Union Stages Rally in Yard

The Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers rallied in Harvard Yard yesterday before surrounding the University's central administration's headquarters.

The workers disbanded after picketing Mass Hall for about ten minutes chanting "Harvard works because we do."

President Neil L. Rudenstine could be seen inside the building looking at papers from his desk and talking to his assistant. He appeared to ignore the protesters from behind the closed windows of newly-renovated Mass Hall.

At the rally, union Chief Negotiator Bill Jaeger said. "The University's posture in this negotiation is a hostile one. There are a small number of top managers, not all of the Harvard administration but a few people, who have taken positions which can only be described as competitive and mean-spirited."

Jaeger later refused to name the "mean-spirited" managers.

Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs John H. Shattuck, who has acted as management's spokesperson during the negotiations, denied that the University has been mean-spirited in its dealings with the union.

"Harvard and all of its managers take very seriously the Joint enterprise we have embarked on with the union," Shattuck said.

Union organizers put the crowd count of the noontime rally at 750 to 80; an informal count put the number closer to 500.

"We wanted to show some seriousness," Jaeger said after the rally.

"We expect the University to negotiate with us in respectful way," union President Donene M. Williams said.

Williams unveiled the new union slogan, "Harvard works because we do." She said it was particularly appropriate for the beginning of the school year, because union members register students make sure books are on the shelves and perform countless other tasks for newly arrived students and faculty.

Students were a big part of yesterday's activities. Joshua Burstein '93. told the rally, "All Harvard students supportthe Harvard Union of Clerical and TechnicalWorkers in its contract negotiations."

"We'll be around watching," Burstein said," andwe support you."

Also at the rally were a contingent of LawSchool students from the Harvard Labor LawProject.

The current issues in the negotiations wereapparent from the new sings held by union membersreading, "Don't mess with progression,' and"Progression equals progress."

The progression increase program, which rewardswork experience at Harvard, is a controversialtopic in the negotiations. The union saysmanagement is trying to gut the program;management says it is trying to do no such thing.

The 3600-member union's old contract expiredJune 30.

Jaeger referred to the action around Mass Hallas a "warm embrace." Shattuck said he "didn't takeit as a hostile act at all.

"We'll be around watching," Burstein said," andwe support you."

Also at the rally were a contingent of LawSchool students from the Harvard Labor LawProject.

The current issues in the negotiations wereapparent from the new sings held by union membersreading, "Don't mess with progression,' and"Progression equals progress."

The progression increase program, which rewardswork experience at Harvard, is a controversialtopic in the negotiations. The union saysmanagement is trying to gut the program;management says it is trying to do no such thing.

The 3600-member union's old contract expiredJune 30.

Jaeger referred to the action around Mass Hallas a "warm embrace." Shattuck said he "didn't takeit as a hostile act at all.