The 21-day-long occupation of Mass. Hall will end this afternoon.
Barring any unforeseen developments, the 23 Progresssive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) members currently occupying the administrative building plan to leave at 3 p.m. today, PSLM member Aaron D. Bartley, a third-year law student, said this morning.
The students reached their decision after a long night of deliberations, following a marathon negotiation session held yesterday that included high-ranking AFL-CIO officials and top Harvard administrators, including General Counsel Anne Taylor, Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Paul S. Grogan and Harvard University Police Department Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley.
Harvard officials said last night that the University has agreed to form a new committee to examine wage issues at the University. Unlike the original committee that issued a report last spring, this committee will include students and union leaders in addition to faculty members and administrators.
The committee will include both undergraduate and graduate students, who will be selected by the student governments of Harvard's schoolsthe Undergraduate Council will choose the students to serve on behalf of the College.
The committee, which will have about 20 members, will be "very inclusive, especially by Harvard standards," one administrator said.
It will have a Dec. 31 deadline to report back to incoming University President Lawrence H. Summers on all aspects of workers' benefits, including outsourcing and the possible implementation of a a minimum wage floor of $10.25 per hourPSLMs central demand.
Students are also calling on the University to reopen contract negotiations with unions whose members earn less than $10.25 per hour, but Harvard officials said yesterday they have no plans to do so.
Students, union leaders and administrators are scheduled to issue statements explaining the terms of their agreement at 2 p.m. today, and PSLM has planned a rally at 3 p.m. to herald the students' exit.
Staff writer Garrett M. Graff contributed to the reporting of this story.
Staff writer Daniela J. Lamas can be reached at lamas@fas.harvard.edu.
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