Crimson staff writer
Cara J. Chang
Crimson staff writer Cara J. Chang can be reached at cara.chang@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @CaraChang20.
Latest Content
HMS Genetics Anti-Racism Group Works to Inform Staff About Covid, Include Them in School Culture
Genetics postdoctoral and graduate student advocates expanded a series of initiatives first launched last fall to help Harvard Medical School custodial staff gain access to key Covid-19 information as part of a larger plan to foster greater inclusion within the school’s culture.
Grad Union Meets with Harvard to Discuss Covid-19 Health and Safety Concerns
Harvard’s graduate student union met with University administrators last Tuesday to discuss concerns over health and safety, including access to mental health and specialist care, Covid-19 contact tracing, and protections for student workers working remotely.
Security, Parking, and Museum Guards Union Ratifies New Contract, Continues Conversation Around Union Merger
The Harvard University Security, Parking, and Museum Guards Union ratified a new contract with the University Friday, maintaining healthcare benefits, securing bonuses, and codifying avenues to collaborate with the much larger clerical and technical workers union.
Grad Student Union Files Intent to Bargain for Second Contract with Harvard
Harvard’s graduate student union filed a notice of intent to bargain with the University Friday, officially launching negotiations for its second contract representing more than 4,000 student employees.
HUDS Workers, Laid Off Last Month, Offered New Roles
Harvard University Dining Services workers who were laid off after HUDS closed facilities last month received the option to shift into new roles beginning Jan. 27, on seniority in an internal reshuffling process known as “bumping.”
Harvard Medical School, Law School To Maintain Jobs and Pay for Contracted Dining Workers
Contracted dining workers at two Harvard schools received welcome news this week as Harvard Medical School announced it would not pursue 16 layoffs as planned, and Harvard Law School announced it would continue paying contracted dining employees and eventually bring them in-house.
Grad Student Unions, Experts Expect Friendlier Climate for Labor Under Biden
With President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. taking office Wednesday, HGSU-UAW President Brandon J. Mancilla said he expects the “whole climate” for student unions to change.
On Eve of Pay Cuts, Unions Urge Harvard to Extend Paid Leave For Contracted Workers
More than 30 Harvard workers and supporters called for contracted employees idled by the pandemic to receive paid leave in the spring during a socially-distanced rally in Harvard Yard Thursday.
Harvard Custodians Ratify One-Year Contract with University, Push to Protect Contracted Employees from Layoffs
Custodians at Harvard ratified a year-long contract with the University last Friday that guarantees health benefits and a one-time bonus, but does not protect contracted custodians from impending layoffs.
City Councilors Call on Harvard to Extend Paid Leave Policy to Contracted Workers
Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu ’07 and a group of Cambridge city councilors urged Harvard to extend its paid leave policy to contracted workers in letters addressed to University President Lawrence S. Bacow on Dec. 11 and Jan. 9, respectively.
Harvard Security Guards Ratify One-Year Contract With Securitas
Harvard security guards ratified a temporary, year-long contract with third-party contractor Securitas on Dec. 30, 2020, maintaining healthcare benefits and securing a one-time bonus during the pandemic.
Grad Union Files Grievance Over Exclusion of Population Health Sciences Students
Harvard’s graduate student union filed a grievance against the University and met with administrators earlier this month in response to Harvard’s decision to exclude 108 students in Population Health Sciences from the union’s bargaining unit.
Job Insecurity, Union Negotiations Loom Large Amid Pandemic
Facing pressure from activists, Harvard extended guaranteed pay and benefits for directly-employed and contracted workers who were not able to work due to the pandemic through January 2021.
MacArthur ‘Genius’ Andrews Lauded for ‘Ridiculous Smarts,’ ‘Ridiculous Amount of Kindness’
Andrews was named a 2020 MacArthur Fellow in October, receiving $625,000 for his work overcoming statistical inference problems in empirical economics. The grant itself gives him flexibility to take more unpaid leave and focus on research, Andrews explained, but it is also a tremendous honor in its own right.
Harvard, California Researchers Discover Spur Development Gene in Columbine Flowers
Researchers at Harvard, CSU Sacramento, and UCSB discovered a new gene responsible for nectar spur development in columbine flowers.