For the first time, Harvard would allow student workers to pursue complaints of discrimination and “abusive or intimidating behavior” through an appeals process that could end in third-party arbitration under its latest contract proposal to its graduate student union Tuesday.

HGSU-UAW President Brandon J. Mancilla said the University’s proposal is “not everything we wanted,” but a step closer to the union’s position.

“It is a very small part of a grievance procedure that we would like to see for harassment and discrimination cases, but the fact that for the first time Harvard has recognized that arbitration is a legitimate option for student workers in some cases — that’s a big deal,” he said.”

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