City, State Officials Announce Support of Penn Postdoctoral Workers Union
Rep. Christopher M. Rabb April 30, 2025 | 6:38 PM
PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 30 - Today, 11 Philadelphia elected officials sent a letter to Penn President Larry Jameson announcing their support for postdoctoral scholars and research associates organizing with the Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn - United Auto Workers (RAPUP-UAW).
Emphasizing the need to support the growth of unions in higher education across Philadelphia and calling for a fair and transparent election, State Reps. Rick Krajewski (PA House District 188), Chris Rabb (PA House District 200), and Tarik Khan (PA House District 194); Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier (District 3), Kendra Brooks (At-Large), Nicolas O’Rourke (At-Large), and Rue Landau (At-Large); and State Sens. Anthony Williams (PA Senate District 8), Nikil Saval (PA Senate District 1), Sharif Street (PA Senate District 3) and Vincent Hughes (PA Senate District 7) wrote:
“We, as members of the Pennsylvania Senate, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and Philadelphia City Council representing the University of Pennsylvania and part of the UPenn alumni community, are writing in strong support of the postdoctoral scholars and research associates at the University of Pennsylvania who are in the process of organizing their union with Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn - United Auto Workers (RAPUP-UAW).
“The University of Pennsylvania is a world-renowned higher education institution that provides immense pride for the City of Philadelphia. Postdoctoral scholars and researchers make essential contributions to the world-class research conducted at Penn and play a critical role in the University’s instructional mission. These workers have the democratic right to hold a fair and free union election for all members of their proposed bargaining unit.
“We have stood steadfast with higher education workers across the city in support of the right to unionize without delay or opposition from their employers. We will similarly stand in solidarity with RAPUP-UAW workers until a fair and transparent election agreement is reached for all postdoctoral scholars and research associates at UPenn.
“We call on UPenn to agree to a fair and transparent election process to ensure all workers are able to vote freely and without delay.”
The postdoctoral workers union drive follows the recent success of several union campaigns at the University of Pennsylvania, including graduate student workers, medical interns and residents, resident advisors and the formation of the Coalition of Workers at Penn.