**Date:** 4-27-67
**Source:** Rubber Strike
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AKRON, Ohio (UPI) – Negotiations were to continue today in the week-old rubber industry strike in the face of charges that four major companies have failed to make an adequate wage offer.
Peter Bomartio, international president of the striking United Rubber Workers, leveled the charge at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., B.F. Goodrich, UniRoyal, Inc., and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Contracts with the four firms expired last Thursday and all but Goodyear were struck. Both sides in the Goodyear negotiations agreed to extend the old contract on a day to day basis.
Bomartio said the companies have refused to follow a formula on wage adjustments that would give rubber workers about the same wages paid in the auto industry. “For 20 years wage adjustments in the rubber and auto industries have paralleled each other,” he said.
“This year the major rubber companies say they will not follow the tandem relationship between auto and rubber workers because it will provide too great an increase,” he said.
Negotiations resumed Wednesday, with the three struck companies for the first time since 50,000 workers went on strike last Thursday.
Picketing in the borough remains quiet while rumors circulate that this will be a long strike.
Both Locals 45 and 308 are maintaining a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. picket schedule with members working two-hour shifts on the line. Local 218 is maintaining a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week schedule for its pickets.
Local 218 started yesterday and again today from 1 to 4 p.m. to have its members fill out applications for strike benefits.
The other two Locals in the borough have not yet notified its members to report for applications.
This week local plants will be paying its striking workers for the last time until the strike comes to a conclusion. White collar workers are maintaining a regular work schedule without major changes.