The waitresses would like to begin new negotiations, since the prolonged strike is becoming financially costly both to the Union and to Cronin's.
Today the waitresses will present Cronin with a letter requesting new negotiations and outlining seven conditions that Cronin must agree to before negotiations can begin again.
The letter states that during the two-month strike there have been misunderstandings on both sides and that both sides will have to make a new effort to come together.
The waitresses also deny charges recently made by Cronin that the Union has been responsible for telephone threats made to one of the waitresses who is still working at the restaurant.
The new letter lists the following prerequisites for negotiations:
* Cronin must give the Union written notifications of contract items already agreed upon.
* Cronin must agree to a base wage of $1.35 per hour with raises left open to negotiation.
* Cronin must agree to provide health insurance to waitresses who work over 30 hours per week with at least half the cost of the insurance paid by the restaurant.
* Waitresses must no longer be responsible for customers who walk out without paying their bills.
* All Waitresses who have been fired since the start of the strike must be reinstated and all charges against them dropped.
* Cronin must agree to either add 15 per cent of the bill onto the bill as a service charge or to post signs saying that tips constitute half a waitress's salary and that a 15 per cent tip is expected at the restaurant.
The major concession made by the waitresses in this offer is on tipping.
Cronin had not received the letter as of publication time so he could not comment on it. The waitresses are hoping that even if Cronin is unwilling to accept the letter as a basis for new negotiations, that, at least he will offer some counter-proposals. During the picketing HSWU has received strong support from many groups including: Women for Action Against Sexism, the Cambridge Tenants Organizing Committee, the University Action Group. Students for a Democratic Society, United Radical Political Economists, Radical Lesbians, and the Adams House Collective. Support from individuals as well as members of these groups has enabled the fledgling union to keep picket lines going and support their strike fund.
Members of the Union decided early in the strike not to affiliate with the only local service workers union AFL-CIO Local 277, because it is not an agressive union in bargaining for its members, and according to Welch, many of its present members are dissatisfied with it.
At present the HSWU struggle is centered around Cronin's. There are members of the Union from other restaurants but the Union has out of necessity decided to focus on Cronin's. Waitresses from other restaurants have not so far been able to contribute much to the picketing effort since most of them work at restaurants during picketing hours.
HSWU HAS THE PICKETING support, the legal expertise, and strike fund behind their small but determined union that will enable the waitresses to perpetuate the Cronin's strike.
For the 12 waitresses who have existed without jobs since they began the strike, Cronin's must be the immediate goal, but the waitresses also look forward to a day when all the restaurants in the Square will be organized, and waitressing will become a legitimate and secure occupation, not just a shit job