Jewish Labor Committee

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October 20, 2016: Philadelphia, PA - For the first time in 34 years, thousands of faculty from state universities across Pennsylvania went on strike. Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee Regional Director Michael Hersch and PJLC board members Ben Waxman and Sylvia and Norman Lieberman joined academics from Westchester and Cheyney universities on the picket line at 8th and Market in Philadelphia. On October 27th, an agreement has been reached between the state's public higher education system and APSCUF, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties union.

The strike began after multiple failed negotiations for a new contract between Pennsylvania's state education system and APSCUF The system's proposed contract consisted of faculty raises of 7.25 percent to 17.25 percent over four years, as well as an additional cash payment of $1000 by January 2017. However, health-care costs, including deductibles and coinsurance would be raised, and there would be higher co-payments on prescriptions. The union argued that the raises would not match the raise in health care expenses.

Over 100,000 thousand students were affected by the strike. Although the system had told students to attend classes as their professor might cross the picket line to teach, most classrooms remained empty until a fair agreement had been reached.

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 02:46 PM | Permalink

Photo courtesy New England Jewish Labor Committee

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September 28, 2016: Cambridge, MA -- After four months, 19 negotiations, and zero progress, the dining service workers of Harvard University are fed up. As of Wednesday, these workers have gone on strike. With placards in hand and a drive to help the disenfranchised, the New England Jewish Labor Committee marched in solidarity with the workers on the picket line.

750 of the workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 26. The union is asking for workers to receive a salary of $35,000 a year for those who wish to work year-round, and an affordable health care plan. Since the expiration of their previous contract on September 17th, the university has not entertained the union's propositions. Harvard officials claim that the workers already make more than the usual amount for most food services workers in the area. They also claim that the changes to the health care plan, which would increase out-of-pocket expenses for the workers, are minute, for the university would cover up to 87 percent of the premiums. However, it appears that the university does not take into consideration how these changes affect its employees. A dining hall worker makes just a little over $30,000 before taxes. Many only get to work eight months out of the year, and are laid off during the summer. Not receiving a paycheck for four months along with the increased out-of-pocket healthcare expense would be devastating to many of the employees, especially those with health issues.

Harvard is the wealthiest university in the world, yet it refuses to adequately compensate the workers who feed and take care of students every day. Workers, students, and community members are standing up to say: Enough is enough! ¡Ya basta! Check out this in-depth article about the strike here

Support the strike:tinyurl.com/supportthestrike

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 04:59 PM | Permalink