HUCTW Rallies To Keep Benefits

Members of Harvard's largest union began what may be a summer of protests with a heated 650 person rally in front of University Hall on Wednesday.

The three-year contract for the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW) expires today, Union members expressed pessimism this week that a new contract will be hammered out anytime soon.

Wednesday's rally focused on the benefits package for the contract currently being renegotiated.

"The most difficult issue in negotiations right now is benefits," Bill Jaeger, HUCTW director, said at the noon rally. "The University continues to argue that we should take the whole benefits package, without any modifications or alterations."

"That package would save the University an estimated million dollars a year if it were put into effect for our group," Jaeger said. "Although a few of those proposed changes are interesting ideas which may be mutually advantageous, most of them are ugly cuts."

Merry D. Touborg, a spokesperson at the Office of Human Resources, said yesterday that the University knew the benefits package was going to be a point of contention.

"The fact that the new benefits package is an issue is not a surprise," Touborgsaid. "We knew that that was going to be a majornegotiation issue."

Jaeger said HUCTW also expected the benefitsissue to be the biggest point of contention,especially after watching the heated disagreementsbetween the University and the Faculty of Arts andSciences (FAS) over changes to faculty benefits.

The University Task Force on Benefitsrecommended changes to medical copayments, medicalcontributions and pension plans last fall. Somechanges will particularly affect part-timeworkers.

"It was clear to us that the benefits issue wasgoing to be a hard one," Jaeger said. "The wholereview process was like watching a really slow carwreck."

At the rally, HUCTW's a cappella group, thePipets, sang several rally-appropriate pieces.

"The way I plan to retire/ with some dignity/Iplan to rock by the fire/No, no they can't takethat away from me," were the lyrics of one song.

Balloons and hand-lettered signs filled the airabove the crowd.

"Health care is a right," "HarvardUniversity--Treat Your Employees Fairly," and "BadProcess Equals Bad Policy," read some sings.

At one point, union representatives readsuggestions, both humorous and serious, includingcombining the Gazette and the Resource into onemagazine, placing solar panels on the roof of theScience Center, stopping the reorganization of OITand renting out administrators' offices inMassachusetts Hall for weddings and parties.

Helen Rodriguez, a secretary and union member,said she came to the rally because she wasconcerned about the benefits cuts.

"We don't make that much money in the firstplace, and cutting our benefits is notacceptable," Rodriguez said.

Touborg said she was unable to comment onwhether the negotiations could conclude before thecontract expires today, but said the Universitywas "hopeful that a settlement can be reached."

On Wednesday, Donene Williams, the president ofHUCTW, said that although the "union is willing,it's unlikely there will be an agreement byFriday."

"[The negotiations] are proceeding veryslowly," Williams said. "[The University] isproposing a package of benefits that would reallyhurt our members."

At the end of the rally's speeches, Jaeger saidthat the "enthusiastic involvement and support" ofthe union is what makes negotiations work.

"We have to change some Harvard administrators'minds," he said. "There is a big gap between usright now, and they will have to move to helpclose it.

Jaeger said HUCTW also expected the benefitsissue to be the biggest point of contention,especially after watching the heated disagreementsbetween the University and the Faculty of Arts andSciences (FAS) over changes to faculty benefits.

The University Task Force on Benefitsrecommended changes to medical copayments, medicalcontributions and pension plans last fall. Somechanges will particularly affect part-timeworkers.

"It was clear to us that the benefits issue wasgoing to be a hard one," Jaeger said. "The wholereview process was like watching a really slow carwreck."

At the rally, HUCTW's a cappella group, thePipets, sang several rally-appropriate pieces.

"The way I plan to retire/ with some dignity/Iplan to rock by the fire/No, no they can't takethat away from me," were the lyrics of one song.

Balloons and hand-lettered signs filled the airabove the crowd.

"Health care is a right," "HarvardUniversity--Treat Your Employees Fairly," and "BadProcess Equals Bad Policy," read some sings.

At one point, union representatives readsuggestions, both humorous and serious, includingcombining the Gazette and the Resource into onemagazine, placing solar panels on the roof of theScience Center, stopping the reorganization of OITand renting out administrators' offices inMassachusetts Hall for weddings and parties.

Helen Rodriguez, a secretary and union member,said she came to the rally because she wasconcerned about the benefits cuts.

"We don't make that much money in the firstplace, and cutting our benefits is notacceptable," Rodriguez said.

Touborg said she was unable to comment onwhether the negotiations could conclude before thecontract expires today, but said the Universitywas "hopeful that a settlement can be reached."

On Wednesday, Donene Williams, the president ofHUCTW, said that although the "union is willing,it's unlikely there will be an agreement byFriday."

"[The negotiations] are proceeding veryslowly," Williams said. "[The University] isproposing a package of benefits that would reallyhurt our members."

At the end of the rally's speeches, Jaeger saidthat the "enthusiastic involvement and support" ofthe union is what makes negotiations work.

"We have to change some Harvard administrators'minds," he said. "There is a big gap between usright now, and they will have to move to helpclose it.