[act-ma] THU 12/1 5 p.m. DEFEND PARTIALLY-DISABLED WORKER TARGETED BY HARVARD!!

[Geoff Carens]

Dear All,

Marvin Byrd has worked in Harvard’s Science Center mail room since 1995. He
was hired first as a “casual” worker, and then into a union position in
2008. Partially-disabled, Marvin wears foot orthotics and custom-made
shoes; he has always been reliable, responsible and dependable in his job.
When he applied for a better-paid position in 2007 he was passed over,
despite being an internal candidate. He has lived on an income derived from
29 hours a week, since being hired into a Mail Clerk I position in the
lowest salary grade in the union.

This year management made Marvin pick from three harsh choices: a cut to 25
hours spread over six work days, an even-worse cut to 20 hours over a 5-day
week, or losing his job completely. Feeling he had little choice,
Marvinpicked the 25-hour schedule, which meant diminished pay and
getting just
one day off from work. Marvin has a grueling commute on public
transportation, which management knew about before cutting his hours and
income. No one else in his unit faced any change to their scheduled hours,
and no one else had to accept a regular schedule of six days per week.

Marvin now has to get on the bus in Lynn at 7:30 a.m. to get to work at
Harvard by 10. He typically gets just 4-5 hours of work and then has to get
back on the T for his journey home. He can’t get another part-time job to
make up for the cut in his income, because he only has one day off from
Harvard. Marvin has less money to live on; the cut in pay was immediate
with no transition, and immediately affected Marvin’s ability to meet his
obligations in leading his daily life. Campus workers believe Harvard
managers are trying to push Marvin out of his job.

This Thursday, December 1, union members, students, and concerned members
of the community will hold a demonstration of our support for Marvin. We'll
meet starting at 5 p.m. in front of Holyoke Center, 1350 Mass. Ave.,
Cambridge (right next to Au Bon Pain). Click
here<http://maps.yahoo.com/#tt=&q=1350+Massachusetts+Ave%2C+Cambridge%2C+MA++02138-3846&conf=1&start=1&lat=42.373039&lon=-71.118179&zoom=17&mvt=m&trf=0>for
a map. Please join us if you can! Riot-Folk artist Evan Greer will
perform at the action. A flyer for publicity is attached to this message.
Please forward this email everywhere!

Click here <http://www.facebook.com/events/282561095120330/> for a link to
the Facebook event.

In Solidarity,

Geoff Carens, Union Rep, Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical
Workers/HUCTW
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