האגודה הישראלית לחקר יחסי עבודה

according to Tiffany Ten Eyck, their union’s spokesperson.

A strike, though, would not be immediate, said Michael Kramer, the lead negotiator for Local 26, the Boston-based bargaining unit that represents HUDS.

“In two weeks, if we haven’t reached a just agreement, our members are ready to strike,” Kramer said, addressing a crowd of workers gathered in front of the Graduate School of Education’s Gutman library Friday morning to announce the results of yesterday’s vote

A total of 609 ballots were cast in Thursday’s vote, with 591 “yes” votes and 18 “no,” Kramer said. Harvard and its dining workers will bargain today, the last negotiation session before the union’s contract expires on Saturday. An additional bargaining session is scheduled for Sept. 27, at which a federal mediator will be present to facilitate the contract talks.

Workers have demanded that the University extend year-round work to interested employees and set “minimum guaranteed salary” of $35,000 for those workers.

In a statement last week, after the union announced its intent to strike, University spokesperson Tania deLuzuriaga wrote that “Harvard’s dining workers currently receive highly competitive wages that lead the local and national workforce for comparable positions in the foodservice industry.”

Crista Martin, spokesperson for HUDS, wrote in a statement Monday that the University has a “contingency plan to ensure a minimum of disruption for the community” if employees go on strike, but said she would not share specific details until the workers strike.

—check thecrimson.com for more updates.

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