Boycott Cronin's

WAITRESSES at Cronin's restaurant first went on strike in the middle of December. At that time owner James Cronin yielded to pressure and agreed to recognize the newly organized Harvard Square Waitresses Organizing Committee (HSWOC). Negotiations then began over the waitresses' 24 demands. But evidently Cronin does not understand the meaning of 'negotiation'; a waitress spokeswoman said last week that he acceded to only one minor demand. He also failed to prepare a list of counter-proposals, breaking an earlier promise. After six weeks of hedging by Cronin, the waitresses had had enough. The picket lines formed again, but this time Cronin escalated swiftly. Within several days of the renewed picketing. Cronin--who has refused to comment throughout the dispute--fired the eight union waitresses from his total staff of 11. Their walking papers gave only one reason for their dismissal: "conduct while on duty which is prejudicial against Cronin's restaurant, Inc."

Cronin also asked for and received a court order restraining the waitresses from picketing their former employer. And when supporters continued to picket, Cronin charged them with acting as "agents" for the waitresses. Because of the actions of their supporters, the waitresses faced a contempt charge in Cambridge court yesterday.

At that hearing the judge granted Cronin's request to extend the restraining order indefinitely. The order was upheld on the grounds that the waitresses and their agents were conducting obstructive picketing. However, the waitresses cannot and should not accept this restraining order; they are moving for a hearing in Federal court to have the injunction reconsidered.

The waitresses' demands are far from exorbitant; they are asking for a salary increase from $1.10 to $1.35 per hour, time and a half salary for overtime, leaves of absence without loss of seniority and a contractual clause barring discrimination in hiring or firing based on "race, political activities, union activities or national origin." The waitresses also demand that they be reinstated.

HSWOC sees the fight at Cronin's as a first step in a projected drive to organize waitresses at other Square restaurants. Waiting on tables is all too often considered as a demeaning job reserved for women. The low salaries ensure that waitresses must--in the words of waitress organizer Patricia Welch--"bow, scrape and kiss ass for a tip."

THIS struggle is of special importance to the women's movement. Society consigns women from birth to positions of servility, assuming that women are not aggressive enough to demand anything else. One of the striking waitresses said that Cronin told them he was surprised they had it in them to organize.

Although Cronin's is presently the focal point of these women's struggle to restore dignity to their lives, to say nothing of earning a decent living. HSWOC does not single out Cronin as the sole offender. Other Square restaurants can expect similar actions in the future.

Financial pressures have now mounted to the point where the unemployed waitresses have been forced to sell brownies in Holyoke Center to support themselves. The very least the community can do is support their struggle by boycotting Cronin's until an agreement satisfactory to the striking waitresses has been reached.

Furthermore, the Crimson urges people to actively support the struggle and picket Cronin's; as women concerned about their fellow women and men supporting the rights of working people to secure their dignity and livelihood.