Photo: MIT workers represented by SEIU 32BJ on the picket line. Credit — Liberation
On August 16, MIT workers represented by SEIU 32BJ, who have been stonewalled in contract negotiations, marched on the boss and delivered a petition to demand more. Over 600 custodial, grounds, athletics, mail services, and MIT medical workers have extended their contract past the July 1 expiration date after negotiations stalled. After several rounds of bargaining, the MIT administration has only offered the workers a meager 1.5% raise and has proposed the implementation of a discriminatory drug and alcohol testing policy.
Neil Cunningham, chief steward, Executive Board member, and a 33-year carpenter at MIT told Liberation News some of the issues workers are facing on a daily basis, “Confusion, mismanagement, lack of communication. We get pounced on on a daily basis for if you take a break too long … bought a drill bit when you shouldn’t have for $2.”
When asked about negotiations, Cunningham shared, “What they’re doing is they’re holding what they did for us for Covid, they’re holding that over our heads … We came into the unknown every day. This thing could have been 1000 times worse where we could’ve been told ‘hey you got a catastrophic illness now because you came in every day.’ Luckily that didn’t happen, but we didn’t know. We were working under the unknown the whole time but we came in and did our job and kept the place running.”
One of the biggest sticking points for 32BJ workers has been the 1.5% raise offer. Their petition speaks to the current economic conditions the workers are facing. Cunningham explained why 1.5% is not enough, “Because of how bad inflation is and what people are paying for food, gas, and everything else. Today I was just doing a job at medical and the nurse was in the other room. I could just hear her, ‘my electric bill was $415 dollars. I can’t believe it.’ And that’s what everyone’s talking about, everything’s up.”
The alcohol and drug testing policy has been another example of disrespect from the MIT administration. Said Cunningham, “I’m a vocal guy, I’m the lead guy. I get into debates, I get into semi-arguments, I get into arguments with management. At 62 years old, I’m not gonna have them send me for a drug test because I might be vocal one day. No way … And that is not out of the realm of what could happen here. You got people who aren’t trained to make these judgments on you … And the worst part right now is … when you get tested, if you get positive, you get two weeks off suspended. Its a big hit. And if you test positive a second time you’re gone.”
For community members who want to support workers with 32BJ, Cunningham encourages them to come out and march the next time they hold an action. “Whatever we get good, other people get good. Just stand up, talk with us about it and stand behind us.”
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