My name is Justin Bloesch, and yesterday morning, I facilitated our first bargaining session of the new semester and our shortest (2 hour) session so far. We signed a Tentative Agreement on Travel—a significant win—ensuring that student workers expenses are paid upfront for most work-related travel, rather than needing to wait weeks or months for reimbursement.
As Cole Meisenhelder, a G5 in physics and bargaining committee member, related, “I recently paid almost $1100 out of pocket for a conference registration fee which took the University two months to reimburse me. With this Travel provision, I won’t have to pay that kind of money out of pocket again.” (Note: Tentative Agreements do not take effect until we reach an agreement on the entire contract and after student workers have voted to approve it.)
Despite the incredibly short time given to us, our bargaining committee returned counter proposals on International Student Workers, Paid Leaves, Holidays & Vacations, Appointment Security, and Tuition Remission. Among these, we are close to agreement on the International Student Workers provision, where we are negotiating for international student workers to be able to take leave if they have visa issues, as well as to be able to continue working for pay if they are temporarily unable to reenter the US. We are also calling for the administration to cover student workers’ DACA, TPS, and/or SEVIS fees—fees that students must pay in order to study and work at Harvard. Lastly, we are getting closer to an agreement on guaranteed sick days and bereavement leave for all student workers. However, the administration is resisting paid parental leave, which is becoming an industry standard, refusing to change a practice that forces many parents to come right back to work after the birth or adoption of a child so as to not forgo pay.
Unfortunately, on too many issues, we are reaching a point of frustration, as the administration is refusing to address core student worker concerns. Yesterday they once again stated that they will not negotiate over the health plan, will not provide paid family leave, and will not provide job security. Healthcare—alongside nondiscrimination and anti-harassment provisions—is something that we are not going to give up on. This is one of the key issues that prompted hundreds of department leaders to commit to organizing for a strike authorization vote (SAV).
If we want to win these crucial rights and benefits in our contract, we need to take action—together. You can sign up here to get more involved in organizing for the SAV and check out the actions around town below.
In Solidarity,
Justin Bloesch
G4 in Economics
HGSU Bargaining Committee
P.S. Other actions around town:
- There will be a climate strike on September 20th, with a walkout between 11am-12pm, then heading downtown. Facebook event here!
- Boston Area Marriott worker strike: One hotel, Marriott Barrier Wharf, is refusing to agree to a hard-won contract by hotel workers in United Here Local 26. Workers are currently on strike: stay up to date here.
- On November 5, Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston will be holding municipal elections for city council members and other offices. HGSU-UAW, as we did in 2017, will be creating a voter guide to keep track of candidates’ positions on the issues that matter to our union. What questions do you want us to ask candidates? Suggest them on this form and let us know if you want to be involved in creating the voter guide. https://forms.gle/YT7sxUeWpKRg6hvS8 You can also email us if you want to participate in this effort.
