34 Elected Officials Sign Letter Backing Harvard's Striking Union Workers

Dozens of local and state elected officials backed Harvard’s unionized academic workers this week, signing an open letter that urged University leaders to reach fair contracts with HGSU-UAW and HAW-UAW.

The letter — addressed to Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 and Provost John F. Manning ’82 — was presented at a Cambridge City Council meeting Thursday, as HGSU-UAW’s strike entered its third day and HAW-UAW’s strike authorization vote continued into its fourth week.

“These workers are the backbone of education and research at Harvard, and they deserve fair recognition of their work that sustains the critical mission of the University,” the letter read.

Thirty-four elected officials signed the letter, including Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and every member of the Cambridge City Council except Timothy R. Flaherty, Catherine “Cathie” Zusy, and E. Denise Simmons. Simmons wrote in a statement to The Crimson that she missed the letter when it was first circulated, but planned to add her name and look into other ways to support the strike. Flaherty and Zusy did not respond to requests for comment.

The signatories also included state Reps. Marjorie C. Decker and Mike L. Connolly, state Sens. Patricia D. Jehlen and Lydia M. Edwards, and 10 Boston city councilors.

“As one of the largest private employers in the region, Harvard has a responsibility to the workers in Massachusetts to treat them with respect and dignity,” the letter read.

Several officials also appeared alongside striking graduate workers this week. Cambridge City Councilor Jivan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler, Connolly, Decker, and Somerville City Councilor Ben Wheeler attended a Thursday rally in Science Center Plaza, while Edwards joined picketers Tuesday morning.