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CHEM TEXTS
PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT
FROM THE FACTORY MANAGER
Dear Fellow Employees:
Each of us, I’m sure, would like to see some longer. However, there are
several things we should not forget.
First, a breakdown in negotiations, or a strike, is the result of a failure in communications. A failure to understand our mutual objectives and problems.
It is essential for all of us to realize that a Company and its employees only prosper as they together serve the customers’ needs.
This, logically, leads me to my second point. The additional costs arising from the resulting from the settlement – more than 80 cents per hour per employee over the next three years – lessens our position to compete for the customers’ business on the basis of price.
How do we regain our competitive position? We can only do this if we don’t make every personal effort to see that all of our products are of the highest possible quality. We must utilize all of our skills and ingenuity, making the most efficient use of our time to safely produce at maximum levels. We must ever be alert to ideas and suggest new and better ways of doing our jobs.
In short, this challenge will call on us to work with pride in our experience, knowledge and craftsmanship. Only by meeting this challenge can we produce the sales and profits that will enable us to grow and to insure our future job security.
John D. Evans
Factory Manager
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT WATER HEATERS
(taken from Family Safety magazine)
The Winter 1966 issue of Family Safety Magazine had an excellent article on water heaters. Below are a couple of the main ideas from that article. They are worth thinking about.
When a water heater explodes it releases so much destructive energy that it leaves the wrecked of a completely demolished home.
Some accidents that happen frequently are difficult to control because the causes are many and complex. For example, most fatal accidents are the result of the interaction of many factors involving the driver, the highway, the vehicle and the weather.
Water heater accidents, although infrequent, deserve our attention not only because of their destructiveness but because almost in almost every case they are simple and easy to control.
Any home owner who follows three simple rules need have no fear of ever looking in the ruins of his shattered home. These rules are (1) purchase a quality heater, (2) have it properly installed and (3) follow a simple schedule of maintenance checks.
IT’S NO TEAKETTLE
The importance of proper installation and a relief valve cannot be overemphasized. A tank-type water heater is not a teakettle. The simple process of heating water to the boiling point can cause a tank-type water heater to explode if the pressure relief valve does not function properly. When the water heats up, the pressure builds up to the point where the tank may burst. This causes a house-shattering explosion that could be fatal. If the relief valve is working properly, it will open and release the pressure before it reaches the bursting point. The relief valve must be the proper size for the heater and must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
UNIROYAL
A PIONEER IN
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Uniroyal has been both pioneer and leader in progressive employee benefit programs. In 1917 when it was considered a radical innovation, we introduced the employee pension plan.
Through the years other im-provements were made. These include paid vacations, life in-surance, hospital, surgical and medical insurance.
HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW UNION CONTRACT
Following are highlights of the new three-year contract between the Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers Union:
1. General Wage Increase
a. 1.5% per hour increase effective July 26, 1967, the date agreement was reached.
b. 1.5% per hour increase effective July 1, 1968.
c. 1.5% per hour increase effective June 30, 1969.
2. Skilled Trades Adjustment
a. 5¢ per hour increase in addition to the above general increase
3. Improved Vacation Pay
a. 3 weeks vacation pay for employees with 1 year of seniority.
b. 4 weeks vacation pay for employees with 10 years of seniority.
(Same as previous contract)
4. Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB)
a. Increased from $20 to $30 per week for employees laid off.
b. Increased from $25 to $30 per week for employees with 10 years of seniority laid off.
5. Pensions
a. Increase in regular pensions from $3.25 to $5.50 per month per year of service.
CHEMICAL TEAM
WINS
SOFTBALL CROWN
The Uniroyal Chemical softball team won the National Division Championship of the Naugatuck Twi-light Softball League in a recent playoff against Dean’s. (And round winners).
The victory was in a best two out of three games series. The Chemical team the right to represent its division in the “world series” against the American Divisional champ. After bowing in the opener against Dean’s, the boys showed the stuff that champs are made of with two straight wins 5-4 and 7-4 to cop the title. During the season, the team was paced by an array of sluggers, three of whom hit over .500 and five others who batted over .400. This is the second year in a row that we have chalked a championship from our plant – the 1966 Synthetic Chemicals won the league.
FOREMEN’S CLUB
ACTIVITIES
The Naugatuck Chemical Foremen’s Club will be starting their winter schedule of monthly meetings soon. Already according to club president, Vic Alves, are the annual outing on September 19 and a dance sometime in October. The club recently donated $50.00 to the Naugatuck Junior Football League for equipment.
To keep a ladder from slipping when used on a cement walk, place the feet of the ladder in a pair of old rubber tires or sneakers. To be sure no one bumps his head on low-hanging pipes in your basement, try hanging a large rubber tire chief around the pipe. It will serve as a warning of danger.
After painting the steps of your stepladder, sprinkle liberally with sand and before the paint dries and you will have insurance against slipping.
Fact of the Matter is…by G.J. White
WHO IS THE VILLAIN…
…IN THE CASE OF AMERICA’S POLLUTED WATERS ?
The mister fix-it who poured paint thinner down the basement drain?
The hurrying housewife who washed bacon fat into the sink?
The near-sighted farmer who misread the label and misapplied?
The careless employee who spilled acid and flushed it away?
The sloppy garbageman who tossed garbage over the side?
The inadequate sewage plant which treated but some waste,
some unfit for return to nature?
Answer: of course, all of them. We’re all villains-
and victims-too. Pollution prevention is most important.
Delta Community’s demands for good citizenship,
money, and accurate treatment facilities, combined efforts
of industry, government, and citizens.
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CHEM TEXTS
SUGGESTION PLAN AWARDS
Gene St. John had an idea some time back about the use
of the small gel cups used in the laboratory for testing purposes. Part of Gene’s job was buying laboratory equipment
and material; however, not satisfied with the products
available on the market, he set about the task of designing
an inexpensive cup that would do the work equally well. Much
of the work was done at home.
The result was a suggestion award of $475.00 based on
savings when Gene’s efforts paid off.
Jacinto DaSilva of the
Chemical Production department was awarded $50.00 (the
balance of an $85.00 award)
for his idea to change the
method of washing Octamine
which reduced the amount of
material going to the sewer.
An original award of $25.00
was made last January for
this suggestion – the balance
of the award is based on actual
experience in material savings.
The above 2 awards were
the highest out of a total of
49 suggestions considered during a recent meeting of the
suggestion committee. Twelve
(12) cash and nine (9) honorable mention awards were
made totaling $725.00. Other
awards were:
Joseph Moniz-Designers-$50.00
Joseph Moniz-Designers-$25.00
NEW SAFETY EYE PROTECTION PROGRAM TO BE STARTED
A study of first-aid cases
revealed a substantial number
of eye injuries, many of them
potentially serious. To combat
this problem the use of safety
glasses will be expanded
throughout the plant to include
all production, maintenance
and laboratory areas and all
personnel who work or visit
these areas.
We will expect each person to wear safety glasses at
all times during his working
shift except in office, rest or
locker room areas. For those
who require prescription
glasses the company has a
program of providing safety
frames and lenses.
For those who do not
ordinarily wear glasses we
maintain a stock of “planos”
that can be worn by anyone
and can be obtained through
his foreman. For those who
have a fitting problem we
will provide professional help.
What Do Safety Glasses Work? The photo above shows what happened when a
bottle of chemicals was accidentally broken, under normal pressure,
The sharp glass missiles, in an eye would have been seriously injurious. The
safety glasses intervened. Think about what could have happened if he did not wear Safety Glasses.
Here’s a real old-timer for you — Naugatuck Chemical 1905. We are told
(by an old timer, of course) that the buildings in the center of the picture
are #1 and #2 buildings which are still standing. The fence running along
the railroad track is located where the #1 building is now located. Just about
the time this picture was taken, construction was started on the SD building
(the Chemical Warehouse Facility) which was completed in 1907.
TWO RECENT ACCIDENTS
MAR RECORD
1967 SAFETY BOX SCORE
8 MONTHS THROUGH
AUGUST 31
Here is a brief description
of two lost-time accidents
which occurred during the last
week in August…We outline
them here in the hope that
having read what can happen,
you will work with care.
1967 1966
Lost-Time Injuries
8
12
Serious Injuries
37
40
Total
45
52
An operator in the pilot
plant was running material
through a granulator when a
cloth being used to contain
the dust fell down. When the
operator attempted to tuck the
cloth back into place, his
hand pushed too far into an
opening in the back of the
machine. The arm on the flywheel crushed his left index
finger against the body of the
granulator, resulting in a partial amputation.
The fact that our injuries
are somewhat less than last
year’s record total is no
reason to relax our safety efforts. In August we doubled
our previous total of 4 losttime injuries. In addition, we
had 8 serious injuries and
serious near-misses incidents.
Near-misses are warnings
of something gone wrong! If
A truck driver was helping
in the loading of 16 inch diameter pipe. Two sections were
already on opposite sides of
the truck to balance the load.
When the truck driver moved
to one side of the truck, one
section of pipe rolled across
the truck body and crushed
his right ankle against the
other section, causing a
fracture.
CLEANER AIR WEEK
OCTOBER 23-29
From an
Unexpected Quarter
An old rifle-bought to be
part of a firearms collection went off in the hands of its
owner and severely injured a
person standing nearby. The
owner, though, found to his
dismay that the rifle was
‘loaded’!
On the job, we are trained
to be on the lookout for all
the “normal” hazards. It’s the
totally unexpected condition
that sometimes fools us.
Even if you have the best
accident-prevention program
in the world, remember this:
safety in a department depends
largely on the alertness of
every individual who works
there.
you had one recently it could
as easily have been an accident. Don’t take that chance work safely.
SALESROOM NOTICE
The employee salesroom on
Rubber Avenue has announced
that its sale period will be
September 15 through October
13, 1967.
Mattress and box spring
$66.00
Twin and full size
Queen size 60″x80″
99.50
Double size 54″x75″
79.50
U.S. Postage
PAID
Naugatuck, Conn. 06770
UNIROYAL Chemical
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
FIRE DEPARTMENT ASKS
COOPERATION FOR
WINTERIZING
With the thoughts of summer vacation still fresh in our
minds and several weeks of
pleasant weather still ahead,
it may be a little difficult to
think seriously about winter
weather and freezing temperatures. Our plant fire department, however, has to think
about it as this is the time of
year when they begin preparing their equipment for winter.
Certain systems must be shut
down and anti-freeze and
valves controlling other outside fire protection piping
must be checked to be sure it
is in proper working order.
All plant structures must be
inspected to make sure all
openings, broken windows,
etc., are closed up. This is
where you can help by making
sure all windows and doors in
your work area are in good
condition and above all, make
sure they are closed up at
night. An open window next
to a sprinkler line can cause a
freeze-up even if the building
is heated.
A little preventative care
and maintenance by all of us
can save a great deal in loss
or replacement of vital fire
protection.
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