Roberts Named Director of Labor and Employee Relations

Vice President for Administration Sally Zeckhauser has announced the appointment of Kim A. Roberts to the position of director of labor and employee relations. Roberts is an attorney who has had 17 years of experience in labor relations, serving most recently as associate national executive director of AFTRA (the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), a union with 77,000 members nationwide.

In addition to her professional experience, Zeckhauser says, "Kim brings an extraordinary combination of strengths to her new role, including excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the proven ability to work within a complex political environment, and an alumna's affection for the University."

Tom O'Donnell, an attorney with Ropes and Gray who frequently advises the University on labor relations issues, says of Roberts, "She brings to Harvard a rich experience as a skillful and fair-minded negotiator for a respected national union in the broadcasting industry, where she earned the confidence and admiration of leaders on both sides of the table."

Donene Williams, president of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW), Harvard's largest union, also welcomed Roberts' appointment. "We are looking forward to working with a new director of labor relations who has had union experience. Our initial discussions with Kim have shown that she is interested in working with HUCTW to jointly craft creative solutions to labor issues."

Roberts, who earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard and her law degree at Georgetown, was the principal negotiator for AFTRA agreements covering staff newspersons at the major networks, freelance radio employees, and National Public Radio freelance employees. She was also responsible for overall coordination, planning, and direction of collective bargaining activities for the national union and 30 local unions, and she was the AFTRA spokesperson on news and broadcast matters in contacts with the labor community, legislative and regulatory officials, and the press.

Speaking at the close of her first month on the job, Roberts says that she is looking forward to the challenge of coordinating a cohesive labor relations strategy for the University while balancing the diverse needs of Harvard's various schools and departments.

The Office of Labor and Employee Relations has been without a permanent director since Tim Manning left the University in December 1997. As director, Roberts will plan and oversee the University's contract negotiations with its seven labor unions; the administration of eight collective bargaining agreements; and a range of functions that ensure that Harvard's relationship with its employees is respectful, consistent, and fair, and that Harvard complies with federal and state regulations. The Office of Labor Relations also manages the work of the Disability Claims Unit, conducts third-step grievance hearings, oversees problem-solving processes, and offers advice and counsel to managers on the appropriate application of the Collective Bargaining Agreements and Policy Manuals.