**Date:** 7-12-67
**Source:** Unknown
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The United Rubber Workers Union has notified the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., that unless settlement is reached it will strike its plants at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
The 21,000 workers at Goodyear’s 11 plants have continued working on a day-to-day basis since the termination of their contract, April 20.
In the event Goodyear’s plants are closed, there has been some speculation that the government would invoke the ‘Taft-Hartley Act’ providing for an 80-day ‘cooling off’ period. During this time, presumably all the struck companies would return to work while negotiations continued for contract settlement.
However, one source indica- ted some doubt the adminis- tration would seek an injunction at least immediately, although he conceded a strike at Good- year would undoubtedly make a move for an injunction more likely.
In another move to force the issue, the United Rubber Work- ers called a strike last Satur- day against Schenuit Rubber Co. in Baltimore, a smaller con- cern producing aircraft and in- dustrial tires. This possibility will bring added government pressure for a settlement among the five major concerns because of military aircraft tire requirements.
Schenuit was struck by Local 293 of the union, also in a dis- pute over a new contract, idling about 400 workers. Schenuit’s aircraft tire production goes entirely to the government and represents about 20 per cent of its aircraft tire requirements, according to industrial sources.
William F. Simkin, director of the U.S. Mediation and Con- ciliation Service, appeared in Columbus, Ohio Monday to as- sist in negotiating a contract settlement between B.F. Good- rich and the union. Peter Bom- marino, International President of the union, also went to Col- umbus from Akron, Monday to join the negotiations.
The strike vote was taken by individual URW locals at Good- year plants. Negotiations with Goodyear and the B. F. Goodrich Co. in- tensified.
In both sets of talks, agree- ment was reported reached on all non money issues.
URW President Peter Bom- marino and Chief Federal Medi- ator William Simkin sat in on the Goodrich negotiations in hopes of reaching a pattern set- ting agreement that could end the strikes at other companies.
About 51,000 workers have been on strike against Goodyear, Firestone and UniRoyal since April 20, when contracts ex- pired.
Another 3,000 URW members struck two general tire plants June 21.
With Goodyear also struck, about 75 per cent of industry capacity will be idled, and the flow of tires and other mat’er- ials to the defense industry will be sharply cut.
Major stumbling blocks in all negotiations were wage in- creases, supplementary unem- ployment benefits, and pay boost differentials between tire workers and other production workers.
Tire workers’ average about $3.58 per hour and non-tire workers $2.69.
The URW Tuesday confirmed reports of another ‘seven-fig- ure’ loan from the United Auto Workers to replenish the URW’s depleted strike funds.
The auto workers previously loaned the striking union $1 million.