Dining Hall Workers Threaten Walk-Out

The A. F. of L.'s two strongly entrenched unions in the University dining halls today threatened to strike unless College officials conceded their demands for higher wages and a closed shop. As a result of a secret, almost unanimous vote late Monday night the cooks and waitresses, who represent 90 percent of Harvard's kitchen workers, decided to walk out on Monday unless the officials capitulate immediately.

After two weeks of negotiation with University Hall, the labor groups have made no headway, according to Joseph Stefani, leader of labor forces. He said that recourse to the strike action was necessary to impose a three-point program which has been consistently rejected by the College officers.

"The union wants: one, a closed shop; two, an increase in wages and three an abolition of the compulsory insurance plan which has been forced upon the workers by the University."

University is Holding Back

Because the A. F. of L. has such an overwhelming percentage of the kitchen workers enrolled in its ranks, the University, by refusing to allow a closed shop, "is denying the right of adequate collective bargaining," Stefani charged last night.

The leader revealed that with only three dissenting votes three hundred union members had-voted to walk out next Monday, "If we can't get a closed shop, we expect as least an increase in salaries and the removal of the compulsory insurance deduction from the pay checks."

Strike Will Cripple Dining Halls

Pointing out that the effect of the walk-out will be the complete breakdown of the dining hall systems in the Houses, at the Union and graduate school eating places, Stefani announced that A.F. of L. teamsters had pledged their support and will refuse to deliver food to the College. At the same time the strike will have the active backing of the Cambridge Central Labor Union, an organization of 30,000 workers in the city.

The union defended their move by claiming that waitresses and cooks find it hard to get a job during the summer. "We have to eat 365 days in the year, and because of this Harvard employees should have a higher wage level. The University pays its officers a yearly salary whether students are here or not."

Hits Inside Union

The inside union, a spontaneously-organized group of employees formed to combat the A.F. of L. encroschment last year, has tried to "poison the membership" of his organization. Stefani charged.

Last year, he said, the "company union" tried to obtain sole bargaining rights for the dining hall workers even though the A.F. of L. had already obtained certification of their exclusive privilege. Stefani found the H.U.E.R.A. labor group an "insidious" and "destructive force" which has "no hope of bettering working conditions."

College Has Backed Down

Because the College "has not lived up