Cafeteria staff, Harvard have tentative pact

BOSTON — Harvard University has reached a tentative labor agreement with 700 of its cafeteria workers who have been on strike for three weeks.

The school announced Tuesday that it agreed in principle to a five-year contract with Unite Here Local 26, the labor union representing Harvard’s dining workers.

Both sides declined to provide details of the agreement, which faces a union vote Wednesday.

The union asked Harvard to increase salaries to a minimum of $35,000 a year from $30,000, and it opposed the university’s plan to raise health care costs.

Harvard officials said its dining workers already have better pay and benefits than others in the region.