## Page 261
EDITORIAL
A large portion of this edition of CHEM-TEXTS is devoted to things that are happening here at the plant as a result of making it a “better place to be”. My staff and myself have dedicated ourselves to that objective in 1978.
In addition to some of the physical changes that are occurring, there are many changes being made in the way we manage our business. After reviewing how we were managing and deciding that it was not the way we would like it, we started to change. More of our people are becoming involved with running our business and we intend that each of our buildings will be run as a separate business. Each of our service departments will be run as a separate business and will be measured in this way. The people running these businesses have been and will be given the authority necessary to make decisions and expenditures as required.
All of our people running the small business units will have both the authority and responsibility for the success of these businesses. I believe that this will make the Naugatuck Plant the most successful in the Chemical Division. One of our other objectives for 1978 is to make the Naugatuck Plant “The Flagship” of the division. Certainly making it a better place to be and managing our business better will go a long way toward achieving that goal. But to reach it, we also have to strive to make the plant, inside and out, the best of any plant in the division–the cleanest, neatest and best maintained.
By dedicating ourselves to these objectives everyday, am sure that they will be achieved in 1978.
Equality
Policy
Affirmed
The Uniroyal Chemical plant has a firm commitment to offer equal opportunities to all employees. It is the policy of the plant’s management to support and implement this commitment continually.
The policy requires that all requirements for recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, and company-sponsored training, education and tuition assistance, as well as social, recreational and health programs and leave and recall practices are followed and carried out without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or handicap of any individual person.
J. Robert Douglas, the Industrial Relations Manager for the Naugatuck plant is the Compliance Officer and he the responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring the Uniroyal Chemical Affirmative Action Compliance Program, and tracking progress.
The responsibility for the improvement of the program and the positive results of its implementation rests with each Manager, Foreman, and Supervisor, as an integral part of their job.
Profits And Sales
Improve In 1977
For 1977 the Company’s net income was $34.8 million, or $1.15 a share, compared with $20.1 million or $.57 a share in 1976.
Sales for 1977 were $2.6 billion, an increase of 5.7% over $2.3 billion in 1976.
Strong annual gains were made in U.S. tire sales. Sales and net income for chemicals exceeded all records in 1977.
4th Quarter
In the 4th Quarter, the Company had a foreign exchange loss of $2.5 million, reducing earnings to $57,000, or a loss of $.02 a share, compared with net income of $8.7 million, or $.28 a share, after a $3.7 million foreign exchange gain in the 4th quarter of 1976.
The 4th Quarter net income
was also attributed to declines in
sales of footwear, and losses in-
curred as footwear production
was discontinued at the Naugatuck plant.
The 4th Quarter Sales Off
Sales in the Tire and Related
Products group were $371 mil-
lion in the fourth quarter of
1977, compared with $380 mil-
lion in the last quarter of 1976.
The decline was due to
abnormally high orders in 1976.
Chemical, Rubber and Plastic
Materials improve in Quarter
Chemical, Rubber and Plastic
Materials sales increased to $33
million in 1977 from the $29
million in the 4th quarter of
1976. The Chemical Division
and specially chemical sales con-
tinued to show improvement in
this period, as did the pricing of
natural rubber.
21,000 Barrels of Oil Saved
A total of 148,000 barrels of
46 oil was budgeted to operate
the plant during 1977 but
through a major conservation
effort, only 127,000 barrels were used, re-
sulting in a savings of 21,000
barrels at an average price of
$14.70/barrel for the year.
Recovered bonuses from Bldgs.
103, 89, 94, and 100—previously
wasted—were blended into a
new Boiler Plant and Plant were
counted for 5000 of the 21,000
barrels in the above savings.
Major Problem Areas
During the year the Steam
Conservation Committee con-
centrated on three major prob-
lems: 1.) Steam Traps: the repairs
on the traps was done by Pipers
Francis Clark and Michael
Cones;
2.) Insulation: four Chemical
Maintenance Insulators — Rich-
ard Tucker, John Lengvel, Dom-
ingos DaSilva, and William Scott
replaced defective insulation.
3.) Steam jet Maintenance and
operation: work on the steam jets
was done in the Chemical and
Synthetic Pilot Plants, Bldgs.
103, 100, 79 and the Pollution
Control Laboratory under the
direction of John Gilbert, Wil-
liam Broden, and Roderick
Ashby.
Committee Members
The Steam Conservation Committee consists of George Arnd, Chairman; John Gilbert, Secretary, Robert Breton, William
Broden, John Painter, and Joseph Manfrino.
The goal of the Committee is
to reduce the cost and use of
steam throughout the buildings
of the plant. A program for 1978
has been planned with even
greater savings anticipated.
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## Page 262
“Making It A Better Place To Be” (continued from page 1)
Joseph Scullin, Materials Dept. driver, stands beside the mail truck, painted on one side with a big pink question mark and a big pink exclamation point.
The “pink painter” struck his brush in Bldg. 18 and the Maintenance Dept. Locker Rooms.
Black “arrows”, painted over the entrance of the Firehouse, were some of the first signs to appear in the plant.
on the other side. These were the first of the many signs that indicated something new and exciting was happening at the Chemical plant.
years that it had slipped, in all likelihood due to the closing of the Synthetic and Reclaim Rubber plants, along with the Footwear Plant closing. There was great pride in the fact that at one time the Chemical plant was a major profit maker for the Company but as patents expired on our chemicals it fell to a low position in the Company.
Signs Are Only the Surface
The signs are only the surface of an exciting program to recapture that spirit and really make the plant “a better place to be”.
For the past few months Departments have held meetings at which members pinpointed problems in their own and other departments, the Division and the entire corporate structure. It was one of the first opportunities where people opened up and attempted to identify problems. The problems were delineated and assigned to individual department members who were given the responsibility for their solution within a designated time. The initial skepticism of “another periodic program” soon disappeared as things began to happen. Overnight a new feeling appeared.
Things Are Happening
In the past month Factory Manager Mazaika has been flooded with suggestions on improving the plant. Some of the things that are happening are: new parking for employees over 62; the 11 P.M. to 7 A.M. shift parking in the plant; new shower facilities; new work clothes for plant people; and interior and exterior building improvements.
But most important, according to Bob Mazaika, is that the real concern and pride that people have for the Naugatuck Chemical plant is once again beginning to show in a healthy, constructive manner and the real Chemical “spirit” is coming back.
Outside truck drivers stopped and left their cars to check the 42 ft. clearance in the Chemical Production area.
This sign that looks like a railroad track is painted in purple and black on the side of the building.
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## Page 263
Omite, “Growers Friend”
The Washington Mint Growers Association honored Uniroyal Chemical as a “Friend of the Industry” for its development of Omite, a miticide that controls mite infestation on mint, a very valuable crop grown in the west. The chemical is manufactured in Bldg. 100 and canned in Bldg. 118. Accepting the Award is Thomas Cowan, center, Technical Representative. At left is Michael Baiano, Western Regional Sales Mgr. for Agricultural Chemicals and at right, a representative of the Washington Mint Growers.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Murphy’s Law
Left to themselves, things always go from bad to worse.
Chittenden
Insurance Agency, Inc.
Insurance—Mutual Funds—Real Estate
180 Church Street
Naugatuck, Connecticut
Tel. 729-8209
Frederick D. Zonino
Nathan M. Pierpont, Jr.
New Customer Service Center
The Chemical Division has opened a new Customer Service Center for our plastic commodities.
Using a WATS telephone system the Customer service representatives now deal directly with our customers.
Customers’ Response Favorable
The Center was established to receive and expedite our customers’ orders. It also provides information, answers to their questions concerning availability, delivery and pricing of our products. The customers’ response to the new service has been most favorable.
New Group
The new group consists of Mariana Branco, Kralastic® ABS Representative; Lorraine Krajewski, Kralastic® ABS Representative; Sonya Kernasevic, Kralastic® ABS Representative; Terri Yachts, Roylar® & Vibrance® Rebresentative; and Marge Maye, Kralastic® ABS Representative. Ray Kokocki is Supervisor of the Customer Service Department.
L.A. Tire
Plant Closes
for Two Weeks
The company has announced a tentative decision to close the tire manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, Calif. This decision will be the first two weeks of July. The employees will start on July 3 and end on July 16th. The factory will reopen on Monday, July 17th.
A third week shutdown is presently under review and will be announced as soon as a decision has been reached.
Silver Dollars
Awarded
Silver dollars will be awarded again this year on a monthly basis for safety performance.
Employees are separated into Divisions, such as Chemical Production, and the members of each division are broken into Groups. The members of a Group suffer an injury) all members are disqualified for the monthly silver dollar. If one employee in the division suffers a Chargeable (Lost Time) Injury all members are disqualified for the silver dollar.
Scholarship…
(continued from page 2)
and be an active employee. The fund is supported by the dues of the club’s members.
Applications for the scholarship should be sent to the Industrial Relations Department or by a telephone call to Constance Antrum, Ext. 3217.
April 15, Final Date
The application must be returned to William Broden, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, on or before April 15, 1978. The other members of the committee are John Axtmann, Wayne Daniel Shantz.
The scholarship of the 1977 scholarship was George Arndt, Jr., son of George Arndt in the Plant Engineering Department.
BOB’S CAMERA SHOP INC.
WATERBURY’S LEADING CAMERA SHOP
98 South Main St. Waterbury, Conn. 06702 – 754-2256
Instant color passport pictures while you wait
PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770
Equal Opportunity Employer
EDITOR: William F. Layne.
U.S Postage
PAID
Permit No. 10
Naugatuck, Conn. 06770
RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
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## Page 265
The First Six Months… Students Tour Plant Plant…
Another summer vacation (continued from page 1)
is upon us and most of us named Manager of Material
are looking forward to some Flow. This is a new plant staff
well-deserved rest and re- position with responsibilities of
laxation. Purchasing, Shipping & Receiv-
ing, Traffic, Trucking, and the
This time of year also Yards.
means, however, that the Daniel Shantz has been ap-
year 1978 is half over, and pointed Technical Manager, an-
we will soon be approaching other new factory staff position,
1979. The first half of 1978 responsible for Process
has been a good one for the Engineering, Project Engineer-
Naugatuck Plant. Although ing, and Methods Engineering.
our rubber chemical sales are John Prior has been made
not what we expected, all of our Maintenance and Engineering
other products are running Services Manager, responsible
ahead of our forecasts. Many changes have occurred during for all Plant Maintenance, Plan-
the first six months of 1978’s campaign to make Naugatuck ning and Scheduling, Produc-
a “better place to be” and we’re looking forward to continuing tion Maintenance, new Con-
the program during the second half of the year. All of the struction, Mechanical Shops,
suggestions that have been made by anyone are being looked Plant Utilities, and the Process
at and will be implemented, if at all possible. I think that we Engineering Support Services.
have indeed achieved a good start in making Naugatuck a Eric Johnson has been named
better place to be. Manufacturing Manager and
The first six months has also seen our safety record improve will be responsible for all plant
dramatically over last year and all we need to do now is to manufacturing activities and
keep it going! Please be cautious and come the Control Center.
back to work determined to keep our safety record improving
during the second half of this year also.
Our energy committee has been hard at work during the Managers…
first part of the year and has been very successful in reducing (continued from page 1)
our use of energy throughout the plant, but with the antici- ment; employee and labor rela-
pated increase in oil next year, all of us will have to help in tions, “Affirmative Action, and
the conservation of energy. Every light that is turned off when executive recruiting.”
not needed, or steam leak that is repaired quickly, helps us Michael E. Werner has been
keep our energy costs down. appointed Director of Strategic
Planning and Business Develop-
I’m looking forward to the rest of 1978 and am sure that ment.
we are well on our way to becoming the “Flagship” of UNI- Werner will be responsible for
ROYAL Chemical. the development of all world-
wide long term growth strategies,
TB Time Test Given concentrating his efforts on
growth through acquisitions,
development of new product
Best Dressed Personnel in Conn. markets, and strategic planning
and development of the divi-
sion’s commodity portfolio.
The time test is a simple
EMIC – recently EMT – method for determining if an
time test. employee has active tubercu-
tuberculosis. Nineteen employees losis. It requires making a test
were given X-Rays and a PPD on the employee’s skin. Sooner
(purified protein derivative) test TB is detected and
for more accurate determination treated, the sooner it will be
as to whether they had active halted and spread to others.
tuberculosis. Dr. Biondi, the
plant physician, who specializes How it is Used
in respiratory conditions, re-
viewed the tests with the plant The test is a plastic
medical staff, and found no material attached to a small
evidence of new or active tuber- disc who’s with the
culosis. This includes no fol- test material. It is applied to
low-up treatment where re- the employee’s skin and read
quired. several days later. If the skin
around the disc becomes
red and hard, it means the
employee has a positive tuber-
cullin reaction and TB may be
present. A positive reaction
requires a chest X-Ray and
further medical procedures.
It was sometimes confusing when the new work clothes that plant per-
you walked through the plant or had sonnel received. They are available in
coffee at the Canteen and saw the many four colors: blue; green, gray, and
different work clothes worn by the brown.
plant personnel, such as: Jake’s Auto Wearing the new outfits are the
Body; Savelle Ford; or Scovills. Chemical Production operators in the
Today things are different and new Fine Organic Chemicals Bide 124:
and exciting things have happened since Harold Campbell, John Mahoney, Joseph Anderson,
Factory Manager Robert Mazzieka held and George Brezak.
his first open air meeting on a cold
December afternoon. One of them was
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## Page 269
Here is the text extracted from the document image, preserving the layout and structure as much as possible:
Direction ’79 . . .
We all wish Bob Mazaika the best of success with his new promotion. His accomplishments have made us the “Flagship” of the Uniroyal Chemical Company and the Naugatuck Plant a “Better Place To Be”. Through his leadership, our plant is cleaner, safer and more profitable. Our future is therefore more promising. We would like to congratulate Bob for a job well done.
During 1978, our business operation improved as a result of our “Better Place To Be” theme and the utilization of Management Action Plans to remove impediments and accomplish major objectives and projects. Our credibility increased and so did our profit. This results in better job security.
We have the reputation of managing our business and being helpful to others in managing their businesses. We are determined to continue this improved performance in 1979. This is the only way we can overcome our geographical raw material and energy costs disadvantages. Our competetive strengths as a Chemical Plant located in the Northeast must come from EXCEPTIONAL EXCELLENCE in every assignment and job that is performed. We should remove double standards, inefficient work practices, develop mutual respect and improve communications in all aspects of our operations.
In 1979, we will continue to make our Plant a “Better Place To Be”, improve our credibility, increase our operating profit and provide job security. We will use increments of 120 day objectives coordinated by Action Plans to achieve our 1-3 Goals and implement our product and operating strategies.
As a concluding comment, I would like to mention that future editorial columns may have comments from various guest writers dedicated to employee information and concerns. We invite you to contact us if you have an appropriate subject to write about.
Ritchie
Heads
Chemical
Douglas Ritchie has been named Manager of Manufacturing for the Chemical plant and will be responsible for all of the manufacturing operations. He succeeds John McGarry, General Foreman of Chemical Production and Chief Process Engineer in the Synthetic Production facility.
He joined Uniroyal Chemical in 1964 and is a graduate of Clarkson College of Technology where he received a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering.
United Way Drive
Nears $30,000 Goal
The 1979 Uniroyal Chemical goal for the United Way is $30,000, about 10% over the $27,025 that employees pledged last year for the 61 charitable and social agencies in this area.
Robert Bailey and Norman Boisseau have been named Co-Chairmen of this year’s drive to help raise the funds needed to support the activities of the agencies that assist so many people in this area. For the past several years, Uniroyal Chemical employees have been most generous and have topped the goal for the past five years.
Photos from the Picnic
The Factory Manager, Eric Johnson, makes a ringer in horseshoe contest.
Constance Antrum chases a butterfly.
Robert McDermott sets up the women for the egg throwing contest.
John Prior attempts to dethrone Joseph Wojiczak in shot put toss.
Daniel O’Donnell, smiling “enjoyed” the egg throw.
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## Page 270
Volume 12, 1978
CHEM-TEXTS
Page 3
R&D Honors
People at Dinner
Dr. Charles McCleary honored members of the Research & Development department at a dinner held at Fortin’s Restaurant. Thirty-three members of the department were presented award pins for their service with the division. Twelve new members were inducted into the Twenty-Five Years Service Club at the dinner.
25 Years Service: Seated (L-R): Anna Pakainis, Mary Farr, Edith Evano, Corinne Guerrera, and Jeanine Standing (L-R): J. Harry Donald, S. M. DiPalma, Frank Semplenski, Eliot Easterhook, Edward Balarda, Stanley Dubiel, Jr., Paul Laurocco, and Dr. Charles D. McCleary, Director, R & D. Missing from the photo: Fred Peltz.
30 Years Service: From left to right are Joseph Harper, John Girran, Frederick Mayo, George Dimond, John Painter, and Donald Bates. Not present were Jean Burke, Lawrence Dominiczak, Robert Dowling, Harry Grant and Nicholas Ticione.
35 Years Service: Seated (L-R) Harold Royle, Carl Miele, and Theresa Shilinskas. Standing: from left are Carl Bawn, Robert Barnhart, Harold Werner and Cornelius Westerhoff. Not present was Woodrow White.
United…
Give Where You Work
The philosophy of the United Way is “give where you work.” This method has proved to be the most efficient way to raise the needed money for the agencies in the United Way. It eliminates the administrative costs often spent on the promotion of good causes.
Committee Members
Members of the committee are W. Frankenhauer, J. Napieło, R. Borland, D. Persun, R. Henricho, W. Mariano, J. Hoey, J. Mizuri, J. Kresovich, C. Witzigman, T. Yates, A. Cunningham, W. Broden, C. Roland, G. Hilton, E. Evans, G. Beauchamp, Linda Henie, J. Pratt, A. Garcia, J. Larocque, K. Tweedie, R. Lik, R. Comdly, J. Ball, D. O’Donnell, L. Morin, L. Smith and M. Upson.
Safety Seminar on Respirators
A MSA toxicologist demonstrates the type of respirator for potentially hazardous materials. 80 employees attended the two seminars held in TSSC and in Bldg 18.
EEO Seminars Held
Becoming a program in Equal Employment Opportunity, was recently presented to 52 Management and Supervisory Personnel from the Naugatuck Chemical Plant.
The program deals with the Executive Orders on Affirmative Action and the major federal laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
The full day program also included the EEOC laws and Age Discrimination Act, and the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act. Effective January 1, 1979 the Age Discrimination Act will include people up to 70 years of age. The Rehabilitation and Veterans Readjustment Acts require the Company to take affirmative action to employ these protected group members.
Bowling Team Win 1st Place
The Uniroyal Chemical team received the first place trophy in the Industrial Bowling League. It was the first time in fifteen years that the Chemical team won first place. In the photo from left are Edward Roebuck, Howard Shantz, Edward Drumm, Daniel Shantz.
It took fifteen years but perseverance won out and the Uniroyal Chemical team finally won first place in the Naugatuck Industrial Bowling League. The 10 pin league consists of companies in the Naugatuck Valley and includes Riddson, Sys-tem, Peter Paul and several other companies in the mid 1970’s. The team looks forward to another successful year in 1979.
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