The University and the Post-Doctoral Associates and Post-Doctoral Fellows-Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, AAUP-AFT, AFL-CIO (“Postdocs”) recently entered into an agreement for a new collective negotiations agreement covering the term July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2026. The Office of University Labor Relations (“OULR”) previously disseminated highlights of the changes to the new agreement which can be viewed on OULR’s website (Summary of New Contractual Provisions (PDF), pages 10 to 11.
(1) New Minimum Salaries and Increases
Among other things, the new Postdocs agreement provides for the following new minimum salaries and annual salary increases for fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
| MINIMUM SALARY APPLICABLE TO ALL POSTDOCS | REQUIRED JULY 1 SALARY INCREASE FOR ELIGIBLE POSTDOCS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective Date of New Salary or Increase | Minimum Postdoc Salary for Applicable Fiscal Year | Eligibility Requirement for Salary Increase | Postdoc whose Salary on June 30 is Equal to or Exceeds the Minimum Salary | Postdoc whose Salary on June 30 is Below the Minimum Salary |
| July 1, 2022 | $52,500 CY $45,652 AY |
Postdoc must be employed in a position covered by the Postdocs agreement on June 30, 2022 | 5.0% salary increase or an increase provided by the funding source, whichever is greater | Greater of: the minimum salary, a salary increase of 5.0%, or an increase provided by the funding source |
| July 1, 2023 | $56,963 CY $49,533 AY |
Postdoc must be employed in a position covered by the Postdocs agreement on June 30, 2023 | 8.5% salary increase or an increase provided by the funding source, whichever is greater | Greater of: the minimum salary, a salary increase of 8.5%, or an increase provided by the funding source |
| July 1, 2024 | $61,805 CY $53,743 AY |
Postdoc must be employed in a position covered by the Postdocs agreement on June 30, 2024 | 8.5% salary increase or an increase provided by the funding source, whichever is greater | Greater of: the minimum salary, a salary increase of 8.5%, or an increase provided by the funding source |
| July 1, 2025 | $63,968 CY $55,624 AY |
Postdoc must be employed in a position covered by the Postdocs agreement on June 30, 2025 | 3.5% salary increase or an increase provided by the funding source, whichever is greater | Greater of: the minimum salary, a salary increase of 3.5%, or an increase provided by the funding source |
(2) Postdoc Appointment Terms
Under the expired Postdocs agreement, initial postdoc appointments were normally for one year. Per the new Postdocs agreement, an initial postdoc appointment is normally two years, provided there is sufficient funding for the entire two-year appointment. If there is insufficient funding for a two-year appointment, the initial appointment may be for one year.
Additionally, under the new Postdocs agreement, reappointment remains at the discretion of the department, principal investigator or supervisor and is normally for one year but may exceed one year at the discretion of the department, principal investigator or supervisor. There may be instances where appointments or reappointments of less than a two-year or one-year term will be appropriate or necessary. Such appointments may be made at the discretion of the principal investigator or supervisor.
(3) Letters to be Issued to Current Postdocs with Appointments Continuing in FY 2023–2024
July 1, 2022 Retroactive Salary Increases
The University is handling payment of the July 1, 2022 retroactive salary increases to eligible postdocs. Payment of the retroactive increase was made to eligible postdocs in the June 9, 2023 pay cycle. No further action is required by departments, schools and units for payment of the July 1, 2022 increase.