Harvard-Securitas Officer Lance Wheeler was 'non-disciplinary' removed after a long tenure at his post at Lamont Library for discriminatory, retaliatory reasons, which didn't constitute just cause or disciplinary reasons, so they just 'made him disappear'. Lance is one of a handful of minority workers in the work unit.

He was removed only after he complained about the overtime distribution at the Harvard College Libraries,  quoting his contract and pointing it out to the manager, and got into verbal spat with the manager, Abdel Benzerrouk's, married, subordinate girlfriend,  Houghton Officer Mimi Desta. This is in violation of Harvard and Securitas policy.

Ms. Desta is allowed additional break time other guards do not receive, extra walks and lunches with the manager as a result of this relationship, which other guards regularly observe. Harvard College Library Management under Stavroula Birmbas and Chris Daley have been made aware of the situation, and other serious violations of Harvard policy, and nothing has been done.

Ms. Desta is also allowed to stack boxes in front of the camera at her security post, to the point where you can't tell if the officer is there or not. According to other guards on site,  this practice of blocking or obscuring a security camera in any way is unheard of anywhere else on campus, and yet another special privilege benefitting one of the manager's "ladies" he walks around with. This can also easily be observed by pulling up the Houghton Desk Camera. No wonder the verbal spat.

Feel Free to Reach Out to Involved Parties in this case:

Stavroula Birmbas

stav_birmbas@harvard.edu

Associate Director of FAS Library Facilities at Harvard University

 

Christopher Daley

chris_daley@harvard.edu

Building Manager - FAS Library Facilities at Harvard University

 

Robert M Sabater

rob_sabater@fas.harvard.edu

Associate Director of Safety and Security for Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences

 

Abdel Bennzerouk

abenzerrouk@securitasinc.com

Securitas Manager, FAS Library Facilities at Harvard University

Lance was banned from the entire library portfolio, by a one line e-mail, only after he accused the manager, Abdel Benzerrouk of stealing his cell phone charger.

He has not been placed at a similar site, with similar hours, as his work contract states.

Please support him in his fight to return and be treated fairly.

Harvard University and Securitas regularly retaliate and use this contract clause in a discriminatory fashion, while not placing people within the 3 day window prescribed in the contract for people who speak up and their rights, as is the case now with Lance.

 

Please also consider signing and sharing the following petitions to show Harvard University they can't discriminate and retaliate against workers on campus, cut benefits guards had for 2 decades overnight, or punish guards for using their collective bargaining agreement and knowing their rights!

https://www.change.org/BREAKSBACKNOW

https://www.change.org/JUSTICEFORJAMESNOW

https://www.change.org/BRINGLANCEBACK

https://www.change.org/MIKEBACKNOW