Wu cancels Harvard Law speech amid grad student strike

Catch up quick: The graduate student union, which is part of United Auto Workers, represents 4,000 workers at Harvard University.

• The strike began on April 21 after more than a year of negotiations, recently becoming the union's longest-running strike, per the Harvard Crimson.
• The union cited unsuccessful efforts to get stronger protections for non-citizen workers and workers who are experiencing harassment or discrimination.

What they're saying: Wu is "deeply disappointed" that she won't be speaking at Class Day, but decided not to cross the picket line.

• "The mayor is a strong ally of the labor movement and believes in respecting picket lines, but wishes that the union had taken one of the many alternatives available," said Marcela Dwork, Wu's press secretary.

Friction point: Wu's team suggested alternatives to picketing during her speech at her alma mater, including having Wu acknowledge the strike from the podium in her remarks.

• The union rejected those suggestions, forcing speakers to choose between crossing the picket line to deliver remarks or opting out, per Dwork.

The other side: The union issued a statement after Wu spoke with the Crimson, thanking Wu for withdrawing.

• "A picket line is only as strong as the solidarity it commands, and we are grateful to Mayor Wu for her support," the union wrote.