Waitresses Fight Restraining Order

Waitresses at Cronin's Restaurant on Mt. Auburn St. will appear in court tomorrow in an attempt to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of a court order forbidding them from picketing.

Ann Erdmann, formerly a waitress at Cronin's, said yesterday that all union member waitresses at the restaurant were fired earlier last week. She said the only reason given by Cronin was that the waitresses were guilty of "conduct while is prejucidial against Cronin's Restaurant Inc.."

James D. Cronin, owner of the restaurant, refused yesterday to discuss the strike, and his lawyer could not be reached for comment.

The contempt charge was filed by Cronin late last week. He claimed that waitresses continued to picket the restaurant following the issuance of a restraining order last Tuesday.

The restraining order was primarily based on an allegation by Cronin that the picketing is illegal because the wage increase being sought by the waitresses is higher than the amount allowed by the wage-price freeze.

The waitresses--who are seeking a salary increase from $1.10 to $1.35 per hour--were also charged by Cronin with harassment of customers, forcibly keeping customers from entering the restaurant, and threatening other employees who wish to work.

Erdmann yesterday denied all of the charges. "The charge of contempt of the restraining order was filed after the waitresses had ceased their picket on Tuesday," Erdmann said.

"Those (people) who continued to picket after Tuesday--who have been charged by Cronin to be agents for the waitresses--are merely citizens who are concerned with the plight of the waitresses," she added.

Attorneys for the Harvard Square Waitresses Organizing Committee (HSWOC)--which was founded by waitresses at Cronin's in December to act as their bargaining agent--last week appealed the restraining order twice. The motion was denied on both occasions.

On Friday, following the second denial, the attorneys file papers to remove the case from state federal court. The basis of the change is that the restraining order is founded the federal wage-price freeze.

Stephen R. , attorney for HSWOC, said yesterday that the negotiation for higher wages is not in conflict with the terms of the wage-price freeze if the wage hike does not go into effect us after the freeze has ceased.

The unemployed waitresses will begin their sale of brownies today in Holyoke Center to raise money to support themselves

The unemployed waitresses will begin their sale of brownies today in Holyoke Center to raise money to support themselves