But the coalition's letter cites five examples pointing toward a breakdown in labor-management relations. One example is Harvard's hiring outside non-union contractors to do work on campus. Rudenstine said yesterday that financial prudence and responsibility require the University to put contracts up for bids.

Vice President for Administration Sally H. Zeckhauser said last night Harvard encourages both union and non-union contractors to submit bids for construction work, and she said the current Yard renovations are an example of "a very successful" agreement touse union contractors.

The coalition also says in the letter that"management negotiators have adopted a hostile andunyielding posture" in the stalled negotiationswith the clerical and technical workers, whosecontract expired June 30. Zeckhauser said lastnight she does not think management negotiatorshave been mean-spirited.

The letter also refers to Harvard's treatmentof Harold W. Hirtle, a union shop steward at theUniversity Publisher, who claimed he wasunlawfully suspended from his job to penalize himfor his union activities. Harvard rescinded thesuspension.

The union letter says the National LaborRelations Board ruled that Harvard broke the lawin its conduct; Zeckhauser said she thinks thecomplaint was dropped.

The federal Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration also fined Harvard $12,500 forsafety violations at the University Publisher, theletter says. Zeckhauser said the violations havebeen corrected.

The letter from the unions also included acomplaint about the definition of "public safetyrisks" by supervisors at the Harvard UniversityPolice Department.

Zeckhauser cited recent contract settlementsbetween Harvard and two other labor unions asexamples of labor relations successes.Gady A. Epstein contributed to the reporting ofthis story.