For a better PhD in the Biosciences.
We request that the Steering Committees of iBio, BME, CMB, iPiB, Genetics & MDTP:
- Raise our stipend to $40,006.
- Eliminate unpaid teaching requirements.
- Enact efforts to improve workplace conditions for graduate students.
- Respect our right to concerted activity.
Anonymized accounts from Biosciences students:
“[The] lower stipend has made it difficult to find housing with high Madison rent costs”
“… had students had access to things like graduation rates of specific PIs, those students would still be here”
“Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions! We should not be required to teach without pay or sufficient training.”
“Grad training should be an accessible, supportive learning environment.”
FAQ
What has the TAA done for Biosciences graduate students?
Similar letters in iPiB, CMB, and MDTP in 2022 and 2023 won raises, international student fee relief, better program DEI, and increased graduate student representation on program committees. Keep in mind that in MDTP for example, there were multiple years where they received NO raise (shown below). None of these changes would have been possible without each grad student’s decision to sign on. The union is workers, united.
Why are you asking for such big changes? Why are you asking for things our program’s Steering/Coordinating Committees won’t like?
We believe we must ask for what we need! It is important to document our experiences as graduate workers in the biosciences. We must create a better future for the next students who want to pursue a PhD. We all deserve enough money to live, enough time to do our research, and a supportive lab environment. We deserve these things because we work hard, we bring in millions of dollars of grant money, and we mentor the next generation of scientists.
Without us, there would be no research papers, there would be no science.
PI’s and program administration may not like that we are asking for a raise, or that we are asking to report lab retention numbers. That is why the union is well-positioned to make our asks. We can sit down with decision makers and negotiate, even if it is uncomfortable, over these issues while protecting often-vulnerable graduate student workers – but we can only do that with your endorsement, in the form of your signature. The union has strength in numbers, money from pooled dues, access to lawyers and media, support from unionized workers nationwide, and political leverage.
We can only win improvements to our working conditions with your signature. There may be hard conversations ahead. As a union, we are equipped for any disagreements and are excited to work with administration – which is why we asked to meet with the Chancellor last year.
Can my PI see if I have signed the letter?
The full letter with all signatures will only be sent to Steering Committees of the listed programs (MDTP, iPiB, CMB, etc.) not to individual PIs. In addition, there is an option to withhold your name until over 50% of your program has signed on. There is strength in numbers, and retaliation against you/your program for signing a union petition is illegal.
If my program isn’t on the list, can I sign the letter?
Yes !!! Solidarity forever. If you would like to add your program to the Biosciences letter and join our organizing, reach out to taa@taa-madison.org.
If you are an alumn, community member, faculty, staff, etc… please sign on in solidarity if you support, and share with friends. It’s important we share our stories of our lives as Biosciences grad students.
Why aren’t you going through Steering Committee / shared governance?
Program shared governance committees are a wonderful way for students to get involved with the program. But they haven’t yet delivered on important workplace issues like a living wage for graduate workers, paid leave, or meaningful protections against harassment, which is why we have written this letter.
Most program’s shared governance committees have graduate students outnumbered, which makes it difficult for us to negotiate over big issues like stipend. In addition, shared governance committees only have 2-5 or so graduate workers. Our union represents all graduate students, and previous biosciences letters represented 60-75% of the programs! We have much more power when we join together. Our union gives us a voice we do not otherwise have.
I like my lab and my program. Why should I sign?
Awesome! We all have fallen in love with science and care about our jobs, which is why we’re doing a PhD. We also want to make it better for other students and the students who come after. Even if your lab is supportive, or you feel comfortable on the stipend; other students do not. We want a Biosciences where good working conditions are guaranteed. Unfortunately, good working conditions in the Biosciences are not yet guaranteed.
Still – please share your story! Why do you like your lab and program? What has made your PhD enjoyable? We will share your story as an example of what we want to fight for for everyone!