While the language was carefully worded, the University admitted that mistakes had been made on its application of the casual-worker policy. The unprecedented statement used words such as "inadvertently," "errors" and "correction."

HUCTW, which issued its own statement the next week, was a little more blunt in taking on the moral repurcussions of Harvard's "errors."

"Some members of the Harvard community are being treated unfairly," it read. "We cannot look the other way without perpetuating the problem of working poverty."

At the time, 41 former casual employees had already been converted over to the regular payroll.

Making a Deal

Throughout the summer, negotiations between the two sides occurred on a weekly basis.

"A key group of University leaders awoke from a slumber about this issue.

We were a little frustrated that we had to tap them on the shoulder for more than a year to rouse them," Jaeger says.