**Date:** 6-17-67
**Source:** Unknown
—
The Executive Board of the United Rubber Workers union has voted to call its members out from another of the “Big Five” rubber companies. More than 3,000 employes in two plants of General Tire and Rubber Co., located in Akron, Ohio, and Waco, Texas, will be involved. According to sources, picketing at these plants will begin either Monday or Tuesday. With this new move, union Local 45 URW has called a mass meeting of its membership for Monday, June 19, at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Naugatuck High School. President of Local 45, home from negotiations sessions in Cincinnati, will address the members and bring them up to date on the progress of the negotiations. Workers in four of the five rubber companies will be out. The fact that General Tire’s URW members will be on strike is expected to put pressure on Goodyear, the only working company. General Tire executives were informed of the executive board’s decision Friday evening. The picketing will also probably put pressure on the union’s strike fund, already seriously depleted. What financial action the union plans to take to alleviate pressure was not learned Friday. Although the United Auto Workers union had promised financial aid to the striking union in the form of a loan, the URW has hesitated to accept the loan and has tried, instead, to raise money through donations from URW members still working. Obstacles preventing a settlement at the present time were reported Friday as being mainly economic. The union feels that the value of the economic offers being made by the companies is not high enough yet. Sources also indicated that the supplemental unemployment benefits are not high enough, and may well end up as the number one obstacle to a settlement. According to those close to the negotiations, the companies have a “philosophical objection” to paying people for not working. In addition it is possible that the auto manufacturers are putting pressure on the rubber firms not to grant the so-called guaranteed annual wage because the car companies will be facing the same request when the United Auto Workers begin talks in July. The union’s counter proposal submitted over a week ago, is still being discussed. Talks recessed for the weekend Friday and are scheduled to resume Monday. AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — The impasse over negotiations in the national rubber strike remained unbroken today with increasing signs the 52,000 striking employes and the United Rubber Workers Union were feeling the pinch. Rubber workers here—where nearly 10,000 have been on strike for 59 days—were applying for welfare benefits in increasing numbers. Mrs. Joyce N. Artis, Summit County welfare department representative, said 73 applications were filed.