Harvard University has removed over 900 graduate students on research-based stipends from the Harvard Graduate Student Union-United Automobile Workers (HGSU-UAW) bargaining unit, as per a report by The Harvard Crimson. The change took effect shortly after the union’s second contract expired in June. Affected students are now excluded from union protections such as pay raises, benefits, and access to union funds.
Lindsey E. Adams, a Ph.D. student in Harvard’s virology program, noticed on July 1 that her stipend was no longer listed as a union payment and that union dues were no longer deducted. “My work day-to-day has not changed at all,” she told the Crimson. Many students remain uncertain about why they were removed and how to appeal the decision.
Administrative challenges
The HGSU-UAW filed a grievance against Harvard on July 21 and submitted a request for information on July 30. The union argues the removals violate several contract provisions, including worker classification and the union security clause, which facilitates automatic paycheck deductions for union dues. Simon A. Warchol, HGSU-UAW financial secretary, said the union could lose 25–40% of dues collected from worker paychecks.
Harvard officials say the affected students are not employees and therefore not covered by the contract. The University contends that research stipends support academic progress toward degrees, not employment tied to performing specific tasks for compensation.
Harvard Law professors Sharon Block, Benjamin I. Sachs, and Laura M. Weinrib called the University’s reasoning “implausible” in an article for OnLabor. They said it “runs counter to recent history in the law and at Harvard” and noted that a 2024 MIT decision excluding stipended fellows does not automatically justify Harvard’s actions.
Grievance process underway
The union met with Harvard officials on August 4 under Step One of the grievance process. Harvard Director of Labor and Employment Relations Brian Magner denied the grievance, stating, “the University finds no contractual violation has occurred and therefore the grievance is denied.” The union can escalate the grievance to Step Two and, if necessary, seek arbitration, although Harvard may argue the matter is not arbitrable because the contract had expired.
More than half of the affected students are in Harvard Medical School’s Division of Medical Sciences. First- and second-year Ph.D. students funded by the division or NIH grants were heavily impacted. Students in hospital-affiliated labs or fully funded on fellowships were often removed, while those with multiple funding sources sometimes remain partially in the union.
Albert T. Chen, a fourth-year Ph.D. student and HGSU-UAW bargaining committee member, described the removals as arbitrary: “There’s some workers that are doing the same work, in the same labs, in the same program. Some are being carved out, some aren’t.”
Challenges faced by students
Laila B. Norford, a union steward, said the removals worsened challenges already caused by federal funding cuts. “It’s just kicking the scientists while we’re down. We’re already suffering and struggling so much because of what the federal government is doing, but also because of how Harvard’s responding to it. And now what they’re doing at this moment is trying to make it harder for all of us,” she said.
As the grievance process continues, students and union leaders are seeking transparency from Harvard on how it classifies research-based students and their eligibility for union protections. Union representation affects pay, benefits, and workplace rights, making the resolution urgent for the affected students.
Lindsey E. Adams, a Ph.D. student in Harvard’s virology program, noticed on July 1 that her stipend was no longer listed as a union payment and that union dues were no longer deducted. “My work day-to-day has not changed at all,” she told the Crimson. Many students remain uncertain about why they were removed and how to appeal the decision.
Administrative challenges
The HGSU-UAW filed a grievance against Harvard on July 21 and submitted a request for information on July 30. The union argues the removals violate several contract provisions, including worker classification and the union security clause, which facilitates automatic paycheck deductions for union dues. Simon A. Warchol, HGSU-UAW financial secretary, said the union could lose 25–40% of dues collected from worker paychecks.
Harvard officials say the affected students are not employees and therefore not covered by the contract. The University contends that research stipends support academic progress toward degrees, not employment tied to performing specific tasks for compensation.
Harvard Law professors Sharon Block, Benjamin I. Sachs, and Laura M. Weinrib called the University’s reasoning “implausible” in an article for OnLabor. They said it “runs counter to recent history in the law and at Harvard” and noted that a 2024 MIT decision excluding stipended fellows does not automatically justify Harvard’s actions.
Grievance process underway
The union met with Harvard officials on August 4 under Step One of the grievance process. Harvard Director of Labor and Employment Relations Brian Magner denied the grievance, stating, “the University finds no contractual violation has occurred and therefore the grievance is denied.” The union can escalate the grievance to Step Two and, if necessary, seek arbitration, although Harvard may argue the matter is not arbitrable because the contract had expired.
More than half of the affected students are in Harvard Medical School’s Division of Medical Sciences. First- and second-year Ph.D. students funded by the division or NIH grants were heavily impacted. Students in hospital-affiliated labs or fully funded on fellowships were often removed, while those with multiple funding sources sometimes remain partially in the union.
Albert T. Chen, a fourth-year Ph.D. student and HGSU-UAW bargaining committee member, described the removals as arbitrary: “There’s some workers that are doing the same work, in the same labs, in the same program. Some are being carved out, some aren’t.”
Challenges faced by students
Laila B. Norford, a union steward, said the removals worsened challenges already caused by federal funding cuts. “It’s just kicking the scientists while we’re down. We’re already suffering and struggling so much because of what the federal government is doing, but also because of how Harvard’s responding to it. And now what they’re doing at this moment is trying to make it harder for all of us,” she said.
As the grievance process continues, students and union leaders are seeking transparency from Harvard on how it classifies research-based students and their eligibility for union protections. Union representation affects pay, benefits, and workplace rights, making the resolution urgent for the affected students.
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