**Source:** Register Staff Reporter
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NAUGTUCK — Hope that a breakthrough in the stalemated contract talks between the United Rubber Workers and Uniroyal may develop is being expressed by local employes of the rubber company as the strike heads in to its 10th day.
The optimism is predicated on the willingness of both the URW Policy Committee and management of Uni Royal to continue negotiating sessions in Cincinnati Saturday and again today.
Normally, negotiations are recessed on a weekend. Therefore, the meeting Saturday and the one scheduled today are considered by the 5,000 workers who struck the Uniroyal footwear, chemical and synthetic plants here April 21.
Last weekend, the negotiating teams not only recessed for that period but stayed apart until Wednesday.
Failure to agree on clauses of a contract when the old one expired at midnight April 20, caused URW to strike the 19 plants of Uniroyal scattered about the country.
Both sides have adopted a set pattern against any public announcements on progress of talks. But second-hand reports indicate that hourly wage increases and URW’s request for a guaranteed annual pay wage of about 95 per cent of salary are the main stumbling blocks.
It has also been indicated here that representatives of the three area locals — 45, 218 and 308 — are in a settling mood. However, according to the report, tire plant workers of Uniroyal are still at odds with management over pay hikes.
Meanwhile, URW executive committees are setting up machinery so that local union members may receive strike benefits. Applications were accepted Friday and they will again be received Monday to enable the strikers to be eligible for weekly checks while the shutdown endures.
Picket activity at Uniroyal’s Naugatuck Chemical Co. continued this weekend on around-the-clock schedule. At the footwear and synthetic plants, however, management has reported that this privilege may be denied starting Monday. Management has reportedly instructed personnel, if challenged, to withdraw without question.