**Date:** 6-15-67
**Source:** Unknown
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Governor John Dempsey acknowledged the letter received from the borough seeking his intervention in the UniRoyal strike affecting three borough plants. He said in a letter to Mayor Joseph C. Raitkwich, that State Labor Commissioner Renato E. Ricciuti is maintaining close contact with the progress of the negotiations, and that Ricciuti will continue to keep him informed of the situation.
The Governor however, did not commit himself to positive action as had been requested by a vote of the Borough Board in a motion by Burgess Edward McGrath,(R), Third Ward. Word from Ohio this morning simply states that negotiations are continuing with neither the union or the companies commenting on the progress.
Last week’s hopes for a settlement on the new company offer, appear to be wilting. The basic problems seem to remain the same.
According to sources, the heaviest negotiation is between Goodrich and Firestone and the Union. Progress depends on the outcome of these sessions. Management has challenged the claim of the Union that its proposal will cost only 73 cents. Union negotiators, taken by surprise, said that management was using weighted wage figures and accused them of inflating the cost of the economic package in the Union’s counter-proposal.
Management, according to sources, is including the costs of over-time and machine down-time. A Union spokesman said yesterday that this item was no longer a major obstacle and hinted that the Union may be reconsidering the apparent cost of its package offer.
The efficiency rating system used at one of the plants seems now to be a bone of contention. A person who works at a particular job is expected to turn out a certain number of articles before he is entitled to full pay. Assuming no breakdowns on the machine, if an employe does not meet his efficiency rating he will not receive full pay.
The Union contends that the older person cannot always produce what a younger employe can and some of the ratings are therefore too high, according to a spokesman.
Union funds are dwindling as the strike continues. Here in Naugatuck, where 5,500 workers are out on strike, benefit checks, even though they have been cut, amount to approximately $577,500.
Strikers are resorting to the purchase of food stamps to supplement their $15 weekly benefit checks as their personal funds are depleted.
The question of the Uni-Royal annual shut-down vacation period in August is a topic of conversation in the borough. Many workers were hoping to be back to work well in advance of this time. Vacation plans are being altered.