Powers Responds to Union's Criticism

In response to a leaflet circulated this weekend by Harvard's dining hall shop stewards alleging that the University has not bargained in good faith, the administration's chief negotiator yesterday distributed a letter saying the charge was "unauthorized and untrue."

Edward W. Powers, associate general counsel for employee relations, signed the letter which says he walked out of the initial contract bargaining session April 9 only after "the union suggested that negotiations be called off."

The letter adds that Powers informed the union the following week he was available to resume talks "at any time."

The stalled negotiations are expected to resume early next week.

Officials of Local 26, which represents Harvard's dining hall workers, did not prepare or sanction the leaflet, Powers' letter says.

But Edward B. Childs, chief shop steward for Harvard dining hall employees, said yesterday while the shop stewards drafted the leaflet, the ideas were discussed at a meeting of Local 26, officials and dining hall representatives.

"He has no right to say what he does in that letter--he's trying to confuse the issue," Childs said, adding that Powers aimed the letter more at the Harvard community than the workers.

Powers said he felt the leaflet "seemed so inaccurate that it should be answered."

Earlier in the week, Powers asked Local 26 to clarify the charges in the letter, but union officials declined.

At the initial negotiating session, Powers termed the union's demands "unrealistic" and refused to offer a counterproposal.

Down to Work

While Powers declined to comment on his strategy for the next round of bargaining, he said "It's time we got down to some serious collective bargaining."

While union sources said Local 26 will stick to its original list of demands--including a 20-per-cent across the board raise, improved fringe benefits and additional holidays--Local 26 will tell Powers which demands are priorities.

Powers' letter agrees with the union leaflet's plea for a "healthy atmosphere" for negotiation, but says such a climate will not result "from the distribution of unauthorized and untrue statements."

The shop steward's letter had termed, the University's original offer--voted down by the membership in March--of successive 10-, 9-, and 8-per-cent wage increases, "a public relations gimmick." Powers last week called the charge "ridiculous."