Yale unions approve contract, return to work Monday

[MaineDem]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) Two Yale University labor unions approved new contracts Friday by near-unanimous votes, ending a three-week strike that disrupted the campus and led to more than 200 arrests.

Members of Locals 34 and 35 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union planned to return to work Monday.

''They were very pleased, very happy,'' said Robert Proto, president of Local 35. ''It's the best contract we've gotten in my 30 years here.''

The eight-year contract includes raises of between 3 percent and 5 percent, plus large pension increases, job security and other benefits for 4,000 workers.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/262/region/Yale_unions_approve_contract_r:.shtml

These contracts all seem to be long-term lately. Verizon, UAW, now Yale, all have 4-8 year contracts.

[lanlady]

1. great news

My father was one of the strikers. He feels very, very lucky to work at Yale because of the benefits but everyone has to stand up for their rights. It's a crying shame that so few Americans have these sorts of protections.

[KoKo]

2. I worked at Yale U. many years ago: in Engineering & Applied Science and

then as Editorial Assistant for Medical Journal in Dept. of Epidemiology......and this was 25 years ago and we were trying to organize a Union to protect "wives of Yale Graduate Students" who were working their for "non-competitive wages." We did everything....started a newsletter that I wrote for.....and organized actions....but we were always stopped because we needed our jobs....to support our spouses....

I'm glad to see this.....but it's so long in coming......and one wonders.....why so long..........:-(