Coop's Effort to Deter Union Draws Fire From Organizers

An anti-union campaign launched by the management of the Harvard Cooperative Society has drawn criticism from union organizers and Coop employees for what they say are its distortions of the essential issues that concern Coop workers.

Joshua R. Kratka '79, a Coop employee active in the unionization effort, said yesterday a series of letters sent to all employees by James A. Argeros, general manager of the Coop, has confused and intimidated some workers.

The letters have been management's only official communication regarding the March 26 election that may give local 1445 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) the right to represent the employees at all six Coop branches in collective bargaining talks.

The store's policy forbids managers from making public statements on the unionization effort.

Kratka also charged the Coop with hiring a "union-busting" consultant who has been meeting with lower-level managers to advise them on tactics to discourage employees from supporting the union.

"They get together and talk about what they have to do to defeat the union." William T. McDonough, an organizer for local 1445, said Wednesday. "After department meetings, some of the managers come back and start different rumors about strikes, unemployment and profit-sharing," he added.

Guy D. Molyneux '81-3, one of 11 students on a proposed slate for election to the Coop's board of directors that has expressed its sympathy for the union effort, said Wednesday the Coop's anti-union literature has become more sophisticated since the consultant has been working with the store's management.

As an example of management's exaggeration of the possibly negative effects that unionization might entail, Kratka cited a statement in a letter from Argeros to Coop employees saying a union might be willing to trade away existing benefits to get mandatory membership. Local 1445 would be highly unlikely to make such a move, Kratka said, adding, "It's within the realm of possibility that there will be an earthquake tomorrow."

He explained that unions usually preserve the benefits already accorded to workers and attempt to achieve better wages and working conditions.

Kratka said management's chief tactic has been to confuse workers into thinking an affirmative vote in the March 26 election will immediately lead to union membership.

He emphasized that the election can only determine the union's representation in contract negotiations, adding that the employees have the option to turn down any agreement between the union and management.