Harvard graduate student union plans strike over stalled contract talks on pay and protections

The Harvard Graduate Student Union-United Auto Workers (HGSU-UAW) said on Friday that it will begin a strike on April 21 if Harvard University does not meet its demands, according to The Harvard Crimson.

In an email to members, the union said Harvard’s negotiators have not engaged on key issues, including wages, protections for non-citizen workers, and access to third-party arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination.

Union leaders cited the results of a strike authorization vote held last month, in which nearly 96 percent of participating members voted in favour of a strike.

“Student workers do not take the decision to strike lightly,” the union said in the email, as reported by The Harvard Crimson. “This overwhelming result is an indication of the disappointment that we are feeling.”

A spokesperson for Harvard, Jason Newton, said a strike is not necessary.

“In bargaining sessions as recent as this week, we feel progress has been made in key areas,” Newton said in a statement cited by The Harvard Crimson. “That progress can only continue through discussions at the table, and we will continue to engage in good faith negotiations to reach an agreement.”

Deadline set amid limited progress

The union said it remains open to reaching an agreement before the deadline.

“We hope that between now and our strike deadline, Harvard makes a good faith effort to come to the table, meet with us and bargain over our articles,” said Lindsey Adams, a member of the bargaining committee, according to The Harvard Crimson. “On the morning of the 21st, we are on strike until we have a fair contract,” she added.

Progress in negotiations has been limited so far. Two contract articles have reached tentative agreement, while 24 remain under discussion.

HGSU-UAW President Sara V. Speller said the strike authorization process involved broad participation.

“It was a very democratic process,” she said, as quoted by The Harvard Crimson. “We had it open for a month to make sure people could get as much information as they could and spend time deciding if they wanted to vote yes.”

Potential impact on university operations

If the strike takes place, it is expected to affect teaching, grading and research activities across Harvard.

Graduate student workers, including teaching fellows, course assistants and research assistants, are expected to take part.

The union’s bargaining committee voted earlier this week to set the deadline, Adams said, but the decision was announced publicly on Friday after a membership meeting earlier in the week.

One bargaining session remains before the deadline. A one-hour meeting is scheduled for April 20.

Past strike actions

If carried out, this would be the third strike by the union since its formation.

In November 2019, graduate student workers went on strike for five weeks after negotiations failed to produce an initial contract.

In 2021, the union organised a three-day strike as talks over a second contract stalled. Disagreements over key provisions continued before a tentative agreement was reached later that year.

The agreement included wage increases, a legal defence fund and expanded access to Title IX resources, according to The Harvard Crimson.

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