Harvard faces potential walkouts by dining employees and graduate student workers, with the dining union newly authorized to strike and the graduate union setting Oct. 27 as its deadline for a contract agreement.

The disputes involve separate bargaining units but share a focus on compensation as Harvard reports an endowment of roughly $68 billion. Neither the dining authorization nor the graduate deadline means a walkout has begun.

More than 800 dining employees represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 have worked without a contract since June, according to The Boston Globe. Their authorization vote allows union leaders to call a strike without another membership vote. No dining walkout date was reported.

The dining vote took place Tuesday, Oct. 20, consistent with the Globe’s account of a Tuesday evening vote. The Boston Report instead lists Oct. 21.

The Harvard Graduate Students Union-UAW represents over 4,000 workers across the university’s Cambridge and Allston campuses. It plans to strike Oct. 27 unless bargaining produces an agreement, The Boston Report reported, citing The Harvard Crimson. A previous strike lasted 40 days and concluded in June without a contract.

Pay and benefits remain unresolved

Wages are the primary issue for dining employees. Full-time workers earn slightly above $30 hourly, but their school-year schedules put annual earnings at approximately $45,639, the Globe reported. Part-time employees earn about $18,255 annually.

Local 26 says hourly dining pay at Northeastern is approximately $1 higher than Harvard’s, while MIT’s rate is about $5 higher. Harvard dining employees remain technically employed throughout the year, leaving them unable to collect summer unemployment benefits when dining operations slow, according to the Globe.

Harvard has offered dining employees a cumulative wage increase of 18.7% across six years. The university told the Globe it considered the strike authorization unjustified and remained committed to securing an agreement. Dining workers last struck in 2016.

In the graduate bargaining unit, 88% of members who voted supported strike authorization, The Boston Report reported. Union priorities include higher wages, safeguards for noncitizen employees and an independent system for resolving harassment and discrimination grievances.

According to the union’s account of Oct. 8 negotiations, Harvard increased proposed yearly raises to 3%, from earlier offers of 2.5% and 2.75%. Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton separately described the university’s offer as an initial 6.1% increase upon signing and cumulative raises approaching 16% during the contract, The Boston Report reported. He also cited expanded benefits coverage and emergency assistance.

Finances frame the negotiations

Harvard’s endowment rose by over $11 billion in a year, a 20% increase, according to the Globe. The university also recorded a $100 million operating surplus. The Boston Report noted that finance officials described the unrestricted budget as running a deficit close to $80 million.

Labor pressure extends beyond these two units: non-tenure-track academic employees have set a Nov. 10 strike deadline, according to both outlets.

What’s next: The graduate union and Harvard have one bargaining session scheduled before Oct. 27, and the union plans to seek additional sessions, The Boston Report reported. Dining union leaders can call a walkout under their newly approved authorization.