9 to 5 Group $15,000 in Debt, Will Close Its Office in Boston

The founding chapter of a group of female office workers whose campaign to improve working conditions sparked a national movement and inspired the film “9 to 5” is $15,000 in debt and is closing its office.

“We’re down but not out,” said Lisa Grant, director and sole staff member of the Boston chapter of 9 to 5, whose organization plans to continue functioning, using a suburban post office box as a mailing address.

She said Reagan Administration cutbacks and changing attitudes were to blame.

Boston’s 9 to 5 began in 1973 with 10 secretaries in a room at a YWCA discussing low pay and bleak prospects.

Taking the group’s name from the traditional working-day hours, the organization grew to a national movement of women office workers who won improvements at big companies.

Their efforts inspired a song by Dolly Parton and the movie, named for the organization, starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

In its heyday, the Boston 9 to 5 said it won concessions at the Bank of Boston, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., although targeted companies never acknowledged yielding to 9 to 5 pressure.

Pat Reeve, former director, said that under the Reagan Administration, the federal Vista program that funded its staff was eliminated and the national organization lost federal grant money. The loss amounted to about $40,000, she said.

Janice Brunts, the organization’s vice chairwoman, said the group is not giving up. “Failure is impossible,” she said, quoting Susan B. Anthony.