Dining Workers Protest Breakfast Plan

In an effort to persuade University officials to restore full breakfasts to all Houses, the union representing Harvard dining hall workers Wednesday began redistributing an open letter criticizing the limited breakfast plan.

The letter, which the union first distributed to students last May, charges that limiting full breakfasts to only four Houses will erode the integrity of the House system, make it difficult for students to get nutritional breakfasts and inconvenience workers by changing their work schedules.

Alan L. Balsam, chief shop steward for Local 26 of the Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Employees Union, said Wednesday he hopes the letter, which is being distributed to students in dining halls, will encourage students and House committees to "maintain pressure and speak out on the issue."

Balsam said he and other dining hall workers hope the University will restore full breakfasts to all Houses by raising board fees and offsetting the cost to students by refunding money that is due to be returned to them in January, when a reduction in the state meals tax takes effect.

Dean Fox said Wednesday that, despite the letter, he does not expect to make a decision on increasing board fees and restoring full breakfasts to all Houses until later this semester.

Fox added before he makes a decision, he will consult with student members of the food services subcommittee of the Committee on Houses and Undergraduate Life.

More Sugar

Several weeks after the union started distributing the letter last spring. Balsam sent President Bok and other University officials a petition protesting the limited breakfast plan. About 350 workers signed that petition.

Balsam said he later received "a cordial reply" from Bok and Edward W. Powers, associate general counsel for employee relations, but added that the University took no substantive action concerning the union's complaints.

Frank J. Weissbecker, director of Food Services, said Wednesday only four or five workers have been transferred under the limited breakfast plan. He added that he has not received any complaints from the workers whose work schedules have been changed.

Weissbecker said the union letter is wrong in charging that the "cold" breakfasts served by eight Houses are not nutritional.

"I'm surprised that a person in Food Services would make a statement like that," Weissbecker said, adding that a meal consisting of a glass of milk, a slice of toast and a cup of instant oatmeal provides about 28 per cent of a person's suggested protein for the day.