All Staff Email

Dear HUDS colleagues,

As we approach the June 19 expiration of our current contract with UNITE HERE Local 26, I want to share an update on where things stand and what the University has proposed.

First and most importantly, thank you. Harvard’s residential and campus life is enriched by your work. You bring enormous value to our campus experience, and you are celebrated and appreciated across all sectors of our community.

We believe that value is reflected in the University’s offers toward renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Overview of the University’s current offer

While negotiations are ongoing and details will evolve, the University has proposed a package that includes:

  • A six year agreement to provide stability and predictable guaranteed increases over a long period of time.
  • Annual wage increases, with hourly raises that are competitive to the broader hospitality and food service market in our region. Our current offer would increase wages by $5.27 per hour over the life of the contract.
  • Continuation of key elements of total compensation (that are not common in the industry), including:
    • The summer stipend (currently up to $3,800) for HUDS employees who do not have summer work with the University
    • Retention/“half holding” pay through Commencement for certain roles
    • More days of service, providing more work opportunities
  • Clarified paid time off, including a new paid Citizenship Day provision.
  • Improvements to uniforms and safety shoes, including additional uniforms and increased shoe reimbursement.
  • Health, dental, and vision coverage that continue to be subsidized by Harvard, with employer contribution levels that remain strong compared to many other employers.
  • Retirement security features, including health benefits and TDA auto enrollment for eligible members
  • Enhanced commuter benefits (which were modified since the last contract), increase the transit subsidy from 50% to 60%. Parking has also adopted tiered parking rates, which means that parking fees are charged based on salary.

How Harvard compares – and why straight wage comparisons don’t tell the whole story

You may have heard comparisons between Harvard’s offer and contracts at other institutions. We respect the union’s role in raising these points, and we know many of you are trying to make sense of different messages.

It’s important to remember that total compensation at Harvard includes elements that are not part of many other contracts, such as the summer stipend and retention/Commencement payments. These additional forms of pay and protections, along with our benefit levels, make comparing only the base hourly wage from one institution to another difficult and can lead to an incomplete picture.

Our goal has been, and continues to be, to put forward a package that is:

  • Competitive to market for food service work in the Greater Boston area when we look at wages plus stipends, premiums, and benefits, and
  • Sustainable over time, so that we can continue to honor our commitments to you and to our students in the years ahead.

Remaining Responsive to Students

We have a shared interest in supporting our community with services that meet their stated needs. As a result, Harvard wants to include contract language that allows for relevant flexibility, while also maintaining the livelihoods of our team. Additionally, we share the union’s aspiration of sustainable jobs, including more full-time jobs during the academic year. In order to reach that goal, contract language has to support modest adjustments to how we post and fill jobs.

Next steps

Negotiations with Local 26 are ongoing, and we expect more conversations in the coming weeks. We will continue to bargain in good faith and to listen carefully to the union and to you. We will also continue to share updates as negotiations progress.

Thank you again for the work you do every day and for all you have done to support our students, faculty, and staff. We are proud of this team, and our goal in these negotiations is to reach an agreement that reflects that pride and supports you and your families.

Sincerely,
Smitha

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