Judge Warns Union On “Interference, Violence” Here
5-6-67 [handwritten]
WATERBURY – A warning to refrain from any violence and interference with the operations of UniRoyal’s Footwear Division was given yesterday to the United Rubber Workers (URW) Union by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney.
The court issued an order to show cause why a temporary injunction should not be issued in favor of the rubber firm. Judge Gaffney gave the union until 11 a.m. Tuesday to prepare its case.
“In the event of interference with the plaintiff’s operations at its plants in Naugatuck,” Judge Gaffney said,” or any acts of violence between now and the time the court rules on the company’s motion, upon show of facts, a restraining order will be issued forthwith.”
Atty. Daniel Baker, counsel for the URW, asked if this included “peaceful picketing.”
Judge Gaffney said it did not in any way restrict peaceful picketing.
But he admonished all those present to look up the definition of “peaceful picketing.”
Atty. Edgar Bassick represented UniRoyal in the proceedings.
Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, was present with other union officials. Four or five UniRoyal executives attending the brief proceedings, led by John Smith, factory manager.
Set for 2 p.m., the court was not called to order until some
Conferences between attorneys and their respective clients and conferences between the attorneys and Judge Gaffney took up considerable time until the brief proceedings got underway.
In effect, the Judge gave union attorneys until Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock to prepare a case against the granting of UniRoyal’s injunction request.
His remarks about “peaceful picketing” and mention of “violence” in regard to the quick issuance of a restraining order
brought to mind to those present the more than 60 arrests and scuffling that has gone on in the past three days at the Footwear Division in the borough.
UniRoyal attorneys sought the injunction on the grounds that union members have “engaged in mass picketing…intercepted and blocked persons who approached the plant and plant premises by foot or by vehicle, pushing and shoving such persons, kicking them, stepping on their feet, calling them names in loud and menacing manners.”
The strikers “have congregated in large and unruly masses in attempts to block entrance to or exit from the plant by threat of force or violence” and have “obstructed the police in the performance of their duties and made the employment of force and large numbers of police officers necessary, resulting in breaches of the peace and creating an atmosphere of fear and tension.”
By reason of such “unlawful acts and threats” the company claims it “has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations and will continue to be unable to handle contracts with its customers, among which is the Defense Department of the United States Government for items needed in national defense.”
The rubber firm wanted the
Train Tragedy Narrowly Averted
A number of pickets and police at a gate of UniRoyal, Inc., on Elm St. narrowly missed being struck by a train backing into the firm’s warehouse yesterday afternoon.
Policemen came close to being hit by the train, apparently operated by supervisory personnel of the New Haven Railroad.
A number of pickets blocking the tracks of the railroad apparently thought the train was going to stop when the end boxcar reached the picket line. Police on duty also apparently were of the opinion the train would stop.
As the train drew close to the pickets, police moved in to move them aside and allow the train to pass. Some of them with their backs to the moving train narrowly missed being hit, as well as pickets.
At least one person was slightly injured in the incident.
than 60 persons arrested.
Pickets of Local 45, URW, had been notified of the attempt by UniRoyal to get some boxcars into the warehouse.
At about 1 o’clock, when the incident occurred yesterday, only a handful of pickets were at the warehouse. A call quickly went to union headquarters and the number of pickets increased considerably.
As soon as it was evident to the pickets the train was moving toward the warehouse, they began milling in front of the gate. Police had arrived at the scene only minutes before.
When the train went through the gate without regard for the men standing around it, police and pickets alike were astounded.
Everyone standing near the scene was visibly shaken by the incident. Some pickets said the train went by at an alarming
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