the elimination of 425 staff positions and reductions in employee benefits. Faculty members have also been urged to limit spending in laboratories, which has raised concerns about the impacts on crucial research initiatives.

The newly established Northwestern Postdoctoral Union (NUPU-UE) seeks to negotiate for higher wages, enhanced workplace protections, and improved job security. Many of the university’s postdoctoral researchers are employed on short-term contracts linked to specific grants, which often lack guarantees for renewal. Ahmad Othman, a 40-year-old scholar in the department of urology, noted, “Unfortunately, there’s cuts and changes being made, and even though we don’t have a contract yet, at least now, we have a voice.”

Prior to the vote, union members had petitioned Northwestern to recognize the union voluntarily, but the university declined. Following the NLRB’s certification of the vote, university officials acknowledged the outcome in a communication to faculty and staff. “Northwestern deeply values the contributions that postdocs and research associates make to the university’s research and teaching missions,” the email stated. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to support and prepare them for future success.”

Another focus for NUPU-UE is the support of international workers, particularly in light of increasing scrutiny regarding the visa process under the Trump administration. Approximately 70% of the union’s members are foreign nationals. Fadjukov, who hails from Finland, remarked on the atmosphere of uncertainty, saying, “This job is our dream job. We love to do research and science for a living, but with everything going on in the U.S. at the moment, it has definitely felt like there’s this strong sense of fear.” She believes that the union will provide a safe space for researchers to pursue their work.

The certification of NUPU-UE follows the successful unionization of Northwestern’s graduate student workers, who represent about 2,800 students and ratified their first contract last year. As the landscape of academic labor continues to evolve, the formation of this union at Northwestern symbolizes a growing movement among scholars advocating for their rights and better working conditions.