UNIROYAL CHEM-texts
Vol. 1 PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL No. 2
URW STRIKE ENDS AFTER 97 DAYS
PACT IS COSTLIEST IN OUR HISTORY
The longest and costliest strike in the 75-year history of the Company is over. Company and union negotiators reached an accord at 9:30 p.m. on July 26. The agreement between Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers is the largest settlement ever reached by the company. Its total cost including wage increases, pensions, insurance and other benefits is more than 50 cents per hour — a 6 per cent increase each year for a total of 18 per cent over the three-year length of the contract.
Eachstriking employee lost an average of 14 weeks of pay. They also borrowed some of their vacation money in 1968 to pay for the cost, to say nothing of the interest lost on savings accounts or cashing in savings bonds to pay daily expenses.
The company saw its profits disappear in the second quarter of the year because of the fixed costs which continue without the benefit of offsetting production. Second quarter earnings had been at a record $14,309,000 during the strike. This year, because of the strike, they were $15,551,000 less or $12,753,000. Before taxes, the loss was more than $25,000,000. The strike also hit home at the company’s sales force, many of whom were without goods to sell. Salesmen were told good customers would never be able to get their merchandise long and specialized long and seriously on how they were going to get their back once the strike was over.
It is no wonder that the end brought a continuous state of relief which was echoed throughout all plant and branch offices. A tire salesman overheard out of the company’s huge Los Angeles branch put it tersely. “Tell those people back at the plants to get going! I need quality merchandise quickly if I’m going to get back those customers I lost.”
EMPLOYEE PUBLICATION NAMED
The Naugatuck Chemical employee newsletter has a new name – “Chem Texts”. It was selected from over 100 entries by the plant staff with an assist from the Public Relations department. “Chem Texts” was selected as the result of a suggestion made by Sal Lantiere of the Physical Testing Laboratory. It was one of four entries by Sal who received a $25.00 savings bond for his idea.
Second prize of a $15.00 gift certificate at the company store was won by Mary Regan of the Physical Testing Laboratory for her entry — “Chemtext”. Third prize of a $10.00 gift certificate was awarded to Doug Jones of the Rubber Compounding laboratory for his entry — “Chemesyn”.
A second group of the name “Chemesyn” was received from Mary Raby, wife of Harold Raby of the Synthetic Processing Department. However, her entry was dated after the winning entry was selected.
We wish to congratulate the winners and thank everyone who entered the contest.
MR. & MRS. JACK MALA RETIRE
Marie and Jack Mala retired from the company on September 8 with a combined total of 52 years of company service between them. They are the second couple to retire together in a year. Marie retired from the Raw Stock department with 21 and one-half years of service. Jack has been with us for 30 and one half years and retired from the Reclaim Production department.
EMPLOYEES URGED TO JOIN OUR PAYROLL SAVINGS PLAN IN SEPTEMBER BOND DRIVE
Employees who are in our payroll savings plan, or who join this year, will be able to purchase new Treasury “Freedom Shares” which earn 4.75 per cent when held to maturity, according to Thomas J. Kiernan, manager of personnel relations at “1230”.
He emphasized that Freedom Shares can be purchased in limited amounts by each plan participant during the “September Bond Drive”.
Savings bonds and Freedom Shares are not only investments that return a high rate of interest but are also of enormous benefit to the country, Mr. Kiernan said. “I urge everyone not enrolled in our payroll savings plan to sign up during our September enrollment drive. Our goal is to have at least 50 per cent of all employees participating in the plan.”
Chemical plant employees will be contacted during the drive and the advantages of buying savings bonds and Freedom Shares under the payroll savings plans will be explained to them.
MARY REGAN
DOUG JONES
Above: Contest winner Sal Lantiere of the Physical Testing Laboratory in #112 building. Sal has spent all of his 22 years with the company in the laboratory section.
ANNUAL BLOODMOBILE VISIT
On August 23 the Red Cross Bloodmobile came to the Chemical plant visit. Vacations and other scheduling problems reduced the number of available donors so we only 122 pints were collected against our 150 pint quota. However, the shortage of donors did not mean we did not wish to postpone the visit any longer. Those of you who were unable to give this time can donate to the Beacon Falls community visit in October or the next June 12 annual visit will give us another chance to regain our ideal 175 pints per visit.
An honor roll of all of those who gave will be posted throughout the plant. We wish to congratulate late Alan Woodruff who received a one-gallon pin and Louis Schuller who received a two-gallon pin and all those new and old who contributed to this visit.
SAL LANTIERE WINS CONTEST