Borough Will Request Aid In Ending Strike
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NAUGATUCK— Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich has been empowered to seek the aid of Gov. John Dempsey in bringing about a settlement in the Uniroyal-United Rubber Workers negotiations.
The board, during its Tuesday meeting, unanimously passed Third Ward Burgess Edward McGrath’s motion seeking the governor’s aid.
The Republican burgess cited the “potentially permanent and serious effect” the seven-week strike could have on the economy of the borough if it continued any longer.
Following passage of the motion, Mayor Raytkwich said that he would contact Gov. Dempsey “as soon as possible.”
Although the governor c about a settlement, it is possible that he could persuade the two groups to settle.
Amid scattered rumors that a settlement could be effected Thursday, press services reported Tuesday that negotiations with three maor tire producers, including Uniroyal, were in recess until Thursday with the union considering a three-year contract offer.
Attempts to contact union negotiators failed Tuesday. An unidentified person answering one negotiator’s telephone late Tuesday night reported that the negotiator was in a meeting and would be there “for several hours.”
A management negotiator contacted at the same time said that talks were recessed until Thursday, but not because the union was considering a management offer.
He claimed that the URW’s legal counsel died Monday, and that many of the union members planned to attend the funeral.
Press services reported that management’s offer of a three-year contract was made Monday by Firestone, Goodyear and Uniroyal. B. F. Goodrich made a similar offer Tuesday. General Tire and Rubber was expected to make its offer later this week.
United Rubber Workers negotiators said the proposed new contract would give tire plant workers, who now average $3.30 to $3.60 an hour, a 38-cent hourly raise in three yearly steps— 16 cents in the first year and 11 cents in each of the last two years.
Nontire plant workers would get 13-9-9, for a total of 31 cents.
Company officials said their offer added up to 60 to 73.5 cents an hour, including fringe benefits such as pensions and insurance.
The union has separate agreements on pensions and insurance that do not expire until Sept. 15. The companies reportedly offered to increase their monthly payments into the pension fund from $3.25 to $5.25 per employe, with commensurate increases in amounts paid retired workers.