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B ox 43 6,A us ton o 21 34 A·lston Br- ghton - . . P.O .VOLUME 3 NUMBER 7One Too Many for Allston-Brightonby Gloria LeipzigOn November 30, at the BrightonMunicipal Building, members ofthe Boston Licensing Board heardlocal residents' complaints aboutthe operation of McMahon's, alounge on Market Street nearBrighton Center. Nearly 100 peopleattended this meeting, most ofthem hoping to persuade the boardto curtail operation of the establishment in some way.Residents who live near thelounge testified that patrons ofMcMahon's "have made this pastyear unbearable." Loud noise, fistfights, burning rubber, urinating onfront lawns and buildings, tireslashings, and broken beer bottleswere among the problems cited bythose in attendance.Detective William Currier of District 14 reported that the policehave filed close to 50 documentedcomplaints and have received another 250 calls about this sectorfrom January to October of thisyear. Fifteen people (only one ofwhom was from Brighton) were re-tion "are not necessarily our kids.There are other bars and liquorstores in the area, too. The prob lems occur outside our establishment, not inside, but unfortunatelythey reflect on us." Petitti said thatmore police surveillance of the areawas necessary. "If the police crackdown," he said, "the troublemakers will stay away. "Joe Smith, President of the Allston Civic Association, summed upthe feelings of most of those at themeeting when he exhorted theboard "to do your job. We want relief." Their decision will be announced by the middle of January.Harvard Streetcently arrested on disorderly personcharges outside the tavern. In Currier's opinion "the owner is not inproper control of the premises."Mr. Andrew Petitti, who ownsMcMahon's, told the CommunityNews that he felt that "there is aproblem with young people congregating outside in the neighborhood" but that the youth in ques-Many residents of Allston arenow looking to the Board's rulingon McMahon's for an indication of the success they may have in theireffort to close the Harvard Streetbars at midnight. Petitions to thateffect are now being drawn up, andresidents are beginning to gather in-formation from neighbors aad po(continued on page 10)Ippmg Away at -idelis' Prob emsby Tom Gallagher\The CHIP that's moved i.ntoapartment 499 at 13 Fidelis Wayisn't the new kid on the block.CHIP is the Commonwealth HealthImprovement Program, a new andvery interesting health care servicefor Fidelis residents.Orlando Isaza, the program's director, describes it as "a combination of community organizing andhealth care education. In a situationlike that at Fidelis ·Way the twomust go hand in hand. It is not sufficient to simply find patients. AtFidelis Way the major issues areday-to-day survival-lack of heat,leaks, roaches, rats, insecurity andfear. Health care must be dealt within that entire context. "The broader view which Isazaoutlined does not, however, meanthat the program will ignore themore traditional aspects of healthcare. Screening dates will regularlybe set up at the CHIP office for hypertension, diabetes and otheradult and childhood diseases. .There are no plans for the program to develop into a clinic offering medical treatment within theconfines of the project. Instead,people found to be in need of medical care will be steered to one of themember organizations in the Allston-Brighton Medical Coalition.The Coalition, which sponsoredthe new program, consists of St.Elizabeth's Hospital, St. John ofGod, Kenn, dy Memoi-ial, the Hahnemann, Brooks Hospital, thePublic Health Hospital and theNeighborhood Health Center. St.Elizabeth's administers the grantfrom the United Way Program, under which CHIP was started.Beyond the ProjectFor Bart McDonough, referringFidelis Way residents to outside facilities is an important principle.McDonough, who is chairman ofthe Tenants Task Force, observedthat , "By bringing too much stuffin here we could reinforce the impression that you can't leave theproject. For example, kids fromhere haven't been using the WestEnd House because they feelthey're not entitled to it-and withgood reason. People from the projects are generally treated like fifthclass citizens."All of us are grateful to the institutions which are sponsoringCHIP, especially St. Elizabeth'sand John Lynch who's workedhard on it. It's really needed andeventual1y will be well utilized whenpeople get to know Orlando and thestudents working there. It will helpto integrate Fidelis residents intoAllston Brighton."Another important principle forMcDonough is tenant participationin CHIP's development. "Thewhole concept is to run everythingthat goes on with CHIP past theTenants Task Force, or a generaltenants meeting when that's appropriate," he said, "Nothing is to goon without tenant involvement."Health ActivationCHIP director Isaza, who liveson Commonwealth Avenue inBrighton, is especially enthusiasticabout the upcoming Health Activation Program, an approach tohealth care which proved very successful when used among coal miriers in West Virginia-a groupwhich suffers greatly from environmentally related health problems.(continued on page 9)Inside the NewsPage 2Local woman wins awardPage 3A new look for Comm. Ave.Page 4Historic preservationPage 5Mass artPages 6-7 Unions and workersOur centerfold this month focuseson union organizing. It includes articles on union busting, the 9t05Convention for Working Women,and the maintenance workers'strike at Boston University.Page'SChildbearing rightsPage 9Anti-nuclear activisthonoredPage 10Food coopPage 11Parking in winterPage 12Community services '2 2 :i " lournal Publ ish ing Co .
-@ABCNewsBOX 436ALLSTON, MASS.02134542-5351L·ocalWOlllanHonoredWe'll spurn the leash of blight that keeps us stranded:It's chafing close through our existence, friendsThe hellish leash that brands and mocks our manhood, We'll spurn its lead and shun its mordant ends.Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!Contributors: Louise Bonar, Susan Compernolle, Lou Cooney,Charles Cristello, Steve Lewis,Mary MacVean, Pat McGuigan,Bob Polk .Photographer: Sharon HamerCirculation: 5000 mont ly to bedistributed throughout AllstonBrightonAdvertising: The display advertising' rate is 4.00 per columninch. Columns are 2 Y3 incheswide. Front page advertising isnot ccepted.For thosewho preferthe sound ofmusic tothe sound ofsp akers.Infinity'S Qe. 109.Action for Boston CommunityDevelopment, Inc. (ABCD), itsArea Planning Action Councils(APACs), Action Centers, and delegate agencies will honor the best ofthe best . 15 community volunteers cited in 1978 for their outstanding contributions to theirneighbors and neighborhoods.Rogera Robinson, a Brightonresident for 28 years and mother of14 children, is the Allston-BrightonAPAC award nominee . In 1963,concerned with the limited numberof minorities involved in her community, she gathered friends together to participate in the new Allston-Brighton APAC. With her extensive involvement in APAC planning and her concern for the Community, Mrs. Robinson was electedone of the first incorporating directors of the APAC Board, on whichshe served for three years, one asTreasurer.With her youngest child and oneof her 10 grandchildren enrolled inHead Start, she became a leaderand dedicated worker in the program and was elected by the Allston-Brighton Head Start PolicyCommittee to sit on the citywideHead Start Policy Council. She waslater elected Council Chairperson.Mrs. Robinson's concern with theeducation of her 14 children alsoprompted her membership in sixhome and school associations. Sheis also a member of several mentalhealth boards./'Infinity's uniquetechnology has been compacted into a remarkablebookshelf speaker just18 x 12 x 10 inches. Needsas little as 10 watts/ channel and can handle 100.It has Infinity's EMITTMtweeter and Q-woofer Impeccable musicalaccuracy at an incredibleprice. Hear Qe . Prove itto yourself. InflnityLeb ()w. Lab§424 Cambridge StreetAllston, Massachusetts 02134617-782-06001/10th of a mile from theAllston DepotP GE2HOLIDAY GREETINGSAgain comes fondly celebrated ChristmasWhile furtively we lay our bomb away.-.But we, 0 fellow men, can all be princesOf peace and light without deceit's delay.Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!Staff: Susan Bregman, TomCohan, Lainy Fersh, JerryFeuer, Tom Gallagher, AnnGetman , Tom Huth, GloriaLeipzigSubscriptions: For 5.00 pe year you can get the ABCNmailed to your house ;On his 89th birthday, world citizen Isidore. wishes the AllstonBrighton Community News and its friends all the good that genuine life-concern and creativity deserves.LetterDear ABCN:I am writing to your paper because I don't know who else wouldlisten. I used to live in Brighton andAllston. While living there I ob- ,served some of the problems of thatcommunity. One that is distressingme is the loss of one- and twofamily homes. There are some really beautiful homes in Brighton-Allston, but they may soon be joiningmemories past. One in particular isa beautiful Victorian home I livedin on Selkirk Road in Brighton. Recently the zoning law has beenchanged to force the home to occupy only four people instead of thetwelve. There is only one problemwith that. I don't think it could bepossible for any family to occupyThe greed of commerce that suspends all virtue,The love of fatherland that fails.green earthWe'll stem these in our earth-and-heaven raptureAnd ring-in, bring-in'a long-waiting mirth.Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!-Isidore LevittArson Law AppliedOn October 15, Massachusettsbecame the first state to enact a lawspecifically aimed at stopping arson-for-profit. Recently, the Symphony Tenants' Organizing Project(STOP), with the cooperation ofpublic officials, applied the new lawfor the first time.Here's how they made it work.1391Commonwealth Avenue,Boston, managed by Massachusettslandlord Frederic Clayton, was thescene last spring of a half dozenfires of suspicious origin, includingone ignited by a burning broomsent crashing through a basementwindow. Tenants suspected arsonand moved out. Along with members of STOP (the prime sponsorsof the new law), they discoveredthat the abandoned property atsuch a house due to the high fueland tax bills. The only real way is torent to a group of people. The landlords were community consciousdespite what some people wouldsay. They purposely left ,the backyard intact because they didn'twant to see ugly parking lots dominating the landscape. They wouldrather have a neighborhood ofgrass and trees.What I want to say is that if myold house can't have a greater number of people renting there, chancesare someone will buy the home forthe sheer purpose of destroying it.In fact I heard that a neighbor ofALLSTON-BRIGHTON COMMUNITY NEWS1391 was overinsured. They then ./went to Andy Olins, the mayor'sspecial assistant for housing, whoused the unfair act clause of the lawand threatened to sue for overinsurance.According to STOP memberAnni Waterflow: "Without insurance, there's no point burning abuilding." On November 28, Frederic Clayton's insurance on 1391(and 1395) Commonwealth Avenuewill be cancelled. To avoid an " accidental" fire, the insurance company has posted a guard at thebuilding.For more information on how touse the new anti -arson law, callSTOP at 267-4637, or the AttorneyGeneral's criminal division, at727-2240.ours who initiated the zoningchange against us has had his eye onthe property for either an ugly .parking lot or a sterile lookingsquare apartment house complex.One problem with Boston is thathomes like these wind up havingmysterious fires. It's always a lossto everyone except the developerwho can manage to obtain a cheapcheesebox-like house or one of theirspecialties-the square anti-aesthetic roach infested building. Is thereanything you can possibly do as acommunity conscious paper?-A.N.R.DEC,EMBER 1978-JANUARY 1979
LocalResidents Hear Plansjor Comm. Ave. RenovationA tee Grows in Brighton . Maybeby Susan Bregmanthe meeting favored trees overparking. Susan Dillard of ChesterSt. said, "I'm glad to see the treescoming back, even if it means a lossof parking spaces." Don Gratz ofthe Jackson-Mann CommunitySchool said, "A few parking spacesone way or the other won't makenearly as much of a difference asmore trees will."The people of Allston-Brightonwant more trees.By 1981 they may have them.About '50 people came to a November 14 meeting to hear plans fora proposed renovation of Commonwealth Ave. between BrightonAve. and Warren St.The plan centers around relocating the streetcar tracks to the middle of Comm. Ave., building betterplatforms and shelters at bus andtrolley stops, making left-turn lanesat Warren St., Harvard Ave., andBrighton Ave., upgrading trafficsignals, and providing crosswalks,betterstreetlights,wheelchairramps, and so-called "pedestrianamenities" like benches, telephonebooths, and trash receptacles.And, of course, more trees.Ann Muenster, Little City Hallmanager, agre,e d. ' I vote for treesover parking overwhelmingly," shesaid. Noting that Brookline residents park in Allston-Brighton atnight because of the ban on overnight parking in their town, sheadded, "I'd rather see more treesthan parking for Brookline."Others disagreed. A representative from Hamilton Realty, whichowns commercial and residentialproperty along Comm . Ave., presented letters from 100 tenants asking both for more parking andmore trees.George Franklin of Commonwealth Ave. said that he ;lidn'tbelieve the renovations would improve traffic flow and that it wouldbe cheaper instead to have a fewpolice officers direct traffic."What's this plan going toaccomplish besides making the areapretty?" he asked. "Can you movebetter? If people can't move betterthey won't come and do business,and if they don't do business! youcan shove all this back down toWashington. ' ,Arnie Ginsberg of the AllstonBoard of Trade raised similar questions. He objected to decreasing theparking, asked if moving the streetcar tracks was really necessary, andquestioned the changed trafficflow.A Tree Grows in BrightonWhen Comm. Ave. was originally landscaped, there were about 300trees in this section. Only 129 havesurvived this long. According to therenovation plans, 13 healthy treeswould be cut down, but 182 newones would be planted for a total of298.Twelve trees are slated for theHarvard Ave. area where currently,said Boston Redevelopment Agency (BRA) landscape architect Shirley Muirhead, "The only greenthinss are the trolleys.". If the plan means more trees, italso means fewer parking spaceslegal and otherwise. Right nowthere are 527 legal spaces; the renovations would elimJnate 37.Trees Versus ParkingA clear majority of the people at-: ;.Gultekin Sultan (left) pOints out proposed changes on Commonwealth Ave."Everybody here likes the trees; Idon't hear anyone who likps moving the tracks," he said. Whereupon David Trietsch, local BRAplanner, said, "The reason formoving the tracks is that this isfunded by the Urban Systems Program, not Urban Trees."Safety Is a FactorThe other reason is safety. Rerouting the tracks will better separate automobile and streetcar traffic, reducing the potential for accidents. Gultekin Sultan of the designfirm Tippetts, Abbett, IvlcCarthy,Stratton explained, "We will beimproving the safety substantiallyby making better use of the roadway."Safety was also the reason citedfor eliminating the present left turnfrom the inbound traffic lane ontoReedsdale St. However, this wouldleave no left turn between Harvardand Brighton avenues, and manypeople felt that this would just funnel more cars onto Harvard Ave.Sultan said that there were moreautomobile-streetcar accidents atReedsdale St. than at either Harvard or Brighton avenues; hencethe proposed change.But none of this is final. PhilCaruso of the Mass. Department ofPublic Works said, "Basically whatyou see here are conceptual plans.We'd like a sense of direction fromyou."If everyone translates conceptinto action successfully, construction will start in the summer of 1980and last two construction seasons.The federal Urban Systems Program is funding the project. Underthe setup, the federal governmentpays 70 percent of the cost while thestate picks up the rest. The estimated cost: 3 million.But there are still a few wrinklesto be worked out, like trees, parking, and left turns . J he meetIngsponsors tape recorded the sessionand plan to address every issueraised. David Trietsch promisedanother meeting by the end of January.We may see those trees yet.FREE!! !You receive FREE for opening anyChristmas Club . two of thesehandso e, full-color Christmastree ornamentsDecoratedwith-classic Currier & Ives scenes. Come in now and start your,Christmas shopping early!Open a Christmas Club with usand we 1I help decorate your tree.BRIGHTON CO-OPERATIVE BANKPhone 782-5570Allston OfficeBrighton Office157 Brighton Avenue414 Washington StreetAllston, Mass. 02134Brighton, Mass. 02135Both offices open Saturdays 9 to 12:30DECEMBERl 8 ANUARYl 9ALLSTON-BRIGHTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAGE 3
ArchitecturePreserving Brighton's Pastby Susan Bregman\Tucked away among the storefronts and factories and gas stations, Allston-Brighton has a fewbuildings of architectural and historic significance.So say two consultants to theBoston Landmarks Commission,Pam Fox and Rick Shaklik, whocompleted an inventory of AllstonBrighton buildings last summer.Their report, which they presentedto the commission, recommendedthe following buildings for consideration for landmark designation. Allston Depot, the only remaining Roman.esque Revival suburban railroad station in Boston Che tnut Hill Reservoir PumpingStations, monumental Romanesque. Revival and Beaux ArtsbuildingsThomas Gardner House, HigginsSt., the last standing eighteenthcenturyhouseinAllstonBrighton and the home of a Revolutionary War Patriot killed onBunker HillHarvard Stadium, the first massive reinforced concrete structureand first permanent arena forcollege athletics in the countryLearned Mansion, Corey Rd., aGreek Revival building formerlythe home of an important Brighton familyOak Square School, the lastwooden schoolhouse in Boston.The Designation ProcessThesearesuggestionsonly,stresses Judy McDonough of theLandmarks Commission. None ofthese structures is close to landmarkdesignation at the moment.An architectural or natural feature (for instance, the Boston Common) may receive designation under one ' of four categories in Boston: landmark, landmark district,architectural conservation district,or protection area. The six buildings mentioned here fall into the JOHN HELFER'SHOFBRAU 1314 Commonwealth Avenue,AllstonGERMAN-AMERICAN CUISINEX-mas parties a specialty. Th all-newRathskeller Lounge. Banquet accommodations . Distinctive catering. Entertainment Fri.-Sat. John & PaulineHelfer, your host and hostess. For reservations call 232-4242.American Express/ Carte Blanche/ VISAlandmark category-a specificbuilding or feature with significance to the city, the state, and either the region or the nation.Designation means that physicalchanges to the property must conform to design standards established as part of the designationprocess. It in no way precludes newconstruction or additions to an existing building.The process is a long one, madeeven longer because the LandmarksCommission is so understaffed.Any 10 Boston voters, the mayor,or a member of the commissionmay petition the group to designatea building or feature. The commission then prepares a study reportand holds a public hearing. Thecommission must approve the designation by a two-thirds vote. After ,that, the mayor must approve it;the city council may override anymayoral action by a two-thi.rds ma. jority.A petition was filed on the OakSquare School about a year ago anda study report prepared, but a public hearing is still pending.Not even so I1l,uch as a petitionhas been filed in support of theother five sites yet. But Bill Marchione, president of the Brighton Historical Society, promises that petitions will be filed within a year."We want to alert the community that this is an opportunity thatthey can respond to positively or allow to go by the boards through ignorance," he says. "We want tomake the public aware that specificbuildings and streets in the area areunique and worth thinking about."Why Preservation?Historic preservation and renovation have become increasinglypopular of late for a combinationof reasons-economic and aesthetic.Renovation can sometimes be aneconomical way of meeting housingand employment needs, since refur-i .!"'I"' .r8tilI@'. rnamtenance serVIces .@ ReS ident177 Allston St. (crnr. Kelton)Allston, Mass. 02134Free pickup-free delivery.Competitive prices. We fillMedicare, Medicaid, Divisionof Blind, pes, and pa'id prescriptions.277·5125OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK. 10 A.M., TO 8 P.M. 254-9791i, @@A[LSTON PHARMACY -- ----------------WE WILL SPECIAL ORDER ANY BOOK IN PRINTor nonresident situations. @ Competitive rates . I rP ARTIAL LIST OF SERVICES Plllrnbing, Hea ting, Electrical,iCarpentry, Painting, Plastering,iP.aneling, Masonry, Glazing, Roofing, Landscaping, Appliance Repair, Floor Refinishing, Apart rnent Preparation, Trash & Snow Rernoval, General Cleaning.@@I PIED PIPER616 Washington St., Brighton782·1212(Oak Square)782·1213PIZZA-STEAK SUBSFree bag of chips with all subsDeliveries: 4 p.m.-12 p.m. , Mon.-Thurs.4 p .m.-l a.m., Fri. and Sat.Delivery Charge 75(;ALL DA Y BREAKFAST SPECIAL2 eggs, toast, home fries, coffee 99(; @Ii ".'· 17:30 A.M.-8:00 P.M.LotteryPAGE 4don't transfer from area to area.There are so many other marketforces to consider."Regarding the comparability ofBack Bay and Beacon Hill to otherareas of the city, she adds, "It's amoot point. Those were stable,high-value areas anyway."Economic considerations aside,landmark designations can helpkeep a neighborhood architecturally intact, provide residents with asense of history and community,and show the direction and pace ofthe city's development.INOBLE Prima ry or supplernen(al bishing an existing building is oft.encheaper than starting from scratch.And as the development of the Waterfront has shown, renovation andpreservation can stimulate additional growth in a commercial orresidental area.Some people believe that property values go up in areas surroundinglandmarks or where extensive renovation has taken place. They citeexamples in other cities and, closerto home, point to Beacon Hill andBack Bay.,"It's impossible to predict," saysJudy McDonough. "The effects ASSOCIATESi 254-5893783-1080! The Chestnut Hill Pumping Stations may be named landmarks.ALLSTON-BRIGHTON COMMUNITY NEWSClosed SundaysDECEMBER 1978-JANUARY 1979
The Arts-"You Have to Paint What People Know"Ralph Fasanella speaks of his work and theLawrence Mill strike. i . r . . . "' If ."""-" .e4-. . . . c.-'--'t:' ",,", '-Ii.en won." In a time when the American labor movement was taking its lumps almost everywhere, he said-6' the workers in Lawrence not onlyV put together a successful strike butone iIi which, for the first time,immigrants and women played aWhile many people have readmajor role.about the Celtic Art Exhibit, andHe noted that in his travels he hasliterally thousands have seen it infound that more Europeans knowrecent weeks at the Museum of Fineabout the Lawrence strike thanArts, in general, the public's conAmericans. Something which hetact with , the "arts" is limited.attributed to serious gaps in theOther than the big exhibits preAmerican history that is taught inceded by extensive advertising camour schools.paigns, and the large sculptures andFasanella is certainly not a "bornmurals that have found their wayartist." In fact, he didn't begininto public areas over the past fewpainting until he was in his thirties.years, very few works of art actualPrior to that he was a union orgaly reach the public eye.nizer with the United ElectricalOne rather prolific, yet littleWorkers (UE), which, when heknown painter was in Boston lastworked for them in the thirties andmonth to talk, not so much aboutforties, was one of the CIO's fastesthis painting, but about the subjectgrowing unions.of his paintings.When all of a sudden he discovRalph Fasanella, for many yearsered painting, he left the union anda New York painter, has spent thestarted painting full-time, almostlast three years in Lawrence, Masnon-stop. He didn't take ten yearssachusetts doing a series of paintof studio art classes. He decided heings · portraying the Lawrence Millwas going to paint, stretched a canStrike of 1912. In preparing to dovas and started painting.these paintings he said he spent a lotHe began by painting that whichof time researching the strike andwas familiar to him-the City! Newreading all of the labor history heYork City, Greenwich Village, thecould get his hands on. Then hestreets, the bridges, the churchesbegan walking around Lawrenceand finally the people.'talking to the people he met. HeHe worked in a machine shop fordrank with the people in their localseven years; he painted it. He 'bars, ate with them, shopped withworked in the union hall; hethem, and he spoke with many ofpainted it. He liked baseball; hethe older folks who were alive inpainted it.1912 and remember the strike.For 25 years he painted withoutFasanella himself referred to thenotice. As he described it, heLawrence strike as "the greatest"painted a picture, put it in thebattle the American people everbasement . painted a picture, putPJ, :JCommunity Legal Clinic,College 'B eer and WineofGerald E. Katz, Harold N. Robertson, Phzlip H. WhiteheadOpen Monday Through Saturday11 a.m. - 11 p.m.161 Harvard Avenue , Room 8-9 , Allston .Specializing in Legal Services for Modera.te Income Families lncome Tax Preparatio n Bankruptcy 225 Simple Will S40 Separation, Uncontested 200 Landlord-Tenant DisputesAppointments made Deferred Payments Can & Arrangedfor evenings and Saturdays Iceman Crucifiedconfusion. "it in the basement. . painted a pic"You have to paint what peopleture, put it in the basement."know,"he says, "not the ab"I had a pretty big basement,"stract."he added.Fasanella paints what he sees andWhen he was "discovered" inwhat he feels. He has a good feeling1972, he was working in his brothfor people, for where they live ander's gas station to support himselfwhere they work. His paintings are'while he painted. He has since garconsidered "primitive" and "flat."nered some national recognition,But they appear familiar because sobut still does not fit one's image ofthe "artist." He says he' s- a littlemany search through the minutedetail of his city and street pictureswary of critics who talk of the tento find themselves or their house, orsions and undercurrents within atheir street, and in doing so begin topainting, referring to their intellecfeel like part of the painting.tualizing of paintings as "organizedKegs of Beer Available for PartiesDiscount Rates on Cases of Beer and Wine173 Chestnut Hill Avenue254-7493. . . . . . . Coming winter got you down? Call the ALLSTON BOWLADROME '254-9570Spring Cleaning?Have your winter clothes cleaned andfreshen up your summer ward robe!Ask about our group or league rates. Lowe's t around the Greater Boston area! Open bowling 11: 00 A .M.-S:OO P.M . weekdays. Let us tellyou about our senior citizen discount. Call us up. Ask for Tony orTom.Or just drop in.139, Brighton A venue, Allston 254-5446MJt. FFItN!li' THAT TIMECFY t-J!FERNCLEANERS128 Brighton Ave. , Allston 254-9649Free Parking . . . . . .DECEMBER 1978-JANUARY 1979 ALLSTON-BRIGHTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAGES
LaborTl1ugs o/the 30s Make Way For Consultants o/the 70sUnion Busting Becomes A Scienceby Tom Cohanern Management Methods (3M),which specializes in hospitals anduniversities.Nancy Mills, organizer for Local880, SEIU, has, in her own words,"often faced and lost to 3M.""Their taCtics are more subtlenow," she said. "They try to pitworker against worker, men versuswomen, and white versus minority. "In speaking of 880's ' most recentcampaign at St.Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton she said that whenmanagement gets wind of an organizing drive, the daily routine of thehospitalchangesimmediately.First, the hospital calls in 3M whobegins holding training sessions forsupervisors on labor relations."Beating the union became toppriority at the hospital," said Mills,"Patient care took a back seat. Thehospital was understaffed anyhow,and they took key personnel off thefloor to attend these managementmeetings. ""The floor supervisor is the keypick out troublemakers, how tointerview employees as to theirunion beliefs, etc.""Union Busting" -the termusually conjures up images of Pinkerton detectives, hired goons, andstrong-arm tactics. Times havechanged though. The union bustertoday is more likely to be a lawyer,or an industrial psychologist,dressed in a three-piece suit. Theycall themselves labor relations consultants and, as such, they offervery sophisticated, slickly packagedseminars on such topics as "how tomaintain non-union status" and"managing without interference."This professionalization of unionbusting was the topic of a recentforum sponsored by the BostonCommunity School. More than 250people gathered at the Paulist Center to listen to several union organizers speak about their experienceswith union-busting firms.Phillis Payne, counsel for theMail Handlers Division of theLaborers' International Union;Nancy Mills, organizer for Local880, Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and KathyKautzer, organizer for District 65,Distributive Workers of America,all described the union-bustingfirms they have had to deal with,told how they operate, and gavesome suggestions as to how theymight be stopped.Payne described the typical seminar that such firms as ExecutiveEnterprises, Advanced Management Research, Inc., and ModernManagement Methods offer to employers to help them kee
P.O_. B_ox_43_6, A_us_ton_o_21_34_A ·lston Br-ghton _ --. VOLUME 3 NUMBER 7 One Too Many for Allston-Brighton by Gloria Leipzig On November 30, at the Brighton Municipal Building, members of
