Harvard's dining hall workers preparing for strike

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - Harvard University dining hall workers are preparing to go on strike.

The workers, represented by the Unite Here Local 26, say they'll launch an open-ended strike Wednesday if a new contract with university administrators isn't reached by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

The union says the 750 dining hall workers it represents will walk picket lines at more than a dozen locations across Harvard's undergraduate and graduate campuses.

Union negotiator Michael Kramer says workers are demanding "the ability to earn at least $35,000 a year and a health insurance program that does not shift costs onto those who can least afford it."

Unionized dining hall workers authorized a strike earlier this month. They've been in negotiations with the university since the summer. Their contract expired Sept. 17.

Harvard didn't immediately return messages seeking comment.

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This story has been corrected to show that the strike deadline is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, not noon Tuesday.