[24] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Harvard Living Wage Action Update... (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Thu Apr 19 11:29:01 2001
Message-Id: <200104191506.LAA04092@gold.mit.edu>
To: mit-talk@MIT.EDU
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 11:06:51 -0400
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@MIT.EDU>
Resent-From: jhawk@MIT.EDU
Resent-To: mit-talk-mtg@charon.MIT.EDU
PLEASE FWD WIDELY!!
They need any of us who can get away for a bit!
- ------- Forwarded Message
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 12:45:06 -0000
From: harvard living wage campaign <harvard_livingwagecampaign@hotmail.com>
4/19/01 UPDATE ON HARVARD LIVING WAGE SIT-IN
CURRENTLY: The number of police in the building is growing rapidly.
Protesters fear removal. YOUR PRESENCE IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY AND THROUGHOUT
THE DAY TO HELP THE SIT-IN CONTINUE AND TO FORCE THE ADMINISTRATION TO
NEGOTIATE.
ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE: The administration has refused to negotiate with
the protesters, claiming that the conclusions of the Committee appointed
last year - which did not grant a living wage - were adequate. We insist
that the administrators take the demands of their students, faculty,
alumni, and staff - the people who make up this University - seriously. YOU
MUST URGE THEM TO DO SO. Please continue to contact them and demand that
they negotiate with the protestors:
Neil Rudenstine, President (617) 495-1502, beverly_sullivan@harvard.edu
Harvey Fineberg, Provost, (617) 496-5100, harvey_fineberg@harvard.edu
Sally Zeckhauser, VP for Administration, sally_zeckhauser@harvard.edu
Harry Lewis, Dean of Harvard College, lewis@harvard.edu
Polly Price, Associate VP for Human Resources, polly_price@harvard.edu
EVENTS TODAY
All events take place in front of Mass Hall.
ONGOING: Supporters continue to keep vigilance outside of Mass Hall to
prevent the removal of protestors and demand negotiations. Stop by for as
long as you can. THIS IS CRUCIAL.
NOON: Solidarity Rally
7PM: Panel
Elaine Bernard, Harvard Trade Union Program
John Womack, Professor
Juliet Schor, Professor
Joe Curtone, Somerville Alderman
Harvard Custodians
Amy Offner, Harvard Living Wage Campaign Member
9PM: vigil and reading of worker testimonials
YOU CAN HELP:
IF YOU HAVE
2 MINUTES:
Contact administrators and insist that they negotiate with the protestors.
Contact info above.
10 MINUTES:
Join us in front of Mass Hall during the day or late at night. Write
Rudenstine a postcard on an index card and drop it off at Mass Hall. Tell
your friends, TFs, professors, students, and alumni. Go to office hours and
make phone calls.
30 MINUTES:
Pick up leaflets and posters in front of Mass Hall. Poster the yard and
your houses. Leaflet your classes or in the Yard.
PROFESSORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS: Write an op-ed.
Contact the Living Wage Campaign to speak at a rally by calling 617-290-5802
or 617-645-0767 or stopping by Mass Hall.
CONTACT: To find out how else you can help talk to Ben Stoll.
stoll@fas.harvard.edu
493-3662
834-5824
YESTERDAY
INSIDE THE BUILDING: Yesterday, 46 members of the Living Wage Campaign
entered Massachusetts Hall and began sitting in for a living wage. They
secured one office, the conference room, the foyer, and the hallway. Top
administrators vacated the building within two hours of the sit-in.
Police spent the day attempting to control the protesters by slowly
encroaching on their territory and restricting their movements, such as not
allowing them to use the bathroom, but every time the protesters retaliated
with spirited chanting, singing, and demands to act humanely and fairly.
Through these tactics and with the help of the outside team, they were able
to maintain their positions and be able to freely move to the bathroom.
THIS IS NOW BEING JEAPRODIZED.
OUTSIDE THE BUILDING: Throughout the day, up to 150 supporters gathered
around Massachusetts Hall, chanting, picketing, and singing, and demanding
that the administration negotiate with the protesters. Harvard workers from
a number of different unions marched and spoke on behalf of the protesters,
including carpenters from locals 40 and 41, SEIU janitors, members of the
Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW), and Harvard Dining
Services employees from HERE.
At 7 PM a panel of students, clergy members, academics, and Harvard janitors
spoke about the necessity of a living wage. At 9 PM Harvard Dining Services
workers marched to Mass Hall chanting to deliver pizzas to the protestors.
Police attempted to block the delivery, but the workers prevailed and
protesters and dining hall staff greeted each other by name and with
supportive yells. In the evening a vigil was held, and supporters took
shifts through the night to support those sitting in when police attempted
to encroach on their positions.
We appreciate all the support we've gotten this far. Keep it up!
Harvard Living Wage Campaign
www.livingwagenow.com
- ------- End of Forwarded Message
