Naugatuck

Mass Picketing At Synthetic Plant Leads To Arrest Of Four Persons

by
Mass Picketing At Synthetic Plant Leads To Arrest Of Four Persons

Mass Picketing At Synthetic Plant Leads To Arrest Of Four Persons

5-31-67 [handwritten notation]

NAUGATUCK—Mass picketing by members of Local 308 at Uniroyal’s Synthetic Plant, this morning, led to the arrest of four pickets, after an attempt was made to prevent management personnel from entering the plant.

Two of the pickets had to be forcibly ejected by police, following the reading of the riot act from the state statutes by Capt. Joseph Summa, when they refused to step aside for the plant’s personnel. All personnel entered the plant, after a wedge had been formed by about a dozen police breaking the picket line.

The four arrested were brought to police headquarters, for booking in the patrol cars. However, about 30 of the pickets also arrived at the station asking to be arrested in sympathy with those already arrested.

Arrested on charges of breach of peace were John A. Painter, 38, Morris Rd., Prospect; Paul Laurenzi, 41, 30 Serry Rd., Wolcott; Jesse J. Silva, 23, 143 Cherry St. and Anthony Gambardella, 54, 53 Brichwood Rd., Seymour. Court appearances were set for June 8.

Edward Alves, president of the local, said this morning that management had informed the union that production would begin at the plant today, which had resulted in the mass picketing.

Questioned Decision

Alves questioned the decision of the management, criticizing its actions in attempting production with “unskilled personnel.” The union president further asserted that because of the “danger of work involved at the plant, a disaster could occur, not only endangering the lives and property of those in close proximity to the plant, but to also those in the neighborhood.”

Alves said the union has contacted the insurance company on whether they had been informed of the production work by the unskilled personnel and reported the insurance company had not been notified to date. He said periodic inspections are conducted at the plant due to the nature of work involved.

Third Plant Involved

The mass picketing at the Synthetic Plant, makes the third plan of the Uniroyal company to be involved since the three plants were struck 41 days ago.

Both Locals 218 of the Chemical and 308 of Synthetic Plants have maintained around-the-clock picketing since the beginning of the strike.

It could not be determined today if management will seek an injunction against the Synthetic Local.

ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE he was arrested by Naugatuck police this morning, Cy (Doc) Blanchard, center, held the attention of striking members of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, at the central office entrance of the Uniroyal Footwear plant. Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, URW, at the firm’s striking Chemical Division, was among union officials and members arrested today.—King Photo.

by

5-4-67

ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE he was arrested by Naugatuck police this morning, Cy (Doc) Blanchard, center, held the attention of striking members of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, at the central office entrance of the Uniroyal Footwear plant. Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, URW, at the firm’s striking Chemical Division, was among union officials and members arrested today.—King Photo.

DOZEN POLICEMEN stand in a cluster at a Maple St. gate of Naugatuck’s Uniroyal footwear plant today moments before moving into crowds of striking United Rubber Workers to make arrests for breach of the peace. Those arrested were escorted to nearby Police Headquarters for booking.—King Photo.

21 Held In New Uniroyal Row Company Asks Picketing Curbs

by

5-5-67

Register Photo by Stuart Langer

Fighting breaks out at Maple Street entrance to Uniroyal plant.

21 Held In New Uniroyal Row Company Asks Picketing Curbs

By JAMES FLEMING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK — Fighting broke out at the Maple Street plant of Uniroyal for the second day in a row, and 21 employes were arrested. Fifty were arrested Thursday.

It was later learned that Uniroyal will seek a restraining order in Superior Court in Waterbury today in an attempt to limit the union to a maximum of three pickets at each gate.

Brawling began at 6:50 a.m. today when office personnel attempted to cross picket lines. Pickets who had been circling near the entrance massed at the gate when the salaried workers tried to get into the company grounds.

Police struggled with pickets as they attempted to open lanes for the workers, and several fights broke out between the strikers and the police. Seven policemen were needed to subdue one worker, William Battles, 37, of Waterbury, who was charged with breach of peace by assault. He was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury afterward where he was treated and released after complaining of stomach pains.

Lt. George Smith went to St. Mary’s for examination after he told Chief Frank Mariano he had been kicked twice in the groin.

As more office employes arrived, company officials told them to wait on the nearby Naugatuck Green while management and union leaders conferred on allowing them to enter. About 300 employes walked to the Green, about half a block away in small groups.

Tension mounted in front of the plant while small groups of women pickets marched carrying signs hung around their necks and sang improvised songs such as “Go home boys in blue” aimed at the police.

Meanwhile, individual office workers without realizing that the others were waiting on the Green, would try to pass through the gate and would be pushed aside.

One woman screamed at the pickets, “Save your strength; you’ll need it when you go back to work.”

Suddenly, the 300 persons on the Green began returning to the plant spontaneously in a massed group and the strikers began yelling as they saw them approaching. Some 25 policemen —half the total force in Naugatuck—rushed into the street between the two groups along with a Uniroyal official and told the office employes to go back to the Green.

The strikers continued to press forward to meet the office workers until the other group went back to the Green.

About half an hour later, the office workers again moved toward the plant and the strikers came toward them. Raymond

See UNIROYAL Page 2

Fourth Rubber

by

Fourth Rubber

6-17-67

Continued From Page 1

from rubber workers had been approved by mid-week, and a big influx of further applications had come in since then.

She said the county at first requested rubber workers to spend strike benefits for shelter and utilities and use public assistance for food.

“But now,” she said, “The benefits are so low they do not meet the other bills.”

Union-paid strike benefits totalled $25 at the start of the strike. They were cut to $15 this week and were expected to go lower, and possibly end, in a few weeks.

The URW struck the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., the B.F. Goodrich Co. and UniRoyal Inc. on April 20 when wage contracts expired. Contracts with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and General Tire & Rubber Co. also expired, but work has continued on a day-to-day basis.

In Connecticut the strike has crippled production at three UniRoyal plants in Naugatuck.

The union’s treasury, which contained about $6.5 million at the start of the strike, has been reduced at a rate of $1.25 million a week. Union President Peter Bommarito recently turned down an offer of a loan or a gift from the United Auto Workers strike fund. Speculation here places the refusal to a wish not to be obligated to Walter Reuther in his feud with the leaders of the AFL—CIO.

The companies have offered hourly wage increases of 38 cents over a three-year contract period to rubber workers, who average $3.69 hourly. To non-tire workers, the companies have offered 31-cent increases. These workers average $2.68 hourly.

The union contended the offer was not in line with the 5 per cent wage increases granted in other industries.

An Open Letter

by

Editorial…. 6-23-67

An Open Letter

To Messrs. Peter Bommarito and George Vila and all others concerned:

As representatives of the union and management, respectively, in the current stalemate involving the rubber industry in the United States, you are the logical ones to whom any missive such as this must be addressed.

It may be that there are others whose attention should be called to what we have to say and which we feel must be said. That we shall leave to your individual judgment.

As this is written, 62 days have passed since some 5,500 employes of UniRoyal in the Naugatuck area laid aside their tools and turned to the picket lines instead. At first, the strike was perhaps regarded by many a something of a lark, a change of pace, a vacation of sorts. We will be willing to gamble there is no one today who regards the strike in any such light. No one.

Today there are all sorts of rumors rampant — that the strike will last at least until after the July 4th holiday; that it will last at least another month; that it will last until after Labor Day.

There are as many reasons for these rumors as there are rumors — perhaps more. And this is inevitable in a situation such as presently exists in Naugatuck — for men’s tempers are on edge and their reason highly susceptible to extraneous and not always logical influences.

It must be obvious to all right now, except those who will not see, that the strike has passed the point of no return, so to speak. No one is going to “win” this strike now. It has gone far beyond that.

The losses in wages and salaries to Naugatuck area people right now cannot possibly be recouped for years, if then, and even if the most favorable terms are granted in the final agreement.

Equally, UniRoyal has jeopardized its image with thousands of customers and lost millions of dollars worth of business to competing companies which have not been strike-bound.

It must be equally obvious to both sides in this dispute that there is a crying need to bring this strike to an end, for humanitarian reasons if for no other. Too many people are being badly hurt in this struggle which has now gone down in history as the longest rubber industry strike in the nation’s history, something of which neither side should be especially proud.

It seems to us that reasonable men of good intentions should be able to reach agreement on such issues as the length of the contract, pension and insurance clauses and working conditions. It should not have taken this long, and there can no longer be any justification for continuing the battle along present lines.

It is hard for the objective viewer of this increasingly difficult situation to believe that there is no room for compromise, no possibility of a meeting of minds.

We believe you gentlemen, more than any other individuals, are in a position to remedy this situation through a willingness to seek an answer rather than adopting an unrelenting stance.

We urge that you do just that, if you share any slight concern for the thousands who presently stand by uncomfortably awaiting a decision that will put them back to work.

Strikers Rush To Apply For Unemployment Funds

by
Strikers Rush To Apply For Unemployment Funds

8—Waterbury Republican, Saturday, July 1, 1967

Strikers Rush To Apply For Unemployment Funds

NAUGATUCK — A new type of rumor circulated the borough Friday to the effect that strikers

Naugatuck

might be eligible for unemployment compensation.

As the rumor spread around the area large numbers of the Uniroyal strikers rushed to Waterbury to join long lines of people signing up.

No one was flatly refused, but strikers were told they would receive final word during the coming week.

Few Strikers Seek Aid

by
Few Strikers Seek Aid

From Welfare Agency

7-4-67

Few Strikers Seek Aid

The extended strike at Uniroyal, Inc. in Naugatuck, has had little effect on the city Welfare Department according to Peter Pocius, superintendent.

At a Welfare Board meeting on Monday night, Pocius said the reason for this is that many strikers are eligible for aid from state funds which have become available since June. Only 14 strikers have requested aid from the city.

Caseworkers reported 191 active cases carried over from the previous month; 114 new applications received during the current month; 141 recurrent cases, and one case transferred from another caseworker for a total of 447 cases handled.

One case was transferred to another caseworker and 233 cases, most of them involving strikers, were discontinued or referred, for a total of 213 active at the end of the month.

There were 200 home visits, 1,329 office interviews, 200 service calls, and 54 cases refused or referred at intake.

The Children’s Division handled four cases active from the previous month and reported three children in foster homes and one child in an institution.

Hospital division caseworkers reported five active cases, 10 recurrent and 12 new. Four cases were accepted, 21 refused; two are pending. Eight home and 20 office visits were reported.

The clinic at St. Mary’s Hospital accepted 25 cases and refused three while the clinic at Chase Dispensary accepted eight.

The outpatient department at St. Mary’s Hospital accepted 15 and refused four and at Waterbury Hospital’s outpatient department seven were accepted and two refused.

Work relief reported that 64 men and 17 women were employed for a period of 22 days. A total of $6,618.00 was given as basic aid to men; $1,786.00 was given to women. Total reimbursements were $5,328.00 from men and $417.00 from women.

Three men found private employment; two were eligible for state aid and one for unemployment compensation.

Few Strikers Seek Aid

by
Few Strikers Seek Aid

From Welfare Agency

7-4-67 (handwritten)

Few Strikers Seek Aid

The extended strike at Uniroyal, Inc. in Naugatuck, has had little effect on the city Welfare Department according to Peter Pocius, superintendent.

At a Welfare Board meeting on Monday night, Pocius said the reason for this is that many strikers are eligible for aid from state funds which have become available since June. Only 14 strikers have requested aid from the city.

Caseworkers reported 191 active cases carried over from the previous month; 114 new applications received during the current month; 141 recurrent cases, and one case transferred from another caseworker for a total of 447 cases handled.

One case was transferred to another caseworker and 233 cases, most of them involving strikers, were discontinued or referred, for a total of 213 active at the end of the month.

There were 200 home visits, 1,329 office interviews, 200 service calls, and 54 cases refused or referred at intake.

The Children’s Division handled four cases active from the previous month and reported three children in foster homes and one child in an institution.

Hospital division caseworkers reported five active cases, 10 recurrent and 12 new. Four cases were accepted, 21 refused; two are pending. Eight home and 20 office visits were reported.

The clinic at St. Mary’s Hospital accepted 25 cases and refused three while the clinic at Chase Dispensary accepted eight.

The outpatient department at St. Mary’s Hospital accepted 15 and refused four and at Waterbury Hospital’s outpatient department seven were accepted and two refused.

Work relief reported that 64 men and 17 women were employed for a period of 22 days. A total of $6,618.00 was given as basic aid to men; $1,786.00 was given to women. Total reimbursements were $5,328.00 from men and $417.00 from women.

Three men found private employment; two were eligible for state aid and one for unemployment compensation.

Over 20 Strikers On Welfare Rolls

by

7-13-67

Over 20 Strikers On Welfare Rolls

NAUGATUCK—It is no secret that virtually everyone in the borough has been affected to at least some degree by the rubber strike. The extent to which everyone has been hurt may never be known, but it was learned Wednesday that more than 20 strikers have resorted to borough welfare.

As the strike continues, said Welfare Supt. Catherine Brennan, the number of cases steadily increases.

June’s expenditures for “outside poor” totaled $3,951, up $1,175 from the May expenditures of $2,776 for the same item. The figure for May was up $1,183 from April’s expenditure.

The number of cases being handled by the Welfare Department have almost doubled due to strikers applying for assistance.

Monthly expenditures for “outside poor” in the past have hovered around half the amounts spent this past May and June. Expenditures in April, 1966, amounted to $1,868; in June, 1966 they totaled $1,886.

It was noted during Wednesday’s meeting, however, that were it not for the assistance strikers have received from veterans’ assistance programs, the borough’s welfare expenses would soar to crisis proportions in almost no time.

Exactly how many strikers have turned to veterans’ assistance is not known, but reliable sources indicated something in the area of 100.

Although the Welfare Board is not yet in a crisis, if the number of strikers on welfare continues its steady rise, the board will have to appeal for additional funds from the Board of Finance.

This would be only one of the Finance Board’s problems, since it is expected that the Police Department will have to seek additional funds for policemen who put in overtime on strike duty.

Strikers receiving assistance from the borough are far from having all their problems solved with the welfare payments, as they will be expected to pay back the funds granted them. This in addition to the unpaid bills, the extended credit and the depleted savings accounts which will plague most of the workers when a new contract is signed.

Settlement Is Reached At Goodrich

by

7-16-67

Settlement

Is Reached At Goodrich

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Negotiators for the B.F. Goodrich Co. and United Rubber Workers Union announced in Columbus on Saturday they had

(In Naugatuck, a three-month-old strike of Uniroyal by the United Rubber Workers continues. The union settlement with the General Tire Co. on Thursday encouraged negotiators in the belief that a breakthrough was at hand. (Related story on Page 24.)

reached a tentative agreement to end a marathon strike against the company.

In Akron, after the agreement was announced, Goodrich President Ward Keener said pay

See GOODRICH Page 2

Uniroyal Talks Resume; New Accords Lift Hopes

by

Monday, July 17, 1967

BEACON FALLS

Uniroyal Talks Resume; New Accords Lift Hopes

Negotiations were to resume today in Cincinnati between the United Rubber Workers, AFL-CIO, and Uniroyal in an atmosphere of optimism over recent settlements in the rubber industry.

Union agreements with two members of the industry’s big five — B. F. Goodrich Co. and the General Tire and Rubber Co. — have lifted hopes for an accord with Uniroyal, which has plants in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls. Uniroyal has been struck since April 21.

Negotiations were also to be resumed today by Goodyear at Cincinnati and Firestone in Cleveland.

The Goodrich company was ready today for a quick start – up of production at its nine plants in eight states after an agreement was reached in Columbus Saturday.

A tentative settlement was reached with General Tire Thursday in Cleveland.

Union members are expected to ratify both pacts in votes not yet scheduled.

Both the Goodrich and General agreements provide for a total of 43 cents in hourly pay raises-15 cents this year and again next year and 13 cents in 1969. There is an additional 10 cents hourly in the first year for skilled workers. Present hourly top scale is $3.88, the union said.

An increase to 80 per cent of normal pay for supplemental benefits to laid-off workers was hailed by Peter Bommarito, URW international president, as a “giant step forward in reaching the goal of the guaranteed annual wage.”

Footwear Division Vacation Checks To Be Spent On Variety Of Things

by
Footwear Division Vacation Checks To Be Spent On Variety Of Things

Footwear Division Vacation Checks To Be Spent On Variety Of Things

7-26-67 [handwritten]

By Cynthia Baran

Many UniRoyal Footwear Division employees will be spending this summer vacation on home grounds according to a survey taken of those on picket duty and those picking up their vacation pays in the past few days.

The answers are many and varied to the question: “What is the first thing you are going to buy with your vacation pay?”

By far the most frequent response was “Pay my bills,” but many admit they will at least take one or two-day trips.

One worker told us, “I’m not picking up my vacation check. I don’t really need the money because I’ve been doing odd jobs. I’ll leave it there until I go back to work and have to start paying bills again.”

Others are at a loss as to what to do with the money.

“There’s so many things that have to be done with that check, I don’t know where to begin.”

“My vacation pay is going to be stretched and restretched. I have bills galore.”

On the whole, UniRoyal employees are cheerful as they come to pick up their checks. Quite a few intend to have a good time with the money.

“I’m going to spend it at Green Mountain.”

Still others will attempt to hang on to the money for various reasons.

“I’m not going to buy anything. Why should I?”

“I’m putting it in the bank as fast as I can.”

“I’m saving it for Christmas.”

Local residents are thinking of taxes that are due this summer and said that their vacation pays would be used to pay property and car taxes.

Those informing us that they

Please Turn to Page 12

FRONT DOORS to many stores in the borough were jammed early this morning when they swung open at 9:30 to let in crowds of people in to take advantage of Vacation Sales Days here. Borough shoppers can be seen crowding around counters in this downtown store.
—(News photo by Baker)

Uniroyal Talks Still Going On

by
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.”

Reach Agreement

by
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

Footwear Setting Up Work Units

by

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.

Uniroyal, 3 Locals Discuss Supplemental Pact Issues

by
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.

Picket Lines Stay Quiet At Uniroyal

by

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 Rumors Unconfirmed

by

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.

Eight Pickets Are Arrested In New Uniroyal Disorder

by
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

by

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.

by
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

by

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.

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

by

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

by

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.

Arrest 4 At Synthetic Plant

by
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

Please Turn to Page 14

Time For Action

by
Time For Action

Editorial….

6-3-67

Time For Action

Time is relative to many factors.

All of us have had long days and all of us have had short ones, too. Under certain circumstances, 40 days could be a short time — much too short, say, when spent on a Florida vacation or a trip to Europe.

But under other circumstances, 40 days can be an excruciatingly long time — and such is the case with Naugatuck at the moment.

The strike against UniRoyal has long since passed the stage when it was a temporary inconvenience. Naugatuck is hurting –and hurting bad!

The latest word from Ohio, where all the conversation has been going on presumably in an effort to arrive at some sort of meeting of the minds, is not one about which we can grow enthusiastic or even slightly hopeful.

In short, it’s not good.

For at least three days there has been a recess with no progress whatsoever, and there is no indication that the situation is about to change. It has been said that the talks in Cincinnati to date have been the “weirdest” negotiations in the memory of some venerable veterans of the labor-management wars.

It’s hard to judge here in Naugatuck, several hundred miles away from the scene of the action (?) just what’s going on, despite official reports. It’s difficult if not impossible, to dedetermine who’s right and who’s wrong at this point.

But there seems little question that something is wrong somewhere. Somebody isn’t trying as hard as might be expected.

It seems to us that there has been ample time to think and talk about the problems involved in the UniRoyal strike. What is needed now is action! And plenty of it!

We are not attempting to point the finger at either side in this dispute at the moment. We simply know that this prolonged dispute is creating an atmosphere in Naugatuck which is both unhealthy and potentially dangerous.

The wheels of commerce are slowing down. Bills are going unpaid, debts are increasing and — what’s worse — tempers are getting shorter. The potential for trouble is tremendous.

We would suggest, then, that this is not the time to put off negotiations, but rather the time to step up the tempo.

There is an answer somewhere, if men will but use their minds and resort to logic and reason instead of emotion. Let’s get on with it!

UniRoyal Struck

by

UniRoyal Struck

Continued from page 1

plants represented by the United Rubber Workers of America went on strike shortly after midnight when the company and the union failed to reach agreement on a new contract covering wages and employee benefits.

“No time has been set for resumption of the negotiations.

“The company stated it had offered to continue the contract on a day-to-day basis with the plants in operation, which it felt would be in the best interest of its employees and customers. The union declined this offer.

“The Company announced it had offered a substantial increase in wages and various improvements in employee benefits.

“The strike does not affect employees at other plants of the company not represented by the URW.”

This morning, downtown Naugatuck has assumed a holiday cloak. A small number of pickets are stationed at each gate with no incidents reported.

UniRoyal workers not knowing what to do with their leisure time and anxious for news of the strike are driving around the downtown areas or simply standing near the gates watching the pickets.

Police Chief Frank Mariano reported this morning that Captain Joseph Summa is in charge of the men on special strike assignments. Summa reported he has posted one policeman at each gate of the striking plants with a total of 10 men pressed into extra duty.

Summa also has a motor patrol checking on strike activity. The policemen are equipped with radios to keep headquarters posted on conditions, although no trouble is anticipated.

Local 45 union headquarters said this morning it has pickets at every gate. About six pickets are assigned to each gate. Picketers are allowing white collar workers to cross the lines as well as doctors and nurses and anyone in need of emergency treatment.

The Local also reported everything was orderly this

morning, no production workers attempted to cross the lines and the company made no attempt to bring trucks in or out of the plants.

Both the union and company are eager to keep the strike quiet and each is being cautious so not to step on the others’ toes.

Reliable sources report that the tire division of UniRoyal is most dissatisfied with the conditions of the contract being offered by the company.

Goodyear has received an agreement from the union to continue working on a day-to-day basis. Negotiations were to begin at 10 this morning.

The fifth of the big five rubber firms, General Tire, began negotiations Tuesday under a May 15 deadline. Contracts signed with the big firms are generally used as a basis for negotiations with smaller firms.

[Left column]

“A strike will be bad for Naugatuck. People won’t buy.” A wife and mother whose husband works for UniRoyal, “Of course I don’t want a strike. It’s okay for a week, but no longer.”

It is obvious that the strike was anticipated by most local residents. One can only hope that it will be settled quickly to every one’s satisfaction.

UniRoyal this morning issued the following statement on the strike:

“Approximately 22,000 employees of UniRoyal, Inc. at 19

Please Turn to Page 12

Picket Line Activity

by

5-3-67

Picket Line Activity

POLICEMAN ATTEMPTS to hold back Local 45 pickets at the Uniroyal Footwear Division plant as office personnel tried to gain entrance to the building on Maple St. in Naugatuck. Friction developed on the picket line as the union, which had been allowing office help to go into work, changed its mind.—King Photo.

Uniroyal to Resume Shipment Of Manufactured Products

by

Uniroyal to Resume Shipment Of Manufactured Products

5-3-67 [handwritten]

By RAY FITZPATRICK

The strikebound Uniroyal plants in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls will resume shipment of manufactured products tomorrow morning, a company spokesman said today.

The company notified officials of the striking United Rubber Workers of America yesterday afternoon of its intention.

The union immediately increased its picketing at all plant and warehouse entrances according to Raymond Mengacci, union vice president. Picketing will be on a 24 – hour basis, union officials said. Previously, it had been from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The company said it would resume shipments at other area plants, including those in Waterville, Waterbury and Bristol. The union stepped up its picketing at these, too.

About 5,000 production workers in area Uniroyal plants have been affected by the strike, which was called on April 21.

The union is demanding increased unemployment benefits and a wage increase, plus improved fringe benefits.

Nationally, some 50,000 workers are on strike against Uniroyal.

Naugatuck Police Chief Frank Mariano last night called in all available police officers, who reported to Capt. Joseph Summa, in charge of the strike detail.

Mariano acted on the request of Mayor Joseph Raytkwich.

Thomas J. Nelligan of the rubber company’s industrial relations department said today that union officials had been notified yesterday that shipments would begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow. He said workers would be admitted to the plants.

It is believed that only the shipping of finished products would be involved. This would be attempted by supervisory personnel.

Under a company – union agreement, a 24 – hour notice was given by management of attempted shipments.

Pickets, Police Scuffle At Borough Rubber Plant

by

Pickets, Police Scuffle At Borough Rubber Plant

5-3-67 [handwritten date]

NAUGATUCK—At least two attempts by police to crash through picket lines at the Uniroyal Footwear plant failed this morning, causing office and supervisory personnel to return home.

The 150 persons, mostly women, who attempted to get through the Maple St. gate at 6:40 and 7:40 a. m. were turned away by the picket line, which was nearly three times the size of the line Tuesday.

However, no injuries of any type or any serious physical violence resulted, according to police. There were no arrests made.

According to highly placed sources, the picket line was increased when word was received from management that shipping would resume sometime today. The lines were set up at night, when supervisory and office personnel were reported entering the plant with suitcases, apparently planning on staying for a duration of time. No one entered the plant this morning.

Rumors Circulate

The increased size of the picket line lead to rumors that management may seek a court injunction restraining the size of the picket line. Fred Chapman, spokesman at the New York Office of Uniroyal, said today that he believed his legal department was checking into the matter, although he could not confirm or deny that an injunction was definitely being sought.

The presence of a photographer in the building, taking pictures during the police-picketline scuffle, added to the rumors of the injunction. Such photographs could be used as evidence in seeking the restraint.

Atty. William Larkin, counsel for Uniroyal operations at the Naugatuck plants, declined to “Make any comment whatsoever concerning Uniroyal.”

43 Arrested in Strike

by

43 Arrested in Strike

Clash at Uniroyal

5-1-67 [handwritten notation in top left corner]

[Left photo caption:]
Naugatuck Police Capt. Joseph Summa moves in to remove Uniroyal striker confronting Mayor Joseph Raytkwich arriving at City Hall.

[Right photo caption:]
Uniroyal strikers are booked at Naugatuck police headquarters on charges of breach of the peace. Pickets and police clashed as management employes attempted to enter Maple Street gate at 7 a.m. today. One picket suffered a suspected heart attack.

(Sentinel Photo by Cotter)

43 Pickets Arrested By Naugatuck Police

by

N., THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1967 THIRTY-TWO PAGES 7c PER COPY 42c WEEKLY CARRI

43 Pickets Arrested By Naugatuck Police

NAUGATUCK— Forty-three union pickets were arrested on charges of breach of peace this morning, when police and strikers at the Footwear Plant of Uniroyal Inc., clashed for the second day.

The entire police force was called in, plus supernumeraries, to force their way through the 100-man picket line at the Maple St. gate, and provide a passage way for office and supervisory personnel. Office personnel eventually made their way in.

The first group, arrested about 6:45, had to be physically forced to the police station, across the street from the trouble spot. Only after Police Capt. Joseph Summa read the riot act in the state statutes over a bullhorn to the unruly crowd did the comotions begin to settle.

Women in the picket line and in the group trying to get into the plant began to cry as the tension mounted, and the evidence of possible physical violence rose. Police blocked off Maple St. to all traffic during the height of the scuffle.

The first conflict occurred when non-union personnel, as directed by the company Wednesday, reported for work for the 7 o’clock shift. The picketers, mostly male, refused to allow them to enter, and police formed a line to provide safety for the workers.

Although police did not use clubs or other devices to restrain the picketers, several minor injuries were reported. One striker, Nunzio Finateri, 52, Union City Rd., was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, where he was X-rayed, treated and discharged. According to hospital authorities, Finateri said he was knocked down in the scuffle, and complained of pains in his chest.

Several policemen and picketers were bruised in the clash, although there were no reports of medical treatment other than Finateri’s.

50 Arrested In Uniroyal Strike

by

50 Arrested In Uniroyal Strike

5-4-67 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
and
JAMES FLEMING
Register Staff Reporters

NAUGATUCK—Some 50 pickets were arrested this morning and charged with breach of peace following a near-riot with police at the Maple Street gate of the struck Footwear Division of Uniroyal.

The outbreak came after several hundred pickets barred the entrance to the plant to prevent management personnel from entering.

Several pickets required medical attention as a result of the scuffling and one, Nunzi Finatera, 45, was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, suffering from an apparent heart attack.

Capt. Joseph Summa, heading a detail of 25 patrolmen including regulars and supernumerary patrolmen — about half of the town’s entire department—issued a warning through a bullhorn to the pickets shortly before 8 a.m. telling them they were “guilty of unlawful assembly.”

Summa ordered them to remain silent and read the official riot act to the workers three times.

The policemen’s order was met with catcalls and as office employes attempted to cross the picket line, pushing and shoving broke out between police and pickets. Twenty arrests followed and when the fighting continued, wholesale arrests were made. It took police an hour to disperse the crowd.

All were brought to police headquarters across the street and released without posting cash bonds for appearance in circuit court in Waterbury June 8.

Among those booked was Raymond Mengacci, executive vice president of Local 45, of the United Rubber Workers which authorized the picketing. Mengacci charged, “Footwear management used poor judgment in the matter.”

He said an injunction should have been served on him to have the union desist from stopping office and supervisory personnel from entering the plant.

Mengacci indicated he would have obeyed an injunction and as a result the outbreak would not have occurred.

Later, at about 9:30 a.m., Mengacci returned to police headquarters with attorney Dan Baker, and they conferred with Chief Frank Mariano, Mayor Joseph Raytkwich and attorney Henry Marlor, chairman of the Town’s Police Commission.

Joseph Pincho, a member of the executive committee of Local 45 and a borough fire commissioner, was also arrested.

See UNIROYAL Page 2

[PHOTO CAPTION]: Arrested strikers are booked at Naugatuck Police Headquarters.
Register Photo by Photo by James Fleming

Reds At Marines

SAIGON (AP) — North Vietnamese regulars who streamed across the demilitarized zone recently locked with U.S. near the Laotian border today. Other Communist troops inflicted heavy casualties in an attack on a U.S. Special Forces camp six miles away.

As the ground war intensified in the northwest corner of South Vietnam, U.S. Air Force pilots trying to wipe out North Vietnam’s air arm hit the Hoa Lac MIG base 20 miles west of Hanoi Wednesday for the fourth

Strong Cor Would Cu

By WILLIAM E. KEISH JR.
Register Staff Reporter

STATE CAPITOL —A strong Corrupt Practices Act, which would curb the use of testimonial dinners and tighten up the method of reporting campaign finances, has been fashioned by Democratic leaders and is expected to gain a favorable report today from the General Assembly’s Elections Committee.

State Sen. J. Edward Caldwell, Bridgeport Democrat, confirmed that a substitute bill for one sponsored by Secretary of

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

by

5-3-67

United States Rubber Company
Naugatuck Footwear Plant

SPEED
LIMIT
10

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

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

by

5-5-67

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

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

by

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

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

Picket Hauled Away By Cops

by

Picket Hauled Away By Cops

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

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

For Second Day At Uniroyal Plant

by

For Second Day At Uniroyal Plant

5-5-67

Violence, which began Thursday at the strikebound Naugatuck footwear plant of Uniroyal, continued today as 21 arrests were made. At left, Raymond Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, with bullhorn urges striking employes to allow male office workers through the plant gates this morning. At right, office workers begin marching toward the company gates after waiting on the Naugatuck Green while company and union officials conferred about allowing them to enter. Some 25 policemen rushed between them and the strikers to prevent fighting. (Story on Page 1).

Pickets Arrested

by

Pickets Arrested

5-5-67 [handwritten notation]

NAUGATUCK—Among those arrested by the Naugatuck Police during the near riot Thursday at the gates of the Footwear Division, Uniroyal, were:

Raymond Mengacci, 47, 37 Fairchild St.; Cyrus J. Blanchard, 45, 46 Hill Road; Clifford Owens, 57, Wooster St.; Jose Pinho, 37, 129 Aetna St., all of Naugatuck.

Also: Frank Rodrigues, 36, 119 Walnut St., Naugatuck; John A. Gandolfo, 36, Narcissus Road, Middlebury; Robert G. Irving, 23, 19 Lines Hill Road; Ronnie J. Kezelevich, 23, 16 Melbourne Court; Robert J. Mikulsis, 26, 29 Fern St.; Joseph J. Foley, 40, 199 Cherry St.; Michael Kalinoski, 49, 39 Fairchild St.; Franklin Mazuroski, 38, 63 Lester Drive, and Charles J. Butler, 49, Mulberry Street, all of Naugatuck.

And: John Sharkey, 37, 17 Martha St., Seymour; Donald Miles, 33, 84 Grand St., Seymour; Henry Hook, 37, 167 W. Church St., Seymour; Francisco Da Silva, 47, 20 Tolles Square, Naugatuck; Walter M. Scott, 36, 230 Pembroke Ave., Waterbury; James R. Dowling, 23, 87 Quinn St., Naugatuck; Guido Boschele, 56, Pond Hill Road, Naugatuck, and Albert Gomez, 38, 40 Cherry St., Waterbury.

James Faroni, 57, 39 Florence St.; Joseph A. Sciarretto, 46, 19 Baldwin St.; Carl Ostrom, 32, 223 New Haven Road; John M. Delcrosso, 41, 66 Greenwood St.; Harry C. Chofey, 42, 13 Surrey Drive; Thomas Lagonick, 51, Candee Road, all of Naugatuck.

And: William D. Mariano, 52, 31 Yale Ave., Middlebury; John Brazil, 43, 51 Alma St.; John Dillon, 57, 149 Wedgewood Drive; John Henao, 30, 194 Maple St., all of Naugatuck; George Petro, 30, Bradley Lane, Prospect; Nicholas Cesarello, 53, 132 Norton St., Waterbury; Lee Mattocks, 37, 18 Winchester St., Waterbury, and Joseph J. Kaczkowski, 57, 106 Morris St., Naugatuck.

Alexander Zdonick, 41, 57 Johnson St.; Harold Soucie, 40, 376 N. Main St.; John Cariello, 37, 19 Baldwin

rahan, 29, 21 Elmwood St.; Austin C. Cross, 46, 18 Lynn Circle; Earl C. Matthews, 34, 8 Pond St., all of Naugatuck; Ernest Kinsey, 31, 79 Dikeman St., Waterbury, and George C. Sporbert, 34, 19 Goos St., Waterbury.

The arrested men, all members of the United Rubber Workers Union, AFL-CIO, were released without bond and will appear in the Waterbury Circuit Court, June 8.

Hugh R. Ga-

Calm Returns to Uniroyal After Warning by Judge

by

Calm Returns to Uniroyal After Warning by Judge

3-6-67 [handwritten notation at top]

Calm returned today to Naugatuck’s Uniroyal plant after a Superior Court judge said yesterday he would not allow violence to continue.

Judge Leo V. Gaffney told leaders of the striking United Rubber Workers in Waterbury that he would issue an immediate order prohibiting mass picketing if rioting recurred.

In picket-line violence Thursday and Friday 64 strikers were arrested.

Hearing Tuesday

Judge Gaffney ordered union leaders to attend a show-cause hearing at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Waterbury. They were directed to show cause why an injunction prohibiting mass picketing should not be granted.

Such an injunction has been sought by the company.

The judge said he would not tolerate interference with office or management personnel reporting for work, or with members of the public entering or leaving the plant.

If there is “any interference” with the operating of the Uniroyal’s business or “any violence of any sort between now and Tuesday,” the judge ruled, he would issue a temporary restraining order at once.

That order, like the injunction sought Tuesday by Uniroyal, would prohibit mass picketing, “circular picketing and picketing shoulder – to – shoulder or otherwise close formation” on sidewalks and roadways near Uniroyal.

The officers of Local 45 who appeared before Judge Gaffney were Raymond Mengacci, vice president; Antoinette Zuccarelli, secretary, and Rita Ruggero, treasurer.

Picketing Reduced

Picketing today was much reduced. Each gate at the Naugatuck plant was patrolled by two to six pickets — a great contrast with the mass picketing of yesterday and the day before.

After the picket – line violence of yesterday morning, when office and supervisory personnel entered the plant, there was relative quiet until afternoon.

Then there was a scuffle at the Elm Street gate when pickets tried to prevent five railroad cars from entering the plant.

Pickets and police officers suffered minor bruises, but there were no serious injuries.

It is believed that the company will load the cars with finished goods and attempt to move them out of the plant.

Union and town officials met last night at Naugatuck Town Hall in an attempt to forestall further strike violence.

They were Mengacci; Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich, Jr., Henry W. Marlor, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners;

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7

PICKET HAULED AWAY — One of 21 pickets at Uniroyal Footwear Division plant in Naugatuck arrested for breach of peace Friday in second day of strike for refusal to allow non-union employes into plant is dragged up street to nearby police headquarters.

by

20

5-7-67

AP

PICKET HAULED AWAY — One of 21 pickets at Uniroyal Footwear Division plant in Naugatuck arrested for breach of peace Friday in second day of strike for refusal to allow non-union employes into plant is dragged up street to nearby police headquarters.

Union Told To Stop Blocking Operations

by

Union Told To Stop Blocking Operations

Dr. Bingham Resigns Post

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

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

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

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

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

assigned to studying the state’s educational needs.

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

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

(Cont’d On Page 2 —Bingham)

Rado Not Resigning From Post

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

Rado had told a reporter ear-

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

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

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

Only hours after the injunction hearing, a group consisting of Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich, Chief of Police Frank J. Mariano, Police Commissioners Henry Marlor and William Simmons and representatives of the union gathered in the mayor’s office.

Following the session, which lasted almost two hours, during which loud voices could be heard from behind the closed

No Trouble Anticipated On Uniroyal Picket Line

by

No Trouble Anticipated On Uniroyal Picket Line

3-8-67

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

Naugatuck

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

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

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

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

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

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

$1 Million Asked

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

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

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

Arrest Driver

Police arrested a local driver

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

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

UniRoyal Case Continued

by

UniRoyal Case Continued

5-10-67 [handwritten]

WATERBURY — Superior Court Judge Leo Gaffney yesterday continued for two weeks a “show cause” order issued last Friday to the United Rubber Workers Union in response to a petition for a temporary injunction and restraining order by UniRoyal, Inc.

Citing the good progress made since last Friday’s flareups in Naugatuck, Judge Gaffney said the continuance was “an experiment to see if the union and company can get back the good relationship they had before the strike started.”

He said he expected the union to look on this situation “in a reasonable manner,” calling for the union to restrict picketing “to a reasonable number,” and restrain pickets from harassing management and other non-union members as they enter and leave the firm’s plants.

“The onus will fall on me if this experiment fails,” the Judge said.

Judge Gaffney again urged the union, as he did last Friday in Superior Court, to call on its members to refrain from interfering in any way with the operations of UniRoyal.

“This continuance will terminate at any time there is any evidence of interference by the union,” he said.

Judge Gaffney said he realized tempers flare on the picket lines and there are harsh words spoken at times.

He said, however, that “The company has the absolute right to continue doing business during negotiations. It is not to be interfered with by the union.”

Any interference will bring about a restraining order and penalties, Judge Gaffney said. Penalties would include a high bond on the union, required with the issuance of a restraining order and injunction.

A high tribute was paid members of the Naugatuck Police Department by Judge Gaffney.

“The police handling of the situation in Naugatuck last week was in the finest tradition and the department is to be commended,” he said.

He also commended the union and management for the marked difference in the local situation since last Friday’s flareups in the borough.

Judge Gaffney mentioned “three or four agitators stirring up trouble” at the Footwear Division picket lines in Naugatuck. Although not mentioning anyone by name, he told the union leaders present, “You know who they are and we have their names. You (union leaders) must keep them away from the picket lines. They’ll destroy the good will which has been built up in the last few days through agitating and namecalling,” he said.

The proceedings in the Waterbury County Courthouse didn’t begin until 12:45 p.m.

Judge Gaffney opened the proceedings by saying he has an application from UniRoyal for a temporary injunction and restraining order.

Atty. Dwight Fanton, counsel for UniRoyal, spoke first and reviewed the legal proceedings up to that time. He said the company had been in court last Friday seeking the injunction.

He said there had been no interference with the plaintiff’s operation in the last two working days, with only a couple of very minor infractions.

Under the circumstances, Fanton said, the firm would agree on a two-week continuance with the company by the defendant union.

Atty. Daniel Baker, counsel for the URW Union, told the court union leaders had discussed at length with picket captains the picketing situation and that they all understood the meaning of peaceful picketing.

“We intend to fully comply with the court’s instructions regarding no interference Atty. Baker said.

Atty. Fanton asked Judge Gaffney to remind and instruct union officials regarding the number of pickets allowable and to caution the pickets against using abusive language to people entering UniRoyal’s plants. He also cited interference with motor trucks and rail cars entering and leaving the firm.

“All parties should recognize their responsibility to the court,” he said. “Should there be interference with our client (UniRoyal), we’ll be back here for a temporary injunction.”

Atty. Baker said, “Management has the responsibility of informing anyone entering the plant of the strike so that those people can make their own decisions as to whether or not they want to cross the picket lines.

“We’ll make sure of the reasonable number of pickets,” Atty. Baker said. “But we reserve the right to ask truck drivers not to enter and cross our picket lines.”

Judge Gaffney preceded his remarks by telling those present he had “two alternatives to resolve this matter. I can continue the ‘show cause’ order or immediately issue an injunction and restraining order since it is common knowledge that there have been a number of arrests as the result of illegal picketing last week.”

“Both parties would be better off if the court didn’t issue the restraining order,” he said. The court said it was willing to go along with a continuance of the ‘show cause’ order for two weeks, providing there was no interference by the union in the company’s operations and no violence.

He reminded those present he would be available at any time, “including Saturday and Monday (when the court is not in session) in the event there is any trouble.”

Picket Lines Yield Again For Trucks

by

Picket Lines Yield Again For Trucks

5-11-67

NAUGATUCK—For the third straight day striking United Rubber Workers allowed trucks to pass through the gates at the Uniroyal Elm St. warehouse without incident.

Although a word from the picket team captains discouraged five trucks from entering the gates, eight passed through as strikers moved aside.

It was noted that some of the drivers who passed through were accompanied by men wearing white shirts. In one case, the driver, according to pickets, wanted to honor the picket lines and offered to let the co-driver take the truck through. The co-driver claimed he did not know how to drive the truck, and the driver, according to pickets, took the truck in “with protest.”

While pickets manned their posts in Naugatuck, negotiations were supposedly continuing in Cincinnati. The negotiators, however, have not been available for comment of any type since Friday.

At midnight today, the strikers will enter the fourth week of picketing. Although police and pickets clashed in the early hours of three days last week, most of the strike has been quiet.

An injunction hearing scheduled for Tuesday was suspended when management decided everything was quiet. Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney warned, however, against further incidents, adding that he would open court at any time to issue the injunction if it was deemed necessary.

Letters to the Editor

by

Letters to the Editor

May 5, 1967

Editor
Naugatuck Daily News
Church St.
Naugatuck, Conn.

member of our local union.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Sara Fortunato
361 Cherry St. Ext.

P. S. – I am a subscriber of the Naugatuck Daily News, so please print this letter.

Thank you.

5-8-67 [handwritten notation]

Dear Editor:

I have always admired the Naugatuck Police Force, but since I have witnessed the way they have been treating the employees of the UNIROYAL, Co., now on strike, I sure have my doubts about some of them, and would like to ask these two questions.

Why are we paying their salaries?

To be beaten and arrested by the so-called “Pride of Naugatuck?”

I believe these are two good questions to be answered by the same police force, to the employees of the UniRoyal Co.,