Union Holds Rally for Higher Wages

Students and members of the Harvard University Security, Parking, and Museum Guard Union rallied outside of Widener Library on Monday to call attention to the union’s ongoing contract negotiations with the University.

Attendees interviewed at the rally said that their goal was to draw attention to the negotiations, and that they were still hopeful about reaching an agreement with the University.

“We definitely want to work together with Harvard, and that’s why we’re here,” said Aldo L. Campodonico, a guard at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. “We just want people to know that we are here, we are a part of Harvard, and that we have our little corner, but we take care of it.”

His voice booming across Tercentenary Theatre, HUSPMGU President Daniel Meagher urged passersby to sign the union’s petition. The group, chanting “Fair pay for the 54,” then marched to Mass Hall.

Founded in 1996 after it split from the Service Employees International Union, HUSPMGU currently represents museum attendants and parking guards employed by the University. According to Meagher, the union’s workers are among the lowest-paid at the University.

Meagher said that 62 percent of the union makes less than $16 per hour, adding that he believes the wage increases proposed by the University are not enough.

“We’re not looking to become the highest-paid employees here,” Meagher said. “We’re looking just to accomplish wage and benefit equity with the other service and trade unions.”

A University spokesperson, in an email to The Crimson, affirmed the University’s commitment to negotiations but pointed out that the union’s wages are competitive already.

“Wages for HUSPMGU members are consistently at or higher than the level of wages for workers in similar positions in the local area, and we are committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and equitable to HUSPMGU members,” wrote the spokesperson.

The last contract that the union negotiated went into effect in July of 2010, and is set to expire at the end of this June. It included a minimum wage increase of three percent in the first year, followed by increases of 3.25 percent and 2.75 percent in the next two years.

The union and management of both the museum and parking guards recently implemented a training program for employees, and the extra value added by this training justifies higher wage increases, according to Meagher.

“Harvard has cultural treasure in terms of the art museums and it’s really something that the University holds and trusts for all mankind,” Meagher said. “And now the force of guards they have now are some of the best-trained guards in America.”

—Staff Writer Christine Y. Cahill can be reached at christinecahill@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @cycahill16.