More than 4,000 graduate student workers at Harvard University—one of the wealthiest institutions in the world—have walked off the job in an indefinite strike, marking the latest escalation in a 14-month bargaining impasse with the university administration. The Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW Local 5118), affiliated with the United Auto Workers, launched the strike on April 21 after a 96% vote in favor of strike authorization among eligible members. The union’s demands center on adequate pay to keep pace with the rising cost of living in Boston, meaningful recourse for harassment and discrimination, protections for non-citizen students, and fair share fees to equitably fund union representation.
The strike comes at a moment of heightened vulnerability for graduate students, who are already grappling with the financial pressures of living in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. While Harvard’s endowment exceeds $53 billion, teaching fellows and research assistants often earn wages that fail to cover basic living expenses. A teaching fellow at Harvard, for example, may earn as little as $26,000 annually, a figure that pales in comparison to the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Boston, which exceeds $3,500 per month. Meanwhile, the university has proposed wage increases that fall short of inflation, leaving many workers facing effective pay cuts.
This strike is not just about wages, however. It is also a fight for workplace protections that have long been absent in academic labor. Graduate students currently have no external recourse for harassment or discrimination claims, leaving the university as the sole arbiter of its own conduct—a system the union argues is inherently biased. The strike follows a pattern of labor organizing in higher education, where institutions like NYU, UPenn, and MIT have already secured stronger contracts for their graduate student workers. Harvard’s resistance to these demands underscores a broader tension between the university’s elite reputation and the precarious conditions of the labor force that sustains it.
The strike’s urgency is compounded by the broader political and institutional context. Harvard has faced scrutiny over its ties to Jeffrey Epstein, with former President Larry Summers implicated in the scandal. Meanwhile, the university’s administration has adopted restrictive campus policies, including the removal of a Black Lives Matter sign that had stood for years, raising concerns about free speech and labor rights. As the strike enters its third week, workers are demanding not only fair compensation but also a commitment to academic freedom and equity.
Why Are Harvard Graduate Students on Strike?
The Harvard Graduate Students Union’s demands reflect long-standing grievances among graduate student workers. According to Sara Speller, a fifth-year PhD student in the Music Department and president of the union, the strike is about “adequate pay and adequate protections for all of our workers.” She emphasizes that the union’s goals are not just for Harvard but should serve as a model for other institutions, ensuring that wins at Harvard become the floor, not the ceiling, for graduate student labor rights.
One of the most pressing issues is pay equity. Harvard’s current compensation structures push graduate students to take on multiple teaching and research roles to make ends meet. Speller, who earns $26,000 as a teaching fellow, juggles three classes to afford rent in Boston. “If teaching fellows were able to feel comfortable knowing they could pay rent, take care of themselves, and protect their dependents, how much better would the learning environment be?” she asks. The union argues that Harvard’s $53 billion endowment should be used to provide living wages, not just elite prestige.
Another critical demand is protections against harassment and discrimination. Currently, graduate students must rely on internal university processes to address such claims, leaving them vulnerable to retaliation. The union has proposed optional grievance processes with third-party arbitrators, a standard practice at comparable institutions like NYU and UPenn. Zoë Feder, a seventh-year PhD student in Biological & Biomedical Sciences, highlights the pervasive issue of harassment in academic spaces. “Our union is the first organization I’ve been part of where we’ve made material progress in protecting people from day-to-day harassment and discrimination,” she says.
For non-citizen students, the stakes are even higher. Jacob Wolf, a third-year PhD student in the Harvard Graduate School of Education, notes that many workers live in fear of deportation due to ICE raids on campuses. “We can’t effectively teach or do research if we’re afraid of ICE coming onto campus and our colleagues being deported,” he states. The union is also pushing for fair share fees, ensuring that all eligible graduate students contribute to union representation, whether they are members or not.
The strike is not just about immediate grievances but also about the future of academic labor. Harvard’s administration has argued that the union’s demands for third-party arbitration would create a “distinct and separate” system, conflicting with federal Title IX regulations. However, the union maintains that their proposals are designed to complement existing processes, not replace them. As Speller puts it, “We want everyone to have access to an arbitration that is neutral and doesn’t rely on the goodwill of Harvard’s internal processes.”
Worker Testimonies: The Human Cost of the Strike
The strike has brought together graduate students from across Harvard’s campuses, creating a sense of solidarity that has sustained them through weeks of picketing and negotiations. For many, the decision to strike was not made lightly. Speller describes the experience as “highly difficult” but also “rewarding,” particularly in seeing colleagues from different departments come together. “It’s attractive to see people from all corners of the university getting to know each other and sharing in camaraderie,” she says.
Feder, who works on the medical school campus, has found the strike particularly meaningful in addressing harassment. “I’ve been part of many discussions and committees about harassment, but our union is the first organization where we’ve made material progress in protecting people,” she explains. Her work in a bacterial genetics lab has given her firsthand experience with the risks of retaliation when reporting misconduct. “When you’re dealing with professors who hold your future career in their hands, the threat of harassment is ever-present,” she says.
Wolf, who teaches courses on designing learning experiences, has seen the strike as an opportunity to challenge misinformation about union organizing. “Harvard has intentionally made it so difficult to organize,” he notes. “People often don’t know if they’re eligible for union membership or if their work is protected. The strike has energized me around our proposals for union security, like fair share fees, which ensure that all eligible students contribute to bargaining and contract enforcement.”
Despite the challenges, the strikers remain committed to their cause. “We’re not doing this simply to cause disruption,” Wolf says. “We’re demonstrating how untenable the working conditions are at Harvard. We can’t teach or do research effectively if we’re worried about ICE raids, retaliation from professors, or not being able to afford basic necessities.” The strike has also highlighted the broader mission of universities, which Wolf argues is not just about producing niche knowledge but also about applying that knowledge to improve lives. “Our work as graduate students is practical and has a real impact on the world,” he emphasizes.
The Broader Context: Labor Struggles in Academia
The Harvard strike is part of a larger movement of graduate student organizing across the U.S. Institutions like NYU, UPenn, and MIT have already secured stronger contracts, including living wages, healthcare, and protections against harassment. Harvard’s resistance to these demands reflects a pattern of union busting in higher education, where institutions often exploit the academic calendar to dissipate labor movements over the summer.
However, the strikers are determined to maintain momentum. “Harvard can always say they’ll wait till the summer, but we can just as easily say wait till the fall,” Speller notes. The union is planning to keep pressure on the administration, including rallying faculty members who may be growing tired of the strike. “We’re holding the line strongly,” she says. “This is a really difficult and powerful time to strike, but we’re not backing down.”
The strike also comes at a time when Harvard is grappling with its own internal contradictions. The university has faced criticism for its ties to Epstein, with former President Larry Summers implicated in the scandal. Meanwhile, Harvard’s administration has adopted restrictive policies, such as the removal of a Black Lives Matter sign that had stood for years. These actions have raised concerns about free speech and labor rights, further fueling the strikers’ demands for accountability.
For Feder, the strike is also about challenging Harvard’s narrative of financial constraint. “They’re constantly telling us they’re too poor to give us better benefits, but they’re selling off parts of the school and taking in donations from people like Jeffrey Epstein,” she says. “It doesn’t line up with the picture they’re painting of their financial situation.” The strikers argue that Harvard’s wealth should be used to support its most vulnerable workers, not just elite faculty and administrators.
What’s Next for the Strike?
As the strike enters its third week, the Harvard Graduate Students Union is preparing for the next phase of negotiations. The next bargaining session is scheduled for May 14, a date that coincides with the finals period and the end of the grading period. This timing presents a challenge for the strikers, who must balance their demands with the academic calendar.
The union is encouraging public support for the strike, including donations to their hardship fund and sharing information about the strike on social media. “Harvard cares most about its image,” Speller says. “The only reason we’re talking about this is because we want to change it.” The strikers are also reaching out to faculty members, urging them to join the union and support the demands.
Looking ahead, the union is planning to maintain pressure on Harvard through the summer and into the fall. “We’re not waiting for the summer to dissipate,” Feder says. “We’re building solidarity with working-class movements across the country and strengthening our partnerships.” Wolf adds that the strike is just one part of a broader labor movement. “What happens with us is important, but it’s also one small fight among many across the country and around the world,” he says.
For now, the strikers remain focused on their demands: adequate pay, protections against harassment, support for non-citizen students, and fair share fees. They are determined to hold Harvard accountable and ensure that their wins become the floor for graduate student labor rights nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- 4,000+ Harvard graduate students are on indefinite strike, demanding fair wages, protections against harassment, and support for non-citizen students.
- The strike follows 14 months of failed negotiations and a 96% vote in favor of strike authorization among union members.
- Workers earn as little as $26,000 annually, far below the cost of living in Boston, where average rent for a one-bedroom apartment exceeds $3,500 per month.
- The union is pushing for third-party arbitration for harassment and discrimination claims, a standard practice at institutions like NYU and UPenn.
- The strike is part of a broader movement of graduate student organizing across the U.S., challenging the precarious conditions of academic labor.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for May 14. In the meantime, the union is encouraging public support through donations, sharing information, and building solidarity with working-class movements. For updates on the strike, visit the Harvard Graduate Students Union website or follow them on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.
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