More than 300 workers, part of a coalition of Harvard and local unions, gathered in front of William James Hall and Holyoke Center yesterday afternoon to rally against Harvard's employment practices.

Nervous Harvard administrators packed the Yard and adjacent areas with police, and security was tightened for most of the afternoon.

The rally, which was entirely orderly, was intended to pressure Harvard into adopting a University-wide "responsible employer code." Such a code would require Harvard's contractors to abide by labor laws and to provide certain benefits and services to employees.

Donene M. Williams, president of the University's largest union, the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW), said the rally is the next step after months of failed discussions with the University.

"We are not getting anywhere with them and it is an extremely important issue for all of us," she said.

According to Mark Erlich, business manager of Carpenters' Local 40, renovations to the ninth floor of William James Hall are being conducted by a non-union contractor participating in illegal labor practices.

Erlich said the unnamed contractor is illegally classifying workers as independent contractors, paying substandard wages and providing little or no benefits and insurance. He criticized Harvard for "buying hot goods."

Yesterday's rally began at William James Hall. While the workers waited there, a parade of more than 100 union workers marched from Harvard Stadium down Kirkland Street, blocking the road, to join in the rally.

Harvard police and administrators, including Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III and Police Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley, stationed themselves across the street in front of the Church of New Jerusalem.

At William James, the workers listened to speeches by Erlich and Cambridge City Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves '72. The protesters then marched behind a Cambridge police escort through the Science Center gates. They circled around Massachusetts Hall and proceeded to Holyoke Center.

Police blocked off Mass. Ave. so protesters could cross to Holyoke Center. As they approached the building that houses most of the central administration, the protest became louder and more unified while employees and administrators watched the crowd from their office windows.

"Just in case [Harvard] hasn't heard us, we are going to ask Harvard one more time to agree to a University-wide policy agreement," said HUCTW Director Bill Jaeger. "We have drawn [a contract] up and signed it."

Jaeger and Faith Calhoun from Local 40 brought the contract to Timothy R. Manning, director of labor relations, for signing. According to Jaeger, Manning responded by saying, "Thank you very much; we have to think about it." Jaeger told Manning that the union would be right outside.

Subsequently, union workers began to chant, "Sign the Contract! Sign the Contract!"

After a few minutes, with no response apparent from administrators, Erlich shouted into the megaphone, "This is only the beginning.... We will be back."

The University was certainly prepared for the event. Police were stationed outside University Hall and at other Key points around campus, and several gates to the Yard were locked before and during the rally. A half-dozen Cambridge police officers on motorcycles and bikes tried to prevent protesters from blocking the street in front of William James Hall.