Students Plan Petition Against Strawberries

A group of Harvard and Radcliffe students met last night to formulate a petition in support of the United Farm Workers' lettuce boycott. According to Charlotte Ryan '71, "If a majority of the students sign the petition, Harvard Food Services may agree to stop buying non-union lettuce."

However, food services officials were non-committal when asked to comment on Harvard's policy. Benjamin Walcott, assistant purchasing agent, stated: "I personally would lend a sympathetic ear to a petition expressing the desires of the majority of the students, but Mr. Hurlburt would have to make the final policy decision." Charles G. Hurlburt, Director of the Food Services, refused to comment on the subject.

Pickets

The group also agreed to organize Harvard and Radcliffe picketing and leafleting in support of the United Farm Workers' strike. A steering committee will be set up next week to coordinate these activities.

The present United Farm Workers' strike is a result of the refusal of certain strawberry and lettuce growers (almost all except United Fruit) to recognize the farm workers' union, headed by Caesar Chavez. This week 21 farm workers are coming to Boston to continue the boycott of S. S. Pierce products and to help organize a boycott of all non-union lettuce coming from the Southwest, Ryan said.

Chavez and the farm workers hope that the lettuce boycott can be as successful in convincing lettuce and strawberry growers to negotiate with the United Farm Workers Union as the grape strike was last year.

According to Andrea O'Malley, representative of the United Farm Workers in Boston, "All lettuce which does not bear the union label, a black eagle on the package or a Chiquita trademark, must be boycotted."

Students supporting the cause of the farm workers are meeting again tonight at 8 p.m. to organize picket lines and distribution of petitions at the Catholic Student Center, 20 Arrow Street, opposite Adams House.