The largest concern right now is the idea of retroactive compensation for the casual workers who will be transferred to the full-time payroll and exactly what their financial compensation should be for past wages and benefits, Jaeger says.

Other roadblocks include the fact that despite the University's attempts at centralization, the employment records of many of Harvard's schools still aren't well coordinated, union and University officials say.

"There are thousands of people whose casual employment records have to be reviewed and, by definition, their casual employment is erratic," Jaeger says.

Yet, even now as HUCTW and Harvard pound out the details of a final agreement, there still remain questions for the union on the exact role of casual employment.

Jaeger says he feels the union will still have to keep a careful eye on the various schools and whether they continue to remain kosher on casual guidelines. Yet, Jaeger even questions the nature of the casual payroll and its potential for injustice.

"Somebody could be on the casual payroll for 15 hours a week for 20 years

in some very regular role. That's not a violation of long-term University

policy," he says. "But it's absolutely horrible from our point of view and it's a really hideous employment practice."