500 Attend Union Rally

More than 500 members of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical workers rallied in the Yard yesterday, calling for President Neil L. Rudenstine to get involved in their contract negotiations.

About 40 union workers met Rudenstine and his wife at Boston's Logan International Airport on Wednesday. Rudenstine was arriving home from a trip to Europe.

Rudenstine was the target of much of the activity at yesterday's rally. Workers held signs with pictures of the president. One read "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch." Other signs read "Let's make a deal, Neil."

Union members welcomed Rudenstine yesterday by screaming across the Yard in both English ("Awfully nice to see you old boy") and French ("Bienvenue Monsieure Le President.") They also signed post cards to the president in what one organizer termed a "postcards from the edge" campaign.

Also yesterday, Rudenstine issued a statement on the negotiations, which have been going slowly in recent weeks. "Harvard is committed to treating all of its employees fairly, providing equitable wages and a comprehensive benefits package," he Said in the statement.

"I have been deeply involved in the progress of the negotiations and have been in frequent contact with Sally Zeckhauser, theUniversity's chief negotiator," Rudenstine said.

But at yesterday's rally, union leaders saidthat the president should become more personallyinvolved.

The postcards to Rudenstine, written by workersand read at the rally, echoed those sentiments.

And workers who wrote postcards to Rudenstinethat were read at the rally seemed to share thosesentiments.

"Help, I'm getting married," one worker wrote.

"What would your mother think?" said anotherpostcard, referring to Rudenstine's worked-classback-ground.

"Dear President Rudenstine, when you are eatingdinner tonight, don't forget those of us who canonly afford tuna for lunch," wrote another worker.

Union President Donene M. Williams called therally a "huge and happy showing of strength.

"These are the kinds of things we can do rightnow instead of striking." Williams said.

The three-year contract between Harvard and theunion expired June 30.

At the airport Wednesday afternoon, unionmembers presented the president and his wife withflowers while playing "Hail to the Chief" onkazoos.

Raudenstine smiled and said 'thank you," beforehe was whisked away in a black telephone-equippedLincoln with license plates reading "1636".

Later Wednesday, Rudenstine told The Crimsonthat he cares "tremendously" about how thenegotiations go. The president said he isconfident in the management negotiating team.CrimsonIra E. StollUnion member rally in the Yard yesterday

But at yesterday's rally, union leaders saidthat the president should become more personallyinvolved.

The postcards to Rudenstine, written by workersand read at the rally, echoed those sentiments.

And workers who wrote postcards to Rudenstinethat were read at the rally seemed to share thosesentiments.

"Help, I'm getting married," one worker wrote.

"What would your mother think?" said anotherpostcard, referring to Rudenstine's worked-classback-ground.

"Dear President Rudenstine, when you are eatingdinner tonight, don't forget those of us who canonly afford tuna for lunch," wrote another worker.

Union President Donene M. Williams called therally a "huge and happy showing of strength.

"These are the kinds of things we can do rightnow instead of striking." Williams said.

The three-year contract between Harvard and theunion expired June 30.

At the airport Wednesday afternoon, unionmembers presented the president and his wife withflowers while playing "Hail to the Chief" onkazoos.

Raudenstine smiled and said 'thank you," beforehe was whisked away in a black telephone-equippedLincoln with license plates reading "1636".

Later Wednesday, Rudenstine told The Crimsonthat he cares "tremendously" about how thenegotiations go. The president said he isconfident in the management negotiating team.CrimsonIra E. StollUnion member rally in the Yard yesterday