Fogg Stewards Abruptly Dismissed by Union

In an abrupt move, the union which represents University security guards and museum attendants has dismissed all but two of its shop stewards.

The move, made last month, leaves members of AFL-CIO Local 254 with significantly fewer options if they have a grievance against their bosses.

The security guard unit, for example, had four of its stewards removed, leaving just one steward to represent 90 guards. That one is Howard Reid, the least experienced of the five stewards elected by the guards.

And museum attendants no longer have a union representative elected by members as a result of the change, according to sources.

In a confidential March 17 memorandum to union employees, Local 254 business agent Kathleen Conway said she dismissed the stewards because The Crimson published secret union information in a March 14 article.

Conway termed the leaks "unconscionable" and suggested they were made by union stewards.

"Due to alarming breach of protocol, internal union business concerning museum attendants has been leaked to the student newspaper," Conway wrote in her memo, which was obtained by The Crimson.

The March 14 article detailed problems in the management of the Fogg Art Museum's attendants, who are represented by Local 254. Parttime attendants charged that they are forced to work full-time schedules without overtime play, and full-time employees said they are afraid to take sick time when they are ill for fear of losing their jobs.

Museum management denied the allegations.

The article also quoted several union sources criticizing Conway and the union for failing to provide adequate representation.

Conway said in her memo that she would step up scrutiny of the union because of problems "at the steward level."

But in interviews last week, sources charged that Conway has hurt the ability of union members to defend themselves from management.

The sources said that Conway has unnecessarilydelayed union grievances, turning an appealprocess that once took days into one that lastsfor months.

Conway has also failed to live up to a promiseto name a committee to discuss the number of hoursworked by museum attendants, according to sources.

The business agent reportedly maintains thatthere is such a committee, but has refused to tellunion members who serves on the body. According tosources, the committee has not met.

Conway and Local 254 president Edward T.Sullivan did not return repeated telephone callslast week

The sources said that Conway has unnecessarilydelayed union grievances, turning an appealprocess that once took days into one that lastsfor months.

Conway has also failed to live up to a promiseto name a committee to discuss the number of hoursworked by museum attendants, according to sources.

The business agent reportedly maintains thatthere is such a committee, but has refused to tellunion members who serves on the body. According tosources, the committee has not met.

Conway and Local 254 president Edward T.Sullivan did not return repeated telephone callslast week