**Date:** sept 69
**Source:** Unknown
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Forty-three Uniloyal strikers were arrested this morning including Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45 and Cy Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, as police attempted to restore order to the picket lines on Maple St.
In the midst of the scuffle, which began early this morning, one man, Nunzio Finteri, about 51, was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital with a possible heart attack.
Both policemen and pickets received minor injuries as management attempted to cross the lines to enter the UniRoyal buildings.
Maple Street was closed to traffic about 7:30 this morning for an hour, until order was restored. By 8 a.m. all office workers were allowed through the line without incident.
Several groups of women gathered together on Church St. and waited for their male supervisor before attempting to enter the offices.
The first group of strikers arrested were brought forcibly to police headquarters; later however, the mood changed and the arrested strikers came in on their own to be booked. All strikers were charged with breach of peace and bond set at $150.
It was noted however, that although Local 45 is 80 per cent women, only men were booked this morning. Three police officers were at the desk, one in the file room and one in the detective’s room, booking the men as fast as possible to clear out the station.
When the bookings first began, the main room of headquarters was so full that those arrested were lined down the hallway.
Capt. Joseph Summa, in charge of the special force on strike duty, ordered a crowd dispersed outside the station where a retired employee of UniRoyal was attempting to incite pickets and stop the white collar workers from entering the buildings.
No personnel were entering the buildings through the warehouse, but rather coming through the Maple St. gate and then crossing over into the warehouse area.
Both policemen and strikers were bruised in the melee. Some women were on the outer edge of the picket line with others in the center. The women on the outside left the line and the women in the center had to wait their opportunity to leave.
Officer Jerry Sirka was the officer in charge of the policemen on duty at the Maple St. gates under the supervision of Capt. Summa.
Police received twisted arms, kicks in the shins, feet stepped on, and in one case, a hand bitten as they struggled with the pickets.
The pickets were ordered to keep moving in an orderly fashion once the scuffling was over until calm was insured.
Rumors are strong that a restraining injunction will be served upon the GRW Unions before the day is out, but no confirmation has been received.
A report of police brutality was threatened following an incident last night when attorneys were trying to leave the plant and the picketers were not going to permit them through.
To add to the general confusion this morning, crowds of people were going home from St. Francis Church, adding to the already heavy traffic flow.