GETTING COZY

At The Game last week, Yale may have scored one too many touchdowns. But this week, the country's number-one safety school is striking out.

Down in New Haven this week, striking graduate students were joined by members of other university unions to protest Yale's refusal to recognize the teaching assistants' union.

Similar strikes have occurred at other college campuses, including the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

No such strife at Harvard. Here, graduate students might think twice before striking a match. Meanwhile, labor and management are getting along quite well, thank you.

Harvard now finds itself poised at the start of its first contract renegotiation with the University's largest union, the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW). The efforts to gain University recognition of the union several years ago were nothing less than a battle. But this time, both sides seem to be bracing for a lovefest. They are ready not just to deal, but to deal fairly.

Ironic Crossroads

Ironically, on the same day of the Yale strike, Harvard's negotiations got off to a rosy start with "Crossroads," a series of speeches and discussions aimed at facilitating the upcoming process. Both HUCTW members and administrators participated in the day's events.

"The problems that the University faces are the problems that we all face," says Vice President for Administration Sally H. Zeckhauser. The key, says Zeckhauser, is that both sides have put aside past differences and are now set to work together.

Although the atmosphere at Harvard is now positive, Harvard has not always been free from labor strife.

In 1988, Harvard's clerical and support staff voted to form HUCTW. The University opposed the unionization of the workers, and fought the move in court.

After a bitter fight, the University lost. At that point, management and a newly formed union sat together at the bargaining table for the first time. And after just four months of surprisingly peaceful negotiations, HUCTW and Harvard agreed on their first contract.

That contract will expire this June, making it necessary that these negotiations move quickly. The University has scheduled formal talks to begin in late winter or early spring to provide ample time for thorough negotiations, says Donene M. Williams, HUCTW president.

Both sides agree that the key to success is that both the University and the union have learned from the past.

"There has been a tremendously positive change in the University," Williams says, pointing out that many officials who were once vemently anti-union now work closely with HUCTW.

"I credit the University with learning a lot...We've learned a lot," she says.

The Crossroads Project--which will continue throughout the month--will serve two vital functions, according to Zeckhauser. First, it will serve as a backdrop to set the mood and atmosphere for the negotiations. Second, the meetings will be a "diagnostic snapshot," which will highlight pertinent issues for both sides.

"I can't predict with confidence that all will go well, but I can predict that both sides will work hard--positively," she says.

No Secret What HUCTW Wants

But just because union and management have agreed to work together does not mean that there are not still differences. "It is no secret what we [HUCTW] want," Williams says.

She says that HUCTW's wish list for the new contract includes three main items: work security, structural pay increases and added health benefits.

Williams stresses the difference between work security and job security. "What we ask for is that we will always have a place at the University," even if particular job assignments need to change, Williams says.

Just like other unions, HUCTW also seeks "decent structural increases" in pay. In other words, as Williams says, "We want some good money."

And the union will ask for added child and dental care benefits--concentrating especially on coverage for same-sex couples.

Williams attributes the optimistic attitude of union members to HUCTW's strength and philosophy. The negotiations will proceed smoothly, Williams predicts, because "our union is very strong."

"We work under the premise that there is always hope for change and there is always hope for progress."

HUCTW success and positive attitude has won it a respected role in the national labor scene. Williams says that the union has helped organize similar groups at the University of Minnesota, the University of Massachusetts at Worcester, Tufts University and Middlebury College.

"The successes that we have had are now starting to catch on in other places," she says. So, she concludes, the outcome of these negotiations is extremely important. "This is for the future of the labor movement," she says.

The two sides both acknowledge that the path to an eventual settlement will be rocky at times. But members from both sides say they are looking forward to the challenge.

"It will be an interesting time," says Zeckhauser, "And, I'm feeling very positive about it."

Such optimism is also coming from the very top. In his address at this week's Crossroads event, President Neil L. Rudenstine expressed his confidence in both negotiating parties.

"We have to anticipate some dificulties," he said. "We are going to make mistakes, but I think we can do this."