**Date:** 55-6-7
**Source:** WATERBURY
—
A warning to refrain from any violence and interference with the operations of UniRoyal’s Footwear Division was given yesterday to the United Rubber Workers (URW) Union by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney.
The court issued an order to show cause why a temporary injunction should not be issued in favor of the rubber firm. Judge Gaffney gave the union until 11 a.m. Tuesday to prepare its case.
“In the event of interference with the plaintiff’s operations at its plants in Naugatuck,” Judge Gaffney said, “or any acts of violence between now and the time the court rules on the company’s motion, upon a showing of facts, a restraining order will be issued forthwith.”
Attorney Daniel Baker, counsel for the URW, asked if this included “peaceful picketing.” Judge Gaffney said it did not in any way restrict peaceful picketing.
But he admonished all those present to look up the definition of “peaceful picketing.”
Attorney Edgar Bassick represented UniRoyal in the proceedings. Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, was present with other union officials. Four or five UniRoyal executives attending the brief proceedings, led by John Smith, factory manager.
Set for 2 p.m., the court was adjourned to order a restraining order until some conferences between attorneys and Judge Gaffney took up considerable time until the brief proceedings were under way.
In effect, the Judge gave union attorneys until Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock to prepare a case against the granting of UniRoyal’s injunction request. His remarks about “peaceful picketing” and mention of “violence” in regard to the quick issuance of a restraining order brought to mind those present the more than 60 arrests and scuffling that has gone on in the past three days at the Footwear Division in the borough.
UniRoyal attorneys sought the injunction on the grounds that union members have “engaged in mass picketing, undercover and blocked persons who approached the plant and their employes by foot or by vehicle, pushing and shoving such persons, kicking them, stepping on their feet, calling them names in loud and menacing manners.”
The strikers “have congregated in large and unruly masses in attempts to block entrance to or exit from the plant by threat of force or violence” and have “obstructed the police in the performance of their duties and made the employment of large numbers of police officers necessary, resulting in breaches of the peace and creating an atmosphere of fear and tension.”
By reason of such “unlawful acts and threats” the company claims it “has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations and will continue to be unable to handle contracts with its customers, among which is the Defense Department of the United States Government for items needed in national defense.”
The rubber firm wanted the judge to issue the restraining order “to prevent violence and destruction of property” and to protect the “rights of the company and its employees to free and uninterrupted access to the company’s plant and premises.”