Two labor disputes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) threaten to disrupt campus operations as unionized workers prepare for possible strikes in the coming days. Facilities employees represented by the 32BJ SEIU union and graduate student workers have both voted to authorize walkouts amid stalled contract negotiations.

On Tuesday, around 600 custodians, desk attendants, groundskeepers, and other facilities staff voted to approve a strike authorization. These workers, represented by the 32BJ SEIU, have been working without a contract since July and are seeking a living wage increase, reductions in healthcare premiums, and enhanced protections and resources for immigrant employees. The union points to a recent 11 percent hike in MIT’s health insurance premiums, which they argue exacerbates financial pressures on workers who often hold multiple jobs to sustain their households.

James Bradford, chief steward of 32BJ SEIU and a decade-long MIT electrician, criticized the institute for what he described as a lack of respect for the labor force maintaining campus facilities. “Without us here maintaining [facilities] for the students... then what is this place?” he said. The union has rejected MIT’s offer of a 2.2 percent wage increase for a one-year contract, arguing that a three-year agreement with wages adjusted for inflation is standard practice in collective bargaining.

Kevin Brown, director of 32BJ SEIU New England, emphasized the essential role of the workers, highlighting rising healthcare costs and staffing shortages as factors increasing the urgency for a fair agreement. Meanwhile, MIT cited budget caution amid uncertainties in federal funding and policy as reasons for its current negotiating stance. The institute’s endowment grew by over 10 percent last year, reaching $29.2 billion.

Concurrently, the Graduate Student union, representing approximately 3,300 teaching and research assistants, authorized a strike last week following six months of unsuccessful contract talks. The graduate workers are seeking a three-year contract with wage increases of 6 percent in 2026, 3.5 percent in 2027, and 3.25 percent in 2028, along with back pay for the period without a contract. Teaching assistants currently earn about $52,329 annually, while master’s and doctoral research assistants receive salaries ranging from $46,793 to $51,226.

Both unions are advocating for stronger protections for immigrant and international workers, who constitute roughly half of their membership. The 32BJ SEIU is pushing for a fund that would offer legal resources and professional training, including assistance with immigration services and homeownership.

Tensions were visible with about 100 32BJ SEIU members rallying near the Great Dome on Massachusetts Avenue, chanting slogans targeting MIT’s bargaining approach. Graduate students joined the demonstration, expressing solidarity with facilities staff. Leaders from Teamsters Local 25 also pledged support, promising not to cross picket lines and to suspend various campus services, including deliveries and lab gas supplies, during any strike.

Both unions plan to hold a final rally later this week and may initiate strikes shortly thereafter, marking a significant labor standoff at one of the nation’s leading research universities.