Harvard Club Staff Hold Picket Today

BOSTON, MA—Workers who cook, clean, and serve at the Harvard Club of Boston will picket tonight at the prestigious Club’s Commonwealth Ave location. The Harvard Club has unilaterally changed employees’ health benefit.

“Harvard Club is trying to force me to accept worse health care,” said 10-year employee Reina Serrano. “I’m pregnant with my first child and I’m terribly worried about what will happen to us if Harvard Club gets what they want.”

“Over the years we’ve learned that the Harvard community is thoughtful and compassionate,” said Brian Lang, President of UNITE HERE Local 26, which represents the workers at Harvard Club and at Harvard University.

“We are certain Harvard alumni and future Club members will not accept this mistreatment of the Club’s most valued asset, their employees.”

Employees began negotiating with the Club in June.

What: Employees of private club for Harvard and Ivy League alumni to picket

When: Thursday, October 15, 4:30 to 6:00 pm

Where: Harvard Club of Boston Back Bay, 374 Commonwealth Ave (at Mass Ave)

Who: 100 + Service workers of Harvard club and supporters

Visuals: Workers in server/waitress uniforms chanting, marching, and holding crimson Harvard-themed picket signs
For Immediate Release: October 15, 2015
Contact: Tiffany Ten Eyck, [email protected]

Emerson College Dining Services Workers Win First Union Contract

Organizing in University Food Service

Dining services workers at Emerson College in Boston celebrated the ratification of their first union contract Wednesday. The workers joined UNITE HERE Local 26 last fall after a campaign that rallied Emerson students and faculty. The four-year contract with food service provider Sodexo locks in wage increases for all workers of .75 cents a year, with some workers in some classifications receiving raises of up to $2 this year.

The contract will provide workers with a new higher-quality more-affordable healthcare plan, additional paid sick days, more full-time jobs, and a process to ensure workers are treated with dignity and respect.

“The work we do to feed the campus helps make Emerson strong. We are proud to be part of this community and to have stood together to win respect and a voice on the job,” said Bargaining Committee member and baker Donna Papastavrou.

Emerson College workers are the latest food service workers to join Boston’s Local 26, including workers at Harvard Law School, Lesley University, Mass Art, Mass Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Simmons College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Wheelock College

Harvard University students and dining hall workers rally for union contract

harvard-rally-4.28.15Harvard-Local26-crimson-01Workers who prepare food for Harvard students held a rally in Harvard Square Tuesday night. The workers, who are members of UNITE HERE Local 26, said it marked the beginning of activity aimed at securing a new union contract with the University.

Workers spoke about their pride in working for Harvard University, particularly in relationship to the students.

“It’s important to me that I make the students feel at home,” said Fatima Leighton, a dining room lead in Annenberg Hall. “My own daughter is in college now and I hope someone is taking care of her the way I take care of Harvard students.”

Workers spoke about the importance of maintaining affordable quality healthcare for them and their families.

“Now that I’m pregnant with my second daughter it’s a relief to have good health insurance,” said Harvard Kennedy School dining services worker Dianela Barros. “I can save money for my children’s future. I want them all to go to college!”

Concern was expressed about Harvard shifting healthcare costs onto the faculty members earlier this year.

“We have a lot of experience figuring out how to manage healthcare costs responsibly,” said UNITE HERE Local 26 President Brian Lang. “We have reached out to Harvard to begin a dialogue. We have not heard back yet.”

PBS NewsHour highlights Local 26 Harvard University members’ dedication

Local 26 member and Harvard University dining hall worker Kerry Maiato shows the dedication and hard-work of our members during Boston’s terrible winter. Read more

Harvard Dining Workers Button Up: Ready for Respect

Harvard dining hall workers held a “button up” this week, wearing buttons that read “Ready for Respect.” The button up was in part to stand with workers who are asking Harvard University Dining Services to provide more opportunities to work. Harvard students joined the workers in solidarity. Read more