Uniroyal Quiet After Flareup
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NAUGATUCK — After a Thursday morning flareup between police and pickets at the Uniroyal Footwear Division plant, in which 50 people were arrested on charges of breach of peace, the scene became quiet for the remainder of the day, even to the point that pickets permitted a postal shipment to leave the main warehouse.
Negotiations between top management and labor representatives continued during the day in Cincinnati without settlement, and at the end of the day, the rumored injunction being sought by management had not been received.
Police Chief Frank J. Mariano said Thursday night that he attributed the calm which prevailed after the clash to the “excellent cooperation” among those arrested, particularly to two high ranking local officials.
Chief Mariano said that he felt that the police force, under the leadership of Capt. Joseph Summa, had done “an excellent job” quieting things down, but that the job might have been more difficult ha d Local 45 Vice President Raymond Mengacci and Local 218 Vice President Cyrus Blanchard not cooperated as they did.
The actions of Mengacci and Blanchard, said Chief Mariano, “averted possible rougher incidents.” When the two vice presidents were arrested, he added, the peaceful attitude which they exhibited set the tone for the remaining pickets, who went quietly to the police headquarters.
At about 5 p.m., according to Local 45 Secretary Rita Ruggiero, a postal shipment was permitted by pickets to leave the main warehouse. Rumors that a shipment would be made by helicopter remained rumors, and no such shipment was made.
The scuffle in the early hours of Thursday morning brought out the entire police force, some of whom had had only a few hours rest before the call to return to duty.
In addition to the regular force, supernumerary policemen were called out to force their way through the 100-man picket line at the Maple St. gate, and provide a passage way for office and supervisory personnel. The office personnel eventually made their way in.
The first group, arrested about 6:45, had to be physically forced to the police station, across the street from the trouble spot. Only after Police Capt. Joseph Summa read the riot act in the state statutes over a bullhorn to the unruly crowd did the commotions begin to settle.
Women in the picket line and in the group trying to get into the plant began to cry as the tension mounted, and the evidence of possible physical violence rose. Police blocked off Maple St. to all traffic during the height of the scuffle.
Although police did not use clubs or other devices to restrain the picketers, several minor injuries were reported. One striker, Nunzio Finateri, 52, Union City Rd., was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, where he was X-rayed, treated the scuffle, and complained of pains in his chest.
Several policemen and picketers were bruised in the clash, although there were no reports of medical treatment other than Finateri’s
At 7:45 a.m., when workers for the 8 o’clock shift began to arrive, a second outbreak flared up, but was quickly squelched by police.
Those arrested during the second outbreak did not resist being taken to the police station, as the first group had.
As to what would happen Friday, when office workers and supervisory personnel are to return to work again, Mengacci said, “We haven’t got the slightest idea. We have been conferring with our attorneys, and we expect to play it by ear as we go along. We have heard that we will be served with an injunction, but have not received any word to date.”