HUCTW Ratification Vote Results
We are pleased to announce that the new HUCTW Contract, covering the period between October 1, 2022 until June 30, 2026, has been ratified, with 89% of members who took part voting yes to ratify! The final vote tally is 3762 ‘yes’ votes and 466 ‘no’ votes. 85% of all eligible voters cast ballots in this election. Thank you to everyone who voted!The Harvard payroll office will begin processing the pay package now and we believe the first raise will be applied in the June 16, 2023 paycheck, along with delivery of the $1,400 bonus and the lump sum covering the value of the raise on regular pay from October 1, 2022 until the raise implementation date.Please let us know if you have any questions: huctw.elections@huctw.org
Online Voting for Contract Ratification
May 30-31, 2023
HUCTW members will vote online, via a unique access link sent to each member by email, which will open an electronic ballot. This unique access link will be randomly generated for each member by the third-party vendor, ElectionBuddy (which specializes in the management of union elections) and will allow you to vote securely and anonymously.
As long as you are a signed HUCTW member, you will be sent a unique access link by email automatically. If you would also like to have your access link texted to your cellphone, please fill out our Cellphone Submission Form by May 25th at 5:00 pm. If you choose to provide your cell number, the same access link will be both emailed and texted to you and you can choose either method to cast your vote. No matter which method you choose, your vote will remain anonymous, and election administrators will not be able to connect a member to their vote.
Voter Checklist
- Notify HUCTW by May 25th at 5pm if you’d like to use your cellphone number to vote by submitting your information here. If you opt in to vote by text, you will be both emailed and texted the same unique access link to vote when the Contract Ratification Vote opens, allowing you to only vote once.
Sign a Membership Card in advance of the vote if you have not already done so. HUCTW Elections are only open to signed Union members. Electronic ballots will be sent to those staff who have signed a card by May 25th, 2023, by 5:00 pm. (If you’ve signed or voted in the past, you do not need to sign again!) Unsigned staff may join by downloading and filling out a writable pdf membership card and emailing it to huctw.info@huctw.org by the deadline.- Review the Tentative Agreement to decide whether you want to vote YES to ratify the Tentative Agreement or vote NO to not ratify the Tentative Agreement (full details will be sent to all members by May 19).
- Keep an eye out for your invitation to vote, which will arrive by email (and text, if registered) on MAY 30th shortly after 8:00 am. The invitation will contain a unique access link that will give you access to your electronic ballot.
- Use the link to vote YES or NO. HUCTW contracts must be ratified by simple majority. Voting closes MAY 31st at 5:00 pm.
You will receive confirmation that your vote was received and recorded by the ElectionBuddy system. Results will be posted to our website by June 1st.
For general information about HUCTW elections, please visit our HUCTW Elections Basics page.
FAQ Regarding Online Voting:
Q: Why are HUCTW Elections held online?A: Historically, HUCTW Elections have been conducted in person over the course of a single day at numerous voting locations where our members work. Since 2021, we have modified our voting process in order to address health and safety concerns due to COVID and the fact that most members are working hybrid schedules. Our goal has been to match the fairness, accuracy, and accessibility of our usual in-person process, while meeting established and new election regulations from our parent union, AFSCME, and the federal government.
Q: Is there a place I can vote in person this time around?
A: All voting will take place online, via electronic ballot. You will be emailed a unique access code to access your electronic ballot, and you can opt to have this same unique access code texted to your cell phone by registering here by May 25th at 5:00 pm.
Q: How does the Union administer electronic elections? How do we know it is fair and secure?A: We will use a system designed and managed by the company, ElectionBuddy. It is a system used by many other unions across the U.S. for voting and elections. We have ensured that ElectionBuddy satisfies all HUCTW, AFSCME and Federal requirements around voter anonymity security regulations.
Q: It’s May 30 and I didn’t get a voting link—help!
A: If you do not receive an email and/or text with a unique access code by 8:15am on May 30, please reach out to huctw.elections@huctw.org as soon as possible, and no later than 12pm on May 31.
If you have other questions, please contact the elections committee at huctw.elections@huctw.org.