Clerical, Technical Workers' Pay Highest Among Area Universities

Harvard clerical and technical workers make slightly more than those at other area universities, according to an informal Crimson survey.

Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers Director Bill Jaeger yesterday downplayed the differences, saying that wages for support staff are "equally depressed at all area institutions."

The union's contract expired June 30, and wages have been a sticking point in the talks about a new pact.

Comparing wages across institutions is a difficult business. Job titles and descriptions vary, and wages depend on experience. Better benefits at an institution may compensate for lower wages. And the jobs come in different grades--"library assistant I" earns less money than "library assistant II."

The hourly wage for a library assistant at Boston University, which is unionized, ranges from $8.33 to $12.50. At MIT, roughly the same job--sorting and shelving books--brings $8.02 to $11.70. At Harvard, the job pays $9.03 to $14.00.

At Boston College, where workers are not unionized, library assistant salaries start at $3.44 to $5.14 an hour.

All salary figures were obtained from University human resources departments. In situations where jobs came in more than one grade, the wage for the lowest grade was used.

Staff assistants make $8.65 to $13.41 an hour at Boston University. At MIT they earn $9.20 to $13.43. At Harvard they earn $10.42 to E15.69.

Research technicians at Boston University make $9.03 to $14.00 an hour. MIT pays technical assistants $9.20 to $13.43. Harvard research assistants earn $10.42 to $15.69.

Wage figures for staff and research assistants at Boston College were unavailable. Tufts and Northeastern University human resource officers did not return telephone calls.

John H. Shattuck, vice president for government, community and public affairs at Harvard, has served as the management spokesperson during negotiations with the union. Yesterday, though, Shattuck refused to comment on any aspect of Harvard's relations with the 3600 member union.

Jaeger said both sides had agreed not to talk about the specifics of recent efforts to arrange mediation of the contract talks. He said management and labor have not yet agreed on mediated negotiation, but he said such a step was "still possible."

The union director acknowledged that Harvard wages might be "slightly better" than those at other area institutions. But he said that the wages are "roughly comparable," and that Harvard wages are not the highest in the Northeast.

Clerical and technical workers at every university and in many companies have been "undercompensated in general, because they've been women," Jaeger said.

Because the wages have been historically depressed, a salary increase would not be a luxury but a boost to economic justice, Jaeger said.