Demonstrators Invade Filene's To Protest Farah Pants Sale

Boston police last night prevented 50 chanting workers and students from confronting Filene's department store officials at the climax of a 90-minute protest against the sale of Farah pants by local stores.

Demonstrators tried to enter the store after picketing Kennedy's and Jordan Marsh which were both heavily guarded by plainclothes policemen. The protesters were expelled from Filene's by police after five minutes. The police reportedly threatened arrests.

Store officials had met earlier yesterday to decide how to deal with demonstrators. An official of Kennedy's last night declined to coment on the effects of the picketing, which a demonstration leader said "almost shut down" the three stores.

The demonstration--organized by the Attica Brigade, an anti-imperialist student group--came in the wake of a decision Thursday by the Farah Manufacturing Co. to shut down two more of its plants and lay off 900 workers.

The shutdowns are the result of an 18-month and nation-wide boycott against Farah led by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union. The union is currently attempting to organize 3000 Farah workers, 85 per cent of whom are Chicano women.

Complaints against the company include low pay, job insecurity and lack of fringe benefits. The company has denied the charges.

The closing of the Farah plants, as well as the onset of the Christmas shopping season, provided the impetus for last night's picketing, a demonstration leader said yesterday.

"Farah is weakening, so a big push now could push the workers over the top," he added.

The Farah Strike Support Committee, of which the Attica Brigade is a member, has been picketing Filene's regularly every Saturday since this summer.

Several local stores, including the Coop, have already halted their purchases of Farah clothes