Election FAQ | URFU-UAW

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Who is eligible to vote?

Eligible voters are Postdoctoral Research Associates, Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows, and Postdoctoral Fellowship Trainees employed by USC during the payroll period ending April 30, 2024.

When can I vote?

Thursday, June 20: 11am-1pm and 3pm-5pm
Friday, June 21: 11am-1pm and 3pm-5pm

Where can I vote?

Doheny Memorial Library (DML) Room 233 at University Park Campus
Clinical Science Center (CSC) Room 250 at Health Sciences Campus

I was hired after April 30, 2024 - can I still vote?

If you were hired after April, you may not be on the voter list. You can still vote, but will be asked to vote subject to challenge. Your ballot will still be kept secret inside its envelope, but it will be placed in an outer envelope marked as challenged and counted only if the total number of challenged ballots would determine the outcome.

Can I vote at either location?

Yes, you can vote at whichever location is most convenient to you. Each name will only appear on the list at one location (as provided by USC). If you vote at a location where your name does not appear on the list provided by USC, you will vote subject to challenge, but the challenge will be dropped before the vote count as long as you do not vote a second time at the other location.

Should I still vote if I'm challenged?

Yes! We encourage everyone to vote. Challenged individuals can vote in the same way as non-challenged individuals, however challenged ballots will only be counted if they are determinative of the outcome (that is, if the number of challenged ballots cast is greater than the difference between non-challenged Yes and No votes).

Is the election decided by a simple majority of those voting?

Yes. We encourage every eligible voter to make your voice heard. A strong “yes” vote in advance of bargaining creates more momentum and a mandate for negotiating a strong contract.

What is the question on the ballot?

The question on the ballot is “Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by USC RESEARCHERS AND FELLOWS UNITED – UAW?” As postdocs, we make up our union, USC Researchers and Fellows United, and the more of us who vote yes, the more power we will have to negotiate a strong first contract with the USC administration.

What is the process of voting?

When you enter the polling location, enter the correct room or join the line if there is one. You will be asked for your name to determine whether you are on the voter list. If not, you can still vote but will be asked to cast your ballot subject to challenge. Then you will be directed to cast your ballot, after which you will exit the voting location. The vote will be conducted by secret ballot, meaning that no one will know how you vote.

When will we know the results?

The ballot count will happen at the NLRB office on Monday, June 24 at 10am. We will announce the result shortly after.

What happens after the vote?

If we win our union election, USC will have a legal obligation to bargain with us over the terms and conditions of our work at the university.

Where can I find more information?

We have compiled an extensive FAQ here. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email us at info [at] urfu-uaw [dot] org

I live away from campus or won’t be in town. Do I have to vote in person?

The vote will be only in-person and each voter has to cast their own ballot.

If the majority of postdocs vote “yes,” we expect that there will be more ways to participate, both in person and remote, in order for us to bargain as strongly as possible for improvements.