OUR HISTORY
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
1941
Organize!
Utilities and service workers win the first union contract at Yale, with raises, shorter hours, paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave.
1955
More unionized workers
Dining hall workers vote to join the union.
1980
A white collar union?
Clerical and technical workers organize.
1985
Local 34!
Clerical and technical workers win our first contract after a 10-week strike. Members of Local 35 honor our picket lines despite threats to their jobs. The contract doubles many members’ wages at a time when women’s wages averaged 59¢ per dollar earned by men.
1988
Equal pay for equal work.
Our second contract eliminates the lowest labor grades and opens high-level positions. Before the union, there were fewer than 20 positions in the top two labor grades and none were held by women. Today, women hold 82% of the almost 2200 positions at this level.
1992
Job security.
Our third contract establishes the Interim Employment Pool for members laid off from their jobs. Our members support graduate teachers and their newly-formed union, GESO.
1996
Local 35 wins a pathway
Members of Local 35 win a pathway for casual workers to move to good, benefit-level jobs.
2003
Wages and Pension.
After a two-year campaign, Locals 34 and 35 win landmark eight-year contracts, increasing Local 34 wages by an average of 63% and doubling our pensions.
2009
Labor- management partnership.
For the first time, we settle a contract using interest-based negotiations.
2012
Job Advancment.
Our contract is settled six months early. It includes good wage increases, provisions for internal promotion, a pipeline to jobs at Yale for New Haven residents, and maintains our 100% employer-paid healthcare option despite rising costs.
2016
Job Security for the 986
New job security language for our members in the Medical school who were in danger of being transferred to the hospital.