Cambridge Council Backs MIT, Airport Workers in Labor Fights
Cambridge Council backs MIT and airport labor fights, moves $24 million as liquor license bid stalls.
City Council · Meeting of September 14, 2026
Cambridge Council backs MIT and airport labor fights, moves $24 million as liquor license bid stalls. Councilors suspended rules to fast-track unanimous orders supporting SEIU 32BJ Logan Airport workers and UE Local 256, the roughly 3,000-member MIT graduate union, after more than 20 people testified. Union president Lauren Chua warned MIT has offered "concessionary proposals" despite a $27.4 billion endowment.
The council approved $500,000 from its Federal Grant Stabilization Fund for a SNAP/MassHealth crisis response, with staff citing a 15 percent local SNAP enrollment drop, and adopted $23.75 million in Community Preservation Act funding for fiscal 2027. A reconsideration vote on a home-rule petition granting one business an additional liquor license failed 4-5, with Councilor Patricia Nolan calling the arrangement inequitable to license-holders who "had to pay several hundred thousand dollars."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,095 words
Source: the City Council meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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