Cambridge urges University to Pay Living Wage

The Cambridge City Council gave Harvard a homework assignment last night at its weekly meeting. While postponing a vote on a living wage ordinance for the city, the council adopted an order urging Harvard to adopt a living wage for its own workers.

Harvard students spoke at the meeting, urging the council to adopt a Cambridge wide living wage ordinance. Even though that ordinance was not discussed, Harvard students did not return to campus empty handed. Vice-Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio moved the impromptu late order that supported the students' efforts to bring a living wage to Harvard.

"Cambridge has definitely urged Harvard to live up to standards of responsible employment in the past and we didn't expect this to be any different," Emilou H. Maclean '01 said.

Still, when Galluccio suspended the rules to make the motion, the students were visibly elated. They left the meeting after Galluccio informed them that the council would not discuss the city's own living wage ordinance because of proposed wording changes.

"It's very important that the city council has put pressure on Harvard University," said Eli B. Richlin '01, who spoke in support of the living wage ordinance during public comment.

University spokesperson Joe Wrinn refused to respond directly to the council's order, which will be sent to the University later this week. He did say that the University considers itself a fair and equitable employer.

"The vast majority of our workers already earn over $10 an hour," Wrinn said.

Galluccio said Harvard has a greater responsibility than other employers do because it is the second largest employer in Cambridge.

"I think as the city's leading employers, Cambridge and the University need to be leaders with respect to compassionate personnel policies," Galluccio said. At the same time, Galluccio seemed to understand that Harvard's response to the council's order would be less than ecstatic.

"They don't like to have their hands tied,"Galluccio said. The city's ordinance, which thecouncil will most likely pass within the nextcouple weeks, would guarantee a $10 hourly wage toevery employee of the city. City employees includethose employees of private companies who areworking on city projects.

Galluccio also said that Harvard has notresponded to past city council ordinances urgingit to adopt "responsible employer policies." Headded that other Cambridge policies includerequirements that employees earn the prevailingwage, that apprentice programs are offered andthat a certain percent of Cambridge residents,women and minorities are hired.

Less than 10 Harvard students showed up at thecouncil meeting, despite publicity by the LivingWage Campaign.

Even though the ordinance was not passed, thestudents were confident that it would pass eitherat next week's meeting or the week after.

The Living Wage Campaign at Harvard grew out ofthe Progressive Student Labor Movement in January.The students want Harvard to pay unionized workers$10 an hour. They also feel that the Universityshould install a universal minimum wage for allUniversity workers, including casual orsubcontracted workers.

The students were granted an interview withDean of Students Archie C. Epps III on March 15,but their call for a $10 minimum wage has not beenmet

"They don't like to have their hands tied,"Galluccio said. The city's ordinance, which thecouncil will most likely pass within the nextcouple weeks, would guarantee a $10 hourly wage toevery employee of the city. City employees includethose employees of private companies who areworking on city projects.

Galluccio also said that Harvard has notresponded to past city council ordinances urgingit to adopt "responsible employer policies." Headded that other Cambridge policies includerequirements that employees earn the prevailingwage, that apprentice programs are offered andthat a certain percent of Cambridge residents,women and minorities are hired.

Less than 10 Harvard students showed up at thecouncil meeting, despite publicity by the LivingWage Campaign.

Even though the ordinance was not passed, thestudents were confident that it would pass eitherat next week's meeting or the week after.

The Living Wage Campaign at Harvard grew out ofthe Progressive Student Labor Movement in January.The students want Harvard to pay unionized workers$10 an hour. They also feel that the Universityshould install a universal minimum wage for allUniversity workers, including casual orsubcontracted workers.

The students were granted an interview withDean of Students Archie C. Epps III on March 15,but their call for a $10 minimum wage has not beenmet