New Faculty Task Force to Study Wages

Nearly a month after the Living Wage Campaign and other protesting groups rattled the gates of Mass. Hall, and two days after the City Council urged Harvard to pay wages of $10 an hour to all its workers, the University is making a move to examine the wages it pays its employees.

In response to student protests and a desire to get a better picture of University employment, President Neil L. Rudenstine will be forming a faculty task force to examine University labor policy.

And as a guide to future changes, the University has compiled a rare statistical snapshot of its employees.

"I'd assure you that getting the faculty committee in the field is going to happen in a matter of days," Rudenstine said yesterday.

Donene M. Williams, treasurer and past president of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW), said the formation of a faculty committee is an important step.

"The fact that they have chosen to do something is a great sign," she said, pointing out the difference between a faculty task force and a committee formed solely of administrators--which has comparatively less power to instigate action.

While the task force's long-range goal is to evaluate the status of Harvard employees, the administration has already released a snapshot employment picture for the week of Feb. 20 to evaluate how many employees are paid less than $10 an hour.

The report revealed that out of a total of 13,113 regular Harvard employees, only 358, just 2.7 percent, were paid less than $10 an hour. Of 1,361 "casual" workers, who are hired for part-time or temporary employment, 669 or 49 percent received less than $10 an hour.

However, only 173 of those employees worked more than 15 hours a week.

"The numbers are even bigger than we thought," said Aaron D. Bartley, who is a first-year student at the law school and an organizer of the Living Wage Campaign.

"Essentially, the numbers are bolstering our claims," he said. "There is an inordinate amount of casual labor going on. The fact that half of them are making lessthan $10 an hour says a lot."

The Living Wage Campaign has not been able toestimate the cost of raising wages across theschool.

Organizer Christopher J. Vaeth, a second-yearstudent at Harvard Divinity School said it "wouldbe a drop in the bucket compared to what Harvardhas."

The faculty task force will produce data tofacilitate such estimates, according to Harvardspokesperson Joe Wrinn.

In recent days the wage debate has spreadbeyond campus. On Monday, the Cambridge CityCouncil passed an order asking Harvard to up itswages.

Last week, a CNN crew was in Cambridgereporting on the Living Wage Campaign. The newsstation is scheduled to air a segment on thecampaign later this week.

Campaign organizer Bartley said the heightenedmedia attention likely pressured theadministration to respond to demands for action.

"I think that there's no doubt that when thenational media starts calling they don't want toportrayed in any other way than anelite,...perfect,...clean school, "Bartley said.

The faculty task force, which will be composedof professors from across the University, ischarged with gathering data and makingrecommendations to the administration.

"To get a comprehensive picture of this, it isnot easy," Wrinn said. "This is the first step togather data to further understand the [employment]situation at Harvard.

The Living Wage Campaign has not been able toestimate the cost of raising wages across theschool.

Organizer Christopher J. Vaeth, a second-yearstudent at Harvard Divinity School said it "wouldbe a drop in the bucket compared to what Harvardhas."

The faculty task force will produce data tofacilitate such estimates, according to Harvardspokesperson Joe Wrinn.

In recent days the wage debate has spreadbeyond campus. On Monday, the Cambridge CityCouncil passed an order asking Harvard to up itswages.

Last week, a CNN crew was in Cambridgereporting on the Living Wage Campaign. The newsstation is scheduled to air a segment on thecampaign later this week.

Campaign organizer Bartley said the heightenedmedia attention likely pressured theadministration to respond to demands for action.

"I think that there's no doubt that when thenational media starts calling they don't want toportrayed in any other way than anelite,...perfect,...clean school, "Bartley said.

The faculty task force, which will be composedof professors from across the University, ischarged with gathering data and makingrecommendations to the administration.

"To get a comprehensive picture of this, it isnot easy," Wrinn said. "This is the first step togather data to further understand the [employment]situation at Harvard.