Harvard Dining Workers' Strike Ends With Deal

Cambridge, MA — A hundreds-strong, nearly month-long strike by Harvard University food service workers ended Wednesday with an agreement between workers and the university.

According to UNITE HERE Local 26, which represents the union dining hall workers, the strike will formally end Thursday morning, after "reaching an agreement with the University that meets all of their demands."

The university, in a statement shared with Patch, said, "Harvard is pleased that members of UNITE HERE Local 26, the union that represents the University’s dining services workers, have ratified a new, five-year contract, which signals a reasonable resolution to negotiations."

The strike began Oct. 5 after several months of negotiations that did not resolve the workers' demands on annual income and health care.

In separate statements by the union and the university, the agreement is described as a five-year contract that raises annual incomes to $35,000 for those who work full-time for 38 weeks, with additional summer stipends and benefits changes.

"The Union also agreed to changes in retiree health that will make their insurance plan consistent with all of Harvard's exempt employees and 5,000 members of other unions on campus," the university said. "Members of Local 26 will also experience a shift in health insurance plan design in 2019, consistent with those agreed to by other unions on campus. Harvard will protect lower-wage workers from burdensome cost increases by seeding flexible savings accounts and out-of-pocket reimbursement funds through 2021."

The union additionally describe the agreement as including:

• "Retroactive wage increases on par with other unionized workers on campus of more than 2.5% percent a year"
• "Diversity and Equality Committee to address concerns regarding diversity and equal treatment of Harvard dining hall employees"
• "Benefits for Strikers: Harvard will cover the costs of all deductions for strikers for the duration of the strike; including medical insurance, parking, car and home insurance, and T pass deductions"

In its statement, Harvard said the agreement "addresses the wage and health insurance concerns raised by Local 26, while also achieving the affordable wages and health insurance plan design changes sought by the University at a time of constrained resources."

It continues:

"Throughout this negotiation, the University has sought a resolution that maintains superior compensation for our dining workers, acknowledging their role as integral members of the Harvard community. Harvard University Dining Services will resume full operations over the next few days. We look forward to welcoming our dining services employees back to campus."

Photo courtesy @ylichterman