2006-2007 Contract Negotiations

HUCTW Meetings on Negotiations
January 2007
In October and November of 2006, our Union held 75 union meetings in all parts of the Harvard campus. More than 500 HUCTW members participated in an energetic, creative set of conversations.

In those meetings, Union leaders talked about the process of preparing for negotiations and beginning the union-management sessions. We discussed the current atmosphere at Harvard and the quality of our Union-University relations. We also presented ideas about many ways in which HUCTW members can be connected and involved in the negotiating process.

Most of the meeting time was devoted to lively discussion about our hopes for substantive outcomes from the contract discussions. Hundreds of Union members offered ideas (some general, some specific), concerns (from mild to urgent), and aspirations.

Following is a summary of views and ideas expressed often in those 75 meetings:

  • HUCTW members feel economic pressures and worry about keeping up with the high cost of living in Eastern Massachusetts. Particularly worrisome are the growing costs of housing, energy, health care and transportation. There are strong feelings about the need for vigorous salary growth recognizing skill-building and service, and also about strengthening HUCTW-Harvard programs which assist with costs of education, child care, and housing.

  • Specifically, there is a need for more attention to the problems of living in a very expensive housing market, building on the Rental Housing Transition Loan program negotiated in 2004. Ideas emerged about counseling for difficult renter issues, first-time homebuyer education and assistance programs, broader transportation subsidies, and new transportation strategies.

  • Harvard staff members want to keep learning throughout their working lives, and need more time and financial support to do so. They also need opportunities to grow and be recognized as they learn and gain credentials. All types of education, training and professional development should be supported. There are growing concerns about the burden of student debt on recent graduates, and about the need for programs to help staff members with the cost of higher education for their dependents.

  • Supervisors and staff members need more exposure to and training on topics of leadership, improving our organizations, and building a good working environment.

  • The cost and quality of health care are major concerns. There are important questions about premiums, co-payments, who and what is covered. Many members expect this to be an even more problematic area in the years ahead.

  • There are strong concerns and ideas about policies and attitudes concerning work time and time off. Union members want clearer leadership and stronger support throughout the University culture on issues about time off for learning, community involvement, and caring for ourselves and family members.


Of course, these are not all of the ideas and hopes expressed in the meetings about negotiations. Those conversations were far too rich and varied to be captured completely here. But the themes above were voiced by many Union members.

All of the ideas and concerns from the meetings have been collected and discussed among members of the HUCTW negotiating team. Some of them will turn into important new programs or breakthrough policy changes, in this negotiating process or in future Union-University discussions. Indeed, all of our Union's proud accomplishments of the past--in economic progress, health care improvements, child care, education and training, time off and flexibility, pensions and housing-- all of these grew out of ideas generated and discussed among members in meetings.

The 2007 negotiations began in December, and HUCTW-Harvard sessions are continuing on a very active schedule this month. A Central Coordinating Table and eight Side Tables on particular issues are meeting every week.

HUCTW is planning another round of lunchtime meetings for February, as some of the key negotiating opportunities and challenges start to become clear. Please plan to take part in your area. Your Union and your co-workers want to hear your voice and your ideas.


If you have questions
about contract negotiations, or anything else,
please call the Union office at 617-661-8289.

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