New Agreement Amends Custodial Contract

The University has reached a new agreement with Local 254 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents approximately 300 Harvard custodians. The agreement, which was ratified by the union membership on Sept. 1, will amend the current contract between Local 254 and the University by increasing wages, improving certain benefits, and more clearly defining work units.

The current contract, which was negotiated in 1996, will remain operative through Nov. 15, 1999. During the 1996 negotiations, the University agreed to re-open discussions on wages in July of 1998. The new agreement results from that process and modifies the 1996-99 contract only with respect to certain specific economic and operational items.

Specifically, the 1998 amendments provide increases to keep wage rates competitive with the custodial contractor rates in the greater Boston area. Further, the amendments include the addition of overtime rates for work on holidays and improved vacation accrual for employees with long University service, and provides an option, under certain circumstances, to carry over and/or receive pay for unused vacation. In order to address operational necessities at the University, the amendments more clearly define the work units for the custodians who are part of the University's Facilities Maintenance Operations.

The amendments became effective upon ratification, and certain economic terms are retroactive to July 1.