Custodians Seek Better Contract

Over 400 Harvard-affiliated custodial workers signed a petition “in support of a just contract,” which a delegation of approximately ten custodians and union members then presented to University President Drew G. Faust’s office on Monday.

Although Faust was not available, the group said they put the petition in her dropbox and asked her assistant to pass along their concerns to Faust.

The presentation of the petition comes in the midst of University contract negotiations with SEIU Local 615, the union which represents Harvard custodians. Matthew Gulish, an organizer for Local 615, said that the impetus behind the petition was anxiety that many custodians are feeling over what he called “dragging” contract negotiations.

“Basically, these negotiations aren’t going quite as smoothly as we would like,” Gulish said. “This delegation will hopefully help speed things along.”

The University said that it is focused on creating a negotiations process that is mutually beneficial for workers and for Harvard.

“We are proud of the strong relationship that exists between the institution and its unionized workers,” wrote University spokesperson Kevin Galvin in an emailed statement. “We are optimistic that the negotiations will be productive for both the University and the people who help to make it one of the world’s premier institutions for research and education.”

Members of the delegation said that they presented the petition to Faust in hopes that she will expedite and support them in their quest for what multiple delegates called a “just contract.”

“We need a contract and it doesn’t seem anything is moving,” said Facilities Maintenance Operations custodian Jean-Claude Mondesir. “We want her to help us get a fair contract. If she says something, it will happen.”

Among custodial demands in the contract are increased full-time work opportunities, an end of perceived favoritism and the equalization of benefits between direct employees of Harvard and subcontractors—custodians hired through non-Harvard agencies such as the FMO.

“We want one Harvard,” said Local 615 organizer Sergio Deunas. “We hope that by reading that petition the president will realize that workers really need her support.”

Galvin said that the University is proud of its current agreement with both direct employees and sub-contracted employees, noting that the University has a “progressive” policy with regard to the latter group. Harvard’s Wage and Benefit Parity Policy accords contracted workers the same pay and the same time off and benefits as direct Harvard employees, including access to the University’s “Bridge to Learning and Literacy” program.

Delegates said that the presentation of the petition was not meant to be a confrontational act, but was instead a request for a show of unity from the president.

“We don’t think they want to divide us,” Mondesir said. “We are hoping the president will show her support for a contract the gives us dignity, equality and fairness.”

—Staff writer Mercer R. Cook can be reached at mcook@college.harvard.edu.