Harvard has seven child care centers--but employees say that they are neither accessible nor affordable. One month at one of these centers costs an average of $700, or almost half of the average support staff salary. The centers also have two-to-three year waiting lists.

"I know someone in my office who is not going to get pregnant if she keeps working here, because she would just have to quit anyway," says one worker.

"We can't afford the expense of child care here or the time it takes to get care somewhere else," said one employee, whose child attends a day care center off-campus.

Harvard has a child care adviser and recently established a parental counseling office, but support staff members say they want services more than counseling.

It Ain't Broke

Despite these qualms with the Harvard pay and benefit system, many workers are satisfied. Employees who do not support the union say that HUCTW has not substantiated its complaints against the University compensation system.

"We get good benefits here," says one worker, who has declined to consider arguments on either side of the union issue. "A union might improve things a little, but I believe, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'"

Not all pro-union employees think there is something that Harvard needs to fix, either.

"If I was joining the union because I had specific complaints, I probably wouldn't have joined," said an employee, who is one of the most vocal union backers in her office. "I joined because I want a voice. There may be things in the future which should be changed, and I want to know that if I have a complaint, [the administration] will hear it." Union Survey 120 support staff workers polled

Composition Women:  82 percent Men:  18 percent Pro-union:  61 percent Anti-union:  19 percent Undecided:  20 percent Have looked at the University's briefing booklet:  35 percent Said Harvard should not be allowed to stage an anti-union campaign:  38 percent Mentioned Yale University's support staff union:  100 percent

What workers Want

(respondents were permitted to list more than one issue, so the total is higher than 100 percent) Self-representation  95 percent Better medical benefits  90 percent Improved pensions  86 percent Improved child care  88 percent Pay equity  59 percent --between different campus areas  37 percent --between women and men  23 percent To take more than one Harvard course  26 percent