5-26-67
[IMAGE: Photograph showing pickets and police at a factory gate]
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UNIROYAL
U.S. RUBBER
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ENTRANCE
SALES INDUSTRIAL
CHEMICALS COATINGS
ORDNANCE TEXTILES
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CENTER
PICKETS AND POLICE milled around at the gate to the Chemical Plant at Uniroyal in Naugatuck this morning after police got word of rumored trouble and sent a large group of officers to the area. Nothing happened, and non-union employes entered the plant. The company, meanwhile, was proceeding with plans to seek an injunction of mass picketing at the Chemical Plant by Local 218, United Rubber Workers, similar to the one at the Footwear Plant regarding Local 45. A meeting was held this morning in Waterbury Superior Court with Judge Leo V. Gaffney. —King Photo
Picketing
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from airplanes and smother the Viet Cong?” he asked.
The union president said he resented the implication that he and his union were unpatriotic rising from the company claim that the production was needed for the war effort.
Rzeszutek said he was a veteran of combat and “had been shot up a few times” himself.
“I certainly don’t want our men to do without anything they need,” he said.
He said he could guarantee that not one thing had been shipped from the Chemical Plant to Vietnam.
Judge Gaffney on May 6 issued an order for a show cause hearing against Local 45 of the United Rubber Workers in connection with picketing at the Footwear Division, also in Naugatuck, but a hearing has never been held.
It has been continued twice and more continuances will be entered as long as the picketing remains peaceful, Judge Gaffney said.
Seeks Same Effect
He said he hopes the issuance of a show cause order against Local 218 will have the same pacifying effect on picketing activities at the Chemical Plant.
The United Rubber Workers has been on strike for five weeks.
Naugatuck Police Chief Frank J. Mariano and Capt. Joseph Summa were in the courtroom for today’s session but were not called on to testify.
A company official was quoted in Thursday’s paper as saying the operation of the plant by management personnel was for the production of some key items necessary to the Vietnam defense effort.
Management lawyer, Atty. J. Kenneth Bradley, Bridgeport, said today in court, however, that the production was “partially” for the defense effort and partially of items “for use in other parts of the country.”
He did not go into detail on the use of the items except to say the items “are not for use by ourselves.”
Judge Gaffney, in asking for an end to the picket line difficulties, said it was easy for him to understand them when it appears to union members that “someone is destroying . . . the right to work and live.”
“I trust we will never have a hearing” on the matter the judge said. He added he hoped he would not be forced to issue an injunction against the union.
Asks For Statement
Lawyer for the union, Atty. Daniel Baker, Stamford, advised Rzeszutek after the hearing to issue a statement on the company’s claims of production for the Vietnam effort.
Judge Gaffney commended the Naugatuck police for their handling of the picket line situation. He said the police were forced to make the arrests and were to be commended for doing their duty.
He said he hoped the order for a show cause hearing would act as a “restraining measure” and help to restore the good will between management and Local 218 that existed before Thursday’s incident.
Before this morning’s hearing, the scene at the strikebound Chemical Plant remained quiet as about 40 pickets circulated in front of the Elm St. gate in 40-degree weather. There were only two minor incidents, in contrast to the eight arrests there Thursday morning.
However, extra police were on duty as a precaution in the face of rumors to the effect that management personnel would not be allowed to enter the plant.
Although management personnel were greeted by name as they entered the plant, one man was challenged by pickets as he approached the line with a large briefcase under his arm.
Upon approaching the gate, he was instantly surrounded by pickets. After a few quick questions were asked, the man answered that the briefcase contained his lunch. The line broke and he was admitted to the plant.
Shortly after this challenge, one of the strikers spotted a car approaching the Elm St. gate. The driver was stopped while Rzeszutek criticized him for his actions Thursday when, according to Rzeszutek, the man drove the car through the line without slowing down.
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Football Star
SEYMOUR—Nick DeFelice, a graduate of Derby High School who is now a lineman for the New York Jets team in the American Football League, will be the guest speaker at the second annual sports banquet of the Seymour Fathers Club Saturday.