Harvard Plans to Increase Introductory Writing Course Sizes, Drawing Union Objections

Harvard plans to increase class sizes in a subset of its introductory writing courses, a move that union leaders said would improperly raise instructors’ workloads during ongoing contract negotiations.

At a bargaining session Tuesday, Harvard officials said Expository Writing “Studio 10” sections would expand from 10 to 15 students beginning next academic year, according to representatives from the Harvard Academic Workers-United Auto Workers.

HAW-UAW officials said the proposed change constitutes a unilateral modification of working conditions, which they argued is prohibited under the National Labor Relations Act while a first contract is still being negotiated.

“There is no justification for bypassing their obligation to bargain with us over such a drastic change in workload,” said J. Gregory Given, a bargaining committee member and preceptor in Expository Writing.

Under federal labor law, employers are generally required to maintain existing conditions on mandatory subjects of bargaining — including workload — until a contract is reached. The union argued that increasing class size falls within that category.

A Harvard spokesperson disputed that characterization, describing the proposal as an academic decision and saying Harvard is open to discussing its effects with the union.

Labor law scholars said that even if a policy is considered within an employer’s discretion, its consequences may still require negotiation.

“In and of itself, increasing class size is increasing workload,” said Risa L. Liberwitz, a professor of labor and employment law at Cornell University. Based on the union’s description of events, she said, the union appears to have “a very good position” that the University is making a unilateral change.

“Even if a decision that an employer makes is a permissive subject of bargaining, the impact or effects of that decision are mandatory,” Liberwitz added.

The proposed change would affect Expos Studio 10, a course designed for students who benefit from more individualized instruction. The class is typically capped at 10 students to allow for frequent one-on-one feedback.

Given said increasing enrollment would alter the structure of the course.

“That’s a change in how Expos Studio works that literally entirely destroys how that class is supposed to function,” Given said.

The plan comes as Harvard reduces hiring of non-tenure-track faculty amid broader financial uncertainty. Because Expository Writing is required for all first-year students, union representatives said any staffing reductions must be offset through changes such as larger class sizes.

“The plan is to have the Studio program bear all of that burden,” Given said.

Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois, said that even if the union were to file an unfair labor practice charge, the likely outcome would be a return to negotiations.

“In some ways, it’s almost irrelevant whether the National Labor Relations Board would rule one way or the other,” he said. “The effect of not bargaining just really creates an unfortunate dynamic.”

The dispute comes as HAW-UAW enters its 18th month of bargaining with Harvard and continues a strike authorization vote now in its third week.

At Tuesday’s session, the union presented proposals addressing layoffs, job security, discipline, and appointment terms. Given said the union made concessions on certain layoff provisions while maintaining its demand that workers not be terminated before the end of their appointments.

The two sides also remain divided over protections for non-citizen workers.

In its latest counterproposal, Harvard rejected union efforts to formalize existing policies governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities and declined to include language on potential green card sponsorship for eligible workers.

Given said the union was “confused” by the University’s position on proposals that, he said, would not require binding commitments.

A Harvard spokesperson said the University is approaching agreement with the union on some issues related to non-citizen workers but declined to comment further on ongoing negotiations.

HAW-UAW leaders said the class size proposals raise broader concerns about the trajectory of talks.

“There’s some moderately encouraging signs in the actual bargaining of the contract,” he said. “There’s a lot of worrisome signs about what the administration is doing alongside that bargaining.”

—Staff writer Noah A. Ferris can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @noahaferris.