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The Harvard University Security, Parking and Museum Guards Union represents all Harvard University security employees. “The University recognizes the Union as the exclusive representative … for … hourly paid … Guard[s], Museum Attendant[s], Central Station Monitor[s], Parking Service Monitor[s].” Harvard Univ. & HUSPMGU, Agreement (1999; 2003; 2006).
The average HUSPMGU member was getting paid $14.65 an hour (wages + benefits) in 2003, $25.21 an hour in 2009 — an average annual increase of 10 percent, putting us in the lead among Harvard’s three service unions.
HUSPMGU (sometimes pronounced \'huspmªgoo\) was founded by Harvard’s own workers in 1996, as an independent (nonaffiliated) union. Security workers here were formerly represented by the custodians union, Service Employees Intl. Union–Local 254, now known as Local 615. See Harvard Univ. Labor Relations, Campus Unions—HUSPMGU.
Management vigorously resisted our campaign to unite the university’s security workers into a single bargaining unit, but in 1996 we won a representation election held by the National Labor Relations Board. The board determined that HUSPMGU had the support of a majority of the workers in the unit, so we qualified to represent those workers. We negotiated our first contract in July 1999, after three years of bargaining.
We eventually affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. As of Jan. 1, 2010, we’ve gone independent again; and we’ve brought back the negotiator who got us through a stressful organizing effort against determined, talented, and resourceful adversaries — labor-relations lawyer Randy Nash. |
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Soon after Harvard and HUSPMGU reached agreement in 1999, we established constructive relationships with management at Art Museums and at Parking Services. A typical grievance resolution: Art Museums agreed to restore a past practice of letting attendants who worked in non–air-conditioned buildings wear lightweight cotton summer uniforms.
Yet management at Police & Security categorically refused to discuss any of our members’ complaints. (University management’s view of us is presented in Harvard Committee on Employment & Contracting Policies, Final Report.) In 2003 Labor Relations informed us that our members had more unresolved grievances outstanding than all other Harvard employees combined!
HUSPMGU, Advertisement, Why Harvard Should Keep the “Union Label” on Its Security Guards, Harv. Crimson, July 11, 2003, http://www.thecrimson.com/.
Before July 1999, each House Master decided whether the College would assign the House a union-represented Harvard University Security Guard or a security officer employed by an contract agency. Masters invariably chose union guards. And they expected that guards would dedicate their careers to serving the residents of their House.
Students frequently acknowledged the guards’ contributions to resolving problems and maintaining House spirit. “The Upperclass Houses: Kirkland House. … Perhaps the glue of the house community is security guard Bob Butler, a living encyclopedia of everything from ’60s pop … to birthdays.… And don’t let Bob’s gruff demeanor fool you—he cares a lot more than he lets on.” Harvard Student Agencies, Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard 10 (25th ed. 2004).
But three weeks before the first contract ended, management proposed that the Harvard University Security Guard operation be shut down. All security-guard services would be provided by contract vendors. Any security guard who wanted to stay would have to quit the union.
At Mather House, twelve staff members responsible for residents’ security—masters, tutors, superintendents, and proctors—sent us letters of support.
The University did agree that our union retains the right to represent all of Harvard’s own security employees: museum attendants, parking service monitors, and security guards. When management returns to its traditional policy of hiring Harvard University Security Guards, the workers who fill those positions will be represented by HUSPMGU.
1999–2003 contract 2003 bargaining impasse 2003–2006 contract 2006–2010 contract
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