Campaign to get Justice for Nassim, Paul and Mamadou Continues -- Workers and Students Picket on 8/26/13

As first year students move in across the Harvard campus, activists in the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW), and supporters from the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), the Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM),  and the community, gather to fight union-busting, discriminatory layoffs and racism in the workplace. Nassim, an immigrant from Algeria and employee of HUMS (Harvard University Mail Services), became a union rep this year for the first time this year, to swiftly face a demotion of three salary grades by a manager who told him his English isn't good enough to be a Coordinator (the position he's held for 9 years!). Paul's position was made "essential" in October 2012 (meaning it was so vital he had to report for work during weather emergencies). He then had surgery and had to take a disability leave. He was laid off from his newly "essential" position in Harvard's Science Center one month after returning from his approved leave. Management's excuse is that now there's suddenly not enough work to justify maintaining the position. Paul's duties were distributed to other staff, and his co-workers think he faced a discriminatory termination simply because he had to take time off for surgery. Mamadou has long worked in HUMS "less than half-time" employee. He gets no paid time off and just $11.50/hr for a workweek of just 17 hours. The HUCTW contract says Mamadou's position should have been a union job five years ago, but Harvard's representatives say the university (which has a $32 billion endowment) isn't in a position to do anything for Mamadou. The campaign to get justice for Nassim, Paul and Mamadou will continue during the Fall semester and for as long as necessary.

Article from the Harvard Crimson about the 7/19/13 Picket Supporting Mamadou, Paul, and Nassim

Protesters Rally in Support of Mailroom Coordinator, Two Others

University spokesperson declines to comment on worker’s, protesters’ allegations

By Madeline R. Conway, CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

 

Madeline R. Conway

Protesters march late Friday afternoon outside of Holyoke Center, chanting in support of University workers. The group rallied in protest of what they claimed was discrimination and retaliation against union involvement on the part of the University.

A group of approximately 15 University workers, student labor activists, and union representatives gathered outside Holyoke Center late Friday afternoon to protest what they claimed were instances of discrimination against employees and retaliation against union activism by Harvard.

Carrying signs and marching in a circle, protesters chanted in support of three workers, including Nassim Kerkache, who currently serves as coordinator of Harvard Yard Mail Center. In a phone interview before the rally, Kerkache said he was informed at the start of this month by management that there was no longer a need for a coordinator for the mail center. He said he was given the choice of accepting either an effective salary grade demotion or a layoff.

Kerkache, who said he has served in his current post for about nine years, alleged that management’s actions were motivated in part by racism and as retaliation against his involvement with the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers. Kerkache serves as a local representative in the union.

Kerkache, who first moved to the United States from Algeria in 1994, claimed that his manager had previously made comments criticizing his English skills, education, and manners, which he said he found offensive.
When asked about Kerkache’s allegations, University spokesperson Kevin Galvin declined to comment, saying he would not speak regarding personnel matters. Kerkache’s manager did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Kerkache said that he was originally told that to stay employed by the University he would have to take a position three salary grades lower than his current role. According to union representative Geoff Carens, Harvard University Mail Services has since offered to move Kerkache to a position that is one salary grade, rather than three, below his current position.
Still, Carens, who helped lead the protest outside Holyoke Friday, said in an interview after the demonstration that he and Kerkache would “definitely” consider taking legal action if Kerkache is not allowed to stay at his current salary grade. Carens said he is currently waiting to hear back from a Harvard human resources representative in the midst of correspondence about Kerkache’s case.
For his part, Kerkache said the situation was a “shock” to him. “I love my job. I’ve been here for a long time,” he said.
Demonstrators also spoke out Friday against what they described as the unfair treatment of two other workers employed by the University. They supported Harvard University Mail Services employee Mamadou Ndiaye, who protesters alleged has unfairly been given fewer work hours than he wants, and Paul J. Casey, a maintenance technician who protesters claimed has been laid off because he took a disability leave. Galvin declined to comment on Ndiaye and Casey’s cases as well.

—Staff writer Madeline R. Conway can be reached at mconway@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @MadelineRConway.

Images from blazing 100-degree July 19 Protest in Support of Nassim, Mamadou and Paul

Nassim became a union rep this year after 19 years at Harvard. On July 19 he was told he would have to accept a demotion of three salary grades, or be laid off, by a manager who told him his English isn't good enough to be a Coordinator (the postion he's held for 9 years!). Mamadou is being held to a 17 hr/wk, $11.50/hr "less than half-time" position, which he's endured for five years, even though the HUCTW contract says the use of such positions by management is supposed to be "exceptional and strictly limited." Paul, who has 31 years' experience, had his position made "essential" in October, had surgery in January, and returned from a disability leave in March only to be laid off in April, supposedly because there's not enough work in his newly "essential" position. Co-workers believe he was laid off because management was afraid he'd need to take more time off from work.

Flyer for July 19 action supporting Harvard employees Nassim, Paul and Mamadou, and protesting union-busting, layoffs and discrimination.

Images from 5/31/13 Protest at Harvard's Commencement Exercises: HUCTW members & allies protest racist & discriminatory layoffs at the Science Center and University Financial Services (UFS)

Flyer for 5/31 Protest Against Racist & Discriminatory Layoffs @ Harvard's Commencement

Images from 4/23/13 Picket Against Racist Layoffs in University Financial Services, Supported by No Layoffs Campaign, Student Labor Action Movement, IWW, Common Struggle, Harvard Socialists, SEIU