Restaurant Employees Return After Settlement Ends Lockout

Business returned to normal this week at two Mt. Auburn St. restaurants where picketing and a lock-out last Thursday ended in a settlement a day or two after the unrest began.

Only a few meals at Ferdinand's and the Ha' Penny Pub, which share a building at 121 Mt. Auburn St. were disrupted when 25 waiters, waitresses and bartenders there picketed outside to protest management's position in contract talks.

The workers had sought a 25-cent increase in their $2.01 hourly salary. Their new contract does not include a raise, and although the workers say they are happy with the settlement, they add that they plan to press for a wage hike when the contract expires in a year.

Management and the workers union compromised on the wage issue by agreeing to a one-time cash bonus for waiters that increases in value with seniority. Greg Roberts, a waiter at Ferdinand's and shop steward of the union, said that a waiter with more than five years experience would receive a $200 bonus, while one with six months to a year on the job would get $50.

The employees, all members of Local 26 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union, continued to work last Thursday but asked customers not to patronize the establishments while they sought a wage hike. They had worked without a contract since last Monday, when their previous one-year pact expired.

A few hours after picketing began, management locked the employees out and brought in substitutes.

Plans

"We didn't get the wage increase, but we got cash bonuses for the waiters," explained Roberts yesterday. "We made it clear that we are interested in pursuing wage gains. Next year we expect [our wage request] to be addressed."

Manager Paul Keeler said "I was not able to be a pioneer" in providing a wage increase, explaining that. "In the industry, just about everyone pays the minimum wage. This was a compromise that worked out fine."

Roberts agreed, saying. "It was a real success. Spirits are high and the relationship between managers and workers is fine. There are no hard feelings."

The settlement came on Friday morning after a negotiating session Thursday night.

Both sides said they were glad the job action ended quickly. Said Roberts. "People feel really good that they only had to be outside for a day."

Keeler said "The strike was short-lived and we're glad about that."

Effective

Picketers last week said they discouraged about half of the two restaurants' customers from entering. Keeler said business has bounced back and Roberts added that "it's not as if people aren't coming any more."

Roby Fader, a waiter at Ferdinand's, said that "I think we were all fearing that we'd lose their jobs. It's good to be back. I feel good about it and I think most people do."

Not the First Time

Last week's dispute came about a year and a half after the workers joined Local 26. The employees gained membership after a month of picketing and negotiations following the unexpected dismissal of 13 workers in January 1982.