Harvard lecturers campaign for striking catering staff

25 October 2016 - 14:09 By TMG Digital
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Harvard Law School's Langdell Hall at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harvard Law School's Langdell Hall at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Image: Darren McCollester/Getty Images/AFP

South African universities are not alone in dealing with dissension on campus: Lecturers at America’s prestigious Harvard University have turned on their employer in support of a three-week-long strike by dining hall staff‚ while also encouraging their students to support the wage protest.

Over 130 lecturers have so far signed a petition calling on Harvard to reach an agreement with its employees. Lecturers also decided to show their solidarity with the workers by bringing their classes to the picket line.

A settlement is now believed to be imminent‚ according to the Harvard Crimson online publication.

The strike was the first walk out Harvard has seen since 1983‚ the Crimson said.

History and Literature lecturer Timothy P. McCarthy was quoted as saying he is “proud” of the “courage of faculty signing on and being heard at this particular moment in history.”

The dining service workers had voted 591-18 to authorise a strike.

According to the university spokesperson Tania deLuzuriaga‚ the average annual salary for dining service workers is $35‚000.

The workers have argued that while their hourly wages may be competitive‚ the fact that dining employees are not guaranteed year-round work by the university limits their ability to make a livable wage. They do not work during Harvard’s summer and winter recesses. Their union wants year-round work to be extended to any interested employees.

In addition‚ the union is requesting a 22 percent pay increase over the course of the next five years. Past wage increases have been around 2.5 or 3 percent annually.

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