Harvard Medical School employees protest layoffs

BOSTON — Nine employees subcontracted from American Cleaning Company to work at Harvard Medical School staged a protest Monday morning in response to their recent layoffs, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Escorted by nearly 30 students and members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 615, the custodians' representing body, the displaced employees attempted to clock in before heading to the basement for a small ceremony, the story stated.

Protestors held hands and presented the laid off workers with bread representing livelihood and roses representing dignity before the group was removed from the building, the story noted.

According to the story, Ana Guevara, one of the laid off custodians, said that she had been studying to get her GED through a bridge program with Harvard, but because she will no longer be affiliated with the University, she will have to leave the program after this semester.

Harvard Medical School says it is doing all it can to help the former custodians regain employment, the story added.