Second Harvard Union Goes on Strike

The union representing more than 2,500 non-tenure-track researchers, postdocs and contingent faculty at Harvard University went on strike Tuesday after more than two years of bargaining with university officials for their first contract. Harvard Academic Workers are now the second striking union at the university, following the Harvard Graduate Student Union, which walked off the job on Oct. 27. 

“We don’t want to strike, but Harvard’s administration has left us no choice. After two years of frozen wages and protracted negotiations, along with high inflation and endowment growth of over ten billion dollars, Harvard is still refusing to compensate us fairly for the value we provide to the University. The Harvard Corporation needs to do better, and thousands of workers across campus are standing strong together to send them that message,” Nick Colella, core research staff, said in a news release. 

Harvard Academic Workers remain at odds with administrators over wages; childcare and family benefits; and discrimination, harassment and bullying protections. Harvard officials most recently offered the union 3.5 percent raises and 1 percent ratification bonus, according to the union release. For its part, the union has proposed raises ranging from 7 percent to 12 percent, depending on what workers are currently earning, plus 5 percent raise minimums for promotions and annual cost of living and “longevity” increases.

Harvard spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.