BGMA members realize that a strike by the BGMA alone might embarrass the University, but would certainly not cripple its operation since Harvard could get along without its painters, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers for a few weeks. Furthermore, some members claim that there are enough loopholes in the law to allow Harvard to farm out much of the regular work to outside contractors working on special jobs. If, on the other hand, the BGMA members were associated with the AFL-CIO, they could count on definite support for their strike from other AFL-CIO unions, inside Harvard as well as out.

Essentially this means that if the Buildings and Grounds craftsmen went out on strike, they could count on the shutting down of Harvard's kitchens and dining rooms, since most of the 500 cooks and serving ladies are members of AFL-CIO unions. The BGMA members reason, probably correctly, that it wouldn't take Harvard very long to see their point of view once the kitchens were closed and the students weren't being fed.

Extra Bonus

By mid-autumn the BGMA officers found an organization that seemed to combine just what they required--professional bargainers, trade identity preservation, and AFL-CIO affiliation. This organization, ponderously named the Boston Crafts Maintenance Council, had an extra bonus since it would permit the old BGMA members to preserve some of their former autonomy.

Actually, the Boston Crafts Maintenance Council isn't a union at all but is a council of business agents for the Boston locals of the AFL-CIO affiliated trade unions. Under the BCMC plan for Harvard, the BGMA would be disbanded and each former member would join the union appropriate

In the past the small casual unions were adequate for the members desires. But both the needs of Harvard's workers have changed and the ways in which negotiations are carried on. While most of the University's employees are proud to work at Harvard, the security and prestige of their jobs won't silence their demands. Its not like the old days when "no one complained because getting a job at Harvard was like being elected to the U.S. Senate." to his trade. When it came time for negotiations, not one, but five, business agents would meet with Harvard. What made the BCMC plan especially attractive was the provision that some members of the old BGMA would be named to the bargaining committee and that the business agents would not sign the contracts until they had been approved specifically by the membership working at Harvard.

In early December, the BCMC business agents met with the BGMA membership and explained their proposal. Two weeks later the BGMA membership met and voted to assimilate themselves into the Boston Crafts Manitenance Council and to have the Council perform all bargaining functions. The Council, therefore, expected the University to recognize it as the agent for the old BGMA membership. But, a short time before the election John W. Teele, director of Harvard personnel, had received a telegram from Eddy Sullivan declaring that the BSEIU was the bargaining agent for the BGMA membership because of the authorization cards. After negotiating all summer and fall with Richardson and the BGMA staff; the University was unable to determine just who was unable to determine just who was representing whom and contract negotiations were broken off.

Petitions were filed by different groups with the State Labor Relations Commission, which will eventually decide, either by a judgment or an election, which group actually represents the craftsmen of Harvard. The decision is not due for some time since the State Commission has a huge backlog of cases created by new laws allowing public school teachers to bargain. Meanwhile the B&G crtfatsmen continued to work under a contract signed in 1964.

This long, still unended, battle probably will not be the last. Members of several other small independent unions at Harvard claim to feel at a disadvantage when negotiating with management and they too are anxious for affiliation with larger unions.

"Times have changed," one union member says, "and things at Harvard aren't so cozy anymore. Years ago no one complained because getting a job at Harvard was like being elected to the U.S. Senate. But not anymore.