Page 4 CHEM-TEXTS Vol. 3 No. 3

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Valentine, Amador, Sears, Spina Retire. Total 138 Years Service.

[PHOTO]

Bert Scullin makes Val Valentine, center, and his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Wojtczak Jr. chuckle at retirement dinner honoring Val for his 36 years service. (Kirkendall photo)

[PHOTO]

Manuel Amador, left, is congratulated by Joe Rzeszutek, President URW, Local 218, on his retirement from Reclaim Production. Amador had 41 years service with Uniroyal. (Kirkendall photo)

[PHOTO]

Joe Arbachauskas, URW president, Local 308 congratulates Norm Sears, center, on his retirement after 43 years, as Tom Gambardella watches. Standing are Jack Muckle, left and Bob Curtin.

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“That’s The Way We Always Did It”

Have you ever asked why something was done in a certain way, only to be told, “Because that’s the way we always did it”?

Perhaps the classic example of this kind of senseless and stubborn adherence to precedent occurred when Bismark was ambassador to the court of Alexander II. Looking out a window of the Peterhof Palace, in 1860, Bismark noticed a sentry standing watch in the middle of the lawn and idly asked the Czar why the man was there. The Czar asked an aid-decamp. He didn’t know. The general commanding the troops at the palace was summoned. He didn’t know either.

“Then find out why and report to me,” commanded the Czar.

It took three days of intensive investigation, but finally the general came back with the answer.

It seemed that in 1780, on a fine spring morning, Catherine the Great had looked out the window and had seen the first flower thrusting above the frozen grass. She had ordered a sentry posted there to prevent anyone from picking the flower or inadvertently stepping on it. And eighty years later, the sentry was still there. No one had ever asked that simple, one-word question: “Why?”

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DOM SPINA RETIRES

Domenic Spina retired from the Synthetic Mechanical department after 18 years service with Uniroyal Chemical.

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Safety Glasses Replaced Free, But Not Your Eyesight

[PHOTO]

Kevin Kelley of the Research and Development department, while performing development work in Bldg. 61 laboratory, had a close call when the unexpected happened.

Kevin was using a regular gallon jug in a dry ice and acetone bath to make a 50 percent caustic solution. The temperature differential caused the jug to burst and the contents spilled onto the dry ice and covered the upper portion of his body and his eyes. Fortunately, he was wearing his safety glasses and prevented serious injury to his eyesight.

By being safe at work and wearing the proper protective equipment for the job, serious accidents are avoided. Your unsafe act may not hurt you, but it could seriously injure one of your fellow employees.

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Purchase Of 1 Bond And 1 Share Per Employee, Bond Drive Goal

During May employees will have the opportunity to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds and Freedom Shares conveniently through payroll deductions. The goal for the 1969 drive is the purchase of one Bond and one Share by each employee. Presently 37% of our employees participate in the Payroll Savings Plans for U.S. Bonds, compared to a Uniroyal average of 52%.

The Payroll Savings Plan offers an opportunity for systematic savings to save for a secure future in one of the world’s safest, and most broadly effective, investment programs. Through systematic, easy thrift deductions you watch your savings grow automatically.

Purchase of U.S. Savings Bonds protects against inflation, keeps our economy stable and our dollar sound. Savings Bonds involve you actively in helping the Government stop inflation, a major economic problem facing all of us today.

This safe and economical investment is exempt from state and local income taxes. Payment of federal income tax on E bond interest may be deferred until the bonds are redeemed. 70% of Savings Bonds purchasers do not redeem them until age 65. In this way, the tax liability could be greatly reduced and possibly eliminated.

For only $39 you receive $50. through the purchase of a Series E Bond ($18.75 and redeemable in 7 years) and a Freedom Share ($20.25 and redeemable in 4½ years). By purchase of only one Bond and one Share, you can start a good systematic savings plan for yourself and your family.

Heading this year’s drive as Chairman will be Bill Lavelle of the Industrial Relations Department.

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Know Your Benefits . . .

(con’t. from page 3)

4 weeks . . . . . . 8% of earnings
5 weeks . . . . . 10% of earnings
6 weeks . . . . . 12% of earnings

Q. Do I receive any vacation this year if I was hired 2 months ago: e.g. March 1969?
A. No, but you are eligible for vacation pay on your 1st. anniversary of your employment.

Q. If I am eligible for vacation, do I have to take the time off?
A. Yes, employees with 2 weeks vacation eligibility must take the 2 weeks.

Q. Am I allowed to receive vacation pay in lieu of time off?

A. Wage employees eligible for vacation weeks in excess of scheduled plant shutdowns or 2 weeks, whichever is greater, may at their request and with the approval of management, receive vacation pay instead of time off, up to maximum of 2 weeks. Election to receive in lieu of payment must be made no later than September 15 of the year in which taken.

If you have any questions about your vacation time, or pay, your foreman or supervisor will be glad to help you. Or you can consult your Union Contract booklet for fuller details.

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SAFETY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY

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CHEM TEXTS

PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770

EDITOR: W.F. Lavelle.

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UNIROYAL Chemical
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770

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