**Date:** 5-12-67
**Source:** Naugatuck Daily News
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Editor
Naugatuck Daily News
Dear Sir:
After reading the *Letter to the Editor* of May 11th 1967 in your newspaper, I know now that you are on a ONE WAY STREET.*
This unidentified person (name withheld) states that the white collar worker also pays the local ‘Gendarmes’ salaries, agree, but compared to the blue collared workers, they can be counted on your fingers.
This ‘Ingrate’ is a very uninformed person. If it were not for members (of International Rubber Workers) like Local #45 we would have no pensions large or small for them to enjoy during their retirement, as far as the cost of living going up where has this ‘ingrate’ been? Long before we went to the bargaining table the cost of living had gone up. As not being informed by the Union as to what we are striking for, why doesn’t he or she come up (or call) the Union Hall? Perhaps the ‘ingrate’ is ashamed?
As for renewing the old contract and voting a NO strike vote he (or she) should be ashamed of themselves. If we send our Policy Committee to the bargaining table without a vote of confidence from the people back home, we might as well go back to the days of depression, when we or our parents worked as slaves for 20 – 25ยข an hour, we would have no benefits as they did and couldn’t afford some of these luxuries we now enjoy.
If this ‘ingrate’ (that’s all I can say for this person) is so much against what the Union is trying to get for them, then I say when everyone else accepts these gains the said ‘ingrate’ should get up and forfeit said gains and when the ‘ingrate’s’ spouse secures more benefits (due to the fact the blue collar worker have it) the ‘ingrate’ also should reject such gain and then stand up and be counted! I’m sure they will be alone.
One more thing, I’ll bet this ‘ingrate’ never even did any picket duty, but probably was one of the FIRST in line for strike Benefits!
Another point, we’re not that bad that we have to burn your house down, we are Union Members of Locals #45 – 218 – 308 and do not do things out of Hatred, but because we are interested in our jobs, present and future. I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done on behalf of Local #45 and you have my permission to print my name to this letter.
Jose F. Pinho
129 Aetna St.