*TL;DR: apply for benefit funds <https://harvardgradunion.org/benefits/> by
May 9th and sign the petition
<https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/fair-raises-for-student-workers-at-harv…>
for a raise to $49k!*
Good morning historians,
In case you don't know me, hi, my name is Ashley! I'm a G6 in the
department and the current primary chair of the HGSU Finance and Benefits
Committee. I wanted to let everyone know that the HGSU Healthcare, Dental,
and Childcare Funds are open and accepting applications until *May 9th*. If
you held a salaried appointment at any time this semester or this year, you
are eligible to apply for all of these funds. Feel free to reach out to
hgsu.benefits(a)gmail.com at any time with questions. The most important
thing is to *submit* your application by the deadline. Only submitted
applications will be processed.
Also, HGSU has just launched a campaign demanding that we get a real raise
to match the cost of living in greater Boston—$49k/year according to
livingwage.mit.edu. Harvard just accepted a $300 million donation from
billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin; meanwhile, they are leveraging
the company-town business model to raise rents in student housing by 6% and
instructing underpaid graduate students to apply for food stamps, all while
workers have suffered under the highest inflation rates in over 40 years
and staggering rent increases by private landlords. Harvard is also
refusing to recognize research from Human Evolutionary Biology (HEB)
students as labor—they argue that their stipends are "financial aid" rather
than compensation (unlike all other student workers). Thus, HEB students
have been denied fair wages, contract-provided benefits, and workplace
protections.
I know that few, if any, of us will actually see a salary from Harvard as
high as those earned by salaried STEM RAs because we usually teach for
wages rather than conduct research in that capacity. However, I believe it
is still in the best interests of all History students to support this
campaign. A rising tide lifts all boats! As student workers at Harvard, we
have to fight for a living wage and union protections for everyone—you can
help by signing this petition
<https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/fair-raises-for-student-workers-at-harv…>
and coming to our living wage rally on May 10th at 12 p.m. in Harvard
Yard (RSVP
here <https://forms.gle/HAFJXEfkN85w8yXb9>).
Best,
Ashley Gonik
