1984–1985 Yale strike

Strike by clerical workers at Yale University in 1984–85 The 1984–1985 Yale strike was a strike by clerical workers at Yale University in the United States, from September 1984 to January 1985.1 December 1984 Yale, As Strikers Return, Weighs the Damage to an Intellectual Community https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/01/nyregion/yale-as-strikers-return-weighs-the-damage-to-an-intellectual-community.html Gargan Edward A. 10 October 2024 The New York Times7 October 1984 Churches Play Part in Yales Strike https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/07/nyregion/churches-play-part-in-yale-strike.html Bass Paul 11 October 2024 The New York Timeshttp://www.jstor.org/stable/3180113 Women Workers and the Yale Strike Ladd-Taylor, Molly 1985 Feminist Studies 11 3 465–490 10.2307/3180113 3180113 2027/spo.0499697.0011.303 free subscriptionhttps://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-22195-0_7 10.1007/978-1-349-22195-0_7 'We Can't Eat Prestige': The Yale University Workers' Campaign for Comparable Worth Equal Value/Comparable Worth in the UK and the USA 1992 Kautzer Kathleen 137–164 978-0-333-47507-2 Background Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. One of the oldest universities in the United States, it has one of the largest university endowments in the world, has one of the largest academic libraries in the United States, and has been affiliated with a number of Nobel laureates in its history. Clerical work is a form of white-collar work centered on record keeping. As part of their duties, clerical workers will often take and file records, staff service counters and phones, and perform related administrative tasks. Clerical workers can include secretaries, laboratory technicians, and hospital aides. At Yale University in 1984, 82% of the clerical workers were women, earning an average of $13,473 annually. The Yale clerical workers were organised into the Federation of Hospital and University Employees Local 34. History Strike On 27 September 1984, the clerical workers went on strike. The aims of the strike was a three-year contract that raises worth 38% of and a guarantee of no layoffs.27 September 1984 Yake's Clerical Workers Go On Strike https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/27/nyregion/yale-s-clerical-workers-go-on-strike.html 10 October 2024 The New York Times The union also accused the university of discriminating against women in its pay scale.6 November 1984 Yale Strikers Make Do in 6th Week https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/06/nyregion/yale-strikers-make-do-in-6th-week.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times Due to the strike, up to 40% of classes at the university had to be held off campus, after professors refused to cross the picket line. These classes were held in other buildings in the city, including private houses, churches, community centres, and the York Square Cinema. The university library reduced its opening hours. A significant number of blue collar workers at the university also refused to cross the picket line, leading to the university's dining halls being shut down and waste collection being impacted.3 November 1984 Yale University President A. Bartlett Giamatti walked from his... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/03/Yale-University-President-A-Bartlett-Giamatti-walked-from-his/4475468306000/ Healion James V. 10 October 2024 UPI The university reimbursed students $72.80 each week for the price of food. University sporting events, on the other hand, were largely unaffected.4 November 1984 Yale Strike Touches Many Chords in City https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/04/nyregion/yale-strike-touches-many-chords-in-city.html Bass Paul 10 October 2024 The New York Times A significant demonstration was held on 6 October, blocking the road in front of the house of Bart Giamatti, the Yale president. The demonstration was broken up by police, who arrested 190 demonstrators on misdemeanor charges.6 October 1984 The Region; 190 Yale Strikers Charged in Protest https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/06/nyregion/the-region-190-yale-strikers-charged-in-protest.html 10 October 2024 The New York Times On 27 October, another significant demonstration was held in front of Woodbridge Hall, including addresses from civil rights activists Bayard Rustin and Ralph Abernathy. After having blocked the street in front of the Hall for an hour, police moved to break up the demonstration, arresting 430 demonstrators on charges of disorderly conduct.27 October 1984 Police Arrest 430 at Yale Protest in Support of Striking Employees https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/27/nyregion/police-arrest-430-at-yale-protest-in-support-of-striking-employees.html 9 October 2024 The New York Times On 10 October, the workers rejected an offer containing a 24% pay raise.10 October 1984 The Region; New Offer by Yale Rejected by Union https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/10/nyregion/the-region-new-offer-by-yale-rejected-by-union.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times On 25 October, the university rejected an offer to have a panel of three professors, one chosen by each side and one jointly chosen, arbitrate a contract.25 October 1984 The Region; Union Proposal Rejected at Yale https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/25/nyregion/the-region-union-proposal-rejected-at-yale.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times On 13 November, the university and the workers returned to the negotiating table for the first since 9 October.13 November 1984 The Region; Strike Bargaining Resumes at Yale https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/13/nyregion/the-region-strike-bargaining-resumes-at-yale.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times Student support for the strike Despite the impact on students, and mixed feelings about the strike among the student community, students at Yale staged a number of actions in support of the striking clerical workers.4 October 1984 Yale Student Body Majors in Survival as Strike Goes On https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/04/nyregion/yale-student-body-majors-in-survival-as-strike-goes-on.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times31 October 1984 Strike Makes Lefe of the Mind Uneasy at Yale https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/31/opinion/l-strike-makes-life-of-the-mind-uneasy-at-yale-047635.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times On 29 September, students held a demonstration in support of the striking clerical workers, presenting a petition with the signatures of 4700 students calling for an arbitrated settlement.29 September 1984 The Region; Yale Student Rally Supports Strikers https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/29/nyregion/the-region-yale-student-rally-supports-strikers.html 11 October 2024 The New York Timeshttps://ydnhistorical.library.yale.edu/?a=d&d=YDN19841022-01.2.12&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------false The Yale Daily News 22 October 1984 – Yale Daily News Historical Archive On 24 October, 141 students would participate in a sit-in at the university library, refusing to leave at closing time, the largest of the three library sit-ins that had been held to that point. The sit-in was ended after university secretary John Wilkinson threatened to suspend the students on the spot.26 October 1984 Walkout at Yale Draws Lawsuit by 102 Students https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/26/nyregion/walkout-at-yale-draws-lawsuit-by-102-students.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times On 15 January, 31 students would participate in a sit-in of the university president's office. The sit-in ended after the president threatened to suspend the protestors.15 January 1985 Students Stage Sit-In At Yale Chief's Office https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/15/nyregion/students-stage-sit-in-atyale-chief-soffice.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times 102 students would also file a class-action lawsuit against the university at the New Haven Superior Court, claiming that students suffered "on account of failure to deliver educational, custodial and dining hall services" and that the university administration had "destroyed the atmosphere of collegiality and intellectual inquiry." In November, 150 students would take part in a tuition strike, led by law student Andy Tomback, refusing to pay the winter term tuition fees until the university agreed on a deal with the striking workers.11 December 1984 The Region; Protesters at Yale Withhold Tuition https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/11/nyregion/the-region-protesters-at-yale-withhold-tuition.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times December pause On 29 November, the striking workers voted 800 to 250 to temporarily return to work during December, ahead of the Christmas holiday season, and to resume the strike in January. The striking workers also voted 959 to 79 to reject a new offer from the university of a 25,45% pay raise.30 November 1984 Yale Strikers Vote to Return to Work https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/30/nyregion/yale-strikers-vote-to-return-to-work.html 10 October 2024 The New York Times30 November 1984 Yale strike to end, briefly https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/30/Yale-strike-to-end-briefly/9595470638800/ Healion James 10 October 2024 UPI John Wilhelm, a negotiator for the union, justified the pause in the strike by pointing to the absence of students over the holidays, meaning that the workers would only return during a very slow working period and would strike again once the pace picked up as students returned.9 December 1984 Yale Strike Also Takes A Break https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/09/nyregion/yale-strike-also-takes-a-reak.html Bass Paul 10 October 2024 The New York Times On 8 January 1985, the university and the striking workers met at the negotiating table for the first time in the new year.8 January 1985 Negotiators for Yale University and the union representing 1,500... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/01/08/Negotiators-for-Yale-University-and-the-union-representing-1500/7605474008400/ 10 October 2024 UPI As the union's deadline of 18 January to resume the strike approached, no agreement had been reached.17 January 1985 'Wage struggle' or 'fight for equality,' Yale–union bout goes on https://www.csmonitor.com/1985/0117/ayale.html Osterlund Peter 10 October 2024 CS Monitor Resolution On 18 January, the union's deadline to resume the strike, the union as well as the blue collar union voted to extend the deadline to 26 January.19 January 1985 Union at Yale Delays Deadline for a Strike https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/19/nyregion/union-at-yale-delays-deadline-for-a-strike.html 10 October 2024 The New York Times Following a night of around-the-clock negotiations, a preliminary agreement was reached in the early hours of 19 January.19 January 1985 A tentative agreement was reached Saturday between Yale University... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/01/19/A-tentative-agreement-was-reached-Saturday-between-Yale-University/6712474958800/ Healion James V. 10 October 2024 UPI On 22 January, the striking workers voted 890 to 2 to accept the agreement, which included an average raise of 35%, bringing the average wage to around $18,000.23 January 1985 Office Workers at Yale Accept Contract, 890–2 https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/23/nyregion/office-workers-at-yale-accept-contract-890-2.html Serrin William 11 October 2024 The New York Times The contract also contained provisions allowing women in low-paying roles to advance up the pay scale faster, as well as a new dental plan, and an end to penalties for women who took maternity leave.27 January 1985 The Nation : Accord Averts Yale Strike https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-27-mn-10079-story.html 10 October 2024 The Los Angeles Times27 January 1985 Yale and Union Reach Accord https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/27/nyregion/yale-and-union-reach-accord.html Blair William G. 10 October 2024 The New York Times27 January 1985 'Time of Healing' at Yale https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/27/nyregion/time-of-healing-at-yale.html Bass Paul 11 October 2024 The New York Times Reactions Contemporary reactions Yale president Bart Giamatti described the strike as "a fundamentally economic dispute in a nonprofit organization," saying that it "involves a set of claimants against a finite set of resources. And there's a whole series of judgments about whether or not one can simply compromise or divert resources from everyone else – financial aid policies, tuition levels which are rational, salaries of faculty and staff, deferred maintenance, set-up costs for labs." Political science professor James C. Scott criticised Giamatti's claims, saying that it "most certainly serves to divide us and set us at one another's throats."9 December 1984 For Some Empoyees, Yale is a College of Hard Knocks https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/09/weekinreview/for-some-employees-yale-is-a-college-of-hard-knocks.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times On 12 October, Giamatti told The New York Times that Yale would not "be able to do things that are absolutely contrary to our other principles or to compromise all our other obligations" and that "the notion that somehow these fine people's lot is going to be made better the longer they stay out I think is just tragic." In the interview, Giamatti also stated that the strike had "become very personalized" and that he had become "the personification of evil. There has been a fair amount of abuse and vilification."12 October 1984 Yale Chief Discusses Issues in Strike https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/12/nyregion/yale-chief-discusses-issues-in-strike.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO president, stated that "the issue in this strike is fairness" and that a successful strike "will be felt in work places throughout this land."11 October 1984 Yale Strike is Watched by Unions Across the U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/11/nyregion/yale-strike-is-watched-by-unions-across-the-us.html Serrin William 10 October 2024 The New York Times Five Connecticut chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) urged the university "to reconsider its bargaining position and return to the table with new proposals."9 October 1984 The Region; 5 Faculty Groups Back Yale Strikers https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/09/nyregion/the-region-5-faculty-groups-back-yale-strikers.html 11 October 2024 The New York Times14 October 1984 Professors' Group Back Yale Strikers https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/14/nyregion/profesors-group-backs-yale-strikers.html Bass Paul 11 October 2024 The New York Times William Serrin of The New York Times described the union's strike as "highly imaginative," saying that it used unconventional tactics, that it "became highly skilled at winning press attention," and that it "used Yale's reputation as an essentially liberal institution, dedicated to human values, against the university, saying the university should bargain and negotiate a contract."24 January 1985 Labor Pact at Yale https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/24/nyregion/labor-pact-at-yale.html Serrin William 10 October 2024 The New York Times The Yale Workers' Club of the Communist Party USA stated that the strike "reaffirms the value of class-struggle trade unionism, unity on an industrial basis, organizing the unorganized (including women and clerical workers) and proves the old adage that the best defense is a good offense."23 September 2014 Thirty years later: Yale strike victory remembered http://www.politicalaffairs.net/thirty-years-later-yale-strike-victory-remembered/ 10 October 2024 Political Affairs Historical assessments Yale historian Michael Denning has described the strike as "an emblem of a nationwide self-organization of low-paid "service" workers, mainly women, disproportionally African-Americans, Latinos and immigrants," along with the Justice for Janitors movement.15 February 2017 Denning: Living labor history https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/02/15/denning-living-labor-history/ Denning Michael 10 October 2024 The Yale Daily News Josh Eidelson of the Yale Daily News wrote that winning the strike "meant defying entrenched perceptions about men, women and work."28 January 2005 With GESO, a little history is instructive https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2005/01/28/with-geso-a-little-history-is-instructive/ Eidalson Josh 10 October 2024 The Yale Daily News Jacob Remes of New York University has described the strike as an early example of workers losing the "ability to win by strikes alone" and that the tactics developed by the striking clerical workers "today seem like a blueprint for the labor movement."9 April 2019 Labor Organizing in Higher Ed: Lessons from the 1984–85 Yale Strike https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/labor-organizing-in-higher-ed-lessons-from-the-198 Remes Jacob 9 October 2024 History News Network Aftermath In 1985, Julie Hovey and Gary Lavorgna, two Yale employees who met on the picket lines, later married.4 February 1985 A bitter strike that devastated Yale University had a... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/02/04/A-bitter-strike-that-devastated-Yale-University-had-a/6091476341200/ 10 October 2024 UPI In 2022, Amelia Prostano, who had worked as a clerical worker at Yale for forty years, wrote for the Yale Daily News that the strike "changed my life, and that union made me who I am," saying that when she retired, she "was able to retire comfortably with a good pension and excellent healthcare, two major benefits my union won through years of hard work and intense negotiations with Yale."17 November 2022 Prostano: A Union Yes vote changed my life https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/11/17/prostano-a-union-yes-vote-changed-my-life/ Prostano Amelia 10 October 2024 The Yale Daily News The next strike by clerical workers at Yale would take place in February 1996.8 February 1996 Yale Clerical Workers Strike as Talks Stall https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/08/nyregion/yale-clerical-workers-strike-as-talks-stall.html Honan William H. 10 October 2024 The New York Times Another strike would occur in 2003.9 September 2003 Strike harkens memories of 1984 walkout https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2003/09/09/strike-harkens-memories-of-1984-walkout/ Lotstein Josh 10 October 2024 The Yale Daily News On 25 September 2014, a demonstration was held in front of the Sterling Memorial Library to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the strike.25 September 2014 Unions demonstrate on Cross Campus https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2014/09/25/despite-tough-times-unions-put-on-smiles/ Lloyd-Thomas Matthew 10 October 2024 The Yale Daily News In popular culture In 1995, a book recounting the strike titled On Strike for Respect: The Clerical and Technical Workers' Strike at Yale University, 1984–85 was written by Toni Gilpin, Gary Isaac, Dan Letwin, and Jack McKivigan.https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p064548 UI Press | Toni Gilpin, Gary Isaac, Dan Letwin, and Jack McKivigan | on Strike for Respect References Category:1985 labor disputes and strikes Category:1984 labor disputes and strikes Category:History of Yale University Category:Education labor disputes in the United States Category:1984 in Connecticut Category:1985 in Connecticut