Taylor M. Bierwerth
Latest Articles
How the Trump Administration’s Pressures on Higher Education Are Shaping Union Negotiations
Harvard’s unions for academic workers and graduate students are escalating contract fights over wages, immigration protections, and academic freedom as political pressure from the Trump administration reshapes bargaining across higher education.
More Than 3,600 Sign HUCTW Petition Urging Harvard to Halt Layoffs
More than 3,600 people signed a petition calling on Harvard to halt layoffs, as the Harvard Union of Technical and Clerical Workers intensifies its opposition to ongoing and proposed staff cuts.
Cambridge City Council Votes to Urge Harvard to End Faculty Time Caps
The Cambridge City Council voted Monday to back Harvard’s non-tenure-track faculty, urging the University to eliminate time caps on appointments and recognize workers’ rights to union representation as contract talks enter a second year.
For Decades, FAS Published an Annual Financial Report. This Year, It Did Not.
The FAS has not published its fiscal year 2025 financial report — typically released in the fall — marking the first break from the practice in more than three decades. It has also removed links to nearly all past financial reports from its website, including documents dating back to 2009. The report, however, was produced.
Harvard Graduate Workers Set Strike for April 21 if Talks Fail
Harvard’s graduate student union said Friday afternoon that it would begin a strike on April 21 if the University does not meet its demands by then, escalating a labor dispute that has stretched on for more than a year.
Harvard Grad Student Union Authorizes Strike With Nearly 96% Support
Harvard’s graduate student union overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, with 95.8 percent of ballots cast in favor after four weeks of voting — setting up a potential third walkout since 2019.
Harvard Security Guards Say Union Did Not Share Full Contract Before Vote
Security guards at Harvard said they were asked to approve a new four-year contract without ever seeing its full text, deepening frustration over what several described as a breakdown in communication from their union.
Harvard Security Guards Ratify New Contract, Secure $4 Wage Increase
Security guards at Harvard ratified a new contract Thursday, locking in wage increases and preserving their existing health benefits after months of negotiations with third-party contractor Securitas Security Services.
Harvard Academic Workers Open Strike Authorization Vote After 18 Months of Stalled Negotiations
Harvard Academic Workers-United Auto Workers launched a strike authorization vote Friday after 32 bargaining sessions with the University produced no first contract, marking a significant escalation in negotiations that began 18 months ago.
Harvard Law Clinical Workers Reach Agreement on Six of 43 Contract Articles After 19 Months
Harvard Law School clinical workers and the University have reached agreement on just six of 43 contract articles after 19 months of bargaining and more than 100 proposals exchanged, leaving the union without a first contract.