We, the undersigned official and unofficial Harvard Law School student organizations, represent a broad cross-section of students and student workers at HLS. After winning our union in April 2018, we were excited to win a strong first contract that guaranteed fair pay, comprehensive and affordable health care, support for international student workers, and protections against discrimination and harassment.
Here at HLS, many hourly workers make just $12/hour (the Massachusetts minimum wage) even though we work at a university with a $39 billion endowment. Graduate student workers at other Harvard schools generally make at least $25-$35/hour. At HLS, no matter how many hours we work, we need to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for health care, increasing our already staggering six-figure student loan burdens. And, if we face discrimination or harassment, we lack access to a fair, neutral, third-party grievance procedure through which to bring our claims. Together with the 4,500 graduate student workers across this university, we recognize that student workers should have a voice in the decisions that are made about our lives while we are part of this institution.
Over the past year, we have been disappointed to see the university administration stall in negotiations and oppose student workers’ efforts to secure basic rights and protections. Over the past year, student workers have: told our stories at the bargaining table; signed petitions; and held rallies, pickets, and work-ins. Despite these efforts, the administration has consistently failed to agree to a fair contract.
Therefore, we support and endorse the Harvard Graduate Students Union strike authorization vote. We urge our members who are working as BSAs, TAs, TFs, and RAs at HLS or other Harvard schools to vote “YES” in the strike authorization vote. And we call on the Harvard administration to agree to the strong contract that student workers need and deserve.
Signed,
American Civil Liberties Union – HLS
American Constitution Society – HLS
Alliance for Reproductive Justice
Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
Black Law Students Association
Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
Coalition of International Students and Global Affairs
Disability Law Students Association
Harvard Law and Policy Review
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
Harvard Parity Project
La Alianza at HLS
Lambda at HLS
Labor and Employment Action Project
National Lawyers Guild – HLS
Progressive Jewish Alliance at HLS
Project No One Leaves
Tenant Advocacy Project
Unbound
Women’s Law Association