For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
Statement by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in Support of the Harvard Living Wage Campaign
On behalf of the 1.3 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, I would like to congratulate all of the student members of the Harvard Living Wage Campaign for your dedication and inspiration.
America's promise is that anyone willing to work hard can create a better life for their family. Yet the security, food service, custodial, and other workers at Harvard and thousands of other worksites across the country toil long hours for salaries that are grossly inadequate to meet their families' basic needs.
That's why your campaign is an example of student activism at its finest. Anyone who believes that today's young people are only interested in material gain should look to your example of fighting for the welfare of those who make your lives better but are unable to earn a decent living themselves.
For decades, our members have fought similar struggles for just wages and benefits. We have also strongly opposed the outsourcing of jobs of the kind practiced by the Harvard administration that leads to poverty-level wages with little or no benefits and with no improvements in service. It gives me special pride to point out that one of your members, Daniel DiMaggio, is the son of an AFSCME member from New York who has joined us in this ongoing battle.
Again, we stand behind you in your noble efforts and wish you the best of luck in convincing the administration of your hallowed institution to provide just wages and benefits for its hard-working employees.
