Anonymized Grievance Wins
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Grievance Description
1
Many departments refused to allow Union organizers to participate in orientations
2
School did not provide formal hiring paperwork and ended up paying TAs a lot less than initially told
3
Student worker parent was denied a teaching assignment prior to giving birth
4
Teaching appointment for international student was revoked and student was facing dismissal
5
Student outside of the bargaining unit being put on probation and threatened with expulsion from their program. When we intervened, there was a scheduled voting to decide on whether to suspend them.
6
Many departments sent out appointment letters with missing information (FERPA waivers, Union contacts, etc.)
7
Systematic underpayment of student workers below the minimum wage in the contract
8
Uncovered racist blog posts by a Harvard preceptor caused a disruption in undergraduate course
9
Student workers doing essential work at Harvard-affiliated hospitals were denied access to COVID testing
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Resolution
Testimonial
Category
Carved out?
Dates
In many departments, the Union was granted the 30 minutes at orientations guaranteed by the contract.

"My department refused to allow Union organizers to participate in orientations for new students, even though we are guaranteed 30 minutes at any orientation by the contract. This is when we contacted the Union grievance committee. After the grievance officer's attempts at informal advocacy proved fruitless, the issue was finally resolved when they threatened to file a step 1 grievance."

Union access
August 2020
Student workers received backpay for the full expected amount

"We were hired as TAs without any formal paperwork and ended up being paid around half of what we had been led to expect going in. At first, we were more or less resigned to just accept what happened, but decided to ask HGSU for their input. Thankfully, they assigned us a Union Representative who supported and encouraged us throughout the entire negotiation process despite the administration's initial resistance, which led to a backpay in the end."

Compensation
August 2020
Secured a teaching position for grievant

"I appealed to the HGSU grievance committee to help me navigate Harvard’s Covid relief initiatives. Because of some ambiguous language in description of available offerings, particularly regarding teaching opportunities, I had a difficult time getting a clear answer as to what I would be eligible for. I went back and forth for a few months between my department and GSAS but still could not gain clarity on my eligibility or the availability of offerings. Within a week of contacting the grievance committee we had a meeting set up with GSAS and my issues were resolved clearly and expeditiously. I was grateful to have prompt response as I had spent so long trying to solve the issue myself."

Family leave and student parents
August 2020
Secured a teaching position for grievant allowing them to retain their status

"As an international student at the ________ I have encountered many difficulties due to my unfamiliarity with the procedures and due to unfortunate financial issues, having said that those difficulties allowed me to meet amazing helpful and supportive people from the university staff and the Union who were so supportive and understanding of my situation and guided me through all the requirements and procedures. Such support and selflessness is the reason that made the Union what it is today, I'll be thankful for the rest of my days to those wonderful human beings who provided support and guidance to a person they have never meet out of the kindness of their hearts and I hope that I can do what you did to me to other people in need. Thank you very much indeed."

International worker rights
Discipline and Discharge
August 2020
Student was allowed to stay in the program and found a new advisor

The presence of HGSU especially ___ and ____, made a massive impact on the way my department conducted the process— that’s the only explanation I could think of, that drove this drastic change of behaviour from them. And I am indebted to all of you, all your efforts and support, and the dedication to do what is just. Thank you so much ____ and ____ (and everyone in HGSU).

Harrassment and Discrimination
Discipline and Discharge
February 2021
Corrections to the appointment letters were sent to all student workers

"When my employer withheld crucial information from me including how to contact my union I filed a grievance. Appointment letters are a key work protection that set standards for the employee and protects them from being abused. The grievance was resolved efficiently but I was disappointed at my employer for failing to provide information they already knew. "

Appointment letters
July 2020
Student workers received backpay for the amount of money lost. Future payments were also corrected

"When the GSD admin was committing wage theft against me and other student workers, HGSU helped me lay out my options to get paid for my work. During the start of the pandemic, the GSD admin did not pay student workers for months, and the HGSU grievance committee made sure that even though we were all working remotely, we could still seek collective solutions together."

Compensation
July-August 2020
Teaching fellows were paid extra for taking on new roles in the course and providing support to enrolled students

"After a scandal regarding racist blog posts by a course preceptor upended a course in the Government department, the graduate teaching fellows poured extra effort into keeping educational efforts on track while ensuring no student was required to attend lectures in a potentially hostile and racist environment. Thanks to the amazing work of CEEC officers Reva Dhingra, Nathaniel Braffman and Andrew Leber, the Union managed to secure just compensation for these student workers, who took on new responsibilities mid-semester."

Harrassment and Discrimination
Workload
October 2020
Student workers were granted access to COVID testing kits

"HGSU grievance officers were instrumental in connecting student workers from multiple departments who were all facing the same issue - requirement to work in person at hospital-affiliated labs without access to COVID-19 testing. They coordinated meetings between affected students who were interested in doing something to change the status quo, including a student worker who had already started a successful petition to the HMS Dean of Graduate Education, and provided a formal line of communication between the affected students as a group and the Dean's office. I believe that the public and private pressure from HGSU expedited the resolution of this issue, allowing all graduate SWs working in labs to access on-demand testing at Harvard testing sites."

Health and Safety
September 2020
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