1960s

Uniroyal Talks Still Going On

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Uniroyal Talks Still Going On

Uniroyal Talks Still Going On

7-26-67

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Although negotiations between Uniroyal and the URW continued until past midnight Tuesday, a top level union spokesman said that no settlement was imminent.

Asked if it was at all unusual that the groups should meet so late, the spokesman said “not at all—we meet at all hours.” The late talks, he added, were not to be taken as meaning that Uniroyal and the union were about to reach accord.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI)— Disagreement over local working conditions has prevented an end to the United Rubber Workers (URW) strike against Uniroyal, Inc., a union spokesman said Tuesday.

Uniroyal, which employs 7,000 at plants in Naugatuck, Conn., is the last of the “big five” rubber companies to remain shut down. Settlements with General Tire & Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich Co., Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., have been reached in the last two weeks.

A Uniroyal spokesman said the union “continues to press demands on a number of issues which involve the right to manage.” The spokesman, who declined to elaborate on the demands, said Uniroyal had offered the 22,000 strikers proposals that matched the other strike-ending agreements.

The union spokesman said “the provisions under discussion may not have come up in the previous negotiations, but that is because they involve working conditions present only in this particular system.”

Union, Uniroyal Reach Tentative Settlement

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Union, Uniroyal Reach Tentative Settlement

Union, Uniroyal Reach

Tentative Settlement

7-27-67

Ratification Is Expected Over Weekend

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — The longest strike in the history of the rubber industry ended Wednesday when the United Rubber Workers Union and Uniroyal Inc. reached a tentative agreement at Cincinnati on a new three-year contract.

Previous settlements had been reached with other members of the industry’s “Big Five” and the Uniroyal agreement was in line with those settlements.

The agreements provide a wage increase of 43 cents an hour over three years, plus an additional 10 cents an hour for skilled workers the first year. The top hourly rate is now $3.88.

The settlements also call for 80 per cent of normal pay through supplemental benefits for laid off workers, an improved pension plan, increased company – paid life insurance and more vacation time.

Expect Ratification

A Uniroyal spokesman said in New York that the contract covering some 51,670 workers throughout the country will be signed Friday and that ratification votes by union members are expected over the weekend.

Naugatuck URW officials indicated last night they expect the local membership to ratify the three – year contract.

Thomas Nelligan, labor relations director in Naugatuck, said this morning that the 5,500 employes will be advised when they will be wanted back to work. He said it will take about two days to “get things organized and get the plant back into prodduction.”

Nelligan said the plant is presently in the middle of its annual vacation period and that employes would not normally be working at this time.

He said about 1,000 employes have volunteered to come back

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Uniroyal Strike Settled

7-27-47

Continued from Page 1

to work immediately. Some $2 million in vaacation pay was distributed to employes earlier this week.

URW locals started voting Wednesday on the agreement with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. which was reached Monday in Cincinnati.

The URW struck Uniroyal The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and the B.F. Goodrich Co. when their contracts ran out at midnight April 20.

Goodyear’s contract also expired at the same time, but the union continued working at the company’s plants on a day-to-day basis until July 13.

The General Tire & Rubber Co., whose contract ran out May 15, was added to the strikebound list June 21.

Other Uniroyal plants are in Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Santa Ana, Calif.; Chicopee Falls, Mass.; Prividence and Woonsocket, R.I.; Passaic, N. J.; Opelika, Ala.; Eau Clair, Wis.; Washington, Michawaka and Indianapolis, Ind., and Painesville, Ohio.

Decline

The vacation pay is supplementing the $15 a week the union has been paying its members on strike duty.

The union had been paying $25 a week during the first two weeks of the strike, but had to cut down on the payments as the walkout dragged on.

Merchants in Beacon Falls and Seymour said yesterday there had been some decline in business.

Businessmen in Beacon Falls have been feeling the pinch more acutely than those in Seymour.

“The strike has definitely affected business here,” Albert

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‘Too Long’

In Seymour, father south of the Naugatuck rubber plant, the strike is being felt, but not as strongly as in Beacon Falls.

“Business has dropped off some,” John Gregos, owner and operator of a grocery store at 335 South Main St., said. “The effect has been slight, though, because there are not as many Uniroyal people down here as there are north.”

Peter Klarides, part owner of Klarides’ K Supermarket, 271 Bank St., had a different idea.

“This strike has gone three months too long,” Klarides said. “I would say it has definitely not done us any good.”

Klarides, who manages the sale of appliances in a store that also handles groceries, said the sale of large, luxury items such as appliances, had dropped off because of the strike.

He said he didn’t believe the sale of groceries had been as much hit by the walkout as more expensive items.

“And I don’t think the vacation pay the Uniroyal people are getting this week will help things,” Klarides said, “because that money will be going toward mortgages.”

Production To Start Soon At UniRoyal

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Production To Start Soon At UniRoyal

Production To Start Soon At UniRoyal

7-28-67

Two of the three UniRoyal plants in the borough expected to be in production today with many of the departments in full operation.

The Chemical and Synthetic plants, which had been partially in production during the strike, started calling back employes to start working at 3 p.m. yesterday. Ronald Pohl, industrial relations manager of both plants, said that the employes are being notified personally by management.

The Footwear plant called warehouse employes into work immediately and are working out a schedule to start calling others into the factory. The Footwear plant annual shutdown is scheduled to begin today. Many employes have volunteered to work during their vacation period.

The three United Rubber Workers Locals in the borough have scheduled meetings of its membership to explain the new master contract and to take a vote on its ratification.

Cy Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, Synthetic Division of UniRoyal, announced that a meeting will be held for the membership of the Local Sunday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Nautuck High School. The Local’s president, Joseph Rzesutek, will return from Cincinnati tomorrow.

Local 308, Chemical Division of UniRoyal, will hold its meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at the Portuguese Club, Rubber Ave., according to announcement made by Joseph Arbachauskas, vice-president of the Local.

A special and regular meeting of Local 45, Footwear Division of UniRoyal, has been called for Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Naugatuck High School.

Local 45 requests all members to attend the meeting which has been called for the purpose of hearing a report from the policy committee on the new master contract and to take action on said agreement.

The public relations office of the Footwear Plant released the following announcement concerning the annual shut-down.

The Naugatuck Footwear Plant will observe the annual Plant Vacation Shutdown from today to August 21.

However, plans are in process to set up several production units for those employees who are available and willing to work during the shutdown period on a voluntary basis. Available employees should contact the Industrial Relations Department if they have not already signed up to work and every effort will be made to place them.

Mass shutdown forms will be distributed at the Water Street entrance of the Naugatuck Footwear Plant tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Employes eligible

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Reach Agreement

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Reach Agreement

ESTABLISHED 1881 86th YEAR (DAILY EDITION) NO. 208 WATERBURY,

Uniroyal, Union

CONN., THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1967 FORTY-FOUR PAGES 7c PER COPY 42c WEEKLY BY CARRIER

Reach Agreement

Wage increases over the period will total 43 cents an hour, with a 15 cent increase this year, another 15 cent hike on July 1, 1968 and 13 cents on June 30, 1969. Skilled trade employes will receive an additional 10 cents an hour this year.

Sources indicated that although the wage differential between tire and non-tire employes was not eliminated, the raises for both groups are the same.

The rubber workers have scored a “first” in major industry with the achievement of an 80 per cent guaranteed annual wage.

Although it could not be learned Wednesday whether the guaranteed annual wage agreement with Uniroyal was the same as that with B. F. Goodrich, Goodyear, General Tire and Firestone, if it is benefits would last 52 weeks for employes with five years of service, and up to four years for employes with 25 years of service.

Under the old contract, employes were guaranteed 65 per cent of their regular wages in the event of a layoff.

Company-paid life insurance will be up from $6,500 under the old contract to $7,500 under the new contract.

Hospitalization benefits under the new contract were doubled from 365 to 730 days.

Pension payments were increased from $3.25 to $5.50 per month for each year of service. Employes who retired after July

(Cont’d On Page 2 —Uniroyal)

Local Vote To Ratify Pact Due

By TOM NUGENT

NAUGATUCK — The longest strike in the history of the rubber industry headed toward a halt Wednesday at Uniroyal and United Rubber Workers negotiators reached a tentative settlement on a three-year contract.

Some workers are due to return to work today.

Ratification of the new contract is presently scheduled for Saturday at the high school, according to Local 45 Vice President Raymond Mengacci.

In the meantime, he said, the contract will be signed by both sides pending final approval by the three locals, 45, 218 and 308.

According to Uniroyal officials the new contract extends until April 20, 1970. Sources added that the contract includes a 90-day “umbrella coverage” on the pension and fringe benefit clauses.

In the past the union worked under a two-year master contract and a supplemental contract with pension and fringe benefits, which was due to expire Sept. 15.

The new agreement, said Uniroyal officials, will cost approximately 80 cents an hour and represents an average increase of more than six per cent a year for three years.

Disability pensions have been increased from $6.50 to $11 per month for each year of service. The only apparent economic difference between the Uniroyal agreement and that reached with the four other companies seemed to be the matter of sickness and accident benefits.

While the other companies set heirs at $60 per week for women and $70 for men, Uniroyal has set theirs according to an employe’s average earnings with a minimum of $50 per week and a maximum of $80.

Although the contract has not been ratified by union mmebers warehouse personnel have been asked to report today at the regular starting time.

The new contract has been four months in the making. The two groups sat down in March to hammer out what started as a master contract.

Exactly one month after negotiations started, the start of the strike took place April 21 when 21,000 Uniroyal workers, including almost 5,000 from the Naugatuck plants, joined strikers from Firestone and Goodrich.

Although there were a few brief incidents on the Naugatuck picket lines, on the whole the strike was quiet, and there were instances of cooperation between the union and management during the course of the strike.

One such instance occured when the union answered a request that oilers be sent into the plants to maintain the machinery. 7-27-67

Production To Start

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7-28-67

Production To Start

Continued From Page 1

for unemployment compensation during the vacation shutdown period should arrange to appear in person and obtain their shutdown form during this time.

Employes must present their plant identification badge in order to receive their form. Employes who have volunteered and have been notified to report for work during the three-week period of shutdown need not obtain this form.

Applications for supplementary unemployment benefits

900 Ready To Return To Work Immediately

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At Uniroyal 7-28-67

900 Ready To Return To Work Immediately

NAUGATUCK—In lieu of their upcoming three-week vacation, more than 900 employes at the Naugatuck Footwear Plant of Uniroyal, have signed up to go back to work as soon as possible.

Thomas Nelligan, labor relations manager for the Footwear Plant, said he has received hundreds of requests from workers who do not want to take their vacation but instead want to come back to work. The plant is scheduled to be shut down for a three-week vacation period beginning today.

However, Nelligan noted that only a few of the conveyors would be set up, and that only a small portion of the 900 would be called in.

He promised notification by Monday or Tuesday of next week for those who would be called in to work during the vacation period. He noted plans are still incomplete.

Two of the three locals at the company have announced meetings for membership ratification of the new contract.

Joseph Arbachauskas, vice president of Local 308, United Rubber Workers, announced today that a meeting for ratification of the new contract will be held by the membership Monday at 7 p.m. at the Portuguese Club, Rubber Ave.

Ratification by Local 45, Footwear plant, has been tentatively set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Naugatuck High School. Vice president Raymond Mengacci said he is awaiting approval of the Board of Education for the use of the school.

As of presstime, there has been no announcement from Local 218 as to when and where the ratification meeting for that local will take place.

Footwear Setting Up Work Units

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Footwear Setting Up Work Units

7-29-67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK—Although the annual vacation shutdown at Uniroyal began Friday, Footwear Plant officials are setting up several production units for employes available and willing to work during the shutdown.

It was announced Friday that available employes should contact the Industrial Relations Department if they have not already signed up for work and wish to do so.

Mass shutdown forms will be distributed today at the Water St. entrance from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Employes eligible for unemployment compensation during this shutdown should arrange to appear in person to obtain the forms. Identification badges will be required.

Employes who have volunteered and have been notified to report for work during the vacation need not obtain the form.

Applications for supplementary unemployment benefits may be obtained at the same time the shutdown forms are obtained.

Two Locals Ratify UniRoyal-URW Master Contract; Third Due Tonight

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Two Locals Ratify UniRoyal-URW Master Contract; Third Due Tonight

atuck, Conn. Established 1885 MONDAY, JULY 31, 1967 10 PAGES Price Seven Cents

SURE-FIRE evidence of the end of the long UniRoyal strike | spaces on Water St. are now filling up more and more as work-
can be seen throughout the borough. Long empty parking | ers return to their jobs. —(News Photo by Baker)

Two Locals Ratify UniRoyal-URW Master Contract; Third Due Tonight

Vacationers Head For The Hills

Vacation time – a time when creatures from the land of steady habits undergo a metamorphosis and become camera-slung tourists, headed for all points of the compass.

Determined to have fun, they take to the highways and byways laden with all sorts of equipment; campers, boats, fly-rods and bicycles, and fun is what they usually find.

Of course there are minor irritations – the endless procession of suitcases crammed with things some member of the family just “had” to have, the bumper-to-bumper traffic in 90-degree heat and the kids em-

broiled in a free-for-all, but somehow, arriving at the vacation destination erases it all.

For some, lakes and rivers provide the ultimate in entertainment whether it be in the next town or the next country. Others find world travel more to their liking.

Group travel has grown in popularity within the past few years offering the vacationer more for less. Business or clubs arrange tours for employes or members at somewhat reduced rates thereby offering the individual a better vacation than he might otherwise have been able to afford.

UniRoyal has offered its employes several of these vacation trips in past years and this year has planned three trips to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

More than 160 employes will leave Kennedy Air Port Monday for two weeks, jetting across the ocean to their island in the sun.

Wherever the vacationer goes, here or abroad, for a weekend or a week, it’s all a part of the good life. It offers a change from the ordinary, a chance to soak up the sun and let the fresh air blow away the mental cobwebs.

Two of the three United Rubber Workers locals in Naugatuck have voted to ratify the master contract with UniRoyal. Local 308, Synthetic Division, is also expected to ratify the contract at a 7 o’clock meeting tonight.

Local 45, Footwear Division, voted unanimously Saturday afternoon to ratify, becoming the first Naugatuck local to do so.

Local 218, Chemical Division, held a voting session Sunday with only about 125 of its 725 members present. It is speculated that the small turnout is a result of many workers being away on vacation.

Several Local 218 members expressed annoyance at having to wait 45 days to begin negotiations on the local supplemental contract.

As the URW locals vote to ratify the master contract, UniRoyal is putting out the call for volunteers to work during vacation. A UniRoyal official said today that about 600 workers have already been placed but

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Uniroyal Back at Work After 14-Week Strike

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Uniroyal Back at Work After 14-Week Strike

7-31-67 [handwritten]

Uniroyal employes were returning to work today in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls after two of three striking local unions voted to ratify a three – year contract ending the 14-week walkout.

Resumption of full – scale production is expected to be delayed since many workers are on annual vacation. About one-quarter of the workers have volunteered to postpone their vacations and return to the job immediately, the company said today.

Local 218 , United Rubber Workers of America, Chemical Division, approved the contract last night by voice vote. About 125 of the 725 members were present at Naugatuck High School. Vacations kept most away.

Unanimous Vote

Local 45, Footwear Division, voted unanimously Saturday night to accept the contract.

The third local, 308, Synthetic Division, will vote tonight. It is expected to approve the contract.

About eight men walked out Sunday night before casting their ballots and about five were heard to vote “no.”

A local spokesman for Uniroyal said the “new agreement will cost approximately 80 cents an hour and represents an average increase of more than 6 per cent a year for three years” of the contract.

Wages alone will show a 43-cent hike over the period, he said.

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9

When asked about this from the floor Sunday, Rzesutek replied: “That’s the way it’s been for 20 years.”

One union member, who walked out before the vote Sunday, said:

“I just spent 14 weeks (on strike) for that contract, and now they tell me I’ve got to wait 45 days before we get the benefits.”

In addition to the 80 per cent guaranteed annual wage, one of the significant gains appears to have been in company-paid surgical plan, which now has unique and untried aspects.

Instead of the $450 maximum for surgical operations, Rzesutek reported, the company will pay the entire bill as long as it’s a “customary and reasonable charge.”

Undoubtedly, the local president told the membership, “we’re going to have some (court) test cases on this.” He said he hoped to get the cooperation of local doctors on this clause regarding “customary and reasonable” medical bills.

The union leader expressed specific pride in improvement of “time spent in grievance meetings.” Also, he said the union won pay for any time spent in arbitration proceedings, “up to 40 hours.”

One other aspect of the contract yet unreported was complete medical coverage of wife and dependants of a worker, who dies on the job and who is at least 55 years old with 15 years of company service.

3 Local Unions Ratification Voting Set

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7-29-67

3 Local Unions Ratification Voting Set

Ratification vote sessions for the three local unions, United Rubber Workers, which recently settled with UniRoyal, Inc., will be held today, tomorrow and Monday, union officials reported.

Local 45, Footwear Division, will hold a regular and special meeting today in the Naugatuck High School auditorium, Rubber Ave., at 2:30 p.m. The policy committee will give a report on the new proposed contract and a ratification vote will then be taken during the special session.

Local 218, Chemical Division, will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium also for its ratification vote.

Local 308, Synthetic Division, will hold a regular and special session Monday at 7 p.m. in the Portuguese Club, Rubber Ave., for the purpose of taking a ratification vote.

Local 308’s Contract Rejection Won’t Affect Uniroyal Production

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Local 308's Contract Rejection Won't Affect Uniroyal Production

The Evening Sentinel, Tuesday, August 1, 1967

BEACON FALLS

Local 308’s Contract Rejection Won’t Affect Uniroyal Production

Local 308, United Rubber Workers Synthetic division, rejected the master contract Friday night which was recently agreed upon by the union and Uniroyal, Inc., in Cincinnati.

Less than one-fourth of the 240 members of the local turned out for the vote. The tally was 32 to 26 against ratification.

Of the three Naugatuck locals, this was the only one to reject the contract. Local 45 ratified it Saturday, followed by Local 218 Sunday.

It was understood that Local 308’s action would not affect production at Uniroyal, where union employes returned to their jobs this week after the 14-week strike.

Reason for rejecting it according to President Edward Alves, was that it did not offer time-and-a-half for Saturdays and a night shift bonus.

Alves said that under the present system workers get time-and-a-half after 40 hours. The membership was satisfied will all other aspects of the contract, he said.

Requires Majority

Union sources say that in order for the new contract to become effective it must be ratified by the majority of the Uniroyal URW membership and the majority of the company’s 19 locals.

If the majority of the Uniroyal locals ratify the master contract, Alves said, it will go into effect when the secondary contract is signed.

Although the vote cast by the local will not hold up talks on supplemental contract, Alves said that a date has not been set for the talks. A membership meeting will have to be held first. This has been tentatively set for Aug. 15.

Uniroyal, 3 Locals Discuss Supplemental Pact Issues

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Uniroyal, 3 Locals Discuss Supplemental Pact Issues

36

9-17-67

Uniroyal, 3 Locals Discuss Supplemental Pact Issues

NAUGATUCK — Discussions among management of the three Naugatuck Divisions of Uniroyal and representatives of the three locals of the United Rubber Workers Union concerning the supplemental to the master contract are expected to pick up tempo during the coming week.

Preliminary meetings were held this past week especially between Local 45 and Footwear Management but there was no comment as to any progress on the issues involved.

The supplemental contract has an important bearing on each of the individual plants in Naugatuck. This is in sharp contrast to the master contract which was negotiated at a company -wide level throughout the 97-day strike that ended July 27.

The supplemental applies directly to the working conditions at the respective plants of the Footwear, Naugatuck Chemical and Synthetic Divisions.

It could be possible for one local to reach an early agreement with its management over the supplemental contract while the other locals could be tied up in a lengthy discussion because of failure to settle in -plant problems.

Conceivably, a break -off of negotiations on the supplemental contract could result in a walkout at any of the plants. However, it would not involve either of the remaining locals in the controversy.

There are reports of some dissension over the supplemental contract but there has been no comment from officials of all three locals, 45, 218 and 308 to either support or refute such talk.

Uniroyal Talks Resume Tuesday, Other Industry Moves Watched

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Uniroyal Talks Resume Tuesday, Other Industry Moves Watched

Uniroyal Talks Resume Tuesday, Other Industry Moves Watched

Sunday May 14, 1967

By PATRICK KEATING

NAUGATUCK — A “wait-and-see” atmosphere hangs over the community as the strike that has crippled production at the Footwear, Chemical and Synthetic Divisions of Uniroyal is in its 24th day.

The 5,000 members of the United Rubber Workers, AFL-CIO, have been idle here since April 21. Their return to work depends on the outcome of contract talks at Cincinnati between the URW policy committee an Uniroyal Management .

However negotiations were recessed Friday for a long weekend. It will not be until Tuesday morning before the union and management representatives return to the conference table.

Meanwhile, union leaders, including George Froelich, president of Local 45, Footwear Division have taken advantage of the recess to return to the borough for meetings with their memberships. Several sessions have been scheduled for today and Monday.

Local information on the progress of a new contract is dependent solely on reports and these have been good and bad during the past week.

Union officials are showing concern “for what the other people are doing in their negotiations with URW.” They refer to talks between the international and Firestone, Goodrich and Goodyear.

It is their feeling that if one of the other companies settles, any agreement reached will set a pattern for the entire industry. And it could mean a quick end to the strike against Uniroyal.

The spotlight will also be turned Monday towards the General Tire Co., which has a midnight deadline for reaching a contract agreement with URW. Again, if a satisfactory contract is negotiated at General, it could mean considerable to the rest of the industry.

The past week in the community has been very quiet, a sharp contrast to the previous week when demonstrations resulted in the arrest of 71 URW members.

Tuesday, Uniroyal was granted a temporary restraining order against the union for two weeks. Under the court order, the union must conduct its picket lines in an orderly fashion; allow management personnel to enter the plant and refrain from interferring with the shipment of products from the Footwear warehouses.

The union has complied with the court edict and there have no incidents. It has the privilege of requesting truck drivers not to enter the factory gates and in a number of instances, union drivers have refused to cross the lines.

A reliable source reports that beginning Monday, Footwear management plans to resume some production that has been curtailed since April 21. In line with this report, supervisory and other management personnel have been requested to work a 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. shift.

The report further indicates that these white-collared groups will be shifted to conveyor making lines at the tennis division. Jack Smith, factory manager, was not available for comment on this or a report that striking workers may be asked to return to their jobs.

Union officials declined to comment also, saying that they would have to see what happens first before issuing any statements.

This past week, members of the union received a weekly strike benefit check of $25. These payments will again be issued on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

The workers are now entering their fourth week of “no pay” from the company. Locally, the borough welfare department is surveying the situation and reviewing requests for financial assistance from residents on strike.

Pact Talks Resume In Uniroyal Strike

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Pact Talks Resume In Uniroyal Strike

MONDAY MAY 15, 1967

Pact Talks Resume In Uniroyal Strike

NAUGATUCK— Negotiations between the United Rubber Workers and Uniroyal, Inc. resume Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the strike against the three local plants moves into its 25th day.

The current strike is the longest since the 22-day old walkout in 1959.

Union and management negotiators returned to their homes over the week end after talks were recessed Friday.

Quiet is the report from the local scene where picket line turmoil of early May days has given way to court directed noninterference with the movements both pedestrian and vehicular of supervisory and nonunion personnel.

Shipment of goods resumed last week, without apparent incident other than the refusal of some truck drivers to cross the picket lines to enter the strikebound plants.

Quiet prevailed this morning, too, as supervisors and office employes go back on the job, some arriving possibly an hour earlier than the customary 8 a.m.

At least one supervisor reported being notified to start work at 7 a.m. today, but the reason for the earlier start could not be determained Sunday night or this morning.

The company and union are negotiating the master contract which concerns all 19 plants of Uniroyal throughout the country. About 7,000 workers in the borough are affected by the strike.

Still Quiet In 25-Day-Old Strike

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Still Quiet In 25-Day-Old Strike

Monday May 15, 1967

Still Quiet In 25-Day-Old Strike

George Froehlich, president of Local 45, United Rubber Workers Union, stood at the Maple St. gate of the Footwear Plant, along with picketers this morning, as supervisory personnel of UniRoyal reported for work.

Production in the plant by management was reportedly scheduled to begin today. However, no incidents occurred on the picket lines this morning as some employes arrived an hour earlier for work.

John Smith, manager of the Footwear Plant, was unavailable this morning for comment.

Shipment of goods from the warehouse continued all last week without incident. A few truck drivers, members of the Teamster Union, refused to cross the picket line, but some trucks were brought in by trucking company management.

Negotiations on the master contract in Cincinnati were recessed for the weekend with sessions scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. Froehlich returned to the borough over the weekend as well as other local members of the union negotiating team and management negotiators.

The strike, now 25 days old, continues with no word on the progress, if any, being made in negotiations. The issues have not been defined by either side, holding to a pact made by both sides that no statement would be made until settlement has been reached.

The Union was given a strike vote by the membership before it entered into negotiations in Cincinnati and no meeting of the locals has been called to inform the membership of progress.

The three locals in the borough will distribute the $25 benefit checks to its eligible membership for the second week, starting tomorrow.

Rumors of immediate settlement and ones of a long, drawn-out strike, both are rampant in the borough. Most merchants are beginning to feel the pinch of the strike. A few merchants have reported excellent sales as the strikers have been doing household repairs in their idle time.

Many strikers have resorted to part-time jobs to implement their dwindling funds while others, in desperation, have applied for welfare.

Meeting Here Lessens UniRoyal Strike Tensions

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Meeting Here Lessens UniRoyal Strike Tensions

Meeting Here Lessens UniRoyal Strike Tensions

Tuesday MAY 16, 1967 [handwritten]

A three-hour meeting yesterday morning between management and union of UniRoyal led to the lessening of mounting tension. Management assured the union no attempt at footwear production would be made by supervisory personnel.

Following the meeting, the union decided to reduce the hours of picketing back to the original schedule of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the footwear plants. The around-the-clock schedule of picketing at the Chemical and Synthetic plants will continue.

The meeting was called yesterday when management personnel began reporting at the plant an hour earlier than their normal schedule. Men were observed attired in casual clothes, indicating the rumor that production would begin held some vestige of truth.

Management also assured the Union officials that no efforts to move trucks in or out after 6 p.m. will be made.

Contract negotiations resumed this morning in Cincinnati following a weekend recess. The strike of United Rubber Workers is now in its 26th day.

Union And Uniroyal Reach Joint Accord

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Union And Uniroyal Reach Joint Accord

Union And Uniroyal Reach Joint Accord

Tuesday MAY 16, 1967 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK— Pickets at the strikebound Uniroyal Footwear Plant have gone back to their original hours of picketing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., following an agreement with management that no effort will be made to move trucks in or out of the plant after 6 p.m., Local 45 union officials said Monday night.

The arrangement does not affect schedules at the chemical and synthetic plants where picketing continues around the clock.

Decision to reduce the picketing schedule at the footwear plant came after a three-hour meeting between the union and company officials Monday morning at which management also assured the union no attempts at footwear production would be made by supervisory personnel.

Local 45 spokesmen said rumors that such an effort would be made starting Monday had become so prevalent the meeting with management was deemed necessary to pin down the matter one way or the other.

Around-the-clock picketing began May 3 when reports reached the union that management intended to resume shipping. Two days of scuffling followed before the strike reached an even keel again.

Contract negotiations aimed at ending the strike are scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. today in Cincinnati, Ohio.

AKRON, Ohio (AP) ))— Negotiators for the United Rubber Workers and the General Tire & Rubber Co. recessed bargaining after the URW contract with the nation’s fifth largest rubber producer expired at midnight.

Another meeting was scheduled today as work continues, a union spokesman said.

Representatives of the company, with headquarters here, met with union negotiators at Cleveland.

General has 3,052 workers in the URW, which has been on strike against three of the country’s big four rubber companies for 26 days.

That strike idled more than 50,000 April 20 at plants of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich Co. and Uniroyal.

Employes of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. have continued to work on a day-to-day basis after the April 20 deadline.

Negotiations have continued with Goodyear and Uniroyal in Cincinnati, Goodrich at Columbus and Firestone in Cleveland.

Neither side has commented on the negotiations.

Firestone has laid off some workers at its tire cord plants in Gastonia, N.C., and Bennettsville, S.C., because of the strike. The textile division plants are not covered by the URW contracts.

Union Goes On 12-Hour Schedule Of Picketing

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Union Goes On 12-Hour Schedule Of Picketing

16—Waterbury Republican, Tuesday, May 16, 1967

Joint Agreement

Union Goes On 12-Hour Schedule Of Picketing

NAUGATUCK — Around-the-clock picketing in the 26-day-old Uniroyal strike was halted at

Naugatuck

the footwear plant Monday and the original 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule restored.

Reason for the reduced schedule, officials of the 4,000-member Local 45, United Rubber Workers, said, was management assurance that no effort to move trucks in or out after 6 p.m. will be made.

The arrangement does not affect schedules at the chemical and synthetic plants where picketing continues around the clock.

Decision to reduce the picketing schedule at the footwear plant came after a three-hour meeting between the union and company officials Monday morning at which management also assured the union no attempts at footwear production would be made by supervisory personnel.

Local 45 spokesmen said rumors that such an effort would be made starting Monday had become so prevalent the meeting with management was deemed necessary to pin down the matter one way or the other.

Around-the-clock picketing began May 3 when reports reached the union that management intended to resume shipping. Two days of scuffling followed before the strike reached an even keel again.

Contract negotiations aimed at ending the strike are scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. today in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Uniroyal Strike Affects Beacon Falls Area Economy

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Uniroyal Strike Affects Beacon Falls Area Economy

Uniroyal Strike Affects

Beacon Falls Area Economy

Tuesday MAY 16, 1967 [handwritten]

By R. E. FITZPATRICK

The Uniroyal strike is having its effect on the economic life of the Naugatuck-Beacon Falls area.

With some 5,000 men and women on strike since April 21, considerably less money is flowing into the area.

Bank deposits are down and withdrawals are greater than normal, some area bankers have found. They expect this trend to continue even after a strike settlement is reached, at least briefly.

Independent grocers have noted a somewhat greater volume of credit buying, but they term the amount not excessive.

Case loads of welfare departments in some surrounding communities are up slightly, but less than some welfare officials had expected.

With time on their hands, many of the strikers apparently are working on do-it-yourself projects.

Local lumber and hardware dealers have noted an increase in the sale of home-repair and home-improvement supplies during the first two weeks of the strike.

Otherwise, they say, business is about normal for this time of year.

The violence that marred the strike early this month has faded. Trucks are entering and leaving the Uniroyal plants daily, taking out cargoes of finished goods.

Picketing is much reduced and has been peaceful.

Around – the – clock picketing ended yesterday at the Naugatuck footwear plant of Uniroyal and the original 6 a.m.-6 p.m. hours were restored.

Officials of Local 45, United Rubber Workers of America, said the move came after the company assured them at a meeting Monday morning that there would be no attempt to drive trucks into or out of the plant after 6 p.m.

Picketing continues around the clock at the chemical and synthetic plants of Uniroyal.

Some 800 office and supervisory personnel are going to work daily at the struck Uniroyal plants in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls without incident, according to Thomas J. Nelligan, industrial relations spokesman for Uniroyal.

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati negotiations are continuing in the nationwide strike that has idled about 50,000 United Rubber workers, including those in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.

Union Goes On 12-Hour Schedule Of Picketing

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Union Goes On 12-Hour Schedule Of Picketing

16—Waterbury Republican, Tuesday, May 16, 1967

Joint Agreement

Union Goes On 12-Hour Schedule Of Picketing

NAUGATUCK — Around-the-clock picketing in the 26-day-old Uniroyal strike was halted at

Naugatuck

the footwear plant Monday and the original 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule restored.

Reason for the reduced schedule, officials of the 4,000-member Local 45, United Rubber Workers, said, was management assurance that no effort to move trucks in or out after 6 p.m. will be made.

The arrangement does not affect schedules at the chemical and synthetic plants where picketing continues around the clock.

Decision to reduce the picketing schedule at the footwear plant came after a three-hour meeting between the union and company officials Monday morning at which management also assured the union no attempts at footwear production would be made by supervisory personnel.

Local 45 spokesmen said rumors that such an effort would be made starting Monday had become so prevalent the meeting with management was deemed necessary to pin down the matter one way or the other.

Around-the-clock picketing began May 3 when reports reached the union that management intended to resume shipping. Two days of scuffling followed before the strike reached an even keel again.

Contract negotiations aimed at ending the strike are scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. today in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Picket Lines Stay Quiet At Uniroyal

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Picket Lines Stay Quiet At Uniroyal

Thurs MAY 18, 1967 [handwritten notation]

Naugatuck-picket lines at the strikebound Uniroyal Chemical division remained quiet throughout the night and this morning following a meeting between John Evans, plant manager and other company officials and Local 213 President Joseph Rzesutzek, Wednesday morning.

Evans said the company was “contemplating” shipping from the plant, however, no shipments were reported to have been made to date.

Evans said he had no comment to make following a meeting between management and Local 218 officials Wednesday morning, and cited the agreement with the union that no statements would be issued while negotiations were in progress.

Joseph Rzeszutek, who had flown in from Cincinnati Tuesday night, concurred with Evans that no comment would be made.

Rzeszutek said that picket teams would not be increased but would continue on the normal, around-the-clock schedule.

Uniroyal Picket Lines Still Quiet

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Uniroyal Picket Lines Still Quiet

Thursday MAY 18, 1967

NAUGATUCK — Although Naugatuck Chemical plant manager John Evans said Wednesday that the company was “contemplating” shipping from the plant, the scene on the United Rubber Workers Local 218 picket lines remained quiet throughout the day. No shipments were reported.

Evans said he had no comment to make following a meeting between management and Local 218 officials Wednesday morning, and cited the agreement with the union that no statements would be issued while negotiations were in progress.

Local 218 President Joseph Rzeszutek, who had flown in from Cincinnati Tuesday night, concurred with Evans that no comment would be made.

Rzeszutek said that picket teams would not be increased but would continue on the normal, around-the-clock schedule.

Negotiations continued in Cincinnati Wednesday, although no word was available concerning the progress of the talks.

Dear Sir:

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Dear Sir: Wed. MAY 17, 1976

As a pensioner of UniRoyal I was certainly disgusted to read the letter to the Editor on May 11, 1967 where a member of Local 45 wrote you concerning strikers on the picket line, the policemen and management personnel.

I was there and had seen what was going on and at no time was there any rough tactics used by members of Local #45-#218-#308. It was an impossibility for anyone to get hurt when all of the pickets had their hands in their pockets. As I saw it, the group of members of Local #45-#218-#308 formed a solid line, then a certain few, of the militant and aggressive from the police department along with management personnel tried to break through by using strong arm tactics, which caused minor injuries.

Also when Captain Joseph Summa read the laws to the members three times and the crowd did not disburse he motioned to his men that were standing in the street to come and arrest the members and that was done in an orderly basis. Also Captain Summa pointed to other members to follow the police to the police station to be booked. There is no question about who pays the salaries of the police. We all know the taxpayer’s do and we also know that we need a good police force to protect all of us.

I want to say that this problem could have been avoided if management had not violated the verbal agreement that was negotiated by them and the negotiating committee prior to leaving for Cincinnati to negotiate the Master Contract. The verbal agreement was and has been in the past to allow management personnel in the plant for training purposes and for whatever other work that concerned management, but not to work on production of any kind. The only union members to be allowed to work in the plant was for the proper maintenance of the plant. I know these are the rules we followed in the past. I have served under four different Presidents as a Steward, Division Chairman, Policy Committee member, Executive board member, Safety Committee, Negotiating Committee and others.

I want to say that since we organized in 1935 we have come a long way and that it was not handed to us on a gold platter. If the members will look back some years and see what the wages and benefits were, they were very nil. In fact no benefits at all.

The member, referring to the one who wrote the May 11 letter, stresses the point of Vickers closing down. That is not a fact, all they did was to move to where they could get cheaper labor. They did not tell you that they “reaped the harvest” for years. Those members had no seniority rights or no job security like you have. As for the newspaper closing down in New York, from what I read in other newspapers it was from poor management. They have to blame someone, so they blame the Union because of high labor cost. They did not even sit down with the Union and tell them of their problems so that they could solve them.

It seems to me “name withheld” that you are anti-union or you are well taken care of by your boss by getting all the over-time you want. You also say you will never make up the loss, this is not a fact for the simple reason you will get a wage increase, benefits, better working conditions and numerous other gains.

Another point I want to stress is that, the cost of living has already gone up for the past 2 years. You also say it is ridiculous to get 93% of your wages in case of lay off this, in the long run would cost the company about $.02 more per hour. This does not compare with the 14 million dollars the company gave management personnel as a bonus.

You say that you were not told why you are on strike, if you read the last issue of the Rubber Workers newspaper (May Edition) instead of burning it, you would know. Also if you attend the regular monthly meeting you will find that all of these demands are made by the membership and not only the officers. I also want to say that when the policy committee of 19 Local Unions are meeting with management of 19 plants, there are probably 19 hundred problems.

I could go on and on about this but I will close on this subject Mr. or Mrs. Anti-Union saying that I am very proud to have been able to serve as a representative of our great union Local #45 under the Leadership of Mr. George Froehlich, Mr. Raymond Mengacci, Mrs. Rita Ruggerio and all of the officers, policy committee members and also the United Rubber Workers of America. (C.I.O. A.F.L.)

There is also one last remark I want to say is what this policy committee is doing is good for everyone in the area of Naugatuck for the present and future. In 32 years of being an organized union, Mr. or Mrs. Anti-Union, we were never a hooded union or used strong armed tactics and definitely your house would not be burned down.

Mr. Editor please print my name, I am not ashamed I am an honorary member of Local #45 with 36 years of seniority and 39 years of service with UniRoyal Footwear Division.

Pensioner
Mr. Michael San Angelo
77 Chestnut Street

Train Enters Chemical Division Without Incident

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Train Enters Chemical Division Without Incident

Thursday MAY 18, 1967

Train Enters Chemical Division Without Incident

Three pickets stood at the main gate of the Chemical Division of UniRoyal, Inc., yesterday afternoon and watched a train go into the company’s yard without incident.

The engine of the train came into the local railroad station from Waterbury during the noon-hour, stopped at the local station where management and railroad police boarded the engine.

It then proceeded to the Elm St. railroad yard where it spent almost an hour switching cars and lining them up to take into the Chemical Division. When the train was ready to roll, railroad employes left the train to railroad management and railroad police to operate, honoring the United Rubber Workers picket line.

President Joseph Rzeszutek of Local 218, flew in from Cincinnati Tuesday night, when news of the company’s intent to start activity at the Chemical Co. was relayed to him.

He and other Union officials met yesterday morning in the offices of John Evans, manager of the Chemical Co., with Evans and Ronald Pohl, labor relations director. No comment on the meeting was released, by either management or labor.

The Union, laboring under the threat of an injunction, has been extremely cautious that no incidence occur.

This morning, all was quiet on the picket lines at the Chemical Division. Only three pickets were observed at the main gate, one of which was a woman.

Small teams of pickets were on duty at all gates of the borough’s UniRoyal plants this morning where calm is maintained.

A group of pickets at the Elm St. gate of the Footwear Warehouse came close to being run down by a truck attempting to enter the gate at a fast rate of speed. The pickets said that the truck was coming so fast that they were unable to move from its path where they were standing talking.

Local police on the scene slowed the truck down to avoid an accident.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — The ‘Rubber Capital of the World’ today continues to function under a lengthy rubber strike.

Mayor John Ballard has expressed concern that an extended strike, and the resulting loss of workers’ income tax, will hamper city finances.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the General Tire and Rubber Co. and the United Rubber Workers Union remained recessed although both company and union officials say they can be resumed at any time.

The company’s 3,300 employes, covered by the union contract which expired at Monday midnight, continued working at the facilities here and at Waco, Tex.

In the rest of the industry, negotiations continued Wednesday with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in Cleveland; with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and with UniRoyal in Cincinnati, and with B. F. Goodrich in Columbus.

Only Goodyear is continuing production, on a day to day basis. The other three companies are closed down by strikes. The companies have a mutual aid strike agreement.

A union spokesman said he could make no comment on the

Please Turn to Page 10

Uniroyal Progress Reported

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Uniroyal Progress Reported

Friday May 19, 1967 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK— Informed sources gave indications Thursday that there were signs of progress in the negotiations between Uniroyal, Inc., and the United Rubber Workers, still in progress in Cincinnati. The two groups are scheduled to meet again today.

As the strike entered its fifth week, rumors swept the borough to the effect that Firestone had either settled or was very close to settlement. The rumors remained unconfirmed, however, as sources claimed that Firestone did not meet with the union Thursday. They, too, however, are scheduled to meet today.

The signs of progress in the Uniroyal talks were indicated when informed sources said that the number of issues being discussed had dropped from approximately 50 to about 20. What any of the issues are, however, remains unknown.

In addition, sources said, management had offered a guaranteed annual wage amounting to 75 per cent base wage in case of layoffs. The union is reportedly seeking over 90 per cent.

Details of the 75 per cent clause could not be obtained.

The scene in the borough remained quiet again Thursday, and many pickets seemed more cheerful as the rumors of Firestone’s progress ran around town.

In Waterville, a trucker approaching the URW picket line at a Uniroyal warehouse there chose to honor the picket and the truck was taken into the warehouse without incident by a white collar employe.

NEW HAVEN Railroad and railroad police are shown boarding the train at the freight yard near Elm St. preparing to take tank and box cars into the Chemical plant. Railroad employees left the train before it entered the plant. Local 218. The train went into the company’s yard without incident.

by
NEW HAVEN Railroad and railroad police are shown boarding the train at the freight yard near Elm St. preparing to take tank and box cars into the Chemical plant. Railroad employees left the train before it entered the plant. Local 218. The train went into the company's yard without incident.

5-18-67

NEW HAVEN Railroad and railroad police are shown boarding the train at the freight yard near Elm St. preparing to take the tank and box cars into the Chemical plant. Railroad employes left the train before it arrived at the picket line manned by Local 218. The train went into the company’s yard without incident. -(News Photo by Jensen)

Strike Settlement Rumors Remain Unconfirmed Today

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Strike Settlement Rumors Remain Unconfirmed Today

Neptune

[IMAGE: Black and white photograph showing a Neptune truck backed into a driveway with two men holding strike signs in front of a building]

PICKETS and management watched yesterday as a truck backed into the driveway of the EMI building on Spencer St. without incident. The driver of the truck appeared to be a little uncertain of his reception but picketers assured him no attempt would be made to stop his entry onto Company property. -(News photo by Nichols)

Friday MAY 19, 1967 [handwritten]

Strike Settlement Rumors Remain Unconfirmed Today

Excitement mounted yesterday afternoon in the borough as stories of the strike settlement grew stronger. The NEWS office was deluged with calls, seeking confirmation that it was settled or about to be settled.

Firestone did not meet with the Union yesterday in Cincinnati and the rumor was to the effect that they had either settled or were about to settle. The story remained unconfirmed and Firestone is again scheduled to meet with the negotiators today.

According to informed sources, some progress is noted in the UniRoyal talks. The number of issues involved have dropped from approximately 50 to 20.

One of the main issues in the strike negotiations has been said to be the guaranteed annual wage. Sources say that management is now offering a guaranteed annual wage amounting to 75 per cent of base wage in the case of a lay-off. The union’s original demand was reportedly 90 per cent.

However, with both parties agreeing to the pact not to issue any statement until settlement is reached, none of this could be confirmed.

Picketing remains quiet in the borough this morning. The pickets seemed to be buoyed this morning with the talk of settlement running strong for the first time in the month-long strike.

UniRoyal Strike 32 Days Old; Settlement Rumors Optimistic

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UniRoyal Strike 32 Days Old; Settlement Rumors Optimistic

NAus. News
Monday MAY 22, 1967

UniRoyal Strike 32 Days Old; Settlement Rumors Optimistic

The strike of United Rubber Workers against UniRoyal has now entered its 32nd day with picketing in the borough calm as white collar workers and trucks pass through the gates of the plant.

The flurry of rumors of impending settlement that caused excitement in town last week has subsided and the strikers have once again adopted a waiting attitude.

Negotiations between management and Union, which have been conducted since March 20, will resume this week in Cincinnati following a weekend recess. No word of the progress has been released.

The financial loss in wages alone in the borough is staggering. Applying mathematics and figuring 5,500 striking employes in local plants and an average daily income of about $25, approximately $137,500 is lost every day of the strike in wages alone, not taking into consideration the loss in income for the plants not producing merchandise.

By extending this figure over the 32-days the strike has been in progress, the total wages lost, using these figures as a base, is $4,400,000.

Using the same base as daily wages and considering that 55,000 persons are out of work due to the strike against the “big five” Rubber Companies more than $40 million has been lost in wages thus far.

The union is paying its membership a benefit of $25 a week. Many of the striking workers have found temporary part-time employment while others are beginning to dig into their savings.

The welfare agencies have received requests from strikers who have nothing to fall back on since the first week of idleness.

Uniroyal Rumors Unconfirmed

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Uniroyal Rumors Unconfirmed

SAT. MAY 20, 1967 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK — Although rumors ran wild in the borough Friday to the effect that Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers had reached a settlement in their negotiations on a master contract, the rumors failed to pan out, and no settlement was announced.

Other rumors, which claimed that they were at least close, were heard around the borough but remained unconfirmed, as negotiators in Cincinnati refused to speak with the press.

The first hints of possible settlement were indicated by reliable source Thursday, when it was reported that the number of items under discussion had dropped from approximately 50 to about 20.

It was also reported that management had offered a 75 per cent guaranteed annual wage clause. No further details on the clause could be obtained.

Rumors of a settlement between Firestone and the URW also remained unconfirmed at press time Friday, as no statements were issued.

Recess In Talks Dulls Hopes For Uniroyal Strike Settlement

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Recess In Talks Dulls Hopes For Uniroyal Strike Settlement

Recess In Talks Dulls Hopes For Uniroyal Strike Settlement

Sunday May 21, 1967 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK —A weekend recess in contract talks between the international policy committee of the United Rubber Workers, AFL-CIO, and of Uniroyal management carried the strike at the company’s three divisions here into its 31st day today.

Negotiators agreed to the recess Friday and will resume talks Monday at 10 a.m. at Cincinnati.

The recess is a disappointment to the 5,000 idled employes of the Footwear, Chemical and Synthetic Divisions of Uniroyal here, for hopes of a settlement had been feeding on reports,

some reliable and others unsubstantiated, that a breakthrough was imminent.

Officials of Locals, 45, 218 and 308 who are in daily contact with Cincinnati, however, are holding out some encouragement that the strike will be settled shortly. They said their sources report closer contact at the conference table.

Reportedly, Uniroyal management is using the weekend to reassess the revised demands of the union.

One spokesman for the unio here said that company official could walk into the conferenc room Monday and agree t terms.

This, if it happened, could n

come too soon for rubber workers and the town. The strike has had an effect on the financial status of the striking employes and the economic life of borough stores and businesses.

The strike has left the idled workers with four payless weeks and the prospects of a fifth if an agreement is not reached early next week.

Financial relief of $25 weekly is being extended to members by the URW and assistance is available from th

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Strike Settlement Close? Most Residents Hope So

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Strike Settlement Close? Most Residents Hope So

Strike Settlement Close? Most Residents Hope So

Tuesday May 23, 1967

The new pastime in the borough is the guessing of when the strike will end. A more optimistic attitude has been adopted by the strikers and the consensus of opinion is that settlement is close.

However, no statements on the progress of negotiations in Cincinnati have been issued. The negotiating teams are meeting daily, discussing the terms of the master contract. Local contracts will be considered once settlement is reached on the master contract.

UniRoyal is continuing to ship from its warehouse with no objection from the union as long as the company ships only goods made prior to the strike and does not attempt production in the local plants.

The three borough Locals of the United Rubber Workers began issuing benefit checks to its membership for the third week today and will continue through tomorrow working on the same schedule it used for the past two weeks.

Many strikers families are becoming anxious with school graduations just a month away. The financial pinch of 33 days without full pay will cause curtailment of planned celebrations.

Eight Pickets Are Arrested In New Uniroyal Disorder

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Eight Pickets Are Arrested In New Uniroyal Disorder

Thurs. Sentinel MAY 25, 1967

Eight Pickets Are Arrested In New Uniroyal Disorder

Eight pickets were arrested today at the struck Uniroyal chemical plant in Naugatuck and charged with breach of the peace as violence flared there for the first time since May 5.

The arrests came after about 40 pickets had attempted to prevent some 500 office and management personnel from entering the plant. There was pushing and shoving, but no injuries.

Eight Naugatuck police officers under Capt. Joseph Summa cleared a way through the picket line for the management personnel, who entered the plant.

The picket line was reinforced this morning after the company had told the striking unions that it planned to resume production at the chemical plant. In recent weeks there had been only a few pickets at the Elm Street gate, where the violence flared just before 8 a.m. today.

Among those arrested were Joseph Rzesutek, 236 Rigg St., Oxford, president of Local 218, United Rubber Workers of America, and Dominic A. George of 33 Railroad Ave., Beacon Falls.

A Seymour man, Henry Hook, 167 West Church St., was freed in $20 bail. The others were released on their own recognizance.

Continuance Granted In UniRoyal Case

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Continuance Granted In UniRoyal Case

Wed. MAY 24, 1967

A two-week postponement was granted yesterday in a hearing on a UniRoyal Inc. petition seeking an injunction against the United Rubber Workers Union.

Neither parties appeared in Waterbury Superior Court for the hearing. Judge Leo V. Gaffney granted the continuance on the basis of a letter received from the UniRoyal attorneys to the effect that picketing at the local plants was orderly.

This is the second continuance granted. The first hearing was held May 9 and the hearing is now scheduled for June 6.

Small teams of pickets are stationed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Footwear plant gates and a minimum number of pickets keep an around the clock vigil at the Chemical Co. gates.

Freight trains containing UniRoyal boxcars and tank cars are moved in and out of the Chemical plant, manned by management of the New Haven Railroad, almost daily now, without incident.

Trucking continues at the Warehouse on Elm St. and management employes continue to report for work every day, pausing at the picket lines to exchange friendly conversation with the strikers.

ONE OF EIGHT Local 218 members arrested in Naugatuck at the gate of the Uniroyal Chemical Plant this morning is led away by police to be booked on charges of breach of peace. Local Pres. Joseph Rzeszutek was one of those charged.

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ONE OF EIGHT Local 218 members arrested in Naugatuck at the gate of the Uniroyal Chemical Plant this morning is led away by police to be booked on charges of breach of peace. Local Pres. Joseph Rzeszutek was one of those charged.

Thurs. May 25, 1967

ONE OF EIGHT Local 218 members arrested in Naugatuck at the gate of the Uniroyal Chemical Plant this morning is led away by police to be booked on charges of breach of peace. Local Pres. Joseph Rzeszutek was one of those charged.—King Photo.

Factor of Safety In Production Move Sparks Dispute At Uniroyal

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Factor Of Safety In Production Move Sparks Dispute At Uniroyal

Friday MAY 26, 1967

NAUGATUCK — Efforts by management personnel to produce what were termed defense sub-contract items at the Uniroyal Chemical Plant Thursday touched off a controversy with URW Local 218 over the question of safety.

An announcement by management Wednesday that it planned to produce the items also resulted in an effort by about 30 members of the local to bar management personnel from entering the plant Thursday morning.

After the management personnel entered the plant to begin production, members of the striking local circulated handbills around the borough questioning the decision to produce.

The handbills claimed that the personnel were “unfamiliar with the operating procedures and safety hazards involved” in the machines.

It was further added that “serious accidents have occurred with experienced operators in control of the equipment, and a full compliment of people who were fortunate enough to contain these hazards.”

John D. Evans, manager of the chemical plant, answered the safety charges with a statement that “at present, operations are limited in scope and are being achieved by crews completely familiar with all operating procedures and safety practices.

“In fact,” added Evans, “these (management) personnel are normally responsible for the training and direction of the regular operators.”

Local 218 hinged its complaint on the claim that “the operating of process equipment with inexperienced personnel and only a skeleton crew present a definite hazard to the townspeople . . . It exposes the citizens to the possibility of explosion or deadly gases being released to the atmosphere.”

Evans answered the charge that the safety of the borough was being jeapordized with the statement that “We consider the safety of all personnel in the plant as well as that of the residents—to be the first consideration of management in all decisions regarding operations regardless of circumstance.”

The early morning efforts to block the personnel from entering the plant resulted in the arrest of eight members of the local, although there was no shoving or pushing in the incident and no injuries were reported.

According to Evans, the purpose of the move to produce was to fulfill a sub-contract for a material which protects the plexiglass windshields of planes during shipment. The material, he added, would be used on planes destined for Vietnam.

While management personnel waited to enter the plant at about 7 a.m. Thursday, Police Capt. Joseph Summa read the riot act to the assembled pickets. The arrest of the eight union members followed, and they were taken to the police station in patrol cars.

All arrested were charged with breach of peace and released under the no cash bail program, except for Henry Hook, 167 West Church St., Seymour, who posted a $20 cash bond due to being arrested for the second time within six months. Hook had been arrested on the same charge during the scuffle with police and Local 45 pickets at the Maple St. Footwear Plant.

Others arrested were Rzeszutek, 45, 236 Riggs St., Oxford; Joseph P. Paplauskas, 46, 99 Gorman St.; Marcel H. Herbert, 39, 179 Tudor St., Waterbury; Robert Anderson, 37, 84 Svea Ave.; Dominic A. George, 55, 33 Railroad Ave., Beacon Falls; Tano Sanangelo, 53, 82 Pinehurst Ave., Waterbury and Albert R. Lestage, 37, 85 Vernon St., Waterbury.

Rzeszutek also said that he is considering asking the membership at their next meeting to no longer honor withdrawal cards of personnel who have salaried positions. Rzeszutek said the union considers these people “undesirable for readmittance to the local in the event they are removed from salary.”

In response to Rzeszutek’s statement, Plant Mgr. John Evans said that the union had been given ample notice that there would be some production on key items necessary to the defense effort in Vietnam. However, he declined to comment on the rest of the union local president’s statement.

Striking Rubber Workers Urge Boycott of Products

by

tions.” Times 5-27-67

Striking Rubber Workers
Urge Boycott of Products

AKRON, Ohio, May 25 (AP)
—A campaign against the purchase of products made by three
struck rubber companies is being conducted by the United
Rubber Workers.

The companies struck by the
union April 20 when contracts
expired are Uniroyal, B. F.
Goodrich Company, and the
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Workers at the General
Tire and Rubber and Goodyear
Tire and Rubber plants are
working on a day-to-day basis
while contract negotiations continue.

Peter Bommarito, union president, said Wednesday union
members on strike against the
three companies would be stationed at dealer stores with
posters asking customers not to
buy their products.

Pickets and Police Milled Around at the Gate to the Chemical Plant at Uniroyal in Naugatuck

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5-26-67

[IMAGE: Photograph showing pickets and police at a factory gate]

temical
ivision

UNIROYAL
U.S. RUBBER

MAIN
ENTRANCE

SALES INDUSTRIAL
CHEMICALS COATINGS
ORDNANCE TEXTILES

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CENTER

PICKETS AND POLICE milled around at the gate to the Chemical Plant at Uniroyal in Naugatuck this morning after police got word of rumored trouble and sent a large group of officers to the area. Nothing happened, and non-union employes entered the plant. The company, meanwhile, was proceeding with plans to seek an injunction of mass picketing at the Chemical Plant by Local 218, United Rubber Workers, similar to the one at the Footwear Plant regarding Local 45. A meeting was held this morning in Waterbury Superior Court with Judge Leo V. Gaffney. —King Photo

Picketing

(Continued from Page One)

from airplanes and smother the Viet Cong?” he asked.

The union president said he resented the implication that he and his union were unpatriotic rising from the company claim that the production was needed for the war effort.

Rzeszutek said he was a veteran of combat and “had been shot up a few times” himself.

“I certainly don’t want our men to do without anything they need,” he said.

He said he could guarantee that not one thing had been shipped from the Chemical Plant to Vietnam.

Judge Gaffney on May 6 issued an order for a show cause hearing against Local 45 of the United Rubber Workers in connection with picketing at the Footwear Division, also in Naugatuck, but a hearing has never been held.

It has been continued twice and more continuances will be entered as long as the picketing remains peaceful, Judge Gaffney said.

Seeks Same Effect

He said he hopes the issuance of a show cause order against Local 218 will have the same pacifying effect on picketing activities at the Chemical Plant.

The United Rubber Workers has been on strike for five weeks.

Naugatuck Police Chief Frank J. Mariano and Capt. Joseph Summa were in the courtroom for today’s session but were not called on to testify.

A company official was quoted in Thursday’s paper as saying the operation of the plant by management personnel was for the production of some key items necessary to the Vietnam defense effort.

Management lawyer, Atty. J. Kenneth Bradley, Bridgeport, said today in court, however, that the production was “partially” for the defense effort and partially of items “for use in other parts of the country.”

He did not go into detail on the use of the items except to say the items “are not for use by ourselves.”

Judge Gaffney, in asking for an end to the picket line difficulties, said it was easy for him to understand them when it appears to union members that “someone is destroying . . . the right to work and live.”

“I trust we will never have a hearing” on the matter the judge said. He added he hoped he would not be forced to issue an injunction against the union.

Asks For Statement

Lawyer for the union, Atty. Daniel Baker, Stamford, advised Rzeszutek after the hearing to issue a statement on the company’s claims of production for the Vietnam effort.

Judge Gaffney commended the Naugatuck police for their handling of the picket line situation. He said the police were forced to make the arrests and were to be commended for doing their duty.

He said he hoped the order for a show cause hearing would act as a “restraining measure” and help to restore the good will between management and Local 218 that existed before Thursday’s incident.

Before this morning’s hearing, the scene at the strikebound Chemical Plant remained quiet as about 40 pickets circulated in front of the Elm St. gate in 40-degree weather. There were only two minor incidents, in contrast to the eight arrests there Thursday morning.

However, extra police were on duty as a precaution in the face of rumors to the effect that management personnel would not be allowed to enter the plant.

Although management personnel were greeted by name as they entered the plant, one man was challenged by pickets as he approached the line with a large briefcase under his arm.

Upon approaching the gate, he was instantly surrounded by pickets. After a few quick questions were asked, the man answered that the briefcase contained his lunch. The line broke and he was admitted to the plant.

Shortly after this challenge, one of the strikers spotted a car approaching the Elm St. gate. The driver was stopped while Rzeszutek criticized him for his actions Thursday when, according to Rzeszutek, the man drove the car through the line without slowing down.

PAPER MONEY

WASHINGTON — Paper bills cost the U. S. treasury about one cent each to produce.

Only about one woman in 250 is color blind.

Football Star

SEYMOUR—Nick DeFelice, a graduate of Derby High School who is now a lineman for the New York Jets team in the American Football League, will be the guest speaker at the second annual sports banquet of the Seymour Fathers Club Saturday.

Uniroyal Injunction Hearing Continued

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SATURDAY MAY 27, 1967

Uniroyal Injunction Hearing Continued

NAUGATUCK An injunction sought by Uniroyal Chemical Friday against the United Rubber Workers was continued by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney.

The continuance was ordered following an early morning session of peaceful picketing by Local 218 at the Elm St. entrance to the plant. All personnel seeking entry into the plant passed through without incident.

In its court appearance Thursday, the local must show cause why an injunction should not be issued against “illegal picketing activities.”

Although the scene at the gate was quiet Friday morning, eight pickets were arrested Thursday at the same gate.

At that time pickets were attempting to stop management personnel from entering the plant to produce items management said wene needed for the Vietnam war effort.

Judge Gaffney said he knew “there was a spark of patriotism” in everyone and added he hoped this would lead to a lessening of tensions at the Chemical Plant.

Union Pres. Joseph Rzeszutek, one of those arrested Thursday, hotly denied that any of the items produced Thursday were going to Vietnam.

No witnesses were called in the case. Judge Gaffney met with union and management lawyers in chambers and then issued the order in open court.

Reclaim Slabs

Rzeszutek’s comments came after the court proceedings. He claimed only items shipped were “slabs of reclaim,” or slabs of rubber made by a reclaiming process starting with old tires and other rubber items.

“What are they going to do with slabs of reclaim, drop them from airplanes and smother the Viet Cong?” he asked.

The union president said he resented the implication that he and his union were unpatriotic rising from the company claim that the production was needed for the war effort.

Rzeszutek said he was a veteran of combat and “had been shot up a few times” himself.

“I certainly don’t want our men to do without anything they need,” he said.

He said he could guarantee that not one thing had been shipped from the Chemical Plant to Vietnam.

A company official was quoted Thursday as saying the operation of the plant by management personnel was for the production of some key items necessary for the Vietnam defense effort.

Time To Consider

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Time To Consider

Saturday May 27, 1967

Time To Consider

United Rubber Workers Local 218 has been summoned to appear in Superior Court next week to show cause why an injunction should not be issued against illegal picketing in the month-old strike involving Naugatuck plants of Uniroyal, Inc.

Judge Leo V. Gaffney, who issued the order, also expressed the hope that things in Naugatuck would quiet down and thus eliminate the need for the hearing, presently slated for Thursday.

The judge ordered the show-cause hearing in the wake of arrests made at Uniroyal gates, when union pickets attempted to prevent management personnel from entering the plant.

Management had insisted that the employes were needed to produce items needed for the war in Vietnam. Union officials hotly denied that there was any proof of need for the items which management said were destined for the Southeast Asian war effort.

The point is, of course, that there is obvious lack of communication; obvious skepticism. It is, as Judge Gaffney said, not difficult to understand that union members should be exercised by the thought that “someone is destroying . . . their right to work and live.”

It is almost always thus in matters of disagreement in labor difficulties which end up with strikes. When failure to agree reaches the strike stage, emotionalism almost always takes over in place of realism; and the phenomenon is not limited to one side or the other.

It would be far better for all parties concerned if reason and common sense could prevail—which is what Judge Gaffney was suggesting. Let’s hope there will be no hearing. Let’s hope that there will be a settlement before June 1 rolls around.

Local 45 Membership Meets This Afternoon

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Local 45 Membership Meets This Afternoon

Local 45 Membership Meets This Afternoon

5-29-67

By RUTH NICHOLS

A meeting of the membership of Local 45 United Rubber Workers is scheduled for this afternoon at 2:30 in the Naugatuck High School auditorium.

Local 45 President George Froehlich, home from the negotiating sessions in Cincinnati, will address the membership as a whole for the first time since the beginning of the 39-

day old strike. No advance word as to the subject of this meeting has been released.

Because of the Memorial Day holiday this week, the issuance of the strike benefit checks will vary from the previous weeks. Those who have been receiving their checks on Tuesday are scheduled for the same time Wednesday and those who normally pick up checks on Wednesday will report Thursday, Local

45 announced.

Picketing in the borough remained quiet today at all three plants of UniRoyal. Both Local 45 and 218 are operating with the threat of a restraining injunction being imposed at the first sign of violence.

At the beginning of the month the membership of Local 45 became angered when management officials announced they

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Local 45

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Local 45

5-28-67

Continued From Page 1

intended to start production in the Footwear plants. Following two mornings in which the pickets sought to keep supervisory personnel outside the plant by mass picketing, UniRoyal attempted to obtain a restraining order from Waterbury Superior Court.

Judge Leo Gaffney postponed the injunction for two two-week periods as long as orderly picketing was conducted at the gates.

The officials of Local 45 have ordered peaceful picketing of its members and have allowed white collar workers to pass through the lines as well as trucks to go in and out of the warehouse gate without incident.

Local 218 became disturbed last week when they were faced with the same situation. UniRoyal again sought an injunction against that local Friday. A “show cause” hearing has been scheduled for Thursday in Waterbury Superior Court by Judge Gaffney.

Offcials of Local 218 claimed that “inaccurate statements were made by the factory manager of the Chemical Co. plant,” in relation to the management’s decision to use supervisory personnel to operate process equipment at the plant.

4 Pickets Are Arrested At Uniroyal

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4 Pickets Are Arrested At Uniroyal

5-31-67 [handwritten]

Naugatuck police arrested four union pickets today, including a Seymour resident, as supervisory personnel at Uniroyal Co. filed through picket lines to begin production.

Company management had notified representatives of Local 45, United Rubber Workers of America, Monday that production would be begun today by supervisory personnel.

Edward Alvares, president of URW Local 308, warned of the possibility of danger in having supervisory personnel, unfamiliar with procedures, working in production at the chemical plant.

Safety Precautions

Company officials said safety precautions were being taken.

About 100 pickets were on duty in front of the Naugatuck plant today when about 150 supervisory employees went to work.

Twelve policemen were on duty and arrested four pickets on charges of breach of peace, including Anthony Gambardella of 53 Birchwood Road, Seymour. Two pickets were carried away.

Negotiations between management and the union are taking place in Cincinnati. They were scheduled to resume today.

George Froelich, president of Local 45, told union members yesterday at a meeting at Naugatuck High School auditorium that company officials were reluctant to discuss issues presented by union negotiators.

Arrest 4 At Synthetic Plant

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Arrest 4 At Synthetic Plant

5-31-67 UniRoyal Strike

Arrest 4 At Synthetic Plant

By RUTH NICHOLS

Four members of Local 308, URW, were booked on breach of peace charges this morning as a result on the part of the Local to try to keep management personnel from entering the Naugatuck Synthetic Plant of UniRoyal.

Approximately 150 pickets were massed at the gate of the Synthetic plant at 7:30 this morning. Local 308 officials had been notified by management that they intended to start production in the plant today. The Local has a membership of approximately 200.

President Edward Alves of Local 308 stayed in town today to be with the Local and attempt to talk with management. He said that he talked with Benton Leach, production superintendent of the plant, but was unable to talk with John Evans, plant manager.

Alves stated that the Local took action out of concern when it learned unskilled operators would operate the production. He said “This would be a disaster if the right people were not operating the production lines. The chance of explosion is great and could affect the entire Naugatuck Valley.”

Alves also revealed that the Local had checked with the insurance company to see if UniRoyal had notified them that they were going to produce at the plant. Periodical inspections are made by the insurance company while the plant is in operation. The insurance company said they had not been contacted by the company as of that time, Alves said.

Alves said that one of the gases used at the plant is explosive when contacted by air. This was his main concern, safety-wise.

A team of 12 police officers, under the supervision of Capt. Joseph Summa, was dispatched to the Synthetic when Police Chief Frank Mariano was notified that management was being barred from the plant.

Capt. Summa read the riot act, according to the state statute, to the group of pickets assembled. The pickets continued to march in a circle around in front of the gate, in an orderly fashion.

A wedge of policemen were sent into the picket line to open it up as the cars driven by the supervisory personnel lined up to enter the grounds.

The majority of pickets immediately moved aside; however, two pickets were forced out of the way by policemen and two others booked when they objected to the line breaking up. As soon as the line was opened the line of assembled cars drove through the gate without being hampered by the pickets.

The rest of the pickets started to march to police headquarters, thought better of it and about 30 men arrived at the station by cars.

Police started booking men

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CAPT. JOSEPH SUMMA is shown reading the state statute containing the “riot act” to picketers at the Synthetic plant as members of Local 308 bar the entrance gate to supervisory personnel, yesterday morning. Local 308 president Edward Alves, back to camera listens intently.

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CAPT. JOSEPH SUMMA is shown reading the state statute containing the "riot act" to picketers at the Synthetic plant as members of Local 308 bar the entrance gate to supervisory personnel, yesterday morning. Local 308 president Edward Alves, back to camera listens intently.

6-1-67

CAPT. JOSEPH SUMMA is shown reading the state statute containing the “riot act” to picketers at the Synthetic plant as members of Local 308 bar the entrance gate to supervisory personnel, yesterday morning. Local 308 president Edward Alves, back to camera listens intently. -(News photo by Nichols)

Uniroyal Bargaining Units Fail To Meet

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Uniroyal Bargaining Units Fail To Meet

6-1-67

Uniroyal Bargaining Units Fail To Meet

NAUGATUCK — A meeting between representatives of the United Rubber Workers and Uniroyal management did not take place as scheduled Wednesday.

A union spokesman, contacted Wednesday night, said he did not know why it was canceled. Asked who called the meeting off, he answered that he did not know that, either.

However, he added, a meeting has been scheduled for today.

The two groups have been meeting in Cincinnati, where Wednesday’s meeting was to take place.

Addressing 2,000 union members Monday, Local 45 Pres. George Froehlich said that there would be a meeting Wednesday, and left for Cincinnati early Wednesday morning.

On the local scene, mass picketing by members of Local 308, Synthetic Plant, Wednesday morning, led to the arrest of four pickets following an attempt to prevent management personnel from entering the plant.

According to Edward Alves, president of the local, management had informed the union that production would begin at the plant Wednesday. The report led to the mass picketing.

Strike Negotiations

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be kept.

6-1-67

Strike Negotiations

Continued From Page 1

community with production being carried on in both plants by skeleton crews of supervisory personnel.

John Evans, factory manager, of both plants, has issued assuring statements that no danger exists which have been questioned by the union.

All rumors of impending settlement have been squashed since George Froehlich, president of Local 45, held a meeting of its membership Monday and told them that little or no progress had been made in six weeks of negotiating.

Strikers in the borough are beginning to think about the possibility of an idle summer with no settlement before September.

Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Ohio

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Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Ohio

Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Ohio

6-1-67 [handwritten]

The negotiating session between UniRoyal and the United Rubber Workers, scheduled for yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m., was canceled. No reason for the cancelation was given.

However, a meeting set for 10 a.m. today was expected to be held in Cincinnati.

The sessions had been recessed last Friday for the long holiday weekend and were scheduled to resume yesterday afternoon.

Picketing is calm at all three UniRoyal plants in the borough this morning. The Synthetic Plant yesterday morning was the scene of mass picketing.

The company announced its decision to resume production on a limited scale within the plant and members of Local 308 massed at the gate in an attempt to keep out supervisory personnel.

The line opened up after policemen forced a wedge with little resistance. Four of the pickets were booked on breach of peace charges while approximately 30 fellow members of Local 308 appeared at police headquarters in sympathy. All was quiet on the line by 8 o’clock yesterday morning.

The Chemical Division of UniRoyal has been in production on a limited scale for a week now as the strike enters its 42nd day.

Production is not being conducted at the Footwear plant, although considerable shipping has been done from its warehouse on Elm St.

Officials of both Local 218 of the Chemical and Local 308 of the Synthetic, have expressed concern as to the safety of the

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