Living Wage Rally Draws Activist Groups

After two busy semesters of demonstrations and marches through the Yard, many may have expected the members of the Living Wage Campaign to take some time off for the summer.

But before the dust had settled on their placards, members of the activist group rallied outside of Holyoke arcade yesterday, saying they don't intend to give Harvard a break.

"Typically, campus activism has grown dormant over the summer, and the University has come to count on that," Campaign member Jane H. Martin '00 said at the start of the rally. "But we all know that poverty wages don't go away during the summer."

Yesterday's demonstration focused on building community support for the campaign, which demands that the University pay all of its non-student workers $10 an hour--a wage the city of Cambridge determined is necessary for a worker who lives in the city.

"The rally is designed to be a community rally, drawing on support from many community groups and unions that we have worked with over the past six months," campaign member Amy C. Offner'01 wrote in an e-mail message.

Workers from Harvard and across the state attended, including several members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509, a statewide organization based in Amherst.

"I find it abominable that Harvard has an endowment of $13 billion, and there are 2,000 [University] workers who aren't making a living wage," John J. Templeton, president of the local chapter of the SEIU, said before the rally. "That's why I'm here."

The lengthy speakers list included local politicians, union representatives, students and alumni. State Rep. Alice K. Wolf (D-Cambridge) stepped up to the podium to emphasize that the issue of a living wage goes far beyond Harvard.

"We are working across the state to see that every single person who works for a living is making enough to live," she said to cheering crowd.

Edward B. Childs, a representative from Hotel Employees and Restaurant from Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 26, expressed his gratitude to the demonstrators, saying, "We're glad that you all feel that there's a stake in this for you."

He added that the dining hall workers his group represents will push for a living wage in their next contract when negotiations begin next year.

The rally attracted statements and endorsements from some big names, including Mayor of Cambridge Francis H. Duehay '55 and Julian Bond, chair of the national board of the NAACP.

Bond appeared at the rally briefly, giving his and the NAACP's Harvard chapter's support to the Living Wage Campaign.

"This is a serious matter of real-life people needing to earn decent wages so they can live in this community," he said.

Many of the demonstrators and speakers expressed disbelief that Harvard--with its famously burgeoning endowment--is financially unable to give a living wage to every employee. Several noted that Harvard is the second wealthiest not-for-profit organization in the world, behind the Vatican.

"With the fund balance Harvard has, they could buy up all of the city of Cambridge," Wolf said.

But overall, demonstrators spoke enthusiastically about their chances of success.

"I know we're going to succeed," Bond said. "Because we will--and we shall--overcome.

He added that the dining hall workers his group represents will push for a living wage in their next contract when negotiations begin next year.

The rally attracted statements and endorsements from some big names, including Mayor of Cambridge Francis H. Duehay '55 and Julian Bond, chair of the national board of the NAACP.

Bond appeared at the rally briefly, giving his and the NAACP's Harvard chapter's support to the Living Wage Campaign.

"This is a serious matter of real-life people needing to earn decent wages so they can live in this community," he said.

Many of the demonstrators and speakers expressed disbelief that Harvard--with its famously burgeoning endowment--is financially unable to give a living wage to every employee. Several noted that Harvard is the second wealthiest not-for-profit organization in the world, behind the Vatican.

"With the fund balance Harvard has, they could buy up all of the city of Cambridge," Wolf said.

But overall, demonstrators spoke enthusiastically about their chances of success.

"I know we're going to succeed," Bond said. "Because we will--and we shall--overcome.