MIT Facilities workers launch petition amidst ongoing contract negotiations
Priorities include health insurance, higher wages, and job protections
Levy Le–The Tech
Levy Le–The Tech
Levy Le–The Tech
MIT facilities workers marched to President Sally Kornbluth’s office on Sept. 29 to deliver a petition signed by nearly 1,000 faculty, alumni, staff, and graduate students.
This was the second petition delivered (the first on July 21) and the latest act in over four months of negotiations to obtain contract provisions for health insurance, higher wages, job protections for immigrant workers, and access to union funds. If the latest petition remains unsuccessful, the union will conduct a strike authorization vote on Oct. 27.
Branch 32BJ, District 615, of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) encompasses MIT’s custodians, mechanics, electricians, and other facilities workers. Members have been working without a contract since the prior expired on June 30. In July, 32BJ rejected the administration’s offer of 50-cent hourly raises and a three-year pay freeze for staff earning more than $85,000.
Despite the current tension, administrators maintain their commitment to these negotiations. “MIT is committed to retaining and attracting talent in all positions serving the Institute community, and that commitment extends to offering competitive compensation and benefits to our employees,” Kimberly Allen, Executive Director of Media Relations and Crisis Communications, said on behalf of the Department of Labor Relations.
As stagnant bargaining has continued through the summer, members of the MIT community have joined 32BJ’s efforts to show support for the union. Jared Lavarra ’28, an undergraduate who has supported 32BJ throughout the summer and into the academic year, voiced his reasons for standing behind the union.
“It feels good to stand in solidarity with people you care about because these are people that are showing up every day,” Lavarra said.
Many workers feel frustrated with the lack of progress so far, especially given that the union and administration haven’t met since the 32BJ’s counter to the rejected July offer. Electrician Jim Bradford said, “It’s been discouraging as far as what they brought to the table, trying to take issues and benefits away from us, and then really offering us no living wage increase that is acceptable in my opinion.”
Specifically, workers remain frustrated with the lack of benefits such as health insurance. Maria Petrosillo, a custodial services foreman, said, “At the end of the week, with all the deductions, people really [aren’t] making ends meet with everything that’s going high. I mean, people are forced to work two jobs.”
As MIT and its workers navigate the wake of a hiring freeze in early 2025, current open positions don’t make up for the past year’s personnel loss. Petrosillo estimated over a third of positions on their team still stand unfilled.
“The Institute has had to adopt a careful stance on budgeting and hiring given the uncertain outlook for federal funding and policy,” Allen said. This statement comes at a time MIT is facing increased endowment taxes and fewer federal grants.
“Even in such an environment, our bargaining team strives to reach agreement on contracts that are fair and recognize everyone’s contributions while reflecting the reality of the Institute’s financial situation,” she added.
For the moment, the bargaining process continues. “There was some movement in talks we held immediately after our rally in July, but it was still far from enough movement, so we expect the coming weeks to be full of activity,” Franklin Soults, 32BJ SEIU Regional Communications Manager, said.
32BJ aims to negotiate the best contract possible to support their essential work. “We make ourselves available for emergencies. We’re covering shifts left and right, and just trying to keep the place going,” Bradford said. “We’re doing it for the students. Everything’s done for the students.”
Petrosillo echoed this sentiment. “We’re the ones that make MIT work,” she said. “We’re working through the night and making sure the Institute’s ready for the next morning.”