**Date:** 3-6-69
**Source:** Unknown
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NAUGATUCK-Picketing at all three Uniroyal plants here was quiet today, following two days of scuffles by police and striking members of the United Rubber Workers union. Small clusters of pickets, mostly women, were on duty early today at the footwear plant where near-violence erupted both Thursday and Friday mornings.
It is not known if today’s ‘peaceful’ picketing is the result of a weekend injunction at the plant or the stern warning issued to strikers Friday by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney.
The judge warned the union to refrain from violence and any interference with operations of the Uniroyal plant, pending Tuesday’s court hearing on an injunction petition to halt mass picketing during the strike.
The rubber workers struck the nationwide chain of Uniroyal plants two weeks ago. In the two days of clashes between union members and police, 64 strikers were arrested on breach of peace charges. The clashes occurred as police at tempted to aid management personnel enter the Central Office of the footwear plant on Maple St. and were the basis for the firm’s action in seeking a court injunction to end mass picketing.
Only hours after the injunction hearing, a group consisting of Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich, Chief of Police Frank J. Marino, Police Commissioners Henry Marlor and William Simmons and representatives of the union gathered in the mayor’s office.
Following the session, which lasted almost two hours, during which loud voices could be heard from behind the closed doors, no statements were is sued and no comments were made.
Local 45 representatives said that they would leave the question of a statement to the discretion of Mayor Raytkwich, whose only comment was that the group had “a round robin discussion.”
At about 1 p.m., only an hour before the hearing in Waterbury, police became involved in an incident with pickets who were trying to stop the passage of five railroad cars into a ware house on Elm St. Several pick ets and police were injured in the incident, and three were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.
When the session during which pickets were warned against mass picketing had ended, an injunction hearing was set for 11 a.m. Tuesday.
During the injunction hearing, the union must show cause why an order restraining it from engaging in mass picketing should not be issued.
In the meantime the strikers have been cautioned against any incidents which would interfere with the company’s business, and against any “type of vio lence.”
By reason of such “unlawful acts and threats,” the company claims, it “has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations… and will continue to be un able to handle contracts with its customers, among which is the Defense Department of the United States Government for items needed in national defense…”
The company wants the court to issue an order restraining the pickets from engaging in mass picketing, from blocking en trances and exits to and from the plant and “from in any way in juring, damaging or destroy ing its plant, machines, equip ment or stock of materials on hand.”
No property damage was re ported throughout the three days of mass picketing, and the sole object of pickets was to prevent white collar employes from en tering the plant.
Despite pleadings and warn ings from officials of Local 45, pushing, shoving and subsequent arrests punctuated the early hours of Thursday and Friday. Forty-three pickets were arrested on Thursday, and another 21 were arrested Friday.
Union officials charged that the early morning incident Fri day was deliberately provoked by the company, which had been taking pictures at the scene in an apparent effort to get court injunction against mass picketing.