Liggett's May Be Picketed Again If Contract Talks Fall Through

Students may soon again see pickets circling in front of Liggett's drug store at 1310 Massachusetts Avenue.

According to the Organizer of the Retail Pharmacists' Guild, A.F.L., Richard Stack, unless the company stops its "deliberately obstinate policy" toward his union, he will put paid pickets consisting of truckers and longshoremen on the store within the next week.

The first picketing started on April 26, when the Liggett's local walked out for salary hikes and hour reductions, according to the type of work.

However, the Local had no permission from the International Guild to stage the strike. Feeling that this wildcat strike was a bluff, the company refused to arbitrate; the president and secretary-treasurer of the Local returned to work two days later.

Claiming that the Local's executive board was "Irresponsible," the International disbanded the group. But this did not end the strike. Although most of the strikers returned, representatives of the Massachusetts A.F. of L. have spent the last month conferring with the company. According to the union, all these meetings have been deadlocked.

Officials of the local Liggett's stores would not comment on the walkout, and referred all inquires to their national headquarters.

Employees of 32 Liggett stores in metropolitan Boston and Brockton are scheduled to walk out. To pay for the strike, the union reports receiving donations which may total $70,000.

The company has offered a two-hour weekly work reduction and a $1-per-week pay raise; the union is demanding a two-to-four hour reduction and a $5 raise.

The original picketing started on April 26.