University, unions settle strike

As Yale Medicine went to press, the university and two major unions representing close to 4,000 workers had reached a tentative agreement to end a three-and-a-half-week strike, the ninth on the campus in 35 years.

The agreement, which had yet to be ratified by union members, resulted in unprecedented eight-year contracts with the two unions. It was reached on September 18 after a series of bargaining sessions involving President Richard C. Levin and John W. Wilhelm, president of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. Mayor John DeStefano Jr. served as mediator.

Members of Local 34, which represents clerical and technical workers, and Local 35, representing service and maintenance employees, walked off their jobs on August 27. In March the unions struck for a week. The recent strike coincided with students returning to campus, drew national attention and brought the Rev. Jesse Jackson as well two presidential candidates to campus in support of the strikers.

The two sides were at odds over salaries, job security, retroactive pay and pensions. Details of the settlement were not available.