HUCTW Director Billy Jaeger said the union has tried to provide adequate information for its members and secure new positions for displaced workers.

Most of the workers who lost jobs at GSE have found jobs elsewhere in the University, he said. Several of those laid off from the payroll department had decided to venture outside Harvard for employment.

And despite the layoffs, Jaeger said, new programs at the University have actually increased the number of jobs represented by HUCTW.

But some workers in HUCTW contend that their union has not adequately fought for the rights and security of the membership. They complain of a disconnect between the union leadership and the rank-and-file, arguing that news of impending layoffs is not as widely publicized as it should be.

Randy Fenstermacher, a HUCTW member and library employee, said union membership hadn’t been told about layoffs like the ones at Radcliffe—even though union leaders knew of financial difficulties at the Institute for months preceding the July cuts.

“There have been three layoffs and with two of them we’ve heard nothing,” Fenstermacher said. “One of them we’ve heard somewhat less than nothing,” he said in reference to the firings at Radcliffe.

“Did they know before the people were told? If they did know, did they do anything about it?”

HUCTW member and library employee Jeff W. Booth said he was worried about the recent staff cuts.

“I don’t know if it’s a pattern yet, but there are usually layoffs happening somewhere within our union and it seems to be increasing,” he said. “We hear about layoffs from time to time and we’re worried about that and angry about that and we’re trying to get our union leadership to get involved...We have the largest union on campus and potentially a lot of power and we’re completely silent.”

—Staff writer Laura L. Krug can be reached at krug@fas.harvard.edu.