Union Pensions Invested In South Africa Firms

A Harvard Union president who has led several on-campus rallies for divestment serves as a trustee of two union pension funds that at last count held more than $500,000 of stock in companies that do business in South Africa.

Domenic M. Bozzotto, who represents the University's dining hall workers, has primary responsibility for a portfolio that has included stock in Texaco, General Motors, and Caterpillar--all of which maintain operations in South Africa, according to Labor Department documents filed two years ago.

Bozzotto told The Crimson on Monday that the two funds--with total assets of more than $5 million--have not included any South Africa-related stocks since 1981.

But union disclosure forms show that at least until mid-1984 the union has held securities in companies which do business in South Africa. As the funds' treasurer, Bozzotto signed the forms in 1984. More recent disclosure forms are unavailable, Labor Department officials said.

Bozzotto did not return repeated phone calls to his home last night.

The union leader has been involved in numerous divestment protests along with other officers of the Hotel and Restaurant Local 26.

During the 350th celebration last month, Bozzotto helped lead a blockade of a formal alumni dinner at Memorial Hall, forcing the University administration to cancel the dinner. Last spring, Bozzotto organized a sit-in at the 350th office in Holyoke Center.

The disclosures of the union holdings follow allegations leveled at Bozzotto by Harvard Associate General Counsel Edward W. Powers. In an unprecedented letter dated Sept. 19, Powers accused the union head of a "hypocritical" stand on the apartheid issue. Powers refused to comment yesterday on whether the stock issue would affect Harvard's dealings with Bozzotto.

Powers' letter also denounced Bozzotto for the Memorial Hall episode and an incident several months ago when union activists "harassed" President Derek C. Bok at his home.

The Labor Department forms, which are required for all unions, show that in 1984 Bozzotto's union held $150,000 in Caterpillar stock, and $125,000 in Texaco stock, both of which were purchased that year.

A smaller trust contains $80,000 in Caterpillar stock and $70,000 in Texaco. Both companies comply with the Sullivan Principles, according to a spokesman for the Investor Responsibility Research Corp. in Washington, D.C.

Neither of the funds contains Harvard employees' money, which is deposited in the University's own pension plan. The funds do, however, contain money from Marriott workers who staff the Kresge Dining Hall at the Business School, and who are not under a Harvard contract.