"Every worker knows what a torture chamber [the Harvard Union] is to work in. It's a racist atmosphere." said Childs, who called Hicks "one of our most militant and aggressive stewards."

Williams, a former co-worker of Hicks, spoke of an unpleasant working environment and overly severe disciplinary actions for dining hall workers.

"Justice in this country has not been equal and fair," said Williams, who was suspended from work for three days last year for disciplinary reasons.

"I accepted my punishment, but it was too harsh," Williams said. "Maybe it was because I was a vocal Black man. Darryl's a Black man, so am I."

But Williams hesitated to attribute the actions taken against Hicks and himself as strict instances of racism. "I'll say maybe it was a case of management wanting to get rid of people who were outspoken," he said.

Shop steward Mary A. Quinlan, who works in the Cabot House dining hall, said that even the labor union may have been motivated by a resistance to particularly "outspoken" employees.

"I can't help but wonder if the union leadership wasn't as happy that Darryl was no longer around to make waves as Harvard was glad," Quinlan said.

Childs said the Hicks case is a concern for all unionized employees at Harvard. "We know that if Darryl goes and we don't fight, we're all gone," he said