Protests, Arrests Marked Strike

**Source:** Unknown

The 98 days of the strike by the United Rubber Workers Lo-cals 45, 308 and 218 against the Naugatuck Uniroyal plant were marked by rioting, arrests and court injunctions, as well as lengthy negotiations during the period. Accord was reached last night to end the strike. The union is set to ratify the agreement Saturday. The strike was called on April 21 and affected 5,500 workers at the footwear, synthetics and chemical divisions of Uniroyal in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls. The strike was third in eight years at the Naugatuck plant. In 1959 the walkout stopped production for three weeks, and in 1965 a strike lasted three days. The ’67 strike was the longest in rubber – industry history. Nationally, the strike involved more than 50,000 persons and was the most widespread since 1959. Early in May, 80 pickets were arrested for demonstrations against non – bargaining personnel attempting to enter the plant. Uniroyal won an injunction that prevented the pickets from interfering with personnel or stopping trucks entering or leaving the gates at the three local plants. About six weeks later, the union won an injunction restraining supervisory and other non-union employes from producing sample shoes during the strike. All three locals at Naugatuck were involved in the strike. Local 45 represents 4,500 workers in Uniroyal’s footwear division; Local 218 represents 725 workers in the chemical plant, and Local 308 represents 240 workers in the synthetic plant. Uniroyal was the last of the “Big Five” companies in the rubber industry to reach agreement with the rubber workers.

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