[act-ma] Thu 2/15, 12 noon: Defend Mayli! Fight Sexual Harassment & Racism

[Geoff Carens]

Dear All,

On 2/6/18, HUCTW* member Mayli was terminated from her job on flimsy
pretexts after 10+ years of dedicated service at Harvard University. For
years Mayli had repeatedly complained of sexual harassment and racist abuse
from her boss. This Thursday 2/15, starting at 12 noon, union members and
our allies will picket <https://www.facebook.com/events/177267289715504/>
Mayli's former workplace, the Smith Campus Center at 1350 Mass. Ave., steps
from the Harvard Square MBTA stop. Please join us!

*Background*: Mayli is a first generation immigrant single mom of two who
faces severe economic hardship from the loss of her job. One of her
children currently attends college. After she took an approved short-term
disability leave, management cut her hours of work in half without removing
any tasks. She also endured racist comments and aggressive sexual
harassment. Activists believe Mayli was fired in retaliation because she
refused to tolerate the mistreatment and reported it to Harvard's senior
management. The ridiculous reason given for Mayli's ultimately being
terminated was that she allegedly came to work half an hour early.

Please send protests to Harvard Director of Labor Relations Paul Curran at
paul_curran at harvard.edu or 617 496-9193. Suggested message: "I am troubled
to hear about an HUCTW member named Mayli who was terminated on 2/6/18
after complaining of sexual harassment and racist comments from her boss
Pierre Raymond. I suggest you use your influence to ensure that Mayli is
reinstated in an at least comparable full time job with a new supervisor,
full back pay and all the discipline in her file rescinded."

Please share this message & the Facebook event
<https://www.facebook.com/events/177267289715504/> as widely as possible!

In Solidarity,

Geoff Carens, Union Rep, HUCTW

*Harvard Union of Clerical & Technical Workers