1960

Single file, Uniroyal supervisory personnel are allowed to pass through picket line to enter plant this morning in Naugatuck. Union agreed to allow male employes to enter but women were to be kept out.

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5-5-67

Single file, Uniroyal supervisory personnel are allowed to pass through picket line to enter plant this morning in Naugatuck. Union agreed to allow male employes to enter but women were to be kept out.

LOCAL 45 Vice President Raymond Mengacci, with bullhorn, passes along company proposal to union pickets that male non-union employes be allowed into Uniroyal’s Naugatuck Footwear plant this morning. It was rejected. Police Capt. Joseph Summa is at left, and International Union Rep. William Fernandez, Jr., is in center, with hat and glasses, just behind Mengacci.

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LOCAL 45 Vice President Raymond Mengacci, with bullhorn, passes along company proposal to union pickets that male non-union employes be allowed into Uniroyal’s Naugatuck Footwear plant this morning. It was rejected. Police Capt. Joseph Summa is at left, and International Union Rep. William Fernandez, Jr., is in center, with hat and glasses, just behind Mengacci.—Coviello Photo.

[Handwritten notation in margin:] 5-15-67

NAUGATUCK – Another 21 Picketing United Rubber Workers Union members were arrested this morning in the third day of clashes between police and strikers at the Maple St. gate of the Uniroyal footwear plant.

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NAUGATUCK — Another 21
picketing United Rubber Work-
ers Union members were arrest-
ed this morning in the third day
of clashes between police and
strikers at the Maple St. gate of
the Uniroyal footwear plant.

Police first charged four of
the pickets with assault, but la-
ter dropped this to breach of
peace, the charge levied against
the other 17.

Union officials charged the in-
cident, at about 7 a. m. was del-
iberately provoked by the com-
pany, which had been taking
pictures at the scene to bolster
efforts to get a court injunction
against mass picketing.

The union leader, Raymond
Mengacci, vice president of Lo-
cal 45, said he has to appear in
court in Waterbury today at 2 p.
m. An injunction will be sought
by the Uniroyal firm at that
time.

Today’s flare-up came as 50
office and supervisory employes
showed up for the 7 a. m. shift.
Pickets ignored police warnings
to disperse and resisted efforts
of the officers to wedge into the
plant.

Riot Act Read

Capt. Joseph Summa, head of
the police detail, read the state
statutes’ riot act for the second
day. The pickets, however,
formed a tight line, refusing ad-
mittance to management per-
sonnel.

There was about 15 minutes of
pushing and shoving before po-
lice began making arrests. Most
went along with police willingly,
but three had to be carried and
one was dragged.

Police Brutality

“Police brutality” came from
a chorus of voices, predominant-
ly female.

As relative peace returned,
the supervisory and office em-
ployes went into the plant.
Among those arrested was Wil-
liam Battles, 37, 486 North Main
St., Waterbury, who lost his
shoe and some change in the in-
cident and was later taken to
Waterbury Hospital, complain-
ing of stomach pains. He told
authorities that he was struck in
the stomach.

Also taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, was Martha Jones, 40, 26 Sparks St., Waterbury, for treatment of a cut knee, she said she received during the pushing and shoving in front of the gate. Both are members of Local 45.

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Also taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, was Martha Jones, 40, 26 Sparks St., Waterbury, for treatment of a cut knee, she said she received during the pushing and shoving in front of the gate. Both are members of Local 45.

Another 150 supervisory personnel showed up for the 8 a. m. shift and were told by Capt. Summa to congregate on The Green on Church St. to await further instructions. In the interim, Mengacci, and Cy Blanchard, who is Local 218 vice president, met with Police Chief Frank J. Mariano and Police Comsrs. Henry S. Marlor, William E. Simmons and Paul Anderson to work out an agreement to let the supervisory employes into the plant.

Mengacci, addressing the pickets over a bullhorn, asked if they would allow all male supervisory personnel to enter the plant without incident.

His question was at first answered with a resounding “No.” However, the pickets were persuaded to comply with the agreement.

The men lined up, but about 50 women in the group departed for home on orders of Capt. Summa.

“It was a concession on our part.” William Fernandez, Jr., International representative for the union, said. “It was our last concession and I have told the Police Department there will be no more concessions,” Mengacci added.

“We’re not taking another backward step,” he said.

The entire regular force of 33

(Cont’d on Page 4—PICKETS)

Pickets

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Pickets

(Cont’d from Page One)

officers was on hand near the
gate, but wasn’t needed after
the 7 a.m. incident.

Fewer than 30 women office
employes left the plant at about
9:30 a.m. under another special
arrangement with Police Chief
Mariano acting as intermediary.

Fifty or more pickets had
been clustered by the office
doorway, but pulled back, leav-
ing just a few placard-bearing
women who marched back and
forth as the office help walked
out in two’s and three’s.

Fernandez said that the wom-
en hadn’t entered the plant this
morning and “I don’t know
when they went in or how long
they have been there.” Others
thought the women did go in at
7 a.m.

Divert Traffic

It was a balmy day as a
crowd of a couple of hundred
pickets gathered at the Maple
St. gate, while police diverted
traffic around Maple St. to Rub-
ber Ave. and Water St.

Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich,
on an errand from Town Hall to
the fire station across the street,
shortly after the hubbub had
ended, was greeted with a cho-
rus of boos from the pickets.

He looked around, seemingly
startled. He was reelected only
Monday to his fourth term.

Police said all of the pickets
arrested today were released
without bond except four who
were arrested for the second
day in a row. They had to post a
$50 bond each.

These four are: Robert G. Irv-
ing, 23, 19 Lines Hill Ext.; John
P. Henao, 30, 194 Maple St.;
Ronnie J. Kezelevich, 23, 16
Melbourne Ct., and Nicholas
Cesarello, 53, 132 Norton St.,
Waterbury.

The others arrested were:

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The others arrested were:
Vincent Albano, 40, 144 Division
St., Waterbury; Leo Klonis, 25,
92 Wilson St.; Henrique
Marques, 40, 197 Lincoln St.;
Gary A. McDonald, 20, 69 East
Clay St., Waterbury; Jerro Tar-
laglia, 43, 424 Lincoln St.,
Waterbury; Charles H. Tillot-
son, 44, 59 Meadow St.; Mario
Carneiro, 26, 18 Bridge St.;

Raphael Dangelo, 44, 41 Sum-
merfield St.; Adam Swierbitow-
icz, 41, 150 Prospect St.; Ralph
A. Marrello, 43 Long View
Terr.; Walter Nelson, 36, 39
Hackett St.; Bernard Borzino,
45, 190 Hewey St., Waterbury;
William Woermer, 47, Warren
Ave.; Joseph Marco, 27, 495
Cherry St. Ext.; William Cooke,
27, 28 Washington St., Waterbu-
ry; and Robert Sequenzia, 51,
440 South Main St.

Three women pickets who
were brought to the station were
released by police without being
formally charged.

One minor police casualty to-
day was Patrolman Jerry Siri-
ca, who was bitten on the finger
during the melee by an unidenti-
fied picket. The injury was not
serious and he did not require
medical attention.

Officer Robert Carriero
turned up for duty today limp-
ing from an ankle injury receiv-
ed in Thursday’s scuffle. He was
sent home.

Also complainnig from minor
pains from today’s pushing and
shoving were Patrolman Robert
Sawicki and Henry Kucinski.
Both remained on duty.

Today marks the end of the
second week of the strike as
negotiators in Cincinnati, Ohio,
failed to reach agreement on a
master contract covering Uni-
royal’s more than 20,000 union
employes in plants across the
country. Talks, however, are
continuing.

IN SOLID MASS, non-union employes of Uniroyal Footwear Plant in Naugatuck head for work at 7 a.m. today, after assembling on The Green, in background. Police halted the crowd and sent back to the Green. The company proposed that the women be sent home and the male employes be allowed through the picket lines, but the union rejected the idea. It was shortly after that that violence erupted again.—Coviello Photo.

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5-5-67

IN SOLID MASS, non-union employes of Uniroyal Footwear Plant in Naugatuck head for work at 7 a. m. today, after assembling on The Green, in background. Police halted the crowd and sent back to the Green. The company proposed that the women to be sent home and the male employes be allowed through the picket lines, but the union rejected the idea. It was shortly after that that violence erupted again.—Coviello Photo.

Picket Hauled Away By Cops

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Picket Hauled Away By Cops

FOR THIRD DAY in a row, pickets at the Uniroyal Footwear Plant in Naugatuck refused to allow non-union employes to cross their lines into the plant. This morning, 21 were arrested, including this unidentified man being dragged up the street to Police Headquarters.—Coviello Photo.

[Handwritten note in margin, left side:]
6-5-67

WHITE COLLAR workers were streaming through the gates at Maple Street following a day’s vacation. Female employes waited on Church St. until calm was restored before trying to report to work

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WHITE COLLAR workers were streaming through the gates at Maple Street following a day’s vacation. Female employes waited on Church St. until calm was restored before trying to report to work —(News photo by Nichols)

POLICE WATCH as pickets allow personnel to pass through the line at the Maple Street gate, yesterday. The line had been opened out shortly before the picture was taken.

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POLICE WATCH as pickets allow personnel to pass through the line at the Maple Street gate, yesterday. The line had been opened out shortly before the picture was taken. –(News photo by Jensen)

After the big rush to open the picket lines yesterday, calm was restored in front of the Central Office of UniRoyal

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5-3-67

United States Rubber Company
Naugatuck Footwear Plant

SPEED
LIMIT
10

AFTER THE BIG RUSH to open the picket lines yesterday, calm was restored in front of the Central Office of UniRoyal.
A few pickets were left on duty and some interested strikers stand by to watch the activity at the gate across the street.
—(News photo by Jensen)

William Battles of Waterbury is dragged away from the Maple Street plant at Uniroyal by police after fighting broke out there today when strikers prevented office employes from crossing picket lines.

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5-5-67

William Battles of Waterbury is dragged away from the Maple Street plant at Uniroyal by police after fighting broke out there today when strikers prevented office employes from crossing picket lines. Battles, who was charged with breach of peace by assault, was later taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, where he was treated and released.

UNIROYAL

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UNIROYAL

(Continued from Page 1)

Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, warned strikers that state troopers would be called if the office help were not permitted to enter the plant. He said, “The union had come to an agreement to let male office workers in, but 15 women office workers would have to go home.”

“No, no, we won’t let them in,” was shouted by many of the strikers. Mengacci warned there might be “bloodshed” it became necessary for the State Police to restrain the workers. One angry worker retorted, “Custer made his last stand; we’ll make it here.”

Mengacci said any violence would be useless, since the company was trying to get an injunction to prevent the pickets from blocking employes who wanted to enter the plant.

Cyrus Blanchard, vice president of Local 308 at the Uniroyal Chemical plant across town also pleaded with the strikers. The male salaried workers began filtering into the plant with little resistance at about 8 a.m., although some were bumped as they passed pickets. The women workers had already started home and did not try come in with the men.

The scene then quieted, though the pickets and other striking employes maintained their vigil outside the gates.

Seventeen of the 21 arrested today were charged with breach of the peace and were released on cash bonds of $150 each, posted by union officials. On Thursday, arrested employes were freed without posting bond.

In contrast to Thursday, when all of those arrested walked over to the police station a block away, today four had to be dragged, although most went quietly. The four were charged with breach of the peace by assault, and their bonds were $200 each.

Mengacci and William Fernandes, a union representative, will appear in Superior Court this afternoon, when the company seeks to obtain a restraining order.

The strike is in now its 15th day. Negotiations are being conducted on a national level in Cincinnati where issues involve a guaranteed annual wage.

To maintain order, Chief Mariano has brought in added policemen on an overtime basis as well as supernumeraries. Many of the policemen involved in the fighting are related to the strikers and one patrolman said, “I have half my family working there.”

A number of the policemen complained about being caught in the middle between the union and office personnel.

Yesterday’s scuffling stemmed from union concerns that Uniroyal would try to ship merchandise from a struck warehouse. In the morning, pushing began as office employes tried to enter the building. Later in the day, a U.S. mail truck was blocked when it tried to leave the company grounds. The pickets converged on it but let it pass after a few minutes’ delay.

Order Returns To Naugatuck Uniroyal Strike

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Order Returns To Naugatuck Uniroyal Strike

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK —Peace and order, conspicuous by its absence during strike demonstrations here Thursday and Friday, which resulted in wholesale arrests, returned once more as the strike by the United Rubber Workers Union against Uniroyal enters its 17th day.

The turnabout from an explosive atmosphere is attributed by both union and management officials to the successful application by Uniroyal in the Waterbury Superior Court Friday for a restaining order against URW.

The order as granted compels Local 45 of the Footwear Division to restrict the mode of its picketing and also desist from attempts to prevent management personnel, company trucks and other public conveyances from entering and leaving the factory.

The union’s insistence that management personnel be barred along with no shipping of company products during the strike touched off the distrubances that almost reached riot proportions on Thursday and Friday.

Union officials who were individually served with restraining order proceedings Friday night agree that they must abide by the court orders.

Start Monday

Accordingly, on Monday office help and supervisory employes will be permitted to cross the picket lines without any challenges. The same policy will be in effect as to entrance the departure of any trucks that might be transporting Uniroyal merchandise.

Members of the union were instructed Friday night on these privileges granted the company as a result of the order. They also were requested to abide by the court action.

The order should eliminate hard feelings that were aroused between the strikers and members of the borough Police Department. Some pickets required hospitalization and so did some policemen reportedly injured in the scuffling.

Charges have been hurled back and forth and there was a report Friday night that a suit may be levied against the borough by the union over a supposedly act of brutality.

Contract Talks

Meanwhile, forgotten in the rash of demonstrations was the progress, or lack of it, at the conference table at Cincinnatti where a new contract is being negotiated.

The talks were recessed for the weekend and will be resumed Monday morning. A contact at Cincinnati reported that apparently no great step was taken to reach an agreement.

In Naugatuck, the strike called April 21 has shut down operations at the Footwear, Chemical and Synthetic Divisions of Uniroyal.

And for union members, it means that they are now in the third week of a strike that has already cost them two full pay checks.

Finanical Aid

Some financial assistance will be forthcoming on Tuesday and Wednesday when Locals 45, 218 and 308 will hand out special strike benefit checks to their memberships.

The crippling strike has not only hit the union members hard but is also being felt by stores, restaurants, business establishments and tradesmen that rely on factory workers for much of their revenue.

The economic pinch has also hit the borough in an unusual way since its meter receipts have been greatly affected. Employes of the Footwear Division while at work use the all-day meters, costing 25 cents for an eight-hour period.

[Handwritten notation at top of page appears to read: “5/7/67”]

UNIROYAL

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UNIROYAL

(Continued from Page 1)

Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, warned strikers that state troopers would be called if the office help were not permitted to enter the plant. He said, “The union had come to an agreement to let male office workers in, but 150 women office workers would have to go home.”

“No, no, we won’t let them in,” was shouted by many of the strikers. Mengacci warned there might be “bloodshed” if it became necessary for the State Police to restrain the workers. One angry worker retorted, “Custer made his last stand; we’ll make it here.”

Mengacci said any violence would be useless, since the company was trying to get an injunction to prevent the pickets from blocking employes who wanted to enter the plant.

Cyrus Blanchard, vice president of Local 308 at the Uniroyal Chemical plant across town also pleaded with the strikers. The male salaried workers began filtering into the plant with little resistance at about 8:30 a.m., although some were bumped as they passed pickets. The women workers had already started home and did not try to come in with the men.

The scene then quieted, although the pickets and other striking employes maintained their vigil outside the gates.

Seventeen of the 21 arrested today were charged with breach of the peace and were released on cash bonds of $150 each, posted by union officials. On Thursday, arrested employes were freed without posting bond.

In contrast to Thursday, when all of those arrested walked over to the police station a block away, today four had to be dragged, although most went quietly. The four were charged with breach of the peace by assault, and their bonds were $200 each.

Mengacci and William Fernandes, a union representative, will appear in Superior Court this afternoon, when the company seeks to obtain a restraining order.

The strike is in now its 15th day. Negotiations are being conducted on a national level in Cincinnati where issues involve a guaranteed annual wage.

To maintain order, Chief Mariano has brought in added policemen on an overtime basis as well as supernumeraries. Many of the policemen involved in the fighting are related to the strikers and one patrolman said, “I have half my family working there.”

A number of the policemen complained about being caught in the middle between the union and office personnel.

Yesterday’s scuffling stemmed from union concerns that Uniroyal would try to ship merchandise from a struck warehouse. In the morning, pushing began as office employes tried to enter the building. Later in the day, a U.S. mail truck was blocked when it tried to leave the company grounds. The pickets converged on it but let it pass after a few minutes’ delay.

Dear Sir:

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Dear Sir:

It was with amazement I read the letter in the newspaper about our Police force. I wonder if that woman thinks only UniRoyal union members pay their salaries. Did it ever occur to her that management personnel also pay their share of the Policemen’s salaries? So I should hope they have a right to be protected also. They didn’t vote to go on strike, so they have a human right to work How dare anyone force their will on these people?

It’s bad enough that I am a union member that didn’t vote to strike, but have no choice but to go along with the herd. Everyone I talk to agrees that a raise does no good because the prices go up. If a raise does us no good, think of what it does to the people that are trying to live on a pension. Remember that someday you will be trying to struggle along on a pension that stays the same while the prices keep going up because of union demands. Every two years, more and more, where will it all end? Think of what happened to Vickers in Waterbury and the newspaper in New York. I heard the editor of the paper say union demands do put them out of business.

No matter what we get we will never make up our loss. The union didn’t ask us if we wanted a raise. We aren’t even allowed to know what the issues are. That’s what happens when the union gets too strong. We don’t tell them anything, they tell us.

Why can’t they just reinstate the old contract instead of asking for more and more every two years.

Also, I don’t think it’s right to stop UniRoyal from shipping the shoes we already got paid good money to make, some of us even got time and a half.

Not long ago everyone was up in arms and wrote letters to Congress to cut down foreign made shoes, because we didn’t want UniRoyal to lose customers. Now where is the concern for the customers? Why cut your nose to spite your face? We will be the ones to suffer the big loss.

And it’s plain ridiculous to expect a layed-off employee to get 93% of their wages. Just who would be fool enough to want to sweat all day for a few dollars more than the guy sitting home on his backside. Everyone would fight to be layed off.

Please don’t print my name after seeing that unreasonable crowd the other day. I would probably get my house burned down. This is the only way to voice my opinion, which, I hope,

[Handwritten marks visible in left margin appearing to be checkmarks or notation marks]

Atty. Daniel Baker of Stamford, counsel for the union, said the union ‘intends fully to comply’ with Judge Gaffney’s instructions. He said local union leaders will do ‘everything in their power’ to maintain a peaceful picket line.

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Atty. Daniel Baker of Stamford, counsel for the union, said the union “intends fully to comply” with Judge Gaffney’s instructions. He said local union leaders will do “everything in their power to maintain a peaceful picket line.”

He said they will “make sure there are a reasonable number of pickets . . . and they will avoid any situation . . . which could get out of control.”

Fanton and Baker crossed swords briefly when the company attorney asked Judge Gaffney to address himself directly to International Representative William Fernandes and Vice President Raymond Mengacci concerning picket line activity regarding attempts to restrain passage of delivery trucks in and out of the plant.

Baker said the union has “worked out a good mechanism” with local police for dealing with trucks. He said the company should “recognize the union’s right” to talk to truck drivers and ask them whether they want to cross the picket line.

Union officials explained that strikers have arranged to have police officers on duty at the gates ask the truck drivers whether they wish to cross the lines. In the event that they do, the picket line withdraws, the officials said. Drivers of 11 of 19 trucks which approached the warehouse gate on Elm St. Monday refused to cross the line and turned away.

Judge Gaffney said the union is “entitled to peaceful picketing and to use (its) arts of peaceful persuasion,” but, he added, it “cannot do what has been determined is illegal.”

He said motor and freight shipments are expected at the plant soon and he warned that “any interference with these shipments will bring about a restraining order and the penalties therein.”

The penalties referred to usually include a high bond and the threat of contempt of court for any violations of the restraining order.

“I’m taking a lot on myself by recommending this continuance,” Judge Gaffney said. “The onus will fall on me if this experiment doesn’t work.”

He added, “The court hopes that within two weeks the strike will be over and there will be no need for the court to lay down strict rules.”

Union Opposing Uniroyal’s Bid To Have Court Limit Picketing

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Union Opposing Uniroyal’s Bid To Have Court Limit Picketing

5-1067 [handwritten notation]

NAUGATUCK—Officials and attorneys of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, are in Waterbury Superior Court today to oppose a company petition for an injunction prohibiting mass picketing at Uniroyal’s Footwear Division plant.

The hearing is scheduled before Judge Leo V. Gaffney. The union is now picketing under a restraint order issued by Judge Gaffney last Friday.

The order obtained by Uniroyal has blocked recurrence of the near-rioting of last Thursday and Friday which resulted in the arrest of some 70 union members.

Uniroyal has also instituted court proceedings seeking $1 million in damages from the union because of the strikers’ alleged interference with plant operations.

The pickets Friday also attempted to stop the company from shipping from the central warehouse. However, they were unsuccessful in preventing a string of freight cars from being switched into the warehouse for loading.

The pickets have complied with the restraining order and also followed the instructions of their leaders not to interfere with trucks entering and leaving the plant. Some trucking firms that are unionized and some, non-unionized made pickups from the main warehouse.

Drivers of some trucks, when apprised by captains of picket lines of the situation, refused to enter the gates. As they drove away, they were cheered by the strikers.

No report was forthcoming from Cincinnati on the progress of the contract talks, resumed Monday after a weekend recess. The strike by United Rubber Workers against Uniroyal is now in its 19th day.

the strikers attempted to prevent white collar workers from entering the plant. the incidents led to the arrests of 71 pickets.

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the strikers attempted to prevent white collar workers from entering the plant. The incidents led to the arrests of 71 pickets.

Fanton said the company’s decision to hold off on the injunction hearing was prompted largely by the relative calm which prevailed in picket lines at the plant Monday and Tuesday. He said there was “no serious interference with the employer’s operations” during those two days.

The union had been warned Friday by Judge Gaffney against any interference or violence.

Picket Duty Explained By Union Head

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Picket Duty Explained By Union Head

NAUGATUCK — Some members of United Rubber Workers Local 218 reported evidence of confusion Tuesday over the question of receiving the weekly strike benefit of $25 .According to Vice President of Local 218, Cy Blanchard , receipt of the check depends on whether or not a member appeared for strike duty at least once every five days.

Many of the members, appearing for their benefit checks Tuesday, were told that in order to qualify for them they would have to serve today. They were told that they had until 3 p.m. today to make up lost picket time.

According to Blanchard, with only 530 members available for picket duty, it was necessary to schedule each man at least once every five days. Some men, he said, have appeared only once for a three-hour picket duty, while others have done more than their share.

He noted that although some members were surprised when they heard they had to serve again before qualifying for the checks, he thought it was each man’s duty as a union member to volunteer his services. It seems unfair, he said, that the man who has served only once gets the same benefit as the man who has served many times.

“We have not denied anyone any benefits,” said Blanchard, adding that “we are giving every member full opportunity” to fulfill his picket obligations.

There are some, he said, who are unable to picket because of health or other reasons, but these are also put to work to make everything fair.

Each member is being scheduled once every five days so that there are about 110 pickets every day, he said. He added that he hoped every member would volunteer his services for picket duty to qualify. This picket duty must be continued in order to continue to qualify, said Blanchard.

The ruling that each man picket for three hours once every five days was cleared through Cincinnati, said the Local vice president.

Union Explains Procedures For Strike Aid

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Union Explains
Procedures
For Strike Aid

5-10-67

Procedures to be followed by
employes to obtain emergency
aid during the strike at the
Naugatuck footwear plant of
Uniroyal were explained last
night by Kenneth Knott of the
United Council and fund Agen-
cy, AFL – CIO.

The procedures were explain-
ed to officials of area communi-
ties at a meeting at Local 45,
United Rubber Workers Union
headquarters.

Knott said employes should
register for employment with
the state employment depart-
ment. They then should apply
for aid with the S t a t e Welfare
Agency, 79 Linden Ave., Water-
bury and apply to the first se-
lectman, mayor or welfare de-
partment in their respective
communities.

Knott said processing of appli-
cations will be expedited if the
employes follow these three
rules.

The unions have designated
officials from each of the three
locals to assist applicants in
filing the necessary forms.

They are John Butler of Local
45; Laura Soares of Local 218
and Jean Burke of Local 308.

Individuals who desire federal
food stamps can obtain the
necessary information from the
three local representatives.

Attending the meeting were
Adam Mengacci, vice – presi-
dent Local 45; Joseph Arbu-
chowkaus, vice – president Local
308; Cyrus Blanchard, vice –
president, Local 218 and William
Fernandez, international repre-
sentative.

Also, Pat DelVecchio, first
selectman, Beacon Falls; Ern-
est H. Culverwell first select-
man, Seymour; William M.
Calabrese, first selectman, Mid-
dlebury; Katherine M. Brennan,
Superintendent Naugatuck Wel-
fare Department; Peter D. Po-
cius, director of Waterbury Wel-
fare Department, and William
P. Kalvaitis, State Welfare De-
partment, Waterbury.

No Trouble Anticipated On Uniroyal Picket Line

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No Trouble Anticipated On Uniroyal Picket Line

3-8-67

NAUGATUCK — Strike wrought negotiations on a new Uniroyal contract will resume this morning in Cincinnati, Ohio,

Naugatuck

and picketing will continue to be “peaceful” in front of the local plant, union officials reported Sunday.

While the nationwide rubber workers strike goes into its third week, pickets here are expected to take up a quiet watch in front of the Naugatuck plant, after a stern warning from Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney to cease blocking operations. This order was issued after two days of heated exchanges and union arrests when white-collar workers tried to enter the plant late last week.

In response to the judge’s order, vice president of Local 45, Raymond Mengacci, said:

“We will uphold the law. We are not going to hold up company personnel. I issued these instructions to my picket captains today.” Picketing was peaceful Saturday, after the warning.

Local President George Froehlich said, when called Sunday, that negotiations on the contract will resume as usual at 10 a.m. today in the Netherlands Hilton Hotel in Cincinnati. He would not comment on the progress of the talks with management representatives.

An injunction request for the union to show cause why a restraining order should not be issued on mass picketing will be heard Tuesday morning by Judge Gaffney.

$1 Million Asked

Among claims on picketing restraints by Uniroyal management is the asking of $1 million in damages from the union as a result of the strikers’ alleged interference with plant operations.

The injunction request reads in part that “the plaintiff (Uniroyal) has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations. . .”

When asked Sunday for a reaction to damage claim, Mengacci said that he was not aware of the subject and would have to wait until Tuesday’s hearing before commenting. hearing before commenting. Froehlich said: “No comments.”

Arrest Driver

Police arrested a local driver

Sunday evening on the charge of failure to obey a state traffic control sign.

Arrested was Eugene Quint, 20, 24 Aetna St. Officer Henry Kuczinski issued the summons at 8:30 p.m. to appear at the Fourth Circuit Court Waterbury, June 12.

Peace Prevailing Today At Strikebound Uniroyal

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Peace Prevailing Today At Strikebound Uniroyal

NAUGATUCK — An air of peace prevailed this morning at the strikebound Uniroyal Footwear Plant as company personnel entered the Maple St. gate office without incident from nearby picketing members of the United Rubber Workers, in contrast to clashes between the strikers and police during the latter part of last week.

Instructions for peaceful picketing were given to picket captains by Raymond Mengacci,

Naugatuck Valley

vice-president of Local 45, Sunday, in the wake of a stern warning from Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney, Friday, to refrain from interfering in any way with operations of the Uniroyal Plant, pending a hearing on an injunction petition by the company against mass picketing. The hearing will be held Tuesday at 11 a. m.

Damages of $1 million are being asked b y Uniroyal management from the union as a result of the strikers’ alleged interference with plant operations. The injunction request reads in part that “the plaintiff (Uniroyal) has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations. . .”

No comments on t he company’s damage claims were made by Mengacci, who said he had not been aware of the subject and would have to wait until Tuesday’s hearing before making a statement. Local 45 President George Froehlich, also contacted Sunday, s aid he had “no comments.”

As far as it could be determined, this is the first time in which this large figure in damages have been claimed by the company during strikes within the past several years.

Talks on a new contract between the company and the union resume today in Cincinnati as the strike enters into its third week. However, Froehlich, when contacted Sunday, declined to comment on the progress of the talks between the union and management representatives.

Picketing at the two other plants of Uniroyal, the Chemical Division and Synthetic, has been peaceful from the beginning of the strike.

have gone back to their normal routine. The chief expressed his appreciation to Vice-Presidents Mengacci of Local 45 and Cy Blanchard, Local 218, for restoring peace and order to the picket lines. He also said he had the highest praise for his police staff during the crucial moments of the uneasiness that had prevailed between the pickets and police last week.

Strike benefit checks will be issued by the union Tuesday and Wednesday between 9 a. m. and 3 p. m. Members of each local should report to his local’s headquarters.

Those eligible are members who have performed or were available for strike duty.

Mayor Joseph Raytkwich said today that a special meeting will be held today at 7 p.m. by the Welfare Board to set up a policy for welfare benefits for those affected by the strike. Inquiries on benefits, he said, have been coming to his office and to the Welfare Department.

Mayor Frederick W. Palomba of Waterbury and First Selectman Norman W. Husted, Oxford, also have received inquiries on welfare aid, it was reported.

[Handwritten note at top: 5-9-66]

[Bottom partial text visible: Frank Mariano]

HOLDING THEIR hands up for silence, aids of Raymond Mengacci, with bull-horn, vice-president of Local 45, URW, stand beside their leader as he explains the strike situation to pickets.

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HOLDING THEIR hands up for silence, aids of Raymond Mengacci, with bull-horn, vice-president of Local 45, URW, stand beside their leader as he explains the strike situation to pickets.

CY BLANCHARD, vice-president of Local 218 talked to his men who were assisting on the picket lines on Maple St. this morning while Ray Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, stands by.

Handwritten notation in margin: 5-5-67

Union Told To Stop Blocking Operations

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Union Told To Stop Blocking Operations

Dr. Bingham Resigns Post

Dr. Harold J. Bingham, who hired a landscape architect firm to do a study on state college needs which left Waterbury’s high priority out of the picture, resigned Friday as executive secretary to the Board of Trustees of State Colleges.

Dr. Bingham, who was stripped of his powers of fiscal independence after the Waterbury newspapers disclosed he had hired landscape architects to do a statewide survey of education needs, fired a blast at the trustees as he departed his post, charging them with trying to buy his resignation.

Proclaiming he is “not for sale,” Dr. Bingham charged that he’d been offered “a deal at a cost of $6,000 to the taxpayers of Connecticut.”

The deal, he said at a news conference in Hartford Friday, consisted of reassignment as a state college history professor at top salary for the job; leave of absence with pay, “I repeat, with pay,” until Sept. 1; and $500 travel expense.

“Ladies and gentlemen of Connecticut,” said Dr. Bingham, “Gov. John Dempsey, members of your administration and members of the board of trustees. I am not for sale.”

assigned to studying the state’s educational needs.

Early in February, investigation by the newspapers disclosed the firm which conducted the survey which Dr. Bingham said he couldn’t make public, was listed in the Boston phone directory as “landscape architects.”

It was disclosed also: That the Chamber of Commerce of Cambridge, Mass., had never heard of the firm; that the recommending agency, Educational Facilities Laboratories of New York City, knew the firm as “experts in campus planning”, but knew of no work done by the firm in the field of educational development; and that the day

(Cont’d On Page 2 —Bingham)

Rado Not Resigning From Post

NAUGATUCK—William C. Rado isn’t resigning after all as a member of the Board of Education, he said Friday night.

Rado had told a reporter ear-

NAUGATUCK— The United Rubber Workers Union has been warned to refrain from any violence or from interfering in any way with operations of Uniroyal’s footwear plant here pending a court hearing Tuesday on an injunction petition against mass picketing.

The warning was issued in stern tones by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney Friday after three hours of fruitless negotiations with company and union representatives in an attempt to reach an out-of-court agreement to limit picketing at the strike-bound plant.

The warning from Judge Gaffney followed in the wake of three days of clashes between police and strikers, during which 71 pickets were arrested on charges of breach of peace.

Only hours after the injunction hearing, a group consisting of Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich, Chief of Police Frank J. Mariano, 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

Strike

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Strike-

Continued from Page 1

Police Chief Frank J. Mariano
and Capt. Joseph Summa, in
charge of the strike detail.

They agreed that there should
be no further violence.

The Rubber Workers have
been on strike since April 21 as
part of a nationwide walkout.
More than 5,000 persons are af-
fected locally, and about 50,-
000 nationally.

Safety from the middle of the tracks.

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safety from the middle of the
tracks.

Mario Carneiro suffered two
fractured ribs and Robert Se-
quenzia was heavily bruised by
a brush with the cars. Both
were treated at St. Mary’s Hos-
pital in Waterbury and dis-
charged.

It is expected the union will
continue to picket the factory
over the weekend. However,
union officials said, they would
obey the restraining order as to
conduct of picket lines.

Meanwhile in Cincinnati, the
negotiations over a new master
contract will be recessed over
the weekend. The strike against
Uniroyal is now in its 16th day.

Strike

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Strike–

Continued from Page 1

He ordered the pickets off the street.

Things were peaceful for about a half hour. Then the supervisory personnel started en masse down Maple Street to the main gate. The pickets quickly massed to block their path. The police moved in between. It was a tense few minutes until the company personnel were ordered back to the green.

After another conference it was announced that the union officials had agreed to allow the male employes to pass through the picket lines.

“Don’t let them pass”, pickets shouted. Mengacci then took the bull horn from Summa and appealed for calm.

The pickets then agreed to allow supervisory personnel to pass through in single file.

200 Cross Line

About 30 supervisory personnel remained in the plant overnight. They were joined by about 200 others who crossed the picket line this morning.

Two union officials helped calm the disturbance, which broke out about 7 a.m.. They were Mengacci and Cy Blanchard, vice president of Local 218, Chemical Workers of America.

They appealed to union members to allow supervisory personnel to enter the plant.

They told the strikers that more violence would force the Naugatuck authorities to summon the state police, who might use tear gas, riot guns and other weapons to restore order.

“The purpose of this appeal is to prevent violence,” they said. “We want to cooperate with the local police.”

Their appeal was credited by Naugatuck officials with averting further violence.

Police Chief Frank J. Mariano, Capt. Joseph J. Summa and Police Commissioner Henry S. Marlor told The Sentinel today that a more serious disturbance might have arisen had the union officials not appealed for calm.

Beacon Falls, site of a Uniroyal warehouse, remained quiet today.

Three locals of the United Rubber Workers, representing about 5,000 employes, have been on strike since April 21 as part of a nationwide walkout affecting 50,000 workers.

Tension among the pickets had grown during the week as a result of reports that Uniroyal planned to resume shipments of manufactured goods.

The shipments have not been resumed.

The Naugatuck Police Department pressed all available men into service, including supernumeraries. About 30 officers were on duty this morning.

Two persons were reported hurt in today’s near-riot — a woman with a knee cut and a man who said he had been kicked.

William Battles, 37, of 486 North Main St., Waterbury, was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, by Naugatuck police ambulance to be examined for bruises. He was released by the hospital.

Newsman Felled

An Evening Sentinel photographer was knocked to the pavement. A second newspaperman was pushed.

Battles and three other strikers were charged with breach of the peace by assault. Seventeen others were charged with simple breach of the peace. All were freed in $200 bail each.

Just before noon today there were from 4 to 12 pickets at each of the seven plant gates.

Under a reported company-union agreement, male supervisory personnel were to be admitted to the plant. Women, except nurses, were to be excluded. Women who had entered previously left the plant without incident this morning.

Maple Street was closed by the police from 7 to 8:30 a.m. from Church to Maple Streets.

One hundred state police trained in riot control were at the Bethany State Police Barracks, ready to move into Naugatuck if needed. They were under the command of Command of Commissioner Leo M. Mulcahy. Two buses were standing by, ready to rush troopers to Naugatuck.

Strike Violence

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Strike Violence

Naugatuck police forcibly restrain picket (top photo) who attempted to prevent supervisory personnel from entering Uniroyal this morning. He was arrested and charged with breach of peace. Two persons were reported hurt in the near-riot, a woman with a cut on her knee and a man who said he had been kicked. Newsmen were also pushed. Twenty – one persons were arrested increasing the two-day toll to 64. In photo, right center, Rubber Workers Union veep Raymond Mengacci warns employes on picket lines that state police will be called unless violence ends. Policeman (lower right) escorts woman picket from in front of company. (Sentinel Photos by Cotter)

[Handwritten note in margin, left side:]
5-3-67

Strike

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Strike-

Continued from Page 1

bers of the rubber industry’s Big Four—around midnight Thursday as two-year contracts expired.

Most of the 21,250 rubber workers members employed by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the other Big Four member, were on the job after union negotiators voted late Thursday to work on a day-to-day basis as bargaining continued.

Goodyear negotiating sessions are to resume at 10 a.m. Monday in Cincinnati where Uniroyal negotiators will meet Wednesday. Firestone sessions will be in Cleveland and Goodrich’s at Columbus.

Contract to Expire

A contract with the nation’s fifth biggest rubber producer, General Tire & Rubber Co., with 3,052 employes, expires May 15. Negotiations are under way in Cleveland.

A mutual aid agreement between General Tire and the Big Four went into effect as the rubber workers put up picket lines across the country, a company spokesman said.

Peter Bommarito, the union’s international president, criticized the mutual-aid agreement under which the two working companies would lend financial assistance to those struck.

The union has shown more militancy since Bommarito became president in September, and observers say apparently it is his full employment earnings program which is a major issue in negotiations.

The program would boost unemployment benefits from 65 to 92½ per cent of regular weekly pay for laid-off workers.

The union also is demanding a “substantial” wage increase, plus improved fringe benefits. Present wages for highest paid workers average $3.67 an hour, according to the union.

UNUSUALLY HEAVY pedestrian traffic was noted this morning at the Maple St. gate of Uniroyal in Naugatuck as Local 45 members — on strike now for over two weeks — suddenly decided not to allow office help into the building. Naugatuck’s new Town Hall can be seen in background.—King Photo.

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UNUSUALLY HEAVY pedestrian traffic was noted this morning at the Maple St. gate of Uniroyal in Naugatuck as Local 45 members — on strike now for over two weeks — suddenly decided not to allow office help into the building. Naugatuck’s new Town Hall can be seen in background.—King Photo.

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, Naugatuck policemen and Local 45 Footwear Union members at the Maple St. gate each tried to go their way. The police had attempted to get office help into the plant. The union attempted to prevent it. Company officials sent the office help home to

Pickets

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Pickets

(Cont’d from Page One)

contact Thomas Nelligan of the
firm’s industrial relations de-
partment, but his calls to the
plant were stymied. He was also
unable to reach Plant Mgr. John
M. Smith.

The Footwear Plant switch-
board is not open today, and the
heavy flood of calls had
swamped the alternate in-com-
ing phone system at the Maple
St. gatehouse.

The mayor said that there ap-
peared to be a good chance that
peaceful picketing would contin-
ue during the remainder of to-
day.

Police in Waterbury and Bris-
tol, where Uniroyal also main-
tains warehouses, said that the
picket activity was normal, with
no incidents. State Police at
Bethany Barracks said that
picketing was normal at the
firm’s Beacon Falls division.

Added Police

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Added Police

When tension increased early this morning, additional reinforcements were called out by Naugatuck police. Supernumeraries were called in, and shifts were extended. At least 22 policemen were on duty in the Uniroyal area this morning.

However, when it became evident that the picket lines could not be broken, the size of the police detail was decreased by Capt. Joseph Summa.

The directive to the office workers, members of Local 45 and 308, came from company Traffic Manager William Ware. Ware said later that he was only passing on information he received from management. He said he had no indication of

instrumental in sending the large number of pickets home

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instrumental in sending the
large number of pickets home.
The mayor said shortly after 10
a.m. that only two or three pick-
ets were at each of the factory
gates, ‘picketing in an orderly
fashion.’

Mayor Ratkwich said that,
since an early hour today, he
had been making an effort to

(Cont’d on Page 4—PICKETS)

What would take place Thursday morning, when office workers are again to attempt to report to work.

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what would take place Thursday
morning, when office workers
are again to attempt to report to
work.

Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich
reported at mid-morning that
“all the excitement is over, at
least for today.”

He said that union Interna-
tional Field Rep. William Fer-
nandez, Jr., and Local 45 Vice-
Pres. Raymond Mengacci were

Negotiations At Uniroyal Continuing

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Negotiations At Uniroyal Continuing

5-7-67 [handwritten notation]

NAUGATUCK — An unidentified union spokesman in Cincinnati reported negotiations will continue today as the strike against Uniroyal’s three plants here by the United Rubber Workers remains and pickets continue quietly.

Due to an agreement between union and manangment groups not to release any information, no indication of progress was given.

Whether or not some of the major union demands had been granted was not known, although it is believed the greatest stumbling block preventing a settlement is the demand for a guaranteed annual wage.

At present, six-member picket teams keep vigil at the company’s main entrances, permitting office workers to pass through the lines. How much longer pickets will permit this remains in the air, but one picket recently remarked that there was “too much business going on in there.”

Members of the three Naugatuck locals, 45,218 and 308, have by now filed for strike benefits which entitle them to $25 weekly until the strike ends. The last paychecks have been received.

Although union members also remain in the dark as to the progress of the negotiations, rumors are circulating among the membership that the strike will continue for some time to come.

Continuing Talks Give Hope Of Uniroyal Settlement

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Continuing Talks Give Hope Of Uniroyal Settlement

4-30-62 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGTUCK — Hope that a breakthrough in the stalemated contract talks between the nited Rubber Workers and Uniroyal may develop is being expressed by local employes of the rubber company as the strike heads into its 10th day.

The optimism is predicated on the willingness of both the URW Policy Committee and management of Uni Royal to continue negotiating sessions in Cincinnati Saturday and again today.

Normally, negotiations are recessed on a weekend. Therefore, the meeting Saturday and the one scheduled today are considered by the 5,000 workers who struck the Uniroyal footwear, chemical and synthetic plants here April 21.

Last weekend, the negotiating teams not only recessed for that period but stayed apart until Wednesday.

Failure to agree on clauses of a contract when the old one expired at midnight April 20, caused URW to strike the 19 plants of Uniroyal scattered about the country.

Both sides have adopted a set pattern against any public announcements on progress of talks. But second-hand reports indicate that hourly wage increases and URW’s request for a guaranteed annual pay wage of about 95 per cent of salary are the main stumbling blocks.

It has also been indicated here that representatives of the three area locals — 45, 218 and 308 — are in a settling mood. However, according to the report, tire plant workers of Uniroyal are still at odds with management over pay hikes.

Strike Benefits

Meanwhile, URW executive committees are setting up machinery so that local union members may receive strike benefits. Applications were accepted Friday and they will again be received Monday to enable the strikers to be eligible for weekly checks while the shutdown endures.

Picketing at Uniroyal’s Naugatuck Chemical Co. continued this weekend on around-the-clock schedule. At the footwear and synthetic plants, however, pickets were called off until Monday morning.

During the past week, management personnel was permitted to cross the picket lines. It has been reported, however, that this privilege may be denied starting Monday. Management has reportedly instructed personnel, if challenged, to withdraw without question.

Ohio Talks Continue In Strike At Uniroyal

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Ohio Talks Continue In Strike At Uniroyal

4-27-67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK—Talks between the striking United Rubber Workers union and Uniroyal, Inc., are being continued today in Ohio, according to Local 45 Pres. George Froehlich. Negotiations were resumed Wednesday morning following a weekend recess.

Contacted Wednesday night in Cincinnati, Ohio, Froehlich declined to state whether or not an agreement between the two groups was in sight. His only comment was that negotiations will continue.

Although no official word has been released on the progress of the negotiations, it has been reported that a major stumbling block in the talks is the union’s demand for a guaranteed annual wage.

While negotiations between representatives of the URW and Uniroyal continue in Cincinnati, rubber worker locals in plants across the nation continue to picket operations.

Picketing in the borough remains quiet, with small groups of pickets keeping vigil at strategic locations around the plant entrances. The locals will shortly be entering their second week of striking.

Both Locals 45 and 308 maintain picket operations from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., with no reports of difficulty procuring volunteers to carry the strike placards. Local 218 is maintaining its picketing “24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.”

Members of Local 218 were asked to report to local headquarters on Curtiss St., Wednesday and today from 1 to 4 p.m. to fill out applications for strike benefits. Locals 45 and 308 have not yet notified members to report for the applications.

OFFICE WORKERS waited outside the Central Office of UniRoyal and across the street at the Maple St. gate this morning, uncertain of the next move. The pickers refused to allow them into the buildings this morning for the first time in the 13-day old strike. Shortly after the photo was taken, management announced they were to go home and try again tomorrow.

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OFFICE WORKERS waited outside the Central Office of UniRoyal and across the street at the Maple St. gate this morning, uncertain of the next move. The pickets refused to allow them into the buildings this morning for the first time in the 13-day old strike. Shortly after the photo was taken, management announced they were to go home and try again tomorrow.

—(News photo by Nichols)

Rubber

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Rubber

(Continued from Page One)

contracts for 108,000 workers or 60 per cent of the union’s membership will be negotiated this year.

A union spokesman said both hourly and piecework employes were involved in the negotiations.

The rubber industry has had only two major strikes since 1947 the longest in 1959 lasted 51 days.

Firestone employs a total of 17,500 at 11 plants in Ohio, California, Tennessee, Indiana, Massachusetts, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Goodrich has 10,000 workers at nine plants in Ohio, California, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Alabama, New Jersey and Indiana.

As the half-hour passed, phones in local headquarters rang incessantly with calls from workers wanting to know what action to take. At about 12:30 a.m., the final call to strike came in and pickets took up their posts following an orderly shutdown of machinery.

Uniroyal has 19 plants in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Rhode Island, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio and Alabama.

Union representatives had met with Goodyear and Uniroyal in Cincinnati, Firestone in Cleveland and B. F. Goodrich in Columbus. There was no immediate word when negotiations other than with Uniroyal and Goodyear would resume.

The fifth firm of the rubber industry’s big five, General Tire and Rubber, began negotiations Tuesday, working toward a May 15 contract deadline. Company and union representatives refused to discuss issues, although wages were said to be the chief matter of dispute. Wages are also an issue in the Uniroyal talks.

A long strike could affect the auto industry and defense production.

The average pay for a worker in the rubber industry is $2.80 an hour. In the tire and tube facilities the pay is $3.76.

Contracts with the big five are generally the basis for negotiations with smaller firms. In all,

(Cont’d on Page 4—RUBBER)