Today, the 4121 represents more than 6,000 workers. As an amalgamated subsidiary of the UAW, both ASEs — research and teaching assistants, trainees, fellows, and those serving in supplementary course roles — and postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) enjoy solidarity and share resources through the union, but the two groups negotiate separate contracts.
By leveraging their collective power, ASEs and postdocs have equalized the employee-employer relationship and successfully negotiated higher wages, lower out-of-pocket expenses, improved working conditions, and a more inclusive campus climate.