Catherwood LibraryILR School

After 3 months of unsuccessful contract negotiations, over 600 employees in Harvard’s Dining halls are preparing to strike. The dining hall workers’ contracts expire on September 17th, as well as the “no-strike” clause that lies within them. Harvard’s dining hall workers are pushing for a minimum of $35,000 a year and for the university to continue their current health care program. Currently only 30% of dining hall workers earn $35,000, excluding overtime. Harvard University’s spokesperson Tania deLuzuriaga issued a statement arguing that the university’s wages are “highly competitive”, with dining hall employees earning almost $22 an hour. Additionally, the university’s new health care plan has been accepted by over 5,000 employees thus far.