**Source:** Unknown
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As the half-hour passed, phones in local headquarters rang incessantly with calls from workers wanting to know what action to take. At about 12:30 a.m., the final call to strike came in and pickets took up their posts following an orderly shutdown of machinery.
Uniroyal has 19 plants in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Rhode Island, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio and Alabama.
Union representatives had met with Goodyear and Uniroyal in Cincinnati, Firestone in Cleveland and B.F. Goodrich in Columbus. There was no immediate word when negotiations other than with Uniroyal and Goodyear would resume.
The fifth firm of the rubber industry’s big five, General Tire and Rubber, began negotiations Tuesday, working toward a May 15 contract deadline. Company and union representatives refused to discuss issues, although wages were said to be the chief matter of dispute. Wages are also an issue in the Uniroyal talks.
A long strike could affect the auto industry and defense production.
The average pay for a worker in the rubber industry is $2.80 an hour. In the tire and tube facilities the pay is $3.76.
Contracts with the big five are generally the basis for negotiations with smaller firms. In all, (Cont’d on Page 4–RUBBER)