Page 2 | CHEM TEXTS | Vol. 1 No. 2
CHEM TEXTS
PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT
FROM THE FACTORY MANAGER
Dear Fellow Employees:
We have just completed a long and unpleasant strike. An experience each of us, I’m sure, would like to soon forget. However, there are several things we should not forget.
First, a breakdown in relations, or a strike, is the result of a failure in communications. A failure to understand our mutual objectives and problems. It is essential for all of us to realize that a Company and its employees only profit to the extent that they together serve their customers’ needs.
This, logically, leads me to my second point. The additional costs of doing business resulting from the settlement — more than 80 cents per hour per employee over the next three years — lessens our position to compete for the customers’ business on the basis of price.
How can we regain our competitive position? We can only do this by doing our jobs to the best of our ability each day. We must make every personal effort to see that all of our products are of the highest possible quality. We must utilize all of our skills and ingenuity, making the most efficient use of our time to safely produce at maximum levels. We must ever be alert to seek and suggest new and better ways of doing our jobs.
In short, this challenge will call on us to work with pride in our experience, knowledge and craftsmanship. Only by meeting this challenge can we produce the sales and profits that will enable us to grow and to insure our future job security.
John D. Evans
Factory Manager
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WATER HEATERS
(taken from Family Safety magazine)
The Winter 1966 issue of Family Safety Magazine had an excellent article on water heaters. Below are a couple of the main ideas from that article. They are well worth thinking about. . . . .
When a water heater explodes it releases so much destructive energy that in almost every case it leaves behind the splintered wreckage of a completely demolished home.
Some accidents that happen frequently are difficult to control because the causes are many and complex. For example, most traffic accidents are the result of the interaction of many factors involving the driver, the highway, the vehicle and the weather.
Water heater accidents, although infrequent, deserve our attention not only because of their destructiveness but because in almost every case their causes are simple and easy to control.
Any home owner who follows three simple rules need have no fear of ever looking on the ruins of his shattered home. These rules are (1) purchase a quality heater, (2) have it properly installed and (3) follow a simple schedule of maintenance checks.
IT’S NO TEAKETTLE
The importance of proper installation and a relief valve becomes clear when you understand how a water heater works. A tank water heater differs from the simplest water heater — the teakettle — in one very important respect: when the kettle gets overheated, it boils over. But the tank heater is a closed container, and if the thermostat fails in the “on” position, the temperature continues to build up and up. Since it can’t boil over, the heat energy is converted into tremendous steam pressure confined within the water tank. If there is no escape through a temperature-pressure relief valve, a house-shattering explosion can occur.
UNIROYAL A PIONEER IN EMPLOYE BENEFITS
Uniroyal has been both pioneer and leader in progressive employe benefit programs. In 1917 when it was considered a radical innovation, we introduced the employe pension plan.
Through the years other improvements were made. These include paid vacations, life insurance, hospital, surgical and medical insurance.
HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW UNION CONTRACT
Following are highlights of the new three-year contract between Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers Union:
1. General wage increase
A 15¢ per hour increase effective July 26, 1967, the date agreement was reached.
A 15¢ per hour increase effective July 1, 1968.
A 13¢ per hour increase effective June 30, 1969.
2. Skilled Trades Adjustment
A 10¢ per hour increase in addition to the above general increase in the year 1967.
3. Improved Vacation Pay
2 weeks vacation pay for employes with 1 year of seniority.
3 weeks vacation pay for employes with 5 years of seniority.
4 weeks vacation pay for employes with 15 years of seniority.
(Same as previous contract.)
5 weeks vacation pay for employes with 22 years of seniority.
6 weeks vacation pay for employes with 30 years of seniority.
4. Improved Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB)
Regular and short week benefits increased to 80% of average pay. Company contributions to the SUB fund increased from 5¢ to 6¢ when the fund falls below 100%. SUB fund increased from $250 to $300 per employee.
5. Pensions
69% increase in regular pensions from $3.25 to $5.50 per month per
year of service.
69% increase in disability pensions from $6.50 to $11.00 per month per year of service.
An increase of $1.50 per month per year of service for pensioners who retired after July 1, 1950.
6. Life Insurance
An increase in company-paid life insurance from $6,500 to $7,500 for active employes. Occupational accidental death and dismemberment insurance in the amount of $3,750 for active employes.
7. Hospitalization
An increase in the coverage for the maximum stay in the hospital from 365 to 730 days, including mental and psychiatric cases.
8. X-Ray and Radium Therapy
An increase in the aggregate maximum payment from $200 to $300.
9. Visiting Nurse
An increase in the maximum daily payment from $6 to $7.
10. Surgical
Provide for full payment of the reasonable and customary fees prevailing in the area for surgical procedures.
11. Sickness and Accident Benefits
An increase of $10 per week for both men and women for up to 39 weeks instead of the former 26 weeks. (Company sickness and accident benefits where applicable.)
In addition to the above, numerous other contract benefits are provided. For details, contact your industrial relations department.
CHEMICAL TEAM WINS SOFTBALL CROWN
The Uniroyal Chemical softball team won the National Division Championship of the Naugatuck News Twilight Softball League in a recent playoff against Dean’s (2nd round winners). The victory won in a best two out of three games earned the Chemical team the right to represent its division in the league “world series” against the American division champs. After bowing in the opener against Dean’s, the boys showed the stuff that champs are made of with two straight wins 5-4 and 7-4 to cop the title. During the season, the team was paced by an array of sluggers, three of whom hit over .500 and five others who batted over .400.
This is the second year in a row that we have had a champion from our plant — the 1966 Synthetic Cardinals won the league championship.
1st row, left to right: Pete Lazaras, John Zappala, Ted Hudzik, Pat DePaolo
2nd row: Mike Jasman, Eric Johnson, Brad Swain, Carl Wohmann
3rd row: John Swanson, Bob Rurin, Stan Mazur, Nelson Mason, Dan Shantz, John Prior. Absent when picture was taken, Dick Doran, Sherman Paul, Pete Byra.
LONGER TIRE LIFE
Tire life can be greatly increased, according to our tire engineers, by avoiding excessively high speed, fast turns, driving over curbs or chuck holes, fast starts and stops, bad roads and driving on the edge of the pavement.
Foremen’s Club Activities
The Naugatuck Chemical Foremen’s Club will be starting their winter schedule of monthly meetings soon. Already set, according to club president, Vic Alves, are the annual outing on September 19 and a dance sometime in October. The club recently donated $50.00 to the Naugatuck Junior Football League for equipment.
To keep a ladder from slipping when used on a cement walk, place the feet of the ladder in a pair of old rubbers or sneakers.
To be sure no one bumps his head on low-hanging pipes in your basement, try hanging a large white handkerchief around the pipe. It will serve as a warning of danger.
After painting the steps of your stepladder, sprinkle liberally with sand before the paint dries and you will have insurance against slipping.
Fact of the Matter is… by W. White
WHO IS THE VILLAIN…
…IN THE CASE OF AMERICA’S POLLUTED WATERS?
IS IT MISTER FIX-IT, WHO POURED PAINT THINNER DOWN THE BASEMENT DRAIN?
THE HURRYING HOUSEWIFE, WHO WASHED BACON FAT INTO THE SINK?
THE NEARSIGHTED FARMER, WHO MISREAD THE LABEL AND MISAPPLIED?
THE CARELESS EMPLOYEE, WHO SPILLED ACID AND OIL— AND FLUSHED IT AWAY?
THE SLOPPY BOATMAN, WHO TOSSED GARBAGE OVER THE SIDE?
THE INADEQUATE SEWAGE PLANT, WHICH IMPROPERLY TREATED SOME WASTES?
ANSWER, OF COURSE, IS ALL OF THEM. WE’RE ALL VILLAINS— AND VICTIMS ——— AS POLLUTION PLOT THICKENS. IN POLLUTION, LIKE CRIME, PREVENTION IS MOST IMPORTANT! TO MEET A COMMUNITY’S DEMANDS FOR GOOD WATER, IT TAKES MONEY, ADEQUATE TREATMENT FACILITIES & COMBINED EFFORTS OF INDUSTRY, GOV’T & EVERY CITIZEN!
A Community Awareness Message from Manufacturing Chemists Association