Harvard University Union Members Demand Reinstatement of Fired Colleague at Picket

Cambridge, MA - About 30 unionized Harvard University staff, students and community supporters held a picket outside the Holyoke Center administration building on Monday to protest the recent firing of longtime Harvard staffer Joan Frankel.

Advocates for Frankel say she was an excellent staff member for over 25 years - garnering good job evaluations and a promotion as recently as 2008 - but was recently "inundated with extra work and unfair deadlines" by her supervisors at Harvard, "receiving unfair discipline" and ultimately having her employment terminated in June of this year. They believe Frankel's firing was the result of her filing an age discrimination lawsuit with the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination, and are demanding that Harvard reinstate her job.

Frankel will not be able to restart her pension unless she gets her job back.

Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers activist Geoff Carens said Frankel's supporters would continue their campaign on her behalf, "Union members, students and allies gathered to support HUCTW member Joan Frankel, unfairly fired after 25 years' excellent service. We refuse to accept the unjust termination of our union sister, who is suing Harvard for age discrimination. We will be out on the street as many times as it takes to get justice for Joan. The No Layoffs Campaign operates according to this principle: An injury to one is an injury to all!"

When asked for a response to the advocates' assertions, Kevin Galvin, director of News and Media Relations for Harvard University, said that Harvard cannot comment on personnel matters.