Animal care technicians working at the University Laboratory Animal Resources are unhappy about their working conditions, and are organizing to better their position within the department.
"We're sad for the lack of respect and recognition, not only from the University, but from our department," laboratory animal technologist Paul Smalley said. "And I'm taking the sentiment of the majority of the workers in ULAR."
For the past 12 years, employees said that they have brought to the University complaints about several factors, including salary, disciplinary actions and working hours.
And while the ULAR director recently announced departmental changes to improve the situation, employees are doubtful about whether the changes will yield actual benefits.
Over the past two years, 10 employees have left ULAR because of these problems.
"It seems to be a trend," Smalley said. "Not everyone can leave, there aren't enough positions. And some of those who left did not want to leave Penn, but had to do so because of money constraints."
Employees in the department said that the starting salary for a laboratory animal technologist is $8.50 per hour, while the same position at Jefferson University receives $16.07 per hour, and at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia receives $14.80.
Disciplinary actions have also been an issue. Episodes of disrespectful language against animal care technicians on the part of researchers have been reported, but not dealt with, according to Smalley.
"It's a class issue," Smalley said. "Investigators bring the money and do not think [research technicians] should be subjected to the same sanctions."
While new regulations have been implemented in the past, employees said that they are not satisfied with the results.
"The University has made some strides, but fell short of meeting our expectations," Smalley said. "We like the relation we have with the University, and if we can work together that would be great -- but I don't think it's going to happen."
Aware of the issues that have been concerning the department for years, newly appointed ULAR Director Diane Gaertner said that "significant changes" are already being made.
During a meeting with ULAR staff members on Friday, Gaertner announced the innovations that were deemed necessary by both the department and the consultant firm Buck Consultant -- hired last year to assess the situation and propose viable solutions.
"We are announcing a new mandatory program University-wide for respectful workplace training for scientists... led by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee," Gaertner said. "The committee will develop a training mechanism and also a consequence mechanism."
As for concerns about payroll, Gaertner said that "compensation really is an entire package -- salary plus benefits.... It's not that simple."
ULAR is a resource for investigators to house about 80 percent of the animals used in research at Penn. Animals are taken care in a "safe and humane environment," Smalley said.
Employees provide food, clean bedding and immunization to animals "to keep all outside variables from the investigators' research," Smalley added.
ULAR employees said that, despite numerous attempts, they have not been able to meet with University officials about their working conditions.
Therefore, they have contacted District 1199C Union of Hospital Workers and Health Care Employees to consider the possibility of unionization.
"I don't want another job -- I want to work here and have better working conditions here," Smalley said.
His feelings were echoed by many of his co-workers.
"We come to work emotionally messed up," laboratory animal technologist Richard Copeland said. "Everyone is really stressed out and the morale is very low."
However, Gaertner said that employees' conditions should see improvement.
"We've heard them, and we've heard their concerns," Gaertner said. "We need a chance to implement these plans."
But animal care technicians are still not satisfied.
"The clinical staff was present at the meeting, but none of the animal care technicians was there," Smalley said, adding that he did receive an e-mail containing Gaertner's announcement only after the meeting.
With regard to the changes currently being implemented, employees are skeptical about their effectiveness.
Gaertner "wants to make positive changes, but the implementations remain to be seen," Smalley said. "We have to state a course until changes are made -- our position is still to organize.... We hope all this works for the best."
