Harvard Custodians Ratify Contract With University

Custodial Staff at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, approved a contract with university officials that will guarantee the workers health benefits and a one-time bonus of up to US$1,500, The Harvard Crimson reports. However, the agreement does not protect contract custodians, which make up more than 40% of the university custodial staff, from impending layoffs.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Harvard has extended pay and benefits for contracted workers idled by the pandemic, but it announced in November that it would end the policy on January 15, 2021.

Harvard University custodian staff have demanded university not to lay off its 850 contract workers. Last year, the Cambridge City Council passed a resolution supporting Harvard custodians seeking contract extension. Additionally, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local 32BJ branch created a petition to demand the university extend employment protection to contracted workers.

The new contract, which expires November 15, 2021, also provides:

• A $300 bonus for employees who worked on campus for 75% to 100% of their regularly scheduled hours from March to November
• A $150 bonus for employees who worked 50% to 74% of their regularly scheduled hours.

About 97% of union members voted in favor of ratifying the agreement. But Doris E. Reina-Landaverde, shop steward and bargaining committee member, said she was unsatisfied with portions of the contract like lack of job security for contracted employees.

“We are in the front lines, [and] put our life at risk to protect the community,” Reina-Landaverde said. “Most of the workers were afraid to continue to rally. We had to just get the contract because it’s very important to be protected.”

Paula G. Martinez, a contracted custodian at the Business School and member of the bargaining committee, said she voted against the agreement because it did not provide job security for contracted custodians. “I’m happy that we have the benefits, but we have nothing on paper to say that we are helping out co-workers keep their jobs,” Martinez said.