**Date:** 6-13-67
**Source:** Rubber Strike
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AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Negotiators in the national rubber strike today prepared for another long session over the problems of wages, contract length, the elimination of differentials in wage hikes, employes and job security.
Three of the nation’s five largest rubber companies have been on strike for 54 days, with about 55,000 employes idled around the country.
In Connecticut, some 5,500 workers at three United Rubber Plants in Naugatuck are affected by the walkout. There are no other unionized rubber industry plants in the state.
Wage contracts expired April 20 between the United Rubber Workers (URW) and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Uniroyal Inc., and B. F. Goodrich Co.
Day-to-Day
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., whose contract expired the same day, and General, whose contract expired May 15, continued production on a day-to-day basis.
A break seemed most likely to occur in talks with General Tire & Rubber, which has proposed a slightly higher package than the other four companies. General boosted its pay proposal for tire workers from 38 to 40 cents per hour over three years, and offered increased fringe benefits, particularly in the crucial area of supplementary unemployment benefits.
Spokesman for the other four companies would not say if their negotiators were following suit. Wages Behind
URW President Peter Bommarito said the wage offers of the four companies, including General, would leave the rubber workers behind other industries. He said the rubber companies are offering 4.5 per cent increases, as opposed to the 5.8 per cent national pattern.
In letters to their employes, the three struck companies set the percentage of their offer at 5 per cent, its cost at 70 cents per hour, and its size as the largest in industry history.
The companies said the fringe benefits are substantial and an increase in supplementary unemployment benefits from 65 per cent of straight time pay to 75 per cent will cost them six cents per hour alone.
The union has demanded unemployment payments of up to 95 per cent of basic wages. Bommarito calls this request “a full-employment plant.”
“Attractive” Basis
General had raised its offer on supplementary unemployment benefits to 80 per cent. This proposal won Bommarito’s approval as an “attractive” basis for settlement. General also increased vacation and pension benefits.
The tire workers now average $3.69 per hour. Company employes in other divisions make an average of $2.68. The last two settlements have increased the differential. Bommario insists the next settlement grant equal raises to both types of production workers.
The request does not affect General, which is negotiating for only 8,000 tire workers in Akron and Waco, Tex. But the other four companies maintain they can only offer 31 per cent wage increases to non-tire workers.