MIT Graduate Workers and Facilities Staff Authorize Strikes; Union Says 2.2% Offer Is 'Ridiculous'
More than 92 percent of 1,708 voting members of UE Local 256 authorized a strike. SEIU 32BJ, representing about 600 facilities workers, says an overwhelming majority did too. MIT cites 'uncertain' federal funding.
Graduate student workers and facilities workers at MIT are preparing for a possible joint strike after both unions voted to authorize one, Cambridge Day reported.
Of United Electrical Workers Local 256-MIT Graduate Student Union's 1,708 voting members, more than 92 percent voted to authorize a strike, the union announced last Thursday. A representative of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ said an overwhelming majority of its members voted to authorize but did not give numbers. Local 256 represents more than 3,000 graduate students; 32BJ represents about 600 MIT facilities workers. Both have bargained since May without an agreement.
Both unions want lower health care premiums, higher wages and protections for immigrant workers. Local 256 has made small progress on articles such as grievance procedures and safety protocols. MIT has offered 32BJ members a one-year contract with a 2.2 percent raise. Kevin Brown, the union's executive vice president and New England director, called that offer ridiculous. "While we understand that MIT is going through some serious issues with the federal government, you can't take it out on the blue-collar workers," he said. "Working class people are tired of taking it on the chin." Members have twice marched to President Sally Kornbluth's office with petitions.
Daniel Shen, Local 256's campus chief steward, said a strike could be avoided with a better package including wage increases, improved leave and a fair-share agreement. He pointed to MIT's $29.2 billion endowment and to Kornbluth's 12 percent salary increase from 2024 to 2025. "These payouts to top executives show that MIT has the resources to fund its workforce, it's just a question of priorities," he said.
MIT said in a statement that "the Institute has had to adopt a careful stance on budgeting and hiring given the uncertain outlook for federal funding and policy," and that its bargaining team "strives to reach agreement on contracts that are fair."
Local 256 was scheduled for its 16th bargaining session Wednesday, ahead of a "last-chance practice picket" Thursday. No strike date has been set.
