Discounts at Hotels Not Intended to Be Major B&G Benefit

Stephen S. J. Hall, vice president for administration, said yesterday that reduced rates at Hilton hotels would not significantly benefit employees of the department of Buildings and Grounds (B&G).

Last Thursday, several Harvard custodians criticized the hotel discount, the first in a series of benefits offered to B&G workers, for "not offering any real benefits to employees."

"I agree with the employees 100 per cent that a take-home pay of $103 a week is not going to allow many visits to the Hilton hotel," Hall said. He said the discount is offered to all Harvard employees and is not a special program designed for the department of buildings and grounds.

The discounts were an attempt by Hilton to generate business, not a benefit designed as part of a contract or union settlement, Hall said.

Hotels often give special rates to certain groups such as clergymen, military men and educators, but "we wouldn't go out and look for benefits like that any more than we would go to Filene's and ask them for a discount for our employees," Hall said.