HGSU-UAW Strike Ends

Dear Members of the Harvard Faculty,

We are writing to let you know that the University has been notified by HGSU-UAW leadership that members of the union voted to unconditionally end their strike and student workers with ongoing appointments returned to work today.

While a contract has not been agreed upon, the University remains committed to the ongoing negotiations with the student worker union and to bargaining in good faith. The University and HGSU-UAW bargaining teams have met 28 times, including in a session last Friday, May 29, with additional sessions already on the calendar in the coming weeks.

You can find out more on the status of negotiations and the University’s most recent proposals on the academic unionization website. As a reminder, the University recently increased its compensation proposal, including a 2.75% increase upon ratification of a contract, and another 3.25% increase on July 1 of this year for salaried student workers. Additionally, the University extended to part-time student workers some of the same benefits received by our full-time staff, including access to a legal services plan. The University has continued to make clear several of its longstanding positions, including that all members of our community should have access to the same procedures under our University-wide policies and that our students must be able to pursue the full range of educational opportunities without being required to pay union dues.

Our student workers have a vital role in advancing Harvard’s teaching and research mission, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement that recognizes their contributions to our pursuit of academic excellence.

Sincerely,
 
Jessica Soban
Deputy Provost
 
Paul Curran
Managing Director, Labor and Employee Relations