“Wrap it up” was the prevailing chant among Brandeis University library union staff, students and other university employees during a March 5 rally. Around 30 attendees gathered outside the Bernstein-Marcus Administration Center to express their continued support for the library union, which has now been in contract negotiations for eight months. The union is seeking safeguards to protect its employees’ future as it claims the University seeks to contract out work “without any restrictions.” Additionally, they are seeking a contract that prioritizes  salary adjustments that account for inflation and the rising cost of living in the Greater Boston Area. The March 5 rally aimed to add pressure onto the administration. The previous contract, originally expiring in June 2024, has been extended multiple times while the union’s bargaining unit and the University work toward an agreement on fair terms. While the union acknowledges some progress since its Jan. 23 rally — particularly in discussions around its demand for structured pay increases over time — it remains concerned about the university’s approach to outsourcing union work. 

“We can't allow the University to contract out our work,” said Alexis Cooper, a member of the bargaining unit for the union in an opening statement to attendees. Cooper added “Our work is union work. If that work is no longer union work, then there's no need for us to keep the Union workers around.” 

Also present in support were members of Service Employees International Union 888’s newly formed university staff union that represents administrative, technical and academic staff. Rebecca Strauss, an art technician at Brandeis and member of the new union, expressed gratitude for the library union and other on-campus unions, as they were “instrumental” in the formation of the staff union, a process that began in October of 2024. Her presence at the rally was both a gesture of appreciation and a commitment to strengthening the solidarity between unions. She was also motivated to attend to demonstrate her appreciation for the role the library plays in the University’s function, as it goes beyond housing and lending books by serving as a hub for research, academic support and providing creative resources like the Digital Scholarship Lab and MakerLab. 

“I'm here because it's right,” said the ninth-year employee. “It is right for workers to demand respect, equitable pay and protections of the work. Those of us who work in higher [education] and in academia are not here because it’s gonna pay us a million bucks. We're here because we're passionate about it and we want to use our skills and expertise to support the mission of higher education.”

Students of the Brandeis Jewish Bund were also present at the rally. A member of the student group spoke on the issue of respect as it relates to the Uuniversity’s reputation. 

“I think we all want Brandeis to be a respectable institution. We all go here. We all utilize Brandeis. We all came to Brandeis for a reason,” the student of Brandeis Jewish Bund said. “If Brandeis cannot pay its employees a living wage then that's not respectable, and they can't be respectable if they choose to outsource work that should be available for qualified people who are working here already.” 

The student noted that while the University has come to the bargaining table in good faith, it is not enough to address workers’ concerns. “They're really not asking the Administration to rake the moon when it comes to salary or anything else.” 

As of the rally, union organizers said the University has offered a 2.25% salary increase but remains concerned about the rise of inflation and cost of living. According to the Consumer Price Index, the inflation in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area is currently around 3.9%. The union's petition claims that several library workers earn below the minimum of Brandeis’s own hiring range for their positions, with over 89% earning below the median. The petition has received 400 signatures according to the union. 

Concluding the rally, organizers called for the University to live by its motto “Truth, even unto its innermost parts.” The union was scheduled to convene at the bargaining table the next day, on March 6.