Labor
Harvard Claims it Doesn’t Employ its Contracted Security Guards. A New Case Could Change That.
Harvard has maintained for years that it is not the employer of contracted security guards who work on the University’s campus. But with a new case awaiting trial with the National Labor Relations Board, experts say the Board could hold Harvard liable as an employer for complaints of misconduct.
‘A Real Shift’: New Harvard Student Union Forms Amid National Wave of Undergrad Unionization
Harvard undergraduate workers voted to form a union by a landslide 153-1 margin Wednesday. The unionization effort follows a series of undergrad union campaigns around the country as workers seek higher wages and greater employment stability.
As Cambridge Educators Remain Without Contract, Proposed Mass. Bill Would Grant Teachers Right to Strike
Locked in a contract battle with Cambridge Public Schools, the city’s teacher’s union lacks a weapon in the arsenal of nearly every other labor union: the right to strike. A bill co-sponsored by one of Cambridge’s state legislators could soon change that.
Students Vote to Form Harvard Undergraduate Workers Union in Landslide Election
Harvard’s non-academic student workers voted overwhelmingly to unionize with all but one ballot in favor after the initial vote tally.
As Election Day Approaches, Cambridge Educators Union Ups Pressure on School District for Contract
As election day for Cambridge School Committee rapidly approaches, the Cambridge Educators Association is working to ensure the ongoing contract negotiations are on the top of voters’ — and candidates’ — minds.
Cambridge Council Candidates Clash at Forum Hosted by Harvard Grad Student Union
Fourteen candidates for Cambridge City Council gathered at Emerson Hall in Harvard Yard for a forum organized by Harvard’s graduate student union on Tuesday night.
Harvard, Securitas Retaliated Against Guard, Regional National Labor Relations Board Claims
Harvard University and Securitas retaliated against Walter J. Terzano, a guard who has worked for Securitas since 2009, Boston’s regional labor relations board alleged in a previously unreported complaint issued earlier this month.
‘We’re Not Going Away’: Cambridge Educators Rally for New Contract Outside School Committee Meeting
More than 50 Cambridge educators and residents rallied in support of the Cambridge Education Association outside of a School Committee meeting on Tuesday night, as the teachers’ union remains in a contract stalemate with the school district.
Mass General Brigham Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge, Alleges Retaliatory Benefit Cuts
Newly unionized residents and fellows at Mass General Brigham filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board Friday alleging the hospital system retaliated against them for unionizing by removing long-standing benefits.
Harvard Grad Union Requests Mid-Contract Negotiations Over Wages
Halfway into a four-year contract, Harvard’s graduate student union has asked the University to formally reopen contract negotiations over demands for higher wages.
Harvard Dining Workers Across Campus Slam Lack of AC, Report Heat Exhaustion
After students raised concerns about dining workers overheating last week, Mather House temporarily closed its dining hall for lunch. But workers in other Harvard undergraduate dining halls who have also felt the heat are not seeing similar changes.
‘How Do You Guys Stand This?’: Harvard Dining Hall Shifts Schedule After Overheating Concerns
Following student outcry over Harvard dining working conditions, Harvard Undergraduate Dining Services closed Mather House’s dining hall for lunch Thursday and Friday and served dinner Thursday “without use of warmers” for the food.
Ahead of October Election, Harvard Undergrad Union Campaign Faces Tight Hiring Deadline
Harvard’s undergraduate unionization campaign is up for election in late October — but organizers are racing against the clock, with a flurry of new workers and students switching jobs this fall.
Harvard, Grad Union At Odds Over Legal Defense Fund for Student Workers Amid Request For $17,000
In 2021, Harvard’s graduate student union won a key concession in the creation of a $100,000 fund to cover the legal expenses of graduate students “relating to their working conditions at the University.” Now, the union and Harvard’s Office for Labor and Employee Relations remain at odds over how to administer the fund.
Researchers, Technicians at Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT Win Majority Support for Union in Two Days
Early last month, researchers and technicians at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard launched their unionization campaign. Just two days later, the group achieved majority support for unionization.
‘A Collective Sigh’: Clerical and Technical Union Approves Contract, Ending Second-Longest Negotiations in Union History
Harvard’s clerical and technical workers union voted 3,762 to 466 to ratify their contract with the University June 1, ending the second-longest contract standoff in the union's history.
Mass General Brigham Housestaff Vote to Unionize
Mass General Brigham’s residents and fellows voted overwhelmingly to form a union, with 75 percent in favor, the National Labor Relations Board announced Thursday.
‘You Can’t Eat Prestige’: Graduate Students and Teaching Fellows Strike Over Financial Aid Cuts
In March 1973, about 700 members of Harvard’s Graduate Students and Teaching Fellow Union braved four days of sub-zero temperatures to protest the newly introduced Kraus Plan, which ultimately reduced financial aid for graduate students.
Harvard Reaches Tentative Agreement with Clerical and Technical Union After 13 Months of Negotiations
After 13 months of negotiations and a protracted stalemate over compensation, Harvard’s clerical and technical union reached a tentative agreement with the University before noon May 11, six days before the union’s 35th birthday.
More than 1,600 Sign Petition for Harvard to Raise Student Salaries to Meet Middlesex County Living Wage
More than 1,600 people have signed a petition calling on Harvard to raise student researcher and teacher salaries up to living wage in Middlesex County for members of the University’s graduate student union by July 1.
Harvard, Grad Student Union Enter Arbitration Over Exclusion of Human Evolutionary Bio Students from Union
Harvard and its graduate student union has entered arbitration this month for a grievance filed by the union urging the University to include graduate students in Human Evolutionary Biology in the union.
Harvard Postdocs Call for Increased Pay in Open Letter to University
Harvard postdoctoral researchers published an open letter April 27 calling on the University to improve and standardize compensation across departments.
Boston City Council Unanimously Votes to Support MGB Union Campaign
The Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of residents and fellows organizing for official union recognition at Mass General Brigham during a council meeting Wednesday.
Clerical, Technical Workers Grow Frustrated Over Yearlong Contract Negotiations with Harvard
As negotiations between Harvard’s clerical and technical union and the University pass their one-year mark, union employees have now gone more than a year and a half without a pay raise. The slow pace of negotiations has caused frustrations to mount within the union.
‘Not Too Much to Ask’: Harvard Undergrad Workers Rally for a Union After University Denies Recognition
More than 40 students, staff, and supporters rallied in Harvard Yard Friday in support of unionizing undergraduate workers after the University rejected the campaign’s request for voluntary recognition April 7.