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Returned to Work Jan 1
We made a very difficult decision two months ago. Despite how much we care about our work, because of the total intransigence of the Harvard administration, we voted to go on strike. For nearly a month, we’ve demonstrated our power as workers essential to the university’s teaching and research mission. We’ve withheld our grading, research, and teaching. We’ve marched, picketed, rallied, and strike-caroled. Deliveries, trash collection, and a construction project were disrupted when other workers stood in solidarity with us and respected our picket lines.
Over the course of our strike, we’ve shown the university administration that Harvard works because we do. And we’ve made it clear that student workers will keep on fighting until we secure a contract with fair pay, comprehensive and affordable healthcare, and protections against discrimination and harassment.
As a result of our strike, we’ve accomplished a new foundation to finish negotiations::
- We signed six new tentative agreements that will protect student workers’ rights.
- The University said publicly for the first time that they hope to reach agreement on a contract within the next month.
- The university committed to begin mediation on January 7 to attempt to resolve the contract..
In light of these significant commitments from the administration, we on the bargaining committee have decided that student workers will end our strike and return to work on January 1. But we also know that we may need to take further action in order to win a fair and full contract.
Instead of working to reach a fair agreement, over the course of our strike, the administration showed their true priorities. They decided to threaten student workers instead of agreeing to protections against workplace abuse; they decided to spend money on police details instead of healthcare; and they decided to sacrifice educational quality by canceling exams and moving to Scantrons, instead of agreeing to fair pay. Nevertheless, in response to our strike, the administration—for the first time ever—announced that they intend to reach a contract by the end of January. We now expect the administration to put all their energy into reaching a fair agreement. Through the power we demonstrated with our strike and the power we will continue to build, we will hold them accountable to this stated goal.
We will hold town halls to discuss our strike, the progress in mediation, and next steps. Be on the lookout for announcements about these meetings!
We are on strike through 11:59 p.m. on December 31. You can still fulfill your week 4 picket duty by calling/emailing the university administration, using this form. You can also continue to sign up for strike benefits or pick up your strike pay (if you have already registered) by emailing hgsu.general@gmail.com and arranging a meeting.
Our union has won these new commitments from the university because of every single person who contributed to the strike effort: every student worker who withheld grades, cancelled a review session, or withheld research; everyone who talked with colleagues in their department; everyone who told their story on the picket lines.
In order to win a fair contract, we all will need to keep organizing together. And as we head into mediation, we look forward to continuing to fight for a more just and equitable university with all of you.
In solidarity,
HGSU-UAW Bargaining Committee:
Jenni Austiff
Justin Bloesch
Cherrie Bucknor
Lee Kennedy-Shaffer
Cory McCartan
Hector Medina
Cole Meisenhelder
Rachel Sandalow-Ash
Ege Yumusak
We Organized for a Strike!
Boston Globe
WBUR
The Crimson
Washington Post
ABC News
It has been 18 months since we won our union in April 2018. In that time we have worked to secure fair pay, comprehensive and affordable healthcare, and protections against discrimination and harassment. And yet, the university administration has refused to agree to a fair agreement that includes these basic rights and protections. Last month we overwhelmingly authorized a strike and on October 31, we communicated to the university administrators across the bargaining table that we have a strong mandate to achieve a fair contract this semester.
We on the bargaining committee, working together with department leaders from across campus, have set a strike deadline for December 3rd. If the Administration does not bargain a fair agreement by that time, we will go out on strike.
Calling a strike is a last resort, and Harvard administrators have given us little choice but to set this strike deadline.
A strike is avoidable. The Bargaining Committee will continue to negotiate this month and will do all it can to avert a strike, but the administration must negotiate towards a fair agreement to avoid a strike.
In order to be fully prepared for this action, we encourage you to:
- Read our frequently asked questions for taking strike action
- Look at our suggestions for talking to students about a strike
- Look at our suggestions for talking to faculty about a strike
- Reach out to us at hgsu.general@gmail.com with any additional questions about how a strike would affect your situation and how you can get involved to win a historic first contract, together.
Plan to join the pickets throughout December! In order to have strong, visible picket lines, it will be important to spend as close as possible to 20 hours on the line in lieu of working. More information on how to sign up for picketing shifts—and other opportunities to participate—will come soon.
HGSU-UAW Bargaining Committee
About HGSU-UAW
HGSU-UAW is an organization of student workers from all schools, campuses and departments of Harvard University. We joined together starting in the Fall of 2015 to help fight for better benefits, pay and working conditions to ensure our ability to provide the highest quality of teaching and research while receiving the level of respect we deserve.
Why We Can’t Wait
Quality, Affordable Heathcare
Quality mental, dental and vision healthcare for ourselves and our families are crucial in providing our highest level of teaching and research. Over the years, the costs of healthcare have increased, while the quality of our care has diminished. We are committed to stopping this trend, and fighting for the healthcare we deserve.
Protections from Harassment and Discrimination
For too long, student workers have had to face discrimination and harassment in their daily lives, with only a Title IX system that has failed too often to be considered reliable. As recent national cases have shown, only real recourse through an independent third party arbitrator will we have the protections we need.