CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- More than 500 Harvard University food service workers walked off the job at midnight and began their strike today with a candlelight vigil at the home of University President Derek Bok.
The workers said Harvard failed to extend a contract a few days beyond its expiration at midnight Sunday to allow for review of a new offer.
The school's chief negotiator, Edward W. Powers, denied turning down the extension.
Powers said he offered to extend the contract until Tuesday but the union declined and spurned offers to resume talks, which broke off Saturday.
Domenic M. Bozzotto, president of the 522-member Local 26 of the International Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Employees and Bartenders Union, said Harvard refused his request to extend the three-year contract until Thursday.
'We need the contract extended to Wednesday or Thursday,' Bozzotto said. 'We need to review the (university's) proposal.'
He said Powers presented them with the university's proposal Saturday -- one day before the contract expired.
'He demanded we have our counterproposal Monday. They are not bargaining in good faith. Before we can talk about what the differences are, we have to get to the (negotiating) table,' Bozzotto said.
The workers prepare and serve food at Harvard's dining halls, which are quiet thAs week during the lull between commencement and the beginning of summer school next Monday, June 27.
