CHEM-TEXTS – 1980-v14-s290

February 18, 2026January 1, 1980 by OCR SCANNER

CHEM-TEXTS

Page 3 | Vol. 14, 1980

V. Calarco Looks at 1980

[PHOTO CAPTION:]
Vincent A. Calarco, center, President of the Uniroyal Chemical Company poses with the officers of the Uniroyal Chemical Management Club prior to his talk to the group. From left are Robert Smith, Treasurer; Ronald Lak, President; Calarco; Shirley Darling, Secretary; and Norman Boisseau, Vice President.

Vincent Calarco, President of the Uniroyal Chemical Company, in an address to the Uniroyal Chemical Management Club reviewed the division’s performance in 1979 and discussed the outlook for 1980. The following are highlights from his talk to the group at the Elks Club in Naugatuck.

1979 was the best year in the division’s history in terms of sales and profits.

Sales for the chemical Rubber and Plastic business segments of the Company – for which we are the major portion – were $448 million up from $442 million in 1978; and operating profits were 88 million, an increase of 24% over the $71 million in 1978.

4th quarter sales and profits for the Chemical Company set a record level in 1979.

These results are especially noteworthy since the Kralastic business which was sold in early 1979 accounted for over $90 million dollars in worldwide sales in 1978.

Agricultural Chemical sales had an exceptional year with sales 40% over 1978.

Specialty Chemical sales grew by nearly 35%. Improvements in Polywet alone resulted in 12% of this increase.

In February, Rovel, a new weatherable polymer was introduced to the market after two years of testing. Solid sales results are expected in 1981.

Rubber Chemicals, the division’s base business grew 25% worldwide. To continue this growth major new facilities in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Brazil and Taiwan are now under construction.

The International division generated a 21% increase in worldwide sales. Today the International division contributes over one-third of the Chemical Company’s total sales.

Looking ahead in 1980 growth is seen for Rovalene EPDM where the division is a technological leader.

TPR, a product manufactured in the Dispersions Bldg. presently has a 40% market share and looks forward to a 10% growth annually.

Rubber Chemicals is a mature market in the U.S. and dramatic domestic growth is not anticipated in 1980 but it does expect solid profit growth. The rubber chemicals growth is expected in the overseas market with the new plant under construction. Even with the slump in automobile sales there are very positive indicators for the rubber chemicals market to maintain its market position.

Agricultural Chemicals plans to bring a highly promising new product to the market several years ahead of time through an innovative technique. The product code is S-734.

Last year productivity in the U.S. declined in contrast to a 20% productivity increase at Uniroyal Chemical.

Productivity means getting more out of what you have in assets, like plants or machinery and making every machine or reactor or office equipment work more efficiently. In brief it means working smarter…using our minds to think and plan things out and to use new innovative approaches to the often traditional and time consuming ways of doing things.

In 1979 the Omite group increased production by 56% without any new investment other than in thinking about how to make the machinery do more.

In the past two years the productivity of TPR has doubled and in Geismar the production of Flexzone was increased by 30% without any new plant, new equipment or new people.

Productivity applies to office personnel as well. A group of secretaries at EMIC responded to the challenge and developed the Serendipity program which resulted in savings of $200,000.

Job Opening System—an Avenue to your Career Development

By Marge Woolfrey

The objectives of the Job Opportunity System are to provide employees with timely information about the availability of and requirements for open positions and another avenue for individual career development. Openings are communicated within the Naugatuck location by placing on bulletin boards the “Job Opening” notice. All non-exempt openings through Grade 24 will be communicated, except as noted below.

Exceptions to the System

Grade or title changes where the individual retains the same basic position but the grade or title is changed due to increased responsibilities. (e.g. Clerk Senior to Clerk Specialist)
Job placement for employees during reduction-in-force situations.
The establishment of temporary, Co-op or summer positions.
Reorganization changes by a manager within a department provided there is no increase in head count and no promotional opportunities created.
Placement of college-recruited trainee program graduates by Corporate or Division in their initial permanent positions.
Positions that are being held until the return of an employee from maternity leave or other approved leaves of absences.

How to Apply

You may apply for any opening for which you feel that you are qualified and have an interest, provided you have a recommendation from your present manager. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, you will be interviewed and subsequently informed whether or not you have been selected.

You will be contacted when you have been scheduled for an interview. You will receive feedback from the hiring manager after the interview as to whether or not you are selected.

Assignment to New Position

Generally, it is expected that you will be released to your new position as soon as possible after acceptance of an offer. Normally, this is within two weeks, but the release time may be negotiated further between the hiring and releasing managers.

Appeals Route

Normal established appeal routes should be used in cases where individuals disagree with or have questions about decisions made at this step of the process. In general, the first attempt to clarify the situation should be made through your manager and the person who made the selection decision. Further clarification or questions can be taken directly to the Human Resources Department for discussion.

Program is Working

During 1979, there were 26 Chemical employee promotions made through utilization of the Job Opportunity System. There were eight positions filled by transfer from other parts of the company because no one at the Naugatuck location applied for the openings. It is especially important to note that there were only two exceptions to the procedure during the year – one because of a reduction in force and one because of a special training program hire. Unfortunately, we are not perfect and two positions were filled without notice. In the future, all jobs without exception to the system will be placed on bulletin boards. There were other hires during the year where technical background requirements necessitated going to the outside.

The system is a program designed to involve you earlier in the promotional process. It establishes a formal method for interested and qualified employees to obtain open position information and to request consideration for specific promotional opportunities.

Local 218 Contract Signed

URW Local 218 and the Naugatuck Chemical Plant have signed a new local supplemental agreement, effective February 4, 1980. Joe Rzeszutek, President of Local 218 and Bob Douglas, Industrial Relations Manager, reported that the major changes in the new contract provide for improved vacation scheduling for employees, work efficiency improvements through better utilization of personnel and inequity adjustments for various job classifications.

Douglas emphasized that “efforts were directed at negotiating improvements in work efficiencies to improve overall operations without a “take-away” program affecting our employees. These efficiency improvements are essential to improve the plant’s productivity and to off-set rising costs so that we can sustain operations at Naugatuck and provide a strong base for future

continued on page 4

Plant to Close for Two Weeks

The Naugatuck Chemical plant will be shut down for two weeks beginning June 30th and July 7th. The plant will reopen on Monday, July 15th.

During the shutdown the Maintenance Dept. will make a general maintenance overhaul throughout the plant, install new equipment, and do preventive maintenance work.

In Chemical Manufacturing Bldg. 100 and Bldg. 118 will operate along with Bldg. 72.

Health Support Program Continues

The Health Support Program which offers assistance to employees with alcohol or drug problems is still very active. However, there has been a change in the meeting place and time.

Dennis Baldwin who is the Health Support counsellor will now hold sessions at the Chemical Plant Hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. Bill Smith will hold counselling sessions on Mondays from 2:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Hospital.

All telephone calls regarding the Health Support Program should be made to Don Conty, Bldg. 84. His telephone number is 723-3472. All matters will be held in strictest confidence.

The Health Support Program has helped a number of employees and their families overcome the disease of alcoholism since its inception several years ago.

May is High Blood Pressure Month

High blood pressure is a major factor in stroke and heart attack. This disease has no characteristic symptoms and it must be treated by a physician.

The disease usually can be controlled with drug therapy and some simple diet changes.

During May a blood pressure clinic will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Plant Hospital from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. An appointment in not necessary. Simply walk in and ask one of the nurses for a blood pressure check.

Strike 4 Weeks Old; No Signs Of Settlement

February 18, 2026January 1, 1977 by OCR SCANNER

Strike 4 Weeks Old; No Signs Of Settlement

5-12-67 [handwritten]

No news is available as to how the negotiations between the United Rubber Workers Union and the “Big Five” Rubber Companies is progressing in Cincinnati.

The strike, now in its fourth week, is beginning to affect the economy of the borough as the striking workers have faced their second payless payday.

Strong rumors circulated the borough yesterday that B.F. Goodrich Rubber Co., one of the “Big Five” was close to a settlement with the union on the master contract. The consensus of opinion is that if one of the companies involved in the negotiations settles, the others will follow suit.

However, on the other hand, rumors are to the effect that the strike will be a long drawn-out process. Which rumor is right is anyone’s guess, since no statements have been issued from either side.

A rumor was circulating the borough this morning that members of management and non-union UniRoyal personnel would begin making shoes in the Footwear Division Monday.

John Smith, factory manager, said this morning he would not confirm the story.

Picketing at the UniRoyal gates in the borough remained quiet. Small teams of pickets have been maintained in spite of the rain for the past few days.

Local officials of the union, operating with the threat of an injunction over their heads, have been careful to maintain all conditions of picketing imposed upon them. They have been checking all points of picketing periodically, to insure tempers are kept in hand by the now “edgy” strikers.

CHEM-TEXTS – 1976-v10-i02-s240

February 18, 2026January 1, 1976 by OCR SCANNER

UNIROYAL CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 10, 1976 | PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL | No. 2

10 Uniroyal Scholarships Offered

Ten Uniroyal Merit scholarships are offered to children of employees through the nationwide scholarship program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

All children of Uniroyal employees, who have more than 5 years of continuous service as of the date of the award, are eligible for the scholarships.

Application Must Be Filed

Applications for the 1978 scholarships must be submitted by November 30, 1976. They can be obtained from the Industrial Relations Dept., Constance Antrum, Ext. 3217 along with a folder which gives complete details on the scholarships.

Students who wish to apply for a scholarship must do so during their Junior year by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Tests which are usually given in October by the high school. Students should check the school office for the dates of the tests.

Awards Up To $1500 Yearly

The maximum amount of the award is $1500 each year during
Continued on page 4

Mazaika Factory Manager

[IMAGE: Photo of Robert Mazaika]

Robert Mazaika has been named Factory Manager of the Naugatuck Chemical plant. Prior to his new appointment he was responsible for the Sales, Marketing, Technical Service, and the Research & Development of the division’s Plastics and Latex products. He succeeds James Cronin who was named Chemical Planning Manager.

Mazaika joined the Naugatuck Chemical plant in 1957 as a chemist in the Research and Development department. In 1963 he became a Technical Representative for rubber chemicals
Continued on page 4

3 Year Contract Signed

[IMAGE: Photo of three men looking at documents]

Joseph Rzeszutek, United Rubber Workers’ President of Local 218, left; Charles Roland, United Rubber Workers’ President of Local 308, center; and H. Frederick Wintsch, Industrial Relations Manager look over the three year contract that was recently signed.

The Master Labor Agreement and other agreements covering wages, pensions, insurance, severance pay, and supplemental unemployment benefits, negotiated by Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers, were recently ratified by the Union. All improved agreements are now in effect with the exception of the master labor agreement which will become effective when local supplemental agreements are negotiated and signed by the URW Plant Locals 218 and 308.

The new agreements, covering a 3 year period, were effective on September 3, 1976 after over six months of negotiations in New York City.

The contract provides for wage increases over the 3 year period, a cost of living allowance and improvements in pensions, life insurance, sickness and accident insurance, medical insurance,
Continued on page 4

Sales, Profits Drop

The Company expects to report a third quarter net loss of about $8 million on sales estimated at $490 million. Uniroyal Chairman and President, David Beretta, indicated that the 140-day strike (which was settled on September 5th) against 15 of the Company’s major domestic plants was primarily responsible for the loss. The lengthy strike caused inventories to become depleted and resulted in loss of sales during the period.

Foreign Income Lower

Income from foreign operations was also lower than anticipated as a result of currency devaluations in Mexico and the reduced value of currency in the United Kingdom and generally lower than anticipated level of activity in the Canadian mining and extractive industries.

1975 Third Quarter Higher

In the comparable 1975 quarter, the company earned $4.9 million on sales of $529.5 million.

4th Quarter Improvement Expected

Beretta expects a strong 4th quarter performance which should continue in 1977 as the Company capitalizes on continued strong automotive sales. He also pointed out that the programs instituted by the Company in the past year which have streamlined product lines and organization and improved marketing capabilities should have a continuing positive effect on performance in subsequent quarters.

United Way Goal $16,500

The goal for the 1977 United Way Drive, which is conducted throughout the plant annually, has been set at $16,500. Walter Frankenberger has been named Chairman for the campaign to raise funds for the sixteen agencies which provide a wide variety of social services to help meet the human needs of the people in the community.

The Naugatuck Chemical plant has topped its UW goal for four consecutive years, and just missed last year’s goal of $17,500 by $362.

The Chemical plant has displayed a generosity that has contributed nearly 33% of the total amount of the Industrial division’s section which includes all of the firms in the Naugatuck and Beacon Falls area.

“Give Where You Work”

The philosophy of the United Way is “give where you work.” This method has proved the most efficient way to raise the needed money for the agencies in the fund. It eliminates the monies often wasted in promoting good
Continued on page 2

[IMAGE: Photo of Walter Frankenberger pointing to United Way goal thermometer showing $16,500 goal]

Walter Frankenberger, Chairman of the United Way drive at the Naugatuck Chemical plant points to the 1977 goal of $16,500.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 10 – Page 4

February 18, 2026January 1, 1976 by OCR SCANNER

CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 10, 1976 Page 4

Four Retire Recently

[IMAGE: Photo of four people]

Mary Dinkle, center, a telephone operator in EMIC shows Gordon Anderson, Vice-President of Manufacturing, the intricacies of the switchboard on her retirement after 21 years of service. At left is Ruth Ranslow.

[IMAGE: Group photo of six men]

Charles Gates, fourth from left, is congratulated by Joseph Flannery, President of Uniroyal Chemical on his retirement after 41 years service. Gates was Sr. Patent Liasion officer for the Chemical division. In the photo from left are Charles McCleary, Martin Kleinfeld, Flannery, Gates, Robert Dowling, and Ferdinand Hirtler.

[IMAGE: Photo of three men]

Kazys Urbsaitis, center, retired from the Rubber Compounding Lab after 26 years of service. At left is Richard Tweedie and at right, Frank Sordi in TSSC.

[IMAGE: Photo of four men]

Herbert Atwood, third left, retired from the Instrument Dept. after 42 years service. From left are George LaRose, John Hoey, Atwood and Anthony Giancarlo.

Why Wear Hard Hats?

Despite the fact that most head injuries are always serious, there are a few workers who are reluctant to wear hard hats and prevent unexpected injuries to their heads.

Every employee should take advantage of such valuable protection as the hard hat. Employees give various reasons for refusing to wear these hats. Here are a few of the common objections and reasons.

Too Heavy?

Hard hats are only a few ounces heavier than conventional headgear, but the extra big protection is worth the extra little weight. Actually, a hard hat is less than one third the weight of an Army helmet and liner.

Too Cold?

Could be, but the problem is solved by wearing a winter liner. It will keep head, neck, and ears warm without lessening the protective value.

Group…

Continued from page

During the past several weeks, members have been discussing possible programs with Uniroyal personnel and outside consultants. The final program is expected to be completed in the near future. In the meantime, laboratory work has already been started to find new uses for chemicals in which the division is now basic: namely, hydrazine, cyclohexene and CHO, Polywets, Dimazine and the like.

The objective will be twofold, either to market and sell the new derivatives, or to convince customers to buy more of the basic chemicals as intermediates for their own synthesis.

There are several other possibilities for future research which should yield products within the current capability of the divisions manufacturing facilities and which can be sold by its present sales organization.

10 Uniroyal…

Continued from page 1

the four years of college. The amount depends on the family’s financial circumstances and the cost of the school. The minimum amount is $250.

Human…

continued from page 3

Campbell, Thomas Carey, Frank Commendatore, Donald Cowan, Frank Giordano, James Lavery, W. B. Kirkendall Jr., Joseph McKee, Gene Reale, Edward Runowicz, Frank Sordi, Henry Yacek and Thomas Engle.

Mazaika…

Continued from page 1

and synthetic rubber in the Dallas Sales office. He was appointed Commodity Sales Mgr. for Naugatuck Chemicals in 1967 and named Manager of Materials Flow in 1970.

He graduated from Lehigh University with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering.

Children, Victim of Fires

For their sake, and yours, practice these two simple safety rules:

(1) Keep matches and lighters away from young children. Careless smokers and children who play with matches cause more fires than anyone or anything else.

(2) Since most residential fires break out at night, know how you and your family would escape from the bedrooms if the stairs or front door were blocked by smoke.

3 Year…

Continued from page 1

and supplemental unemployment insurance.

It also provides for a Skilled Trades wage adjustment and Night Bonus.

Monthly Pension Increases

The monthly pension allowance was improved. The improvements are progressive over the 3 year period. By 1978, the monthly amount will be computed on the basis of $12.50 per month for every year of service.

Early Retirement

The new pension plan provides that an employee with 30 year’s service at and after age 55 can retire at his own option on an unreduced pension amount. For those employees exercising this option on May 1, 1976 and thereafter, the plan provides a supplemental allowance until age 62.

SUB Benefits

The supplemental unemployment benefits plan was also modified. The Company’s contributions will be increased from a maximum amount of 10 cents to 12 cents and the maximum funding will remain at $750. per employee under the plan.

Life Insurance

Life insurance has been increased from $9500 to $11,500

[IMAGE: “Take stock in America” advertisement with eagle logo]
200 years at the same location.

with accidental death and dismemberment insurance increased to the same amount. Survivor income benefits (transition and bridge) were increased from $175 to $200 per month.

Medical Benefits

Improvements also were negotiated in the area of Hospital, Surgical, and In-Hospital Medical Insurance, Dental Benefits and Major Medical Plans. Also an increased allowance from $10 per day to $12.50 per day for doctors’ visits in the hospital.

Accident and Sickness

These benefits have been increased from $95 to $110 per week. In the event of layoff, coverage under the plan will still be extended for 90 days.

Benefits for Retirees

Also, certain benefits will now be extended to certain retired employees covered by the new contracts. These include those benefits in areas of survivor income and prescription drugs.

Benefits Among Finest In Industry

The negotiations, leading to the signing of the Agreements on September 5, has resulted in an overall benefits program among the finest and most comprehensive in all of industry today.

Dividend Declared

The Company declared a dividend of 12½ cents a share on the common stock payable September 25 to stockholders of record August 23.

A dividend of $2 a share on the 8% first preferred stock was also declared and was payable September 25 to stockholders of record August 23.

BOB’S CAMERA SHOP INC.

WATERBURY’S LEADING CAMERA SHOP
90 South Main St., Waterbury, Conn. 06702 754-2256
Film ● Cameras ● Projectors ● Developing ● Rentals

CHEM-TEXTS

PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770

Equal Opportunity Employer

EDITOR: William F. Lavelle.

[UNIROYAL LOGO]

UNIROYAL CHEMICAL
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770

RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 10
Naugatuck, Conn. 06770

CHEM-TEXTS – 1974 – Page 2

February 18, 2026January 1, 1974 by OCR SCANNER

CHEM-TEXTS

Page 2 | Vol. 8, 1974

A first glance at 1974 isn’t exactly enthralling. This seems to be the nature of our times. The question is— what do we do about it? The easy way out is to merely ignore everything and involve oneself as little as possible. I would think that might be dull. With so many problems to choose from, there’s plenty to do for everyone.

We are still a long way from where we want to be and where we should be. One of the problems we face is that some of us can’t get rid of habits picked up years ago. Perhaps back then there was a purpose in doing things a certain way. With the changes in today’s society, the old ways must be challenged to see if they fit today’s situation.

For example, years ago it was the Company, and the Union. Today, we have—the Company, the customer, the Union, the Environment, equal opportunity, OSHA, the Cost of Living Council, the energy conservation and more and more. I think it is obvious that today’s problems must be met with a different approach.

One example that shows that things can be changed is our Safety performance in 1973. Although the proof of our good showing in 1973 will be how we do in 1974, only a changed attitude could have allowed a genuine improvement. Only a continued change in attitude will carry us thru 1974. Otherwise complacency will prevail and 1973 would prove to be only a “lucky” year.

Beyond Safety is work—not just work for the sake of work, but productive work where a job perhaps can be done differently or better than it is now. Only by improving our productive work, or if you prefer, our productivity, will we keep what we have and bring us to where we want to go. More productivity doesn’t necessarily mean harder work. To me it means to work smarter.

I believe we can prosper here, but prosperity doesn’t come easily. Each of us must find his own way to satisfy the demands made upon us in reaching and holding the goal. By constantly trying to find new and better ways to do things, we provide the prosperity we seek, but it also makes our jobs much less dull.

Jim Cronin

“When ideas fail, words come in very handy.”

Union Locals, Plant Approve Agreements

The plant and the URW Locals 218 and 308 signed separate local supplemental agreements to the Master Contract signed on June 11, 1973.

The agreement with URW Local 218, which represents Chemical, Reclaim, and Research & Development wage personnel, was signed on January 25. The agreement with URW Local 308 which represents the Synthetic plant wage people was signed on February 15.

Negotiations between representatives of the plant and the two union locals have been conducted over the past few months.

The local agreements supplement the master contract at the individual plants of the Company.

Clockwise, Joseph Rzeszutek, President of URW Local 218; Cyrus Blanchard, Secretary; Frederick Wintsch, Industrial Relations Manager; and George Allen, Employee Relations Manager; proofread new supplemental agreement.

New Tire Shredder Now Under Test

Arturo Cellupica, left, and Gerard Tortorelli discuss the new shredder.

by Gerard Tortorelli

One of the few in the U.S., a revolutionary type machine is now being tested by Reclaim Production to shred tires and tubes. The machine is presently located by the conveyor system in the Reclaim yard. A program is now underway to test the types of tires and tubes it will shred; how many tires it will chop in an hour; and how it will hold up under constant use.

Simple Operation

The tires are loaded onto a simple conveyor which drops them into the shredder and cuts them into small chunks for further processing.

Many Advantages

The machine has many advantages in that it is more compact, quieter, and is versatile enough to be used to shred other materials besides tires.

If the tests on the shredder turn out successfully they could revolutionize the present cracking operations and present new opportunities in recycling solid waste.

SAFETY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY

Scholarship Offered

The Uniroyal Chemical Management Club will again offer a $300 scholarship ($250 from the Management Club and $50 from the Larry Monroe fund) to a graduating high school student who plans a college education.

To qualify for the scholarship one of the student’s parents must have worked for Uniroyal Chemical at Naugatuck, Bethany, or Oxford for two years or more.

Applications can be obtained from the Industrial Relations department, Bldg. 84 or by a telephone call to Connie Antrum, Ext. 517.

The completed applications must be returned to Irwin Prager Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, on or before April 1.

The 1973 scholarship was awarded to Judith Dayner, daughter of John Dayner of the Lotol department.

Plant to Shut Down in July

The 1974 summer vacation shutdown for the Naugatuck Factory will occur during the second and third weeks of July.

The 2nd week starts on Monday, July 8, the 3rd week on Monday, July 15.

All employees with the exception of those assigned to essential responsibilities and operational schedules will be required to take their vacations during these two weeks that start on July 8 and end on July 21.

Details on department schedules and assignments will be announced as soon as plans are finalized.

UNIROYAL ZETA 40M STEEL RADIAL TIRE GUARANTEED 40000 MILES

A Whole new driving experience.
75% MORE HAZARD PROTECTION
20% MORE CAR CONTROL
12% BETTER TRACTION
than conventional 78 series bias ply tires.

DOUBLE (2) BELTS OF FIBERGLAS
DOUBLE (2) POLYESTER CORD PLIES

ADVANCE TIRE SERVICE
510 Meriden Rd.
Waterbury — 756-7205

FITZPATRICK’S, INC.
78 East Main St.
Ansonia — 734-3318

MEZZIO’S
792 New Haven Rd.
Naugatuck — 729-5988

POUST’S SERVICE STATION
144 Rubber Ave.
Naugatuck — 729-0433

FEATURES:
• 70 SERIES DESIGN (WIDE OVAL)
• POLYESTER CORD PLIES
• FIBERGLAS BELTS

CHEM-TEXTS – 1973 – Page 2

February 16, 2026January 1, 1973 by OCR SCANNER

CHEM-TEXTS

Page 2 | Vol. 7, 1973

What happened in September?….

[IMAGE: Headshot photo of a man in business attire]

Was it a letdown after the long, hot summer? Was it a relaxation of attitude because of our improved performance over last year? Was it a little anticipation of attaining rewards for goals that have not quite been reached, but were close?

What happened in September? Three lost time accidents in the month —our worst performance this year. Where did we go wrong?

The answer to that question lies not in history, but in the future. What’s done is done, but let us learn from this recent experience and firm up our attitudes on Safety. We must strengthen our resolve to think safe and anticipate the unexpected. And follow rules, procedures, and good common sense to even further levels of accomplishment. We must work closer together, and help each other to solve the accident problem.

The real goal, of course, is not numbers on a board or dollars on a cost report. It is the well being of all our employees. It hurts to have an accident. It hurts in many ways, but the worst hurt of all is that most accidents could have been avoided.

Of course we must not forget that substantial progress has been made this year. We are all proud of this performance. But we have seen in years past a good record take a disastrous turn overnight. A good performance means only that more hard work is needed to keep it that way.

The year is not over yet. I urge all, wage and salary, factory and office, inside and outside, to rebound from our September problems and take on the rest of 1973 in the safest possible manner.

Our 1973 goals are still attainable if we point our eyes and noses in the right direction.

The free lunch program…

The average American is familiar with the expression— “There’s no such things as a free lunch.” Because we are so familiar with the saying, perhaps the full understanding of the thought gets lost and we forget the humbling impact of its true meaning.

Put simply, it means you never get anything for nothing. Even though it may appear that there are free handouts, or that someone has beaten the system, in the long run and when all things are considered, everything has its price.

One of the most flagrant free lunch programs is some of the money Uncle Sam hands out like free lollypops. However, the intelligent home owner, tax payer and average consumer knows, particularly now, that the bill for these goodies comes back to haunt us in the form of higher taxes, and increasing inflation.

The other free lunch program we must be very aware of is our own job situation. Everything our Company provides for us must be paid for by somebody, somewhere. Part of it comes back, when we pay more for the things we have to buy, and part of it comes back when a plant somewhere—anywhere—is shut down because it can no longer support the burden imposed upon it by today’s economic situation.

In order to maintain the comforting benefits provided, the main beneficiaries, namely us, must contribute. Under our product-industrial oriented system, the most reasonable way is to improve productivity. This is by far the best way to generate wealth which subsequently supports our standard of living.

The Company has a commitment to this end by providing the money and management to purchase and properly utilize equipment and facilities. The employees—you and I—have an obligation to properly and fully convert this equipment into products in the most efficient and reasonable manner possible. This is how we pay for our “free lunches.” If wealth is not generated in this way, a deficit is generated. If this deficit is allowed to grow unchecked, it will eventually—to borrow a Russian term—bury our system. Once this occurs, a major adjustment must be made to pay that “due bill” or write it off. In either case the adjustment is painful. The history of man is full of such adjustments and no intelligent man wants to live through such a period. No one wants his children to endure such hardships, either.

We all want reasonable improvements in our standard of living. We also want the improvements to be enjoyed by our children. Therefore, we must balance our benefits and their costs—somewhere, somehow. But we all know where the burden ends up—right on us. If we understand this and know what we are doing, we can better adjust to it and keep our livelihood in a good, healthy balance. We can then honestly say that the “free lunch” has been earned and paid for.

Jim Cronin [signature]

92 Take “Life” Course

[IMAGE: Photo showing people in what appears to be a training session with someone lying down, presumably during CPR training]

Mario Pazzani, Heart Association instructor observes James Loman treat a heart attack victim with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in one of the 3 sessions attended by 92 people.

One out of every fifteen employees at the Naugatuck Chemical plant is now certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mouth to mouth breathing. The overwhelming response of employees to the three courses sponsored by the Safety department is one of the highest among industrial plants in Connecticut.

Two recent heart attacks in the plant indicated the need for such a program to train people on the proper action in such emergencies. Besides the demonstrations, each person attending the courses practiced the life-saving techniques on two dummies equipped with inflatable lungs.

Only one session had been planned for the plant but due to the large number of employees who desired to attend the cardiac program, three sessions were held. The cardiopulmonary course was conducted by Mario Pazzani of the American Heart Association. James Loman, of the Safety Dept. who is a certified instructor in First Aid for the Red Cross, demonstrated the mouth to mouth resuscitation techniques.

Local 218 Talks Start

Negotiations between the United Rubber Workers, Local 218, and the Naugatuck plant management began on Wednesday, October 10. The purpose of the sessions is to negotiate a local supplement agreement which will supplement the 3 year master agreement signed on June 11, 1973 in Dayton, Ohio.

Heading the Local 218 union representatives is Joseph Rzeszutek, President of the Local. Jesse Crim, Manager of Industrial Relations, will be in charge of the Naugatuck plant group.

The discussions are being held in Bldg. 81 conference room, and will continue until negotiations are concluded.

Prior Approval For Tuition Aid

The Tuition Aid Program which encourages employees to continue their education requires that prior approval be obtained for a degree program or specific courses from a department supervisor.

Once approved the application authorizes tuition refunds for not more than 2 courses per semester.

Upon satisfactory completion of the courses, reimbursement is obtained by submitting a paid, itemized invoice from the school to the Accounting department.

GIVE THE UNITED WAY

$3500 In Silver Dollars

September Safety Record Poor

The Summer Safety program for the summer months ended on September 30 with over $3500 awarded to employees who worked safely during the July, August and September months when accidents increase.

People who worked without a Lost Time Accident or Serious Injury received a “silver dollar” for each month, unless they were members of a Group in which one person incurred either type of injury.

Extra Award

Each employee also received an extra “silver dollar” if he worked the full 3 months without an injury whether or not a member of his Group suffered one.

Employees who worked during the shutdown without an injury received an extra, special “silver dollar” when the thermometer soared to 98°F every day for one of the hottest summers in years and when accidents are more likely to happen.

As a special offer of the pro-

(Cont’d on page 4)

[LOGO: “give The United Way” with stylized hand design]

Don’t get a snow job on snow tires.

[IMAGE: Large snow tire]

Get Uniroyal Winterides

Wide 70 series 4-ply Nylon Cord

ADVANCE TIRE SERVICE
510 Meriden Rd.
Waterbury – 756-7205

FITZPATRICK’S, INC.
78 East Main St.
Ansonia – 734-3318

MEZZIO’S
792 New Haven Rd.
Naugatuck – 729-5988

POUST’S SERVICE STATION
144 Rubber Ave.
Naugatuck – 729-0433

CHEM-TEXTS – 1973 – Page No. 3

February 18, 2026January 1, 1973 by OCR SCANNER

UNIROYAL CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 7, 1973 | PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL | No. 3

Equality Policy Affirmed

Uniroyal Chemical has a firm commitment to offer equal opportunity to all employees. It is the policy of the plant’s management to support and implement this commitment continually.

The policy requires that all recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, and Company-sponsored training, education and tuition assistance, as well as social, recreational and health programs and lay-off and recall practices are followed and carried out without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin or age.

Jesse Crim, Industrial Relations Manager, is Compliance Officer and has the responsibility for implementing this policy; monitoring the Uniroyal Chemical Affirmative Action Compliance Program; and reporting to management the program’s progress.

Responsibility for the improvement of the program and positive results rests with each manager and supervisor as an integral part of his job.

Trades Courses Offered

A new Trades Program will be offered in cooperation with the Kaynor Technical School in Waterbury. The two year program, scheduled in the fall, is voluntary and open to all Naugatuck Chemical employees.

Courses offered will consist of Basic Mathematics, Blueprint Reading, Plumbing, Mechanics and Electricity and will be held one night a week for three hours for 33 sessions.

Successful completion of the program, as judged by the Kaynor Tech instructors, will allow graduates to qualify for second class Piper, Mechanic, and Electrician’s openings when available and in accordance with contractual requirements of seniority and qualifications.

No Cost To Employee

Tuition and textbook costs will be paid by the plant. The (Cont’d on page 2)

Unions Ratify 3 Year Contract

The master labor agreement and other agreements covering wages, pensions, insurance, severance pay, and supplemental unemployment benefits, negotiated by Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers, have been subsequently ratified by the Union. All improved agreements are now in effect with the exception of the master labor agreement which will become effective when local supplemental agreements are negotiated and signed.

The new agreements, covering a 3 year period, were signed on June 11, 1973 after three months of negotiations in Dayton, Ohio.

The contracts provide for wage increases over the 3 year period and improvements in pensions, life insurance, sickness and accident insurance, medical insurance, and supplemental unemployment insurance.

They also include improvements in certain of these areas as they apply to retired employees.

Improvements in the general wage scale were effective on July 2, 1973.

Monthly Pension Increases

The monthly pension allowance was improved. The improvements are progressive over the 3 year period. By 1975, the monthly amount will be computed on the basis of $10.00 per month for every year of service. Disability pensions will be on a double monthly allowance, increasing to $20.00 per month per year of service by 1975.

Early Retirement

The new pension plan provides that an employee with 30 years’ service at and after age 55 can retire at his own option on an unreduced pension amount. For those employees exercising this option in 1974 and thereafter, the plan provides a supplemental allowance until age 65.

SUB Benefits

The supplemental unemployment benefits plan was modified. The company will increase its contribution to the SUB fund. By 1975, contributions will be at $0.10 per hour worked level and maximum funding will be at $750 per employee covered by the plan.

Life Insurance

Life insurance has been increased from $8500 to $9500
(Cont’d on page 2)

[PHOTO CAPTION]
Joseph Rzeszutek, URW Local 218 President; Jesse Crim, Industrial Relations Manager; and Charles Roland, URW Local 308 President attended the 3 months’ negotiations in Dayton, Ohio.

Plant Tops 1,000,000 Manhours Without A Lost-Time Accident

[PHOTO CAPTION]
Winners of the color TV consoles—each worth $500.00—pose with plant safety personnel and Factory Manager on the occasion of working 1,000,000 manhours without a lost time accident. From left are James Loman, Safety Supervisor; Gene Reale, Foremen’s winner; Manuel Moniz, Chemical Production; Roman Brzozowski, Reclaim Production; Silvio Spalvieri, Synthetic Materials; Walter Scott, Union-Management Safety Committee; Daniel Volpe, Salary winner; Robert Shortt, Safety Manager; and James Cronin, Factory Manager. Absent from the photo is Henrique Marques, Chemical Production.

Frequency Rate Is 8.93 For 6 Months

It started on March 11 and was reached on June 26, one million manhours worked without a lost time accident. This achievement reflects a greatly improved safety performance over 1972 and has resulted in a 50% reduction in accidents in the plant.

	Lost Time Accidents	Serious Injuries	Total
1972	6	27	33
1973	5	11	16

(Cont’d on page 4)

Dividend Declared

Uniroyal, Inc. declared a dividend of 17½ cents a share on the common stock. The dividend is payable September 25 to stockholders of record August 20.

A dividend of $2 a share on the 8 per cent first preferred stock was also declared and is payable September 25 to stockholders of record August 20.

Uniroyal Talks Start Up Again

February 18, 2026January 1, 1972 by OCR SCANNER

Uniroyal Talks Start Up Again

Wed, MAY 17, 76

NAUGATUCK— Negotiations on the master contract between United Rubber Workers Union and Uniroyal resumed Tuesday in Cincinnati, but due to the agreement between the two groups, no news of progress could be received when negotiators were contacted in Cincinnati Tuesday night. Negotiations will continue today.

The contract between the URW and General Tire Co. expired Monday night, but at that time an agreement was made to continue production at the firm on a day-to-day basis. A settlement at General Tire or any of the other four firms could affect the outcome of negotiations between the union and the firms still talking.

Activity in the borough remains quiet, although Uniroyal is shipping during the day. Local 45 pickets who were on 24-hour picket duty since May 3 resumed 12-hour picketing Monday following an agreement with management that no shipping would be done after 6 p.m.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 4, 1970, No. 2 – Page 1

February 18, 2026January 1, 1970 by OCR SCANNER

UNIROYAL CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 4, 1970 | PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL | No. 2

1970 Success Depends On Each Employe

If you were going on a long vacation you would carefully plan in advance and consider everything necessary for a safe and rewarding trip for yourself and your family.

Operation of a large chemical plant requires the same deliberate planning in advance to assure progress, produce products competitively, improve safety and to secure the jobs of every employee.

To implement the plans of the plant for 1970, millions of dollars will be invested by the Company proving its confidence in the skills and abilities of the people at Naugatuck. Mere spending of money will not do the job alone; only the fullest use of every employee’s efforts in every department is needed to justify these expenditures. With a positive attitude and concern by each employee to do his full share, 1970 will be a year of progress.

Departments Depend Upon Each Other

Each department outlined plans and goals for the year for its own group. But the success of these plans require the cooperative effort of all departments. Progress depends upon every employee’s fullest cooperation to work in a unified effort with all the departments in the plant’s operation.

The following summarize the major plans for departments to make 1970 a year of progress.

Chemical Production

Product quality and production must be improved to satisfy our customers’ demands. Their purchase of our products are critically important to the operation of the plant.

To help us improve this situation, the new Control Center will schedule products by priority; help improve product quality and utilize equip-

[PHOTO CAPTION]
George Allen, ass’t general foreman discusses new Polygard facilities for Bldg. 109. From left are Allen, Mike Yuchnyk, Dolphi Gabriel, dept. foreman, and Brony Konavage.

ment to its fullest capacity. This new operation requires everyone’s cooperation to improve our performance in 1970.

Of vital concern to the department are better safety and housekeeping. Both can only be accomplished by the individual person doing his share.

Plans have been approved to expand the Polygard, Aminox and Betanox facilities to meet increased market demand for these chemicals.

Reclaim Production

Reclaim faces a challenging year but with the vigorous participation of every employee in attaining production goals the challenge can be met to operate the plant efficiently and remain in business.

A new Control Center will be set up to schedule product types more efficiently and to help improve the quality of reclaim.

Good housekeeping is critically important in Reclaim to prevent fires from dust accumulation around equipment and to improve safety. Concern for good housekeeping in Bldg. 16 requires every employe’s help to keep the area in a clean condition.

Lighting fixtures and the lint collection systems are scheduled to be improved for better safety, housekeeping and work conditions.

Synthetic Production

New equipment will be installed to increase the efficiency of our latex operations to increase production, produce higher quality latexes to keep pace with competition and provide job security.

Improvements in housekeeping by all employees is of vital importance to maintain safe working conditions and to keep quality standards of latex production at a high level.

Engineering

The engineering department’s plan in 70 will be to assist all departments in the repair and maintenance of equipment to prevent downtime and insure the capacity to supply customers with products on schedule.

Efficient operation of machinery and equipment requires regular lubrication by members of the mechanical crews to prevent excessive wear, avert overheating and damage to the equipment necessary to produce the products for our customers.

Several major plant improvements are scheduled in the Synthetic and Chemical plants. (continued on page 4)

Contract Talks To Start

Plant and union officials of Uniroyal’s 19 United Rubber Worker plants meet in New York City on March 9 to begin negotiations on contract agreements which expires April 20.

Ron Mitchinson, industrial relations manager, will represent the Naugatuck Chemical plant. Joe Rzeszutek, president of URW Local 218, will represent the 615 employees in the Chemical and Reclaim plants and Leon Raskauskas, president of URW Local 308, will represent the 201 employees of the Synthetic plant.

Negotiations will cover wages, pension, the master contract, insurance, severance pay agreements and supplemental unemployment compensation.

United Givers Give 3 Awards

[PHOTO CAPTION]
Left to right holding United Givers awards are Leon Raskauskas, URW Local 308 president; Eric Johnson, plant campaign chairman, and Joe Rzeszutek, URW Local 218 president.

At its annual meeting, the United Givers awarded a plaque in recognition of Uniroyal Chemical employee’s generous contributions. Plaques were also awarded to URW Locals 218 and 308’s for their active support of the drive.

Employees’ contributed $21,000, the highest ever pledged, in our plant and one third of the industrial division’s goal.

The corporate gift of the plant was the highest of any local firm in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 4 No. 3 – Page 3

February 18, 2026January 1, 1970 by OCR SCANNER

CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 4 No. 3 Page 3

Supervisory Skills Training Program Started For Foremen

[LEFT PHOTO CAPTION:]
The group listens attentively to Tom Ennis report on solution of a problem. Attending the first SSTP session were from left, Fred Wintsch, Tom Dowling, Ed Smith, George Allen, Dave Rappe, Jack Tierney, Bill Albaitis, Al Enamait, Earl Roller, Tom Engle,

[RIGHT PHOTO CAPTION:]
George Arndt, Gary Arndt, Bob Breton, Chet Bulka, Ennis and Bill Lannon. Missing from photo were Lou Coscia and Frank Lynch. SSTP sessions for supervisors and foremen are being scheduled for future dates.

Globetrotters Sell Pro* Keds On TV

The world famous Harlem Globetrotters are entertaining millions of people on TV and helping sell Uniroyal products with their dazzling wizardry and magic on the basketball court. This is part of Uniroyal’s intensive TV program to advertise the company and its products on prime TV shows.

The Globetrotters have used Pro-Keds® in their long career for their long wearing quality and the built-in arch support that helps prevent muscle strain from their heavy schedule all over the world.

Pro-Keds® use several of the rubber chemicals made at the Naugatuck plant. Four accelerators, Delac®NS, Tuex®, Monex® and Pentex® are used to cure the rubber and give it toughness. Without accelerators it would take more than 8 hours for the rubber to harden or cure.

Aminox®, an antioxidant, prevents heat deterioration to the rubber during the manufacturing process.

Uniroyal Chemical is the world’s leading manufacturer of rubber chemicals, with 70% of the chemicals made at the Naugatuck plant.

Only by producing quality chemicals against stiff competition can the plant maintain this position in the footwear industry. Some of the major competitors in the rubber chemical business vying for the same market are DuPont, Monsanto, Vanderbilt, American Cyanamid and Pennwald.

Contract Talks Continue In N.Y.

Negotiation discussions on the contract which expires April 21 at 12:01 A.M., are still underway in New York between management and union officials of the 19 Uniroyal plants represented by the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum, and Plastic Workers of America.

The sessions started on March 9. Representatives of the Naugatuck Chemical plant attending the meetings are Ron Mitchinson, Industrial Relations Manager; Joe Rzeszutek, URCLPWA Local 218 President; and Leon Raskauskas, URCLPWA Local 308 president.

by Bob Krause

A group of Uniroyal Chemical foremen and supervisors attended the first of a series of sessions of a Supervisory Skills Training Program (SSTP) at the Holiday Inn in Waterbury.

The program which was initiated at the corporate level gives members in supervisory positions an opportunity to study themselves and determine how they relate to their jobs. The program also introduces some new concepts which help them keep up to date on current trends in supervisory skills.

John Evans, Factory Manager, introduced the program which was organized and presented by Bob Krause of the Industrial Relations Department.

Tom Ward, Uniroyal Manager of Supervisory Development discussed his views with the group and the company’s views concerning the overall program and some of its details.

Additional programs will be scheduled during the year to give more foremen and supervisors the chance to participate in the SSTP sessions.

[BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO CAPTION:]
Harlem Globertrotters help sell Uniroyal products on TV to millions of customers. Indirectly they sell 5 chemicals made at the Naugatuck plant. Watch them on the leading TV shows.

Two Months Without A Lost-Time Accident

by Sal Aloise

In February, no lost time accidents occurred in the plant. This is the second successive month that all of us have worked without a lost time accident. This represents a total of nearly 600,000 manhours worked without a lost time accident, a good improvement in safety compared to 1969 when four lost time accidents took place for the same 2 months.

During February, there were 4 serious injuries: one eye injury in Chemical Production; one work change in Reclaim; one suture of the finger in R&D; and one suture in the elbow in R&D.

With this excellent start, 1970 can be the safest year we ever had.

[RIGHT PHOTO CAPTION:]
Bob Krause, coordinator of the SSTP demonstrates a point on the chart.

Dividend Declared

Uniroyal declared a quarterly dividend of 17½ cents a share on the common stock payable March 25 to stockholders of record February 24.

Two dividends of $2 each on the Company’s preferred stock were declared: one to be paid March 25 to stockholders of record February 24 and the other payable June 25 to stockholders of record May 25.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 4 No. 7 – Page 3

February 18, 2026January 1, 1970 by OCR SCANNER

CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 4. No. 7 Page 3

KNOW YOUR BENEFITS:

Some Questions And Answers On Uniroyal’s Tuition Aid Program

by Marion Hutt

About seventy-three Uniroyal Chemical employees improved their education and their opportunities for advancement in their jobs by taking job related courses during the 1968-69 academic year with the help of Uniroyal’s Tuition Aid Program. (1969-70 figures were unavailable for this issue)

For those of you who are not familiar with the plan, here is some helpful information on the program which is available to all employees.

Q. What Is It?
A. To encourage self-development and education of all employees, Uniroyal will reimburse you for the full tuition cost and lab fees necessary in any course taken which is related to your current job or will be of value, as determined by the Company, in future promotional areas.

All Employees Eligible

Q. Is the program available to wage and salary personnel?
A. Yes, it is available to all full-time employees.

Q. Do I have to notify the Company of the course I wish to take?

A. Yes, prior approval has to be obtained to qualify.

Q. How many courses can I take?
A. The number of allowed courses per semester cannot exceed two.

Q. Do I take these courses on Uniroyal’s time or my time?
A. Your own time.

Q. I’d like to take a course in mechanical drawing. Am I reimbursed for any instruments I must purchase?
A. No. Books, library fees, instruments and transportation are not reimbursable.

Q. When am I reimbursed?
A. Reimbursement will be made by Uniroyal after satisfactory completion of the course has been documented by the school or institution which administered it.

Q. Is every school or institution offering courses acceptable?

A. Only fully accredited institutions or professionally recognized associations are approved.

Schools In Area

Q. What schools qualify in the area?
A. University of Connecticut (Waterbury Branch), Fairfield University, University of Hartford, University of Bridgeport, Sacred Heart University, Trinity College, Mattatuck Community College, West Connecticut State College, Central Connecticut State College, Southern Connecticut State College, RPI (Hartford Branch), Waterbury State Technical College, Kaynor

Technical, H. C. Wilcox Technical-Vocational School, New Haven College, Quinnipiac College, Post Junior College and other specialized educational institutes.

Q. Do you have any facts about people using this plan?
A. During 67-68, sixty employees were enrolled in degree programs and were reimbursed an average of $275 by Uniroyal. In 69, five employees received M.B.A. degrees. In 1970 about 70 employees attended courses, with several receiving degrees.

Q. Where do I find out the procedure I must follow to qualify?
A. Your foreman or supervisor will be glad to assist you in obtaining and processing the forms for approval. Tuition aid is another of Uniroyal’s programs for the benefit of all employees to assist them in the development of their talents and capabilities.

[IMAGE CAPTION: Marty Cherkus, right, tells Charlie Dierling about course he plans to take under Tuition Aid program.]

Three Story Glass Tube Reduces Water Pollution

[IMAGE CAPTION: Julius Cohen, right, shows Phil De Pasquale new $32,000 liquid-liquid extractor installed in chemical pilot plant as part of the plant’s environmental quality program.]

by Gary Arndt

The Chemical pilot plant recently installed a new $32,000, three story high, liquid-liquid extractor that looks like a giant test tube. The extractor removes small amounts of “oxide” from the process waste water which had been previously discharged into the river. The extractor is probably the only one of its kind in the company.

The new equipment is part of the plant’s environmental quality program to eliminate pollution by installation of new devices and systems with built in pollution control factors.

Environmental Economics

By recovery of the product, a 5% to 10% yield increase will be obtained from former waste material, proving that a sound environmental quality program can be economical as well as improving the quality of the air and water. All new equipment for manufacturing operations will contain pollution control devices and systems to control fumes, odors, and dust.

Collects Pollution Data

With the completion of the cyclohexene oxide program, the huge glass column will be used by process development engineers to collect pollution control data on newly developed processes which will be transferred to the Naugatuck plant for manufacturing.

Zawacki Gets Hole-In-One

No Slip; No Tires

To purchase tires at a Uniroyal store or tire dealer, an employee purchase slip is required. Without the slip for identification, you will not be able to purchase the tires. Slips may be obtained in advance only from the Industrial Relations Department, EMIC, and the Synthetic Plant Hospital.

[IMAGE CAPTION: Chet Zawacki shot a hole-in-one with a Uniroyal golf ball and Uniroyal club.]

Unions Ratify Contracts

URW Local 218 which represents wage employees in the Chemical plant and URW Local 308, which represents wage employees in the Synthetic plant, ratified the 3 year contract between Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers.

The new contract represents a wage and benefit package costing an average of $1.41 an hour, over the 3 year period.

Participating in the 4 months negotiations in New York from our plant were Ron Mitchinson, Industrial Relations Manager; Joe Rzeszutek, President, Local 218; and Leon Raskauskas, President, Local 308.

Other features of the new contract are five weeks vacation after 20 years; one additional holiday decided on a local basis, and improved pension and insurance benefits.

Longer Weekends In 1971

Last year Congress passed the Monday Holidays Law, which assigns certain holidays to specified Mondays, instead of being celebrated on calendar dates. For example, Memorial Day which has traditionally been celebrated on May 30 will now be celebrated on the last Monday in May.

At the plant two holidays will be observed in 1971 on Mondays: Memorial Day, the last Monday in May for chemical and reclaim; and Columbus Day, the 2nd Monday in October for the Synthetic plant.

The basic idea behind the longer weekend is to give “short vacations”; provide more time at home; and planned recreation activities with the family. Perhaps it means more work around the house, fixing and repairing the long list of things to be done.

Long weekends have one somber aspect. Experience has shown that the death rate from accidents on highways and at home hit a high mark of 500–600 deaths. Hopefully, statistics will prove otherwise and more safety will be observed on the roads and at home.

Drivers under 20 years old make up only 10.2% of the driving population, but were involved in 16.9% of all accidents. Drivers age 20-24 had the worst record with 10.7% of the driving population, they were involved in 17.7% of all accidents and 18.9% of fatal accidents.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 3 No. 2 – Page 1

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

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

URW Suggests 3-Year Pact, Reports Claim

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

URW Suggests 3-Year Pact, Reports Claim

6-14-67 [handwritten date]

NAUGATUCK—A URW counter proposal being discussed by Uniroyal and four other major rubber producers calls for a three-year agreement and includes pensions and fringe benefits, it was learned Tuesday.

The United Rubber Workers submitted the counter proposal after rejecting an industry-wide offer Friday.

The three-year counter proposal represents a turnabout in the union stand in the negotiations.

During a mass meeting of the Local 45 membership, held May 29, Pres. George Froehlich reportedly told those in attendance that the union would settle for neither a three-year pact nor an agreement which included pensions and fringe benefits.

According to sources, however, the union has come to the conclusion that the three-year pact was necessary, primarily because it seemed the only way to force the companies into offering higher wage benefits.

When the companies made their original offers, the wage terms and supplemental unemployment benefits were considered inadequate by union negotiators.

Management claimed, however, that none of the items in the contract offers could be raised until they had some idea of what the union was seeking in pension and fringe benefits.

The first hint of significant progress came about two weeks ago, according to sources, when all five companies were scheduled to sit at one table and discuss a pact. The meeting failed, however, due to the union negotiators from Goodrich, the sources claimed.

Election Problems

Despite the problems with the contract itself, sources have indicated that another obstacle in the negotiations is the forthcoming union elections on the local level.

Some of the union negotiators, who are seeking reelection, have been adamant in their demands in order to satisfy the rank and file membership. Uniroyal union representatives, however, were not indicated as being among this group.

The union plan submitted Friday calls for a straight five per cent increase, sources revealed.

Among the items called for in the counter proposal are an increase in pensions to $5.50 per man per year, and supplemental unemployment benefits up to 80 per cent.

Management reportedly had last offered an increase in pensions to $5.25, and supplemental unemployment benefits up to 75 per cent.

Union negotiators claimed that their proposed five per cent general increase would cost the company 73 cents, but management has claimed that it would cost $1.40.

UAW Aid

Although the union has been promised aid from the United Auto Workers Union, sources said that the aid was in the form of a loan.

UAW negotiators have to date chosen to reduce strike benefit checks to $15 from $25 weekly, and try to raise money among URW members still working at General Tire, Goodyear and other smaller rubber firms.

One week’s collection, it was said, brought only $6,000 in donations from rubber workers not on strike.

Not only are there problems within the union, but management is suffering some within the ranks of the five companies, it was reported.

Firestone has been claimed to be the dominant figure in the negotiations, but a Goodyear victory at the Indianapolis Speedway on Memorial Day has resulted in signs of a change in management leadership, according to sources.

Uniroyal Talks Depend On Other Firms, Claim

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

6-15-67

Uniroyal Talks Depend On Other Firms, Claim

NAUGATUCK—Talks between Uniroyal and United Rubber Workers negotiators continue in Cincinnati today, but informed sources said progress would depend on talks between the union and some of the other rubber firms, notably B. F. Goodrich and Firestone.

It is with these two companies, said one source, that the heaviest negotiating is taking place.

A source close to the negotiations said although on the surface some of the labor-management negotiators from other companies seem to say little to each other “a lot is going on underneath.”

Union negotiators were reportedly surprised during recent talks when management challenged a claim that the union’s counter-proposal would cost only 73 cents.

In a surprise move during recent talks, management presented what is referred to as a “roll up” to challenge a claim that the union’s economic package would cost only 73 cents.

In use, sources say, the “roll up” shows that although a raise apparently amounts to, say, 16 cents, the raise may be more like 17 or 18 cents due to the overtime and machine down time.

Union negotiators were reportedly caught off guard by the term, and claimed that management was using a weighted wage figure, and accused them of inflating the cost of the economic package.

Union spokesmen contacted Wednesday night said that this item was no longer a major obstacle and hinted that the union may be reconsidering the apparent cost of the package.

Some of the larger obstacles, it was said, are non-economic.

One such obstacle is referred to as the “bogie.” A golfing term, it has been applied to the efficiency rating used in at least one company’s plants.

A person who works at a particular job, according to plant employes, is expected to turn out a certain number of articles before he is entitled to full pay.

Assuming no breakdowns on the machine, if an employe does not meet his efficiency rating, he will not receive full pay.

These ratings are reportedly established by time and motion study men.

It is the union’s contention, say sources, that older people in the plant cannot always produce what a younger employe can produce, and some of the ratings are therefore to high, causing the union to want them eliminated.

It has been learned that the union’s counter proposal includes pensions and fringe benefits, which have come under a separate contract in the past.

Although some of the union negotiators are far from happy about discussing these items in a master contract, the union has reportedly found it necessary to do so in order to obtain the goals sought in the master contract.

As yet, however, the rank and file union members have not had the opportunity to express their wishes, at least to local negotiators, concerning pensions.

While the International URW funds are running low, efforts are in progress to obtain donations from URW workers who are not on strike. The efforts have been reportedly unsuccessful. During one week of canvassing, only $6,000 in donations were obtained.

Duration Record Will Be Set In URW Strike

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

6-16-67

Duration Record Will Be Set In URW Strike

If the United Rubber Workers strike continue past Saturday, a new record will be set for duration of strikes in the rubber industry. In 1959, the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. was struck by URW for 58 days.

Negotiations continued yesterday with the groups still discussing a counter-proposal submitted by the union last week. Talks are scheduled to continue today.

The membership of the three borough Locals faithfully take their turn at picketing at the plants here in Naugatuck. The pickets are stationed at the Footwear plant gates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. leaving their strike placards hanging on the gates at night. Pickets are at the Chemical Co. gates on a round-the-clock basis; sitting in their cars on rainy days and can be seen lounging on blankets on the hot humid days.

Some strikers have found other employment on a full time basis in other industry in the area, according to reports, terminating their employment at UniRoyal.

The union is seeking a higher hourly rate and a 95 per cent supplementary benefit for workers who are laid off. The “Big Five” has dubbed the demand as a “request for a guaranteed annual wage.”

Tire workers currently average $3.69 an hour while other production workers average $2.68. The union is also trying to do away with the pay differential for the two classes of employes.

Negotiations between the rubber companies and the union continue on a daily basis but, thus far, there has been no signs of settlement.

According to sources, true negotiations have begun at last. Both sides are giving on a few minor points.

Sessions began in Cincinnati on March 20, one month before the contract was due to expire. Up until this point, neither side was willing to give. The companies knew what they wanted to give and the union clung to its demands.

Uniroyal May Appeal Court Order

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

Uniroyal 7-18-67

May Appeal

Court Order

NAUGATUCK — Uniroyal,
Inc. is considering an appeal to
the Connecticut Supreme Court
for a reversal of a restraining
order issued Monday against
production of sample shoes at
the company’s strikebound Foot-
wear Plant here.

An attorney for the firm said
this morning that a decision on
whether or not the company will
seek to have the injunction over-
turned will be made late today.

He said that even if the ap-
peal is filed it is not likely to be
heard by the high court until
mid-September. The injunction
would remain in force during
the interim.

The restraining order was is-
sued Monday by Superior Court
Judge Leo V. Gaffney on the re-
quest of Local 45 of the United
Rubber Workers Union.

The union claimed that prod-
uction of the footwear samples
by non-union employes violated
an agreement signed by the
company and the union April 18
three days before the current
strike began.

Judge Gaffney indicated he
was issuing the order in an ef-
fort to prevent a recurrence of
violence on picket lines, such as
occurred earlier in the strike
when the company attempted to
make shipments from the Maple
St. plant.

Negotiations in the 89-day old
strike were scheduled to resume
today, it was reported by Ray-
mond Mengacci, vice president
of Local 45.

Uniroyal Resumes Talks With URW

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

7-21-67

Uniroyal Resumes Talks With URW

CLEVELAND (AP) — It’s three down and two to go, a United Rubber Worker spokesman said Thursday after the union and Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. agreed to a tentative three-year contract.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Uniroyal resume bargaining with the URW today.

Firestone, the B. F. Goodrich Co. and the General Tire & Rubber Co. all settled within one week for the same basic contract, setting a pattern that could be followed by the last two. firms.

A Firestone spokesman said it was the “largest package negotiated in 30 years.”

If ratified, the company said 17,000 production workers in 11 plants will go back to work as rapidly as facilities can be reopened and schedules established.

The hourly wage hike in the Firestone settlement is 43 cents over three years, with skilled workers getting an extra 10 cents the first year. Top hourly rate is now $3.88. The contract expires April 20, 1970. Various benefits also were increased.

Progress Signs Seen In Talks

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

Progress Signs Seen In Talks

Friday MAY 19, 1967 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK Negotiations between the United Rubber Workers and Uniroyal, Inc. are scheduled to continue today in Cincinnati, with informed sources indicating Thursday that signs of progress are being made.

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

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

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

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

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

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

UniRoyal – URW Show Cause Hearing Thurs.

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

UniRoyal – URW
Show Cause Saturday
Hearing Thurs. MAY 27, 1967

Superior Court Judge Leo V.
Gaffney continued the hearing
for an injunction sought by the
Chemical Division of UniRoyal
against the United Rubber
Workers Friday.

The continuance followed an
early morning session of peace-
ful picketing by Local 218 at
the Elm Street entrance to the
plant. No personnel were denied
entry.

In its court appearance
Thursday, the local must show
cause why an injunction should
not be issued against “illegal
picketing activities.” Eight
pickets were arrested at the
same gate Thursday morning.

At that time, pickets were
attempting to prevent manage-
ment personnel from entering
the plant to produce items said
to be necessary to the Viet-
nam war effort.

Judge Gaffney said he knew
“There was a spark of patrio-
tism” in everyone and added
that he hoped this would lead to
a lessening of tensions at the
Chemical plant.

Union President Joseph
Rzeszutek firmly denied that
any of the items produced
Thursday were going to Viet-
nam. He was one of the eight
arrested.

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.

Please Turn to Page 10

UniRoyal Struck As Talks In Ohio Come To Stop

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

UniRoyal Struck As Talks In Ohio Come To Stop

4-21-67 [handwritten notation]

PICKETS formed this morning on Maple St. in front of the Central Office of UniRoyal’s footwear division. Everything was done in an orderly fashion and no incidents have been reported. Negotiations between the rubber firm and the union broke down shortly after midnight today.

—(News photo by Nichols)

By CYNTHIA BARAN
and
RUTH NICHOLS

United Rubber Workers Union members struck UniRoyal, Inc., and three other giant rubber firms across the country today as contract negotiations in Ohio came to a halt.

Approximately 65,000 workers for the rubber firms are out, including some 22,000 UniRoyal employes, about 5,000 of which are in Naugatuck.

A company official said today it had offered to continue the contract on a day-to-day basis but that the union declined.

Negotiations broke down shortly after midnight this morning, and a new session has not been scheduled as yet.

The situation in Naugatuck is very quiet with everyone apparently keeping an eye to the Ohio negotiation scenes.

Local police, which has added 10 extra patrolmen to duty, reported no incidents.

UniRoyal workers maintained an all-evening vigil while waiting for word from the negotiation table in Cincinnati, Ohio. At 12:30 a.m., George Froehlich, president of Local 45, got a phone call through to headquarters with one word: Strike!

Within minutes, picketing was organized and third shift workers were pouring out of the gates. Several workers interviewed said they hoped the strike would end soon.

John Braziel, a member of Local 45, said, “Although we don’t like to go on strike, it is sometimes necessary to settle contract disputes.”

When asked what they will do during the strike, many workers, hoping the strike will not be too long, said they would “do spring cleaning in the house and in the yard,” “relax,” “picket.”

The strike affects four major rubber companies, Firestone, Goodrich, Goodyear and UniRoyal. In Naugatuck, the chemical, footwear and synthetic divisions will lie idle until the strike is settled.

Headquarters at the Portuguese Club were occupied all evening. Phone calls were frequent. By 11:30 the phones were ringing incessantly. At 11:45 Froehlich called informing the other union officials that Firestone had left the negotiation table, but that UniRoyal was still bargaining. He indicated that “it did not look good.”

It appears that the strike was called after the management of the company offered its counter proposal which did not satisfy the workers’ representatives.

Earlier in the evening, local residents speculated on the possibilities of a strike. “I think they’ll go on strike and if they do it’ll be a long one.” A store clerk, “I want one so I won’t be so busy here, but then again, I don’t want one because my mother will be home to keep a stricter eye on me.” Customer at a local gas station, “A strike is bad for any town.”

Froehlich Returns From Ohio Parleys

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

Froehlich Returns From Ohio Parleys

4/25/67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK—Union members of Locals 45 and 218 of United Rubber workers were informed on the progress of negotiations in Cincinnati although union officials declined to say what specifically had been discussed at the meetings Monday.

The presidents of the three locals, George Froehlich from Local 45, Joseph Rzeszutek from Local 218 and Edward Alves from Local 308, returned from Cincinnati over the weekend for a breather and a chance to talk to the union members.

Whether the meetings held were for information only or for policy review was not learned, although Froehlich siad he had “met with the executive board” Monday morning. He will return to Cincinnati today to resume negotiations Wednesday.

Although picketing remains quiet at the borough operations, with no official report of difficulties, officials of the Chemical Division, Local 218, report that members of the local will picket the plant “24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

In addition, it was reported, members will picket in three-hour shifts. Local 218 began a buildup of picketing Friday when some members decided to picket throughout the night and most of Saturday.

Local 45, Footwear Plant, continue to picket in two-hour shifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The same procedure is being used by Local 308.

The Associated Press reported that pickets from a rebel Chicago local paraded Monday at facilities of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. — the only one of the industry’s “Big Four” not hit by a URW strike.

Work continued on a day-by-day basis at Goodyear under a contract extension after the contract ran out Thursday.

Although talks are reportedly still in progress between Goodyear and the URW, some 500 members of Local 532 walked out at Goodyear’s industrial hose plant in North Chicago. Local leaders said they would try to urge other Goodyear locals to follow suit.

A score of pickets at the plant carried signs saying,”Must we stand alone?” and “Local 532 on strike.”

Besides the approximately 5,000 workers at the borough Uniroyal plants, some 16,000 other Uniroyal employes connected with the URW are on strike, as are 17,585 at Firestone and 10,930 at B. F. Goodrich.

Uniroyal Quiet After Flareup

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

Uniroyal Quiet After Flareup

5-5-67

NAUGATUCK — After a Thursday morning flareup between police and pickets at the Uniroyal Footwear Division plant, in which 50 people were arrested on charges of breach of peace, the scene became quiet for the remainder of the day, even to the point that pickets permitted a postal shipment to leave the main warehouse.

Negotiations between top management and labor representatives continued during the day in Cincinnati without settlement, and at the end of the day, the rumored injunction being sought by management had not been received.

Police Chief Frank J. Mariano said Thursday night that he attributed the calm which prevailed after the clash to the “excellent cooperation” among those arrested, particularly to two high ranking local officials.

Chief Mariano said that he felt that the police force, under the leadership of Capt. Joseph Summa, had done “an excellent job” quieting things down, but that the job might have been more difficult ha d Local 45 Vice President Raymond Mengacci and Local 218 Vice President Cyrus Blanchard not cooperated as they did.

The actions of Mengacci and Blanchard, said Chief Mariano, “averted possible rougher incidents.” When the two vice presidents were arrested, he added, the peaceful attitude which they exhibited set the tone for the remaining pickets, who went quietly to the police headquarters.

At about 5 p.m., according to Local 45 Secretary Rita Ruggiero, a postal shipment was permitted by pickets to leave the main warehouse. Rumors that a shipment would be made by helicopter remained rumors, and no such shipment was made.

The scuffle in the early hours of Thursday morning brought out the entire police force, some of whom had had only a few hours rest before the call to return to duty.

In addition to the regular force, supernumerary policemen were called out 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. The 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 commotions 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.

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 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

At 7:45 a.m., when workers for the 8 o’clock shift began to arrive, a second outbreak flared up, but was quickly squelched by police.

Those arrested during the second outbreak did not resist being taken to the police station, as the first group had.

As to what would happen Friday, when office workers and supervisory personnel are to return to work again, Mengacci said, “We haven’t got the slightest idea. We have been conferring with our attorneys, and we expect to play it by ear as we go along. We have heard that we will be served with an injunction, but have not received any word to date.”

Strike Scene Quiet Following Judge’s Warning To URW Union

February 18, 2026January 1, 1969 by OCR SCANNER

Strike Scene Quiet Following Judge’s Warning To URW Union

5-6-67 [handwritten notation in top right]

NAUGATUCK—Picketing at all three Uniroyal plants here was quiet today, following two days of scuffles by police and striking members of the United Rubber Workers union. Small clusters of pickets, mostly women, were on duty early today at the footwear plant where near-violence erupted both Thursday and Friday mornings.

It is not known if today’s peaceful picketing is the result of normal weekend inactivity at the plant or the result of a stern warning issued to strikers Friday by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney.

The judge warned the union to refrain from violence and any interference with operations of the Uniroyal plant, pending Tuesday’s court hearing on an injunction petition to halt mass picketing during the strike.

The rubberworkers struck the nationwide chain of Uniroyal plants two weeks ago. In the two days of clashes between union members and police, 64 strikers were arrested on breach of peace charges. The clashes occurred as police attempted to aid management personnel enter the Central Office of the footwear plant on Maple St. and were the basis for the firm’s action is seeking a court injunction to end mass picketing.

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 doors, no statements were issued and no comments were made.

Local 45 representatives said that they would leave the question of a statement to the discretion of Mayor Raytkwich, whose only comment was that the group had held “a round robin discussion.”

At about 1 p.m., only an hour before the hearing in Waterbury, police became involved in an incident with pickets who were trying to stop the passage of five railroad cars into a warehouse on Elm St. Several pickets and police were injured in the incident, and three were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.

When the session during which pickets were warned against mass picketing had ended, an injunction hearing was set for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

During the injunction hearing, the union must show cause why an order restraining it from engaging in mass picketing should not be issued.

In the meantime the strikers have been cautioned against any incidents which would interfere with the company’s business, and against any type of violence.

“In the event there is any interference with the operations of this plaintiff’s (Uniroyal’s) business or any violence of any sort or nature between now and such time as the court rules on the conjunction application,” Judge Gaffney said, “then upon a showing of the facts, a temporary restraining order will be issued forthwith.”

In its petition for the injunction, Uniroyal claims union members have “engaged in mass picketing . . . intercepted and blocked persons who approached the plant and plant premises by foot and by vehicle, pushing and shoving such persons, kicking them, stepping on their feet, calling them names in loud and menacing manner…”

The strikers “have congregated in large and unruly masses,” the action says, in attempts to block entrance to or exit from the plant “by threat of force or violence” and have “obstructed the police in the performance of their duties and made the employment of force and large numbers of police officers necessary, resulting in breaches of the peace and creating an atmosphere of fear and tension…”

By reason of such “unlawful acts and threats,” the company claims, it “has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations . . . and will continue to be unable to handle contracts with its customers, among which is the Defense Department of the United States Government for items needed in national defense…”

The company wants the court to issue an order restraining the pickets from engaging in mass picketing, from blocking entrances and exits to and from the plant and “from in any way injuring, damaging or destroying its plant, machines, equipment or stock of materials on hand.”

No property damage was reported throughout the three days of mass picketing, and the object of pickets was to prevent white collar employes from entering the plant.

Despite pleadings and warnings from officials of Local 45, pushing, shoving and subsequent arrests punctuated the early hours of Thursday and Friday. Forty-three pickets were arrested after clashes with police Thursday, and another 21 were arrested Friday.

Union officials charged that the early morning incident Friday was deliberately provoked by the company, which had been taking pictures at the scene to bolster efforts to get the court injunction against mass picketing.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 1, No. 1 – Page 1

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Merry Christmas – Happy New Year

UNIROYAL CHEM-texts

Vol. 1 PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL No. 3

QUALITY . . The Most Important Ingredient

(One of the difficulties of modern industry is the loss of quality or pride of workmanship which identified “handmade” products of the past. Mr. D.E. Fowler, manager of Distribution and Scheduling has put down some thoughts on the subject of quality which are well worth considering. Ed.)

Our business depends on our customers wanting to buy our products in preference to buying similar materials from our competitors. Our continued growth, and even our maintaining present business depends on our supplying better products, with more dependable quality and shipping the materials when and how the customer wants them. In short, we must do a superior job with respect to quality and service.

A customer will prefer to buy from the supplier in which he has confidence. Confidence that our product will always perform in his application because its quality is good and does not change, and that we will get the material to him as we have agreed to do and he can depend on continuing his operations. Confidence in us is first built by our Sales organization, but must be maintained by all of us

throughout the organization, and all of us must avoid the many pitfalls that tend to destroy it.

Quality itself is a result of the processing and workmanship and graded by testing and we are always striving for a uniform product, but beyond this the impression that we make on the customer can be injured by poor appearing packages, torn or dirty outer packages, crushed cartons, dented drums, indistinct labeling, accidental inclusion of foreign objects, etc. These throw doubt on the quality of the workmanship on the product itself.

Of equal importance is service, which is getting the product to the customer when he wants it. The fear that a supplier might shut their operation down through failure to deliver is an important consideration. Any failure to supply intensifies this fear and

reduces our chance of continuing as the supplier. It is not necessary to shut him down this time by being a day or so later than we had promised, he worries about the next time and has to decide whether we are or are not as reliable a supplier as he can find. Shipment delays are caused by a number of types of happenings including quality rejections of products that we depended on to ship, sampling delays, testing delays, process difficulties, equipment breakdowns as well as failures of carriers to pickup a shipment as scheduled, carrier breakdown or otherwise detained in transit. Failures to ship the amount requested, or to follow customers requests as to markings, notification of shipment, prompt test reports, or using specified carriers, etc. are annoyances to the customer that lessen our chances of continuing as his supplier.

The best possible job by everyone in our organization to build customer confidence will contribute considerably to our continued business growth.

NEW WAY TO TEST TIRES

[IMAGE: Motorized vehicle with cattle in field]

Besides tending 250 head of cattle, this motorized cowhand is testing our tires at the Laredo, Texas, tire proving ground. In a new program, ranchers who rent part of our land at Laredo are equipped with company tires which are inspected regularly for damage from the rocky terrain and needle-like cactus plants. The test program is part of our continuing effort to find new ways of preventing tire punctures.

LOCAL 308 RATIFIES NEW AGREEMENT

The tentative agreement reached between the Company and Local #308 Union Negotiating Committee on 10-26-67 was ratified unanimously at membership meetings held on 11-8-67. The

provisions of the new supplemental agreement, as well as the improved benefits of the 1967 Company-wide Agreement, including vacations and anniversary pay, have been made effective as of 10-26-67.

Strikes Affect Sales, Earnings During Third Quarter and Nine Month Periods

Strikes at 19 tire, C & I and chemical plants caused sales and profits to decline for the third quarter and first nine months, George R. Vila, chairman and president, announced.

Third quarter sales declined 8.6% to $287,367,000, compared with $314,398,000 last year. Net income was $7,563,000, or 51 cents a share of common stock. This compared with $11,631,000, or 84 cents, in 1966.

Earnings in August and September exceeded the same months in 1966 and, if it had not been for the strike, earnings for the quarter would have been improved over the same period last year.

Sales during the first nine months totaled $924,329,000, 5.8 per cent lower than last year’s $981,448,000. Net income for the nine months

came to $18,663,000, compared with $35,692,000 last year. Earnings were $1.20 a share, compared with $2.59 for the same period of 1966.

Third quarter results also were affected by the vacation shutdowns provided in labor agreements, Mr. Vila said. Time was required to start up the plants after the strikes

and vacations. Product inventories were depleted or out of balance, thus curtailing filling of customer orders. Following agreement on the master labor contract, the company started negotiation of local plant supplements. The Opelika, Ala. tire plant was struck for 37 days ending only in mid-October.

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHT

In 1904, a Danish post office worker conceived the idea of a small stamp for Christmas letters and parcels in order to raise funds to set up a children’s tuberculosis hospital. The stamps sold for a penny each. Three years later a small dwelling used as a tuberculosis hospital in Delaware was about to be closed because of lack of funds. A woman who was interested in the hospital heard about the Danish post office worker and enlisted the aid of a leading Philadelphia newspaper to help put over a similar drive. The paper backed this drive and before Christmas rolled around, $3,000, ten

times the amount needed, had been raised. That was the beginning – today, 63 years later, Christmas seals are still the principal means of support in the fight against tuberculosis and respiratory diseases. We can all help to spread the word by buying Christmas Seals in 1967. Use them in good health.

[IMAGES: Christmas 1967 seals and Greetings 1967 stamps shown]

RETIREMENTS

U.S. RUBBER

[IMAGE: Photo of Mr. Domingos Matos]

Mr. Domingos Matos, Pleasant Avenue, Naugatuck, retired recently with 29 years of Company service from the Reclaim Production department.

[IMAGE: Photo of Silverio Barroqueiro]

Silverio Barroqueiro, recent retiree from Reclaim Production will travel to Portugal after 26 years service.

[IMAGE: Large industrial storage tank being lifted]

ABOVE: One of two, 50,000# storage tanks for cracked stock is being readied for installation in bldg. #17 of the Reclaim plant. When in place, the tank reached from the first floor to a point above the roof. The unit is part of the Reclaim modernization program and will be a feed tank for the fibre separation department. A complete story of the modernization of our Reclaim Production facilities will appear in a later issue of “Chem-Texts”.

URW Rejects

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

6-9-67

URW Rejects

Continued From Page 1

Supplemental Unemployment Benefits – Regular benefits increased from 65% of average pay (plus $2 for up to four dependents, with a maximum payment of $50) to 75% of average pay with no maximums. Short work week benefits increased in all cases to 75% of average pay. Company contributions increased from 5¢ per hour to 6¢ per hour when the sub fund falls below 100%. Sub fund increased from $250 to $350 per employee.
Miscellaneous Contract Clauses – These include up to 40 hours pay, depending upon the size of the plant for union time study men, increased pay for union grievance meetings and arbitration hearings, a greatly improved safety committee clause and a number of other contract proposals and clarifying letters of commitment.
Pensions – A 60% increase in regular pensions from $3.25 to $5.25 per month per year of service. A 60% increase in disability pensions from $6.50 to $10.50 per month per year of service. An increase of $1.50 per month per year of service for living pensioners who were retired after July 1, 1950.
Life Insurance – An increase in Company paid insurance from $6,500 to $7,500 for active employees.
Hospitalization – An increase in the coverage for the maximum stay in the hospital from 365 to 730 days.
X-Ray and Radium Therapy – An increase in the aggregate maximum payment from $200 to $300.
Visiting Nurse – An increase in the maximum daily payment from $6 to $7.
Surgical – Provide for full payment of the reasonable and customary fees prevailing in the area for the surgical procedures.
Sickness and Accident Benefits – An increase in benefits according to the employees average earnings with a minimum of $50 per week and a maximum of $80 per week. (Average coverage to be $70.) Eliminate present 7 day waiting period and provide sick benefits from first day of hospital confinement as a registered bed patient.

Union Demands, Logical Attainable – Bommarito

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Union Demands, Logical Attainable – Bommarito

6-10-67 [handwritten notation at top]

United Rubber Worker President Peter Bommarito said the union’s demands are “logical, justifiable and attainable.”

According to a UniRoyal spokesman yesterday, the URW’s demands would cost at least $1.40 an hour. The companies value their offers at more than 70 cents an hour.

Bommarito said there are a number of issues involving working conditions that must be settled before a contract can be reached.

He was pessimistic about prospects of a quick settlement, but other ranking union officials said the new offers should at least provide a basis for agreement.

The URW membership of the borough Locals learned yesterday for the first time, exactly what the companies were offering. UniRoyal mailed to all employees, a letter stating what the offer comprised. The union rejected the offer late Tuesday afternoon.

The 50-day old strike is taking its toll financially from everyone concerned, the membership, the union and the company as well as business in town.

The union, at the onset of the strike, had been promised financial help from the auto industry union, but were forced to announce that strike benefit checks were being cut from $25 to $15 beginning with this week’s check.

Hopes ran high this week, locally, that the strike would end soon. However, yesterday’s announcement ended this hope.

Only three of the “big five” rubber companies are struck. Workers at UniRoyal, Firestone and Goodrich are out while employes of Goodyear and General Tire are working on a day-to-day basis.

Negotiating session were recessed for the weekend and are scheduled to be resumed Monday.

Negotiators To Study URW Counter-Proposal

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

6/12-67

Negotiators To Study URW Counter-Proposal

The five major rubber companies in the U.S. will consider a URW proposal today after two contracts which were proposed by the companies last week were rejected by the union.

One source said the union counter-proposal is only slightly different from its original demand which, according to the companies, would cost the companies an additional $1.40 for each employee.

The company offered a three-year contract and tried to include pension and welfare negotiations, which has habitually come under separate contract. The current welfare-pension contract does not expire until September.

In their offer, the companies provided a $.38 wage increase for tire workers and $.31 increase to non-tire workers.

URW are demanding equal across-the board raises for all employees, while the companies claim that this would worsen their already poor competitive position in non-tire products.

URW President Peter Bommarito stated that the union is prepared to continue its strike for another month. Local UniRoyal employees are beginning to look a little grey about the pocketbook with Bommarito’s statement and the reduced strike benefit checks.

Alleged promises from the United Auto Workers union to aid the URW strikers financially has not yet materialized.

The strike goes into its 53rd day today, with 50,000 employees of Firestone, Goodrich and UniRoyal idle.

After the weekend recess, the companies, which had time to study the union offer during the respite, and the URW will resume negotiations at the bargaining table.

Local URW Answers Company’s Letter

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Local URW Answers Company’s Letter

6-12-67

Raymond Mengacci Vice-President of Local #45, stated today he didn’t want to get into a debate with factory manager Mr. Jack Smith, or try to negotiate an agreement here in Naugatuck, especially through the newspapers, when both the Company and the Union committees are having a hard enough time in Cincinnati, Ohio, doing this, without interference that might hamper negotiations in any way in Cincinnati. But that he had no recourse other than to answer some of the statements made by Mr. Smith, in the letter that he sent out to the employes of the Naugatuck footwear plant and for publication in the newspapers.

Mr. Mengacci stated that when the Union netotiating committee left for Cincinnati they were going there for the sole purpose to make a sincere effort to negotiate a contract and wage agreement with the Uni-Royal Co. before the April 20th deadline. This was the only agreement that was discussed at the membership meeting of Local #45.

Negotiations began in Cincinnati on March 21, 1967, but it wasn’t until April 12, 1967 that the Company made its first and finale offer to the Union on contract and wages. This was eight (8) days before the deadline.

Mr. Mengacci stated never in all his experience on negotiating committees or that of Pres. Froehlich who has more than he, did they ever hear of anything like this the first offer was also the last. No one can call this negotiating. This has never been done before.

And it wasn’t until a few days later that the Union found out that this was being done in all of the “Big Five” (5) rubber companies, not just Uni-Royal.

The Union also found out that these Companies had made a mutual pact designed to protect any struck company against financial losses. We, in the Union, were always led to believe that these Companies were in competition with one another. This we found is not so, they have a much better Union than we have.

Mr. Smith also goes on to say in his letter, that the Company had made an effort to open the Pension and Insurance agreement with the Union so that they could negotiate all matters to a conclusion. This is correct. The Union informed the Company that this agreement does not terminate until Sept. 15, 1967, and that the Union was in no position to negotiate this agreement because first of all they had not discussed this with their membership to see what changes the members wanted to make. Also they had made no preparation whatsoever among themselves on Pension and Insurance to discuss this question intelligently with the Company.

Mr. Smith goes on to say in his letter, that the Union did not present to the Company their full proposal until 11 a.m. on April 19, just 37 hours before the strike deadline. This is correct but why was this so. The Union felt that if they received from the Company the correct interpretation of the Clauses that are in the Working agreement now, and the way they were intented to be interpreted, at least in the Unions viewpoint, before there was a change in the head negotiator for the Company, they would not have to make any changes.

But the Union found out that the Company’s new Head Negotiator was not giving the same interpretation, so therefore, the Union had to come in with some new proposals. The Union would not be able to live with some of the interpretation the new Company Head Negotiator was giving, and all these interpretations were under Article nine (9) Working Condition, which are very important to our members.

Just ask some of our members especially those that work in the Making and Stitching Departments what conditions that they have to work under. Production in many cases have increased by 25 to 30 per cent in the last few years. This is with the same number of operators and in many cases less. Many of these employees can tell you that their weekly earnings are less now even though they received two wage increases in the past few years. This is all because they cannot make any-

where near the efficiency’s that they were making a few years ago. This is the reason why the Union had to make some late proposals to the Company. But if the Company wanted to make a sincere effort to reach an agreement they still had plenty of time to do so.

Now let’s talk about the difference in wage increases between the tire plants and the non-tire plants. We have asked the Company many times to open up their books in Naugatuck. If they can show the Union that they are losing money or are not making the profits that they are entitled to make, then the Union would take another look at their demands for uniform wage increases. This they have refused to do, so therefore the Union does not believe that the non-tire plants are putting the UniRoyal Company in a severe economic squeeze if they grant the same increases as tires.

As long as we are talking about wages increases, it is very interesting to not that President George R. Vila‘s wages were increased from $168,821 in 1965 to $239,033 in 1966 this a $70,212 increase or 41.6% in one year. Also Vice-

Please Turn to Page 12

Widzionjez Trial

Local URW

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Local URW 6-12-67

Continued From Page 1

President Walter D. Baldwin’s
wages were increased from
$83,025 in 1965 to $113,395 in
1966 an increase of $30,370 or
36.6% in one year.

The union is not saying that
these men do not deserve this
increase they probably deserve
more for the job that they are
doing, but if the Company wants
to talk percentages, then let’s
talk percentages from top to
bottom.

We are happy that the Com-
pany has seen fit to increase
the vacation allowance for em-
ployes that have one to five
years of seniority. What about
the employe with ten or more
years of seniority. The Com-
pany has not seen fit to do any-
thing for these employes. Why?

Miscellaneous Contract
Clauses – We admit that the
Company has improved some of
these clauses and also given the
Union some clarifying letter of
commitment. Yet can Mr. Smith
tell the Union why is it that
when the Union asked the Com-
pany to give them a letter of
commitment, which would not
cost the Company one penny,
and that they treat our mem-
bers that work for UniRoyal
Inc. with decency and respect,
the Company refused. If mem-
bers of management expect our
members to treat them with de-
cency and respect, then we ex-
pect the same from manage-
ment. A written commitment
that this would be done would
go a long way in reaching a
settlement.

I would also like Mr. Smith
to explain to his employes that
belong to our Union, why is it
that when the Union ask the
UniRoyal Company to grant our
people seven (7) paid sick days
a year, the Company said that
this was too costly, yet every
person that works for manage-
ment gets ten (10) paid sick
days a year. The only thing
our members get if they take
10 days off in one year is an
unfavorable notation on their
personal cards. This is very
hard to digest.

The Company has not seen fit
to do anything for our hourly
rated employe and also a night
shift bonus, even though we have
one of the lowest night shift
bonuses in the area.

I do not want to elaborate on
the Pension & Insurance part

Rubber-Labor Pact Is Possible This Week; General Tire Increases Its Offer to Union

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

6-12-67

Rubber-Labor Pact Is Possible This Week; General Tire Increases Its Offer to Union

By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter

AKRON—After a week of marked progress in negotiations, the United Rubber Workers union and five major rubber companies will reopen bargaining sessions at 10 a.m. today with some expectation of reaching a single-package settlement covering wages, pensions and welfare benefits before another week passes.

A settlement would end the strike against three of the major concerns—Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Uniroyal, Inc. and B. F. Goodrich Co.—which has idled 51,000 workers for 53 days since former contracts expired April 20. It would also conclude negotiations with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and General Tire & Rubber Co., where production has continued on a day-to-day basis despite similar contract expirations.

Separate bargaining sessions with the five companies began making headway last week. Management offered wage boosts totaling 38 cents an hour for tire workers and 31 cents for other production workers over three years, plus pension-and-welfare-contract improvements. The package was technically rejected by the union as inadequate, but it opened the door to several counter proposals presumably being studied by the companies.

Differentials an Obstacle

At the weekend, General Tire was said to have sweetened its offer on several points, boosting the pay proposal for tire workers to 40 cents an hour over three years and offering further pension, vacation and supplemental unemployment benefit payments. General’s contract negotiations, however, cover only 3,000 workers in two tire plants, in Akron and Waco, Texas, while those of the four other concerns cover other production workers as well. The proposed differentials between tire workers and other production employes could still be a difficult obstacle in this week’s talks.

General’s wage offer for tire workers would break down to 15 cents in 1967, 13 cents in 1968 and 12 cents in 1969. The 38-cent offer of the other concerns comprises 16 cents this year and 11 cents in each of the next two years.

Peter Bommarito, URW international president, termed the offers of the four companies, other than General, as representing a gain of less than 4.5% compared with what he said has been a 5.8% raise granted in other manufacturing industries. He also called for the naming of an independent fact-finding board to determine the “fairness” of the union’s demands.

Uniroyal, in a letter to employes, put the gain in wage and other improvements at “about 5%” and said its offer would cost the company about 70 cents an hour, the largest proposal it had ever made to the union. Firestone and Goodrich also sent letters to employes discussing the negotiations, with Goodrich also putting its offer as “in line with the 5% pattern” set in other industries.

Another improvement in General’s weekend offer, which Mr. Bommarito yesterday called “attractive” as a basis for a settlement, was an improvement in supplemental unemployment benefits payments providing for 80% of average straight-time pay for laid-off workers or for those on short workweeks; this total would include unemployment compensation. Offers of the other companies had provided for up to 75% of straight-time pay. The previous contract called for up to 65% plus $2 for each dependent up to four.

The union has demanded as a “full employment” plan, or guaranteed annual wage, payments of up to 95% of regular straight-time pay for laid-off workers, including unemployment compensation. The union has put the company cost for this at 7 cents an hour per worker, up from the present 5 cents. The companies’ offer has been about 6 cents.

General’s offer also included a provision for six weeks’ vacation after 30 years’ service and two weeks after one year’s, along with existing intermediate vacations. The other companies made no provision for six weeks’ vacation but offered three weeks after five years’ service, along with other existing vacation allowances.

The pension-payment propsosal by General also was a bit higher than the increase to $5.25 per month from $3.25 for each year of service proposed by the others. Though the General amount wasn’t specified, it was understood to be close to $5.50 per month for each year of service.

Mr. Bommarito also disputed the companies’ claims that their “total-package” offers represented employment-cost increases of 70 cents an hour. He estimated them at about 64 cents for General’s package and 60 cents for the others.

Other Benefits

All the offers also included improvements in life insurance, hospitalization, sickness and accident insurance, an additional increase of 10 cents an hour for skilled tradesmen and improvements in grievance-pay allowances.

Should a settlement be achieved on a “single-package” basis, it would be the first time in the rubber industry. Pension and welfare matters have previously been reserved to a separate contract, the existing one due to expire next Sept. 15. Previously, however, the wage contract and pension agreements have expired on at least alternate years. The proximity of the pension-contract expiration this year to the wage contract’s conclusion was held to be an obstacle to an earlier settlement on wages.

The companies acknowledged they were reluctant to “expose” themselves to a substantial wage-cost increase only to be faced in a few months with another strike threat over pension and other welfare matters. Until two weeks ago, however, the union apparently had been adamant about keeping the two contracts separate.

General Tire Offers “Attractive Package”

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Rubber Strike

6-13-67

General Tire Offers “Attractive Package”

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Negotiators in the national rubber strike today prepared for another long session over the problems of wages, contract length, the elimination of differentials in wage hikes, employes and job security.

Three of the nation’s five largest rubber companies have been on strike for 54 days, with about 55,000 employes idled around the country.

In Connecticut, some 5,500 workers at three UniRoyal plants in Naugatuck are affected by the walkout. There are no other unionized rubber industry plants in the state.

Wage contracts expired April 20 between the United Rubber Workers (URW) and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Uniroyal Inc., and B. F. Goodrich Co.

Day-to-Day

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., whose contract expired the same day, and General, whose contract expired May 15, continued production on a day-to-day basis.

A break seemed most likely to occur in talks with General Tire & Rubber, which has proposed a slightly higher package than the other four companies.

General boosted its pay proposal for tire workers from 38 to 40 cents per hour over three years, and offered increased fringe benefits, particularly in the crucial area of supplementary unemployment benefits.

Spokesmen for the other four companies would not say if their negotiators were following suit.

Wages Behind

URW President Peter Bommarito said the wage offers of the four companies, including General, would leave the rubber workers behind other industries. He said the rubber companies are offering 4.5 per cent increases, as opposed to the 5.8 per cent national pattern.

In letters to their employes, the three struck companies set the percentage of their offer at 5 per cent, its cost at 70 cents per hour, and its size as the largest in industry history.

The companies said the fringe benefits are substantial and an increase in supplementary unemployment benefits from 65 per cent of straight time pay to 75 per cent will cost them six cents per hour alone.

The union has demanded unemployment payments of up to 95 per cent of basic wages. Bommarito calls this request “a full-employment plant.”

“Attractive” Basis

General had raised its offer on supplementary unemployment benefits to 80 per cent. This proposal won Bommarito’s approval as an “attractive” basis for settlement. General also increased vacation and pension benefits.

The tire workers now average $3.69 per hour. Company employes in other divisions make an average of $2.68. The last two settlements have increased the differential. Bommarito insists the next settlement grant equal raises to both types of production workers.

The request does not affect General, which is negotiating for only 3,000 tire workers in Akron and Waco, Tex. But the other four companies maintain they can only offer 31 per cent wage increases to non-tire workers.

Please Turn to Page 12

Local Strike

General Tire

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

(Conn.) Tues., June 13, 1967

General Tire

Continued From Page 1

For the first time, the negotiators, at management’s request, were grappling with wages and all fringe benefits in one package. Traditionally, three-year welfare pension contracts and two-year wage contracts are negotiated separately. The welfare pension contracts do not expire until fall.

Another improvement in General’s weekend offer, which Bommarito called “attractive” as a basis for settlement, was an improvement in supplemental unemployment benefit payments providing for 80 per cent of average straight-time pay for laid-off workers or for those on short work-weeks.

This total would include unemployment compensation. Offers of the other companies provided for 75 per cent of straight pay.

General’s offer includes a provision for six weeks vacation after 30 year’s service and two weeks after one year’s service along with existing intermediate vacations.

It is understood that the General proposal for pensions has been upped close to $5.50 per month for each month of service.

Should a settlement be achieved on a “single package” basis, it would be the first time in the rubber industry. Pensions and welfare matters have previously been reserved to a separate contract, the existing one due to expire next Sept. 15.

Previously however, the wage contract and pension agreements have expired on at least alternate years. The proximity of the pension – contract’s conclusion was held to be an obstacle to an earlier settlement of wages.

The companies acknowledged they were reluctant to expose themselves to a substantial wage-cost increase, only to be faced in a few months with another strike over pensions and other welfare matters. Until two weeks ago, however, the union apparently had been adamant about keeping the two contracts separate.

Strike Settlement Hopes “Wilting”

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Strike Settlement Hopes “Wilting”

6-15-67

Governor John Dempsey acknowledged the letter received from the borough seeking his intervention in the UniRoyal strike affecting three borough plants. He said in a letter to Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich, that State Labor Commissioner Renato E. Ricciuti is maintaining close contact with the progress of the negotiations, and that Ricciuti will continue to keep him informed of the situation.

The Governor however, did not commit himself to positive action as had been requested by a vote of the Borough Board in a motion by Burgess Edward McGrath, (R), Third Ward.

Word from Ohio this morning simply states that negotiations are continuing with neither the union or the companies commenting on the progress.

Last week’s hopes for a settlement on the new company offer, appear to be wilting. The basic problems seem to remain the same.

According to sources, the heaviest negotiation is between Goodrich and Firestone and the Union. Progress depends on the outcome of these sessions.

Management has challenged the claim of the Union that its proposal will cost only 73 cents. Union negotiators, taken by surprise, said that management was using weighted wage figures and accused them of inflating the cost of the economic package in the Union’s counterproposal.

Management, according to sources, is including the costs of over-time and machine downtime.

A Union spokesman said yesterday that this item was no longer a major obstacle and hinted that the Union may be reconsidering the apparent cost of its package offer.

The efficiency rating system used at one of the plants seems now to be a bone of contention. A person who works at a particular job is expected to turn out a certain number of articles before he is entitled to full pay. Assuming no breakdowns on the machine, if an employe does not meet his efficiency rating he will not receive full pay.

The Union contends that the older person cannot always produce what a younger employe can and some of the ratings are therefore too high, according to a spokesman.

Union funds are dwindling as the strike continues. Here in Naugatuck, where 5,500 workers are out on strike, benefit checks, even though they have been cut, amount to approximately $577,500.

Strikers are resorting to the purchase of food stamps to supplement their $15 weekly benefit checks as their personal funds are depleated.

The question of the Uni-Royal annual shut-down vacation period in August is a topic of conversation in the borough. Many workers were hoping to be back to work well in advance of this time. Vacation plans are being altered.

Strike Situation: No New Developments In Negotiations

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Strike Situation: No New Developments In Negotiations

6-14-67

AKRON, Ohio – Spokesmen said today that despite the progressive tone of talks between the United Rubber Workers and the General Tire and Rubber Co., there were no new developments in contract negotiations.

General had offered a slightly higher wage package than other members of the industry’s big five.

URW President Peter Bommarito said the offers of the companies, excluding General Tire, would leave rubber workers behind other industries.

A major block in the settlement of the strike was the union’s demand for unemployment payments of up to 95 per cent of basic wages. The rubber companies have described the demand as tantamount to “a guaranteed annual wage.”

Elimination of the pay differential between tire and non-tire workers was also a key union demand.

Locally

At a Local 45 membership meeting in May, President George Froehlich reportedly said that the union would not go for a three-year contract nor an agreement that would include pension or fringe benefits.

No new information on the progress of the negotiations in Cincinnati has been released today. Members of the three Locals in the borough, suffering from 54 days without work, are anxious for news of the sessions.

Local strikers, speaking as individuals, are eager for another meeting of the membership.

Union officials have explained that the promised financial help from the auto industry union was in the form of a loan which the union decided not to take, but rather to cut the amount of benefits to its members and seek to raise additional monies from the working members employed at General Tire and Goodyear.

However, one week’s collection amounted to only $6,000 in donations.

Local URW members, when questioned, are wondering if the hold-up in settlement will, in the long run, prove beneficial to the members here in the borough. Local 45 with its more than 4,000 members, is one of the largest in the URW.

URW To Expand Strike

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

General Tire Added

6-17-67

URW To Expand Strike

AKRON, Ohio—Another rubber company was added to the three already on strike Friday when the executive board of the United Rubber Workers Union voted to send out General Tire and Rubber Co. workers.

More than 3,000 employes in two plants, Akron and Waco, Texas, will be directly affected by the walkout.

Top sources indicated that the picketing would begin sometime during the coming week, possibly Monday or Tuesday.

This is the only major change in the picture, and Uniroyal negotiations were reported as making no progress Friday.

The fact that General Tire’s URW members will be on strike is expected to put pressure on Goodyear, the only company of the so called “big five” not on strike.

General Tire executives were informed of the executive board’s decision Friday evening.

The picketing will also porbably put pressure on the union’s strike fund, already seriously depleted. What financial action the union plans to take to alleviate pressure was not learned Friday.

Although the United Auto Workers union had promised financial aid to the striking union in the form of a loan, the URW has been hesitant to accept the loan and has tried, instead, to raise money through donations from URW members still working.

These efforts have been reportedly unsuccessful, and the original strike fund of $6.5 million has been drained at a rate of $1.25 million a week.

Unfair labor practice charges filed by International Union Pres. Peter Bommarito are presently being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.

Bommarito charged that the strike pact agreed upon by the companies involved in the negotiations was hindering progress.

The pact reportedly states that companies affected by a strike will be given financial aid by those which are not struck.

Obstacles preventing a settlement at the present time were reported Friday as being mainly economic.

The union feels that the value of the economic offers being made by the companies is not high enough yet.

Sources also indicated that the supplemental unemployment benefits are not high enough, and may well end up as the number one obstacle to a settlement.

According to those close to the negotiations, the companies have a “philosophical objection” to paying people for not working.

In addition it is possible that the auto manufacturers are putting pressure on the rubber firms not to grant the so-called guaranteed annual wage because the car companies will be facing the same request when the United Auto Workers begin talks in July.

The union’s counter proposal, submitted over a week ago, is still being discussed. Talks recessed for the weekend Friday and are scheduled to resume Monday.

Fourth Rubber Co. Struck By URW

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Fourth Rubber Co. Struck By URW

6-17-67

The Executive Board of the United Rubber Workers union has voted to call its members out from another of the “Big Five” rubber companies.

More than 3,000 employes in two plants of General Tire and Rubber Co., located in Akron, Ohio, and Waco, Texas, will be involved.

According to sources, picketing at these plants will begin either Monday or Tuesday.

With this new move, union

Local 45 URW has called a mass meeting of its membership for Monday, June 19, at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Naugatuck High School.

President of Local 45, home from negotiations sessions in Cincinnati, will address the members and bring them up to date on the progress of the negotiations.

workers in four of the five rubber companies will be out. The fact that General Tire’s URW members will be on strike is expected to put pressure on Goodyear, the only working company.

General Tire executives were informed of the executive board’s decision Friday evening.

The picketing will also probably put pressure on the union’s strike fund, already seriously depleted. What financial action the union plans to take to alleviate pressure was not learned Friday.

working.

Obstacles preventing a settlement at the present time were reported Friday as being mainly economic.

The union feels that the value of the economic offers being made by the companies is not high enough yet.

Sources also indicated that the supplemental unemployment benefits are not high enough, and may well end up as the number one obstacle to a settlement.

According to those close to the negotiations, the companies have a “philosophical objection” to paying people for not working.

The union’s counter proposal submitted over a week ago, is still being discussed. Talks recessed for the weekend Friday and are scheduled to resume Monday.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — The impasse over negotiations in the national rubber strike remained unbroken today with increasing signs the 52,000 striking employes and the United Rubber Workers Union were feeling the pinch.

Rubber workers here—where nearly 10,000 have been on strike for 59 days—were applying for welfare benefits in increasing numbers.

Mrs. Joyce N. Artis, Summit County welfare department representative, said 78 applications

Please turn to Page 10

4 Rubber Firms Now On Strike

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

6-19-67

4 Rubber Firms Now On Strike

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — The United Rubber Workers (URW) called a strike Sunday against General Tire & Rubber Co., the fourth of the big five tire producers to be hit by a walkout.

Some 1,300 workers at General’s Waco, Tex., plant voted to strike at midnight Sunday. General’s plant here, which employs 1,800, will be struck Wednesday, according to union officials.

The strike at General will bring to 54,100 the number on strike across the nation.

The URW strike against Firestone Tire & Rubber, B. F. Goodrich and Uniroyal entered its 59th day Sunday, breaking the old strike record of 58 set against Firestone in 1959.

Work continued at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on a day-to-day basis after the URW’s contract expired April 20.

Contract talks between the big five producers and the URW resume today.

Federal Mediation Begins Tomorrow In Rubber Strike

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Federal Mediation Begins Tomorrow In Rubber Strike

6-21-67 [handwritten]

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Federal mediators will meet Thursday in Pittsburgh with negotiators for the five major rubber companies and the United Rubber Workers Union in an effort to break the nine-week strike in the rubber industry.

William Simkin, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, made the announcement Tuesday in Washington. Simkin said he would join the other federal mediators who have been trying to end the strike against Firestone, Uni-Royal and B.F. Goodrich.

Nearly 52,000 workers have been idled in factories across the country by the strike, already the longest in industry history.

A spokesman for the United Rubber Workers said Tuesday that no progress had been made in negotiations during the day. Nearly 3,000 more URW members, at the General Tire and Rubber Co. facilities here and in Waco, Tex., are expected to walk out at midnight tonight.

URW President Peter Bommarito said the locals at the two plants voted to strike over the weekend when negotiations failed Friday to reach an accord on pensions.

The strike against Goodrich, Firestone, and UniRoyal began April 20 when wage working conditions contracts expired. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. contract expired the same day, but production had continued on a day to day basis, as it did in the General Tire plants after their contract expired May 15.

In Naugatuck, Conn. the strike has crippled production at three UniRoyal plants.

Simkin said in telegrams to the union and the five companies that “Both sides have a public responsibility to exert every effort to reach an agreement.” He said the strike was hurting the companies, the workers, and the communities involved.

Federal Mediation 6-21-67 [handwritten]

Continued From Page 1

gotiators.

This meeting could go on for weeks, according to a union spokesman. He added that union officials are tightening their jaws and preparing to hold out for their demands.

At the heart of the dispute were union demands for substantial wage increases and supplementary unemployment benefits that would bring pay for workers laid off to 95 per cent of their regular straight time pay.

The companies have broadened negotiations to include discussions of pensions and welfare benefits. All five companies have made offers of a three-year contract that would wrap up wages, welfare, pensions and working conditions in one settlement.

Wage contracts and pension contracts have been traditionally negotiated separately in the rubber industry, the two-year wage contracts expiring in the spring and three-year pension contracts ending in the fall.

The union strike benefit fund, at $6.5 million when the strike began, is exhausted, and strike benefits have been reduced from $25 to $15.

Tire inventories of the three struck companies have been substantially reduced, but there is no indication of shortages of passenger tires yet. Original equipment supplies are believed sufficient to the end of the model year. The five companies have a mutual strike assistance pact. The URW has been trying to have this pact declared an unfair labor practice.

Local 45, URW, announced this morning that its President George Froehlich had been selected as one of a three-man team to attend the mediation sessions in Pittsburgh. Froehlich, they said, received the largest number of votes to represent the union in talks concerning UniRoyal.

The chief UniRoyal management negotiator will be Eugene Worchester and the chief UniRoyal union negotiator will be Herbert Dawson. It is not known who the third man on the UniRoyal negotiating team will be.

The feeling among union people, according to a union spokesman, is that government included settlements generally go in favor of management.

This represents the second attempt to get all of the “Big Five” companies and union to sit down at the same table and talk. The first effort was thwarted by Goodrich union ne-

Union Seeking Restraining Order Against UniRoyal

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

To Stop Production

6-22-67

Union Seeking Restraining Order Against UniRoyal

Federal Mediation In Rubber Strike Begins Today

PITTSBURGH (UPI) — In an effort to end the longest strike in rubber industry history, the federal government summoned negotiators for the nation’s top five producers and the United Rubber Workers (URW) to Pittsburgh today for a joint bargaining session.

Employes of UniRoyal, Inc., B. F. Goodrich and Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. walked out 63 days ago when their old contract expired.

The URW struck General Tire & Rubber Co. plants in Akron, Ohio, and Waco, Tex., last midnight to bring to 54,000 the number of workers on strike across the nation.

Operations at Goodyear tire plants continued on a day-to-day basis.

Firestone and General negotiators had been meeting in Cleveland, Goodyear and UniRoyal in Cincinnati, and Goodrich in Columbus, Ohio, until William E. Simkin, chief of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, asked all five groups to meet here.

The first session was scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m. in the Penn Sheraton Hotel.

The issues blocking a settlement included wage hikes, supplemental unemployment benefits, wage differentials between tire and “non-tire” employes and the length of the contract.

All the companies except General offered the URW wage hikes of 38 cents an hour for tire employes and 31 cents for “non-tire” employes offered a 40-cent an hour hike and supplemental unemployment benefits totaling 80 per cent of the workers’ wage.

Supplemental Benefits

The union had sought supplemental benefits of 95 per cent. The companies claimed the union demand amounted to a “guaranteed annual wage.”

URW President Peter Bommarito also asked that the “non-tire” workers receive the same wage hikes as other employes.

Tire employes averaged $3.68 cents an hour under the old contract and other workers, $2.69.

For the first time, the URW and the companies bargained about wages and pension and welfare benefits at the same time. In the past, the URW has signed a two-year wage agreement and a three-year welfare proposal. The current welfare agreement does not expire until September.

The companies claim their offer of wages and fringe benefits will cost them 70 cents per each man hour. Bommarito put the cost at only 60 cents an hour.

The lengthy strike, which on Sunday passed the 58-day record set against Firestone in 1959, has drained the URW treasury. Strike benefits ware cut from $25 to $15 a week last week.

Bommarito was understood to have turned down a loan offer from the United Auto Workers

Please turn to Page 10

Officials of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, will seek to restrain UniRoyal, Inc., from starting up production lines in the borough for the purpose of making sample items, Vice-President Raymond Mengacci reported today.

Union officials appeared in Superior Court in Waterbury yesterday before Judge Leo Gaffney with complaints that non-bargaining unit personnel (non-union employes) were working on assembly lines in the firm in violation of a written agreement between the union and management, Mengacci

Israel Willing Internationalize Jerusalem Parts

By BRUCE W. MUNN
United Press International

UNITED NATIONS (UPI)— Latin American diplomats said Israeli Foreign Minister Abba S. Eban told them today Israel is willing to internationalize the holy places in Jerusalem.

The statement, made to a private meeting of the Latin American countries, was the first indication of Israel’s willingness to relinquish authority over any part of the Old City of Jerusalem it seized from Jordan.

The report came just before the General Assembly went into its fourth day of debate on the crisis. French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville was expected to expand on President Charles de Gaulle’s charge Wednesday that Israel started the war and that the war was an outgrowth of U.S. intervention in Vietnam.

Smaller nations were attempting to arrange a compromise between the U.S. and Soviet proposals on the Middle East but diplomatic sources said they had made little progress.

said.

The agreement, made April 18, two days before the 62-day-old strike began, states that in return for an orderly shutdown of the plant in the event of a strike by the union, management would not start any production lines or do any work by non-bargaining unit employes which would normally be done by union personnel.

An attempt to reach high-level management officers of the local plant were unsuccessful this morning. The NEWS was told they were “in conference.”

According to Mengacci, when union and management people met with Judge Gaffney yesterday in his chambers in Superior Court, the judge asked a company lawyer if the firm intended to break the agreement made between Mengacci and Thomas Nelligan, labor relations manager of the rubber company.

Mengacci said the company lawyer indicated the firm intended to “produce samples.”

Judge Gaffney reportedly said, “There will be bloodshed in Naugatuck if you violate this agreement,” Mengacci told the NEWS.

According to the vice-president of the local 5,500-member

Please turn to Page 10

Conciliator, Uniroyal Groups To Meet Today

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Conciliator, Uniroyal Groups To Meet Today

6-22-67

NAUGATUCK — Representatives of both management and the United Rubber Workers are gathering their numbers for top level talks today in Pittsburgh, Pa., with William Simkin, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Leading the team of union negotiators from Uniroyal will be Herbert Dawson. Local 45 President George Froehlich will be the only one from the borough operations to be at the table in Pittsburgh.

Uniroyal management team will be led by their top negotiator Eugene Worchester, who has chosen three men from the New York office to accompany him at the table.

Formal talks in Ohio among management and union negotiators will be suspended while the Pittsburgh gathering is in session.

There was no progress reported in the Ohio talks on the eve of the conference, and URW employes at the General Tire plants in Akron, Ohio and Waco, Texas walked off the job to picket Wednesday at midnight. night.

What the exact nature of the talks in Pittsburgh would be could not be learned, but sources indicated that Simkin would probably act as moderator while union and management representatives talked at one table.

Once Simkin finds the real sources of trouble, some of which are said to be personality conflicts, he will probably make recommendations which will enable each side to move toward settlement.

Although management made no commitments on how much it was prpared to give, high union officials have been reported as saying they were not prepared to be forced to give up some of their important demands.

It has been a feeling among union people that government induced agreements often favor management.

In response to questions about the meeting, Simkin told the press that this would be more than exploratory, and that he is hoping that a settlement would result.

How long the meeting will last is anyone’s guess, but observers feel that it will be at least a few days before positive action results.

On the local level, Local 45 Vice President Raymond Mengacci told reporters Wednesday that over $100,000 has already been contributed to date toward the depleted strike benefit fund by union people still working.

The vice president cited a contribution of $10,000 weekly by a Goodyear local in Akron.

Federal Officials Enter Talks In Rubber Strike

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

18—Waterbury Republican, Friday, June 23, 1967

Federal Officials Enter Talks In Rubber Strike

PITTSBURGH, Pa.— Negotiators from five major rubber producers, the United Rubber Workers and federal mediators sat down Thursday to begin talks in one large group Thursday, but a swift end to a 63-day-old strike was not apparent.

Although no one would predict how long the talks in Pittsburgh might last, one could presume they will not end quickly, as progress made on working conditions during separate talks will be subject to renewed discussion on a group level.

Moderating the talks between the United Rubber Workers and the top five rubber producers was director of the Federal Mediation and Counciliation Service, William E. Simkin.

Thursday’s talks, according to sources, were mostly geared to laying the groundwork for further talks, the first of which is slated to begin today at 9 a.m.

This was the first time since 1947 that all five companies and the union talked together at one table. An attempt earlier in this series of negotiations failed when B. F. Goodrich union representatives refused to join a group meeting with the other companies because they did not want to talk a three-year contract.

According to a news source, the five companies, including Uniroyal, met with the union at one table during Thursday’s talks, then adjourned to meet separately.

Although RW officials have stated they would stand by their wage demands, RW President Peter Bommarito has indicated to reliable sources that he may be willing to move on the union’s demand for a supplemental unemployment benefit totaling 95 per cent of the weekly wage.

Bommarito was reportedly pleased to some degree with a recent General Tire offer which granted 80 per cent of the so-called “guaranteed annual wage.”

What displeased the international president of the

Regional Hospital View Cited

HARTFORD (AP) — A regional approach to meet the pressures of future hospital expansion in the face of slim federal support was urged Thursday by Dr. Edwin L. Crosby, executive vice president and director of the American Hospital Association.

Speaking to more than 200 hospital officials at the 49th annual meeting of the Connecticut Hospital Association at the Hartford Club, Dr. Crosby warned that the state’s hospitals cannot remain “voluntary” without freedom from federal control.

160,000-member union was the wage offer from General Tire, which had been upped from the last offer of 40 cents to 43, cents, with raises of 15 cents the first year, 15 the second and 13 the third.

Bommarito reportedly feels this is still too low, and is looking for at least 50 cents.

General Tire’s wage offer, however, is five cents higher than wage offers from the other four companies. An observer said Thursday that if General Tire could raise the wage offer, Bommarito would probably be willing to settle.

All companies are talking three-year contracts with the union, pensions and insurance included. Bommarito said the RW was holding a policy committee meeting in Cleveland Monday to discuss pension plans.

On another angle, spokesmen for the nation’s auto makers said Thursday the strike has created no shortage of tires for new cars. Production of 1967 cars, they said, would be complete without shortages.

One source said Thursday that the only difficulty might be in the area of molded and extruded rubber parts, such as motor mounts and grommets, which the companies do not heavily stock.

The auto industry will shut down in July for the changeover to new models. Spokesmen would make no predictions about what would happen if the rubber strike continues into the model changeover.

Man Held,

An Open Letter

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

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.

UniRoyal Summoned To Show Cause Hearing Tuesday

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Union Seeks Injunction

6-23-67

UniRoyal Summoned To Show Cause Hearing Tuesday

By Ruth Nichols

UniRoyal agreed yesterday in Waterbury Superior Court to stop production on footwear until a hearing is held next Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Judge Leo V. Gaffney signed an application submitted by Local 45 URW seeking a restraining injunction against UniRoyal yesterday afternoon.

Local 45 sought the injunction on the grounds that the company had violated an agreement signed by management on April 18 to the effect that no supervisory personnel would perform jobs normally done by bargaining personnel.

The company had notified the union that it intended to resume production yesterday morning.

Judge Gaffney said that if the company did not agree to stop production and return to the status of 6 p.m. June 21, he would take evidence yesterday afternoon and issue an injunction immediately, because the “exigencies of this situation are so grave.”

He also assured the union, through its counsel Daniel Baker, that he would be available all weekend, if the company failed to keep the agreement not to produce and it should be called to his attention.

The agreement that the union was using as a basis for its complaint had been signed three days prior to the strike. In it the union agreed to an orderly shut down of the plant in case of a strike.

A union official said yesterday that the union had lived up to this by keeping 185 men in the plant after the strike was called at midnight April 20 to see that the machinery was shut down in an orderly fashion.

Since the onset of the strike, the union has permitted electricians and maintenance men to work to maintain the plant.

The hearing yesterday afternoon was preceded by a lengthy consultation between the attorn-

Please Turn to Page 12

Alanskas. 6-23-67

UniRoyal Summoned

Continued From Page 1

ey representing UniRoyal, J. Kenneth Bradley, of the Bridgeport firm of Pullman, Conley, Bradley and Reeves, the union attorney Baker and Judge Gaffney.

Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, and Joseph DeCarlo and Anthony Mascola of the union’s negotiating team were in court yesterday. George Froehlich, president of the local, is in Pittsburgh attending the Federal mediation sessions.

T. Rex Behrman, industrial relations manager, and Thomas Nelligan, labor relations manager for the footwear plant, were in court to represent the company.

The Local has been conducting its picketing under the threat of a restraining injunction since the first part of May. After two days of turmoil, when union members sought to keep management from entering the plant, the company applied to Superior Court for an injunction.

Since that period the local has been conducting its picketing in an orderly fashion, allowing supervisory personnel

“Show Cause” Hearing Scheduled Today

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Rubber Strike

6-27-67 (handwritten)

“Show Cause” Hearing Scheduled Today

UniRoyal management and officials of Local 45, United Rubber Workers Union (URW), were scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Waterbury today for a “show cause” hearing instigated by the union last week when it accused the rubber firm of violating a written agreement between the two parties.

Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney called the hearing for today when union officials sought an injunction and restraining order to keep UniRoyal non-bargaining personnel from running production lines.

Union leaders said they had a written agreement with UniRoyal that in return for an “orderly shutdown” of the firm’s footwear division here in the event of a strike, UniRoyal promised not to engage in production in non-bargaining unit personnel.

The union charged last week that production was going on in the concern by management in violation of the agreement.

In court last week, Judge Gaffney said he would not hesitate to issue the injunction and restraining order against UniRoyal if the union could produce evidence that the firm violated the agreement following the court appearance.

It is expected that today’s hearing will be continued, placing the company and the union on similar grounds.

Earlier in the 60-plus-day-old strike, UniRoyal sought an injunction and restraining order against the union, charging mass picketing and violation of the law in keeping management from the plant.

In court appearances at that time, the court continued the matter as long as there was no more violation of the court’s instructions to the union not to hinder management from entering or leaving the UniRoyal plants.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — A busload of union members were hauled into court today when they refused to disband in violation of an injunction limiting pickets at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. plant.

The injunction against mass picketing was issued Monday by Summit County Judge Frank Harvey. His order limited pickets to two at each gate of the Firestone plant.

About 100 pickets, members of the United Rubber Workers, showed up at the plant this morning. Summit County Prosecutor James Barbuto and Major Alan Morrison, acting for Sheriff James Campbell, also appeared at the plant.

Barbuto read the injunction notice to the pickets and they were ordered to disband. When

Please Turn to Page 12

“Show Cause” Hearing

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

“Show Cause” Hearing

6-27 Continued From Page 1

they failed to disperse they were loaded aboard a bus and hauled to the courthouse. Barbuto said they would be charged with contempt of court.

Pickets kept salaried employes inside the plant for about an hour Monday.

Negotiations in the strike against the nation’s largest rubber producers were scheduled to resume today after four days of unsuccessful talks in Pittsburgh.

William E. Simkin, chief of the federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, summoned the URW and rubber company negotiators to Pittsburgh last week for the talks which ended Sunday.

“There had been intensive exploration of the issues, but no agreements were concluded,” Simkin said after the talks.

Some 50,000 rubber workers struck Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich Tire and Rubber Co., and UniRoyal, Inc., on April 20. The General Tire and Rubber Co. plants in Waco, Tex., and here, were struck last Wednesday, idling another 4,000 workers.

URW members are continuing to work at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. on a day to day basis while negotiations continue.

The companies, excluding General, have offered the union hourly pay hikes of 40 cents and a 75 per cent unemployment supplemental benefit plan.

General has offered 43 cents in raises and an 80 per cent benefit package for laid off workers.

The union wants bigger hourly increases and a 95 per cent unemployment package.

Tire workers currently average $3.68 an hour while non-tire workers get $2.69. Elimination of this pay differential is also a high priority goal of the URW.

Judge Delays Ruling

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

In Uniroyal Case

Judge Delays Ruling

6-29-67 (handwritten)

A decision on whether Uniroyal, Inc. should be restrained by court order from resuming production at its strikebound Naugatuck Footwear Plant will not be rendered for at least a week.

Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney said at the close of a hearing Wednesday on a petition by Local 45 of the United Rubber Workers Union for an injunction against the company, that his decision can be expected by the end of next week.

He has given counsel for the company and the union until Wednesday to file legal briefs.

Judge Gaffney said his ruling will follow soon after receipt of the briefs, probably not later than Friday.

He added, however, “The best decision of all would come from Cincinnati” where negotiators have been trying to agree on a new union contract since the strike began April 21.

“I’d like to see that decision first,” he said.

The union asked for the injunction last week when the company began production of samples of its new footwear designs, using non-union supervisory personnel.

At an appearance in court last Thursday when the union’s petition was filed, the company agreed to halt production until after completion of a hearing before Judge Gaffney.

Violation Claimed

Local 45 claims production of the samples constitutes a violation of an agreement signed by the parties April 18.

The agreement, which provides for orderly shutdown and maintenance of the plant while the strike is in progress, states in part that for the duration of the strike, the company will not perform any work normally done by union employes with non-union personnel.

Testimony on the issue was completed Wednesday, with presentation of the company’s case.

Most of the testimony centered on two main points: That the company will suffer “severe damage” if it is not permitted

(Cont’d On Page 2—Uniroyal)

to make samples for use by its salesmen in obtaining orders from retailers; and that the company maintains that the union violated the agreement first and rendered it void when in early May pickets blocked entrance gates and violence erupted between strikers and police.

To company representatives, Judge Gaffney posed the question, “Did you ever write a letter to any union officer to the effect that the agreement was no longer in effect”

In each instance, the answer was, “No.”

At several points along the way he indicated that damage the company might suffer was not at issue in the case. He said the central issue was whether the agreement had been violated.

Whenever counsel for either Uniroyal or Local 45 dwelled too long on what the jurist described as “side issues,” he admonished them to “get back on the track, which is whether or not this contract has been violated.”

Financial Loss

Thomas J. Nelligan, labor relations manager, testified that the company will suffer a “very severe financial loss” forcing a “reduction in production” unless it is permitted to produce samples for its salesmen to “take into the field” in August.

He said the samples to be produced, between 400 and 500 pairs a day, would be for the spring and summer season next year.

Nelligan said the samples are normally made between April and July. He said they go out to the salesmen in August “when the entire industry” sends out its samples for retail orders.

Failure of the company to have samples to show its customers in August will mean “a very large reduction in the amount of production needed for the coming year, and in turn, ess employes,” Nelligan said.

Nelligan contended that the union stood to benefit if the injunction is not granted because production of samples leads to sales and “stable employment and perhaps increased employment.”

Operating under full capacity, the company is able to produce between 120,000 and 130,000 pairs of shoes a day, Nelligan said. He said the company wants to make up about 45,000 samples over a six-to-eight week period.

In response to questions from both union counsel Daniel Baker and Uniroyal counsel J. Kenneth Bradley, Nelligan said it would “not be practical or possible ” to produce the samples at some other Uniroyal plant other than Naugatuck.

Machinery Needed

He said machinery necessary for production is not available at other Uniroyal facilities.

Nelligan also was questioned at some length on meetings he attended May 8 and May 15 with other company officials and union leaders.

He said at a May 15 meeting, Jack Smith, plant manager, told the union “very emphatically” that the shutdown agreement had been broken when the union pickets blocked entrance gates.

He added that Smith also said that although he didn’t believe the agreement was in effect the company would still honor it.

He also admitted that “except for a few isolated instances” the union had complied with the agreement.

Smith denied that he ever said he would honor the agreement even though he felt it had been violated.

He said the union broke the agreement when the company announced in May that it would begin shipments from the plant. He said Raymond Mengacci, Local 45 vice president, warned that there would be nothing shipped from that facility. . ”

Smith testified that on the scheduled day of shipping, violence on the picket line prevented any shipments.

Smith contended that “We don’t have an agreement because the union chose to abrogate it and we consider ourselves to be relieved of any obligations under the agreement.”

Under cross-examination, Baker attempted to establish that the picket line violence resulted when the company allegedly broke a verbal agreement not to have any personnel in the plant after 6 p.m.

He asked both Nelligan and Smith about the alleged agreement and questioned them about “30 or 40 people” who were brought into the plant after 6 p.m. to begin preparations for shipment on the following day.

Donald Hadley, sales manager, claimed that between 50 and 60 per cent of the company’s business comes from sales of new styles.

Says Samples Vital

Responding to Bradley’s questions, he said without samples to show potential customers, damage to the company “conceivably could never be made up.”

It was at this juncture that Judge Gaffney reminded Atty Bradley that “it is the claimant (the union) not the defendant (Uniroyal) who has to show irreparable damage.”

Bradley said he wanted to show the company would suffer substantial harm if it can’t produce the samples.

“Then I would suggest,” the judge quipped, “that perhaps you should bring an injunction to stop the union from bringing this injunction.”

Brief testimony also was taken from Joseph J. Foley, a strike captain and member of the union negotiating committee.

Foley said, “I think there would be a lot of violence” if the court order is not issued, because the union “would have no way” of controlling the strikers.

Mengacci had predicted the same result in testimony Tuesday. He warned of “bloodshed in Naugatuck.”

Bradley questioned why, if union leaders were able to control the pickets after Judge Gaffney had cautioned them against violence in May, they could not control them in the future. He was not permitted to pursue that line of questioning any further.

The hearing concluded with a reaffirmation by the company that it “will not undertake to do anything” in the way of production until after the judge’s finding.

Rumors Of Production At UniRoyal Unfounded

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Rubber Strike

6-30-67

Rumors Of Production At UniRoyal Unfounded

Rumors were running hot and heavy around the borough this morning that work would begin at the UniRoyal Footwear plant next Wednesday.

The rumors were two-fold; first that settlement of the strike was imminent and the other version was that the Footwear plant would start production on its own.

However, Thomas Nelligan, labor relations manager of UniRoyal Footwear Plant, told the NEWS this morning, that to the best of his knowledge no production was anticipated at the plant Wednesday, either through the settlement of the strike or by the company.

The Footwear plant officials had asked Local 45 if it would permit oilers to come into the plant and lubricate machinery that had been standing idle for the 10-weeks of the strike, according to Nelligan. He said that as yet, the company, had not received an answer to this request from the Local.

Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, verified the fact that the company had requested the union to allow mechanics to enter the plant for the purpose of maintaining the machinery. Mengacci said that he and other union officials toured the plant this morning to inspect the machinery. The union officials were meeting at press time today to decide on the request.

UniRoyal Footwear plant officials had agreed before Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney, not to run production lines in the plant using non-bargaining personnel until the Judge has ruled on the application submitted to the court by Local 45 seeking a restraining injunction against the Footwear division of UniRoyal.

The issue in point in the restraining injunction is whether or not the company violated an agreement made with Local 45 on April 18 not to produce using non-bargaining unit personnel and whether or not the agreement was in effect or had been previously violated by the Local.

Factory Manager Jack Smith testified in court that he considered the agreement no longer in effect following the two days of violence in the first week of May. However, no written notice of this had been given to the Local, according to testimony, only an oral announcement.

Company officials repeatedly testified to the necessity of producing sample shoes and having them available by August 1. This, according to the company, would be to the benefit of union members as well as to the company.

This, Judge Gaffney said, was beside the point; the issue was the agreement of April 18 which called for an orderly shut-down and maintenance of the plant and orderly picketing in exchange for no production at the plant during the strike and permission for the union to make tours of inspection of the facilities during this period.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI)—Progress toward a wage contract settlement was at a standstill today in the 10-week-old strike by the United Rubber Workers Union (URW) against major rubber companies.

A spokesman for the URW said a wage offer of 43 cents an hour from the General Tire & Rubber Co. and 38 cents from the other four members of the rubbery industry’s “big five” remain unchanged.

Meanwhile, merchants and city officials here hoped the strike would end soon.

Finance Director Daniel Zeno said the walkout has reduced

Please Turn to Page 12

Uniroyal, URW to File Briefs In Union Injunction Request

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Uniroyal, URW to File Briefs In Union Injunction Request

6-2-67 [handwritten date in top right corner]

Uniroyal and the striking United Rubber Workers have until Wednesday to file briefs arguing whether the company should be forbidden to make footwear samples at the Naugatuck plant during the strike.

Judge Leo V. Gaffney in Waterbury Superior Court yesterday set the Wednesday deadline, as he reserved decision on a union request for an injunction to halt the production of sample shoes.

The judge said he would rule on the injunction request by the end of next week.

The company has stopped production of sample shoes, pending the court’s decision.

Joseph Foley, picket captain of striking Local 45, testified yesterday that violence might result if supervisory personnel continued to produce shoe samples. He was supported by Raymond Mengacci, union vice president.

Jack M. Smith, manager of and Thomas J. Nelligan, industrial relations supervisor, said the company would suffer serious loss of business unless it continued to produce shoe samples. They said such business loss might force a reduction of employment.

Rubber Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Cincinnati

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

Rubber Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Cincinnati

7-5-67 [handwritten]

Negotiations in the URW – UniRoyal strike are scheduled to resume today in Cincinnati for another try at reaching a contract settlement.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is the only one of the big five rubber companies continuing to operate with tire production from its plants assisting the other four companies in filling customers orders under a mutual assistance pact drawn up by the five companies prior to the strike.

Sources close to the negotiations said the bargaining has bogged down into a “sticky and confusing” situation with purely local grievances at times blocking the progress toward settlement. While agreements have been reached on several occasions, sources on both sides have become cheery about predicting an early settlement.

Economic issues, including pay boosts and details for a union – proposed full – employment or guaranteed annual wage program, continued to dominate the stale-mate, which has made the dispute the longest work stoppage in the history of the industry.

Economic pressure would appear to be the greatest on the union negotiators, however, despite the financial aid of $1 million lent the URW by Walter Reuther’s United Auto Workers Union with more pledged if requested. The $15 a week benefit check for strikers, reduced from $25, for the 54,000 employes off their jobs represents a weekly drain of more than $800,000 on the union’s resources.

Reuther’s willingness to help

Please Turn To Page 4

Rubber Strike Continued From Page 1

February 18, 2026May 5, 1967 by OCR SCANNER

7-5-67

Rubber Strike

Continued From Page 1

the Rubber Workers is interesting aside from his friendship with Peter Bommarito, URW president. The URW begins its new contract negotiations with the auto companies next Monday and Reuther has let it be known that a guaranteed annual wage, a key hurdle in the rubber talks, will be an agreement “must” in the auto bargaining.

Meanwhile, pressure on the companies to resume production is eased by the combination of high tire inventories, an estimated 50 per cent of the industry still at work, auto manufacturers’ switchover to 1968 models coming earlier than usual and the industry’s mutual assistance pact.

Consequently, the companies can be expected to remain firm on the basis of their latest contract offers, which they say rep-

resents additional employment costs in wages, fringe benefits, pensions and insurance of some 70 cents an hour over three years. But URW officials contend the offer, which they claim adds up to about 60 cents an hour, is inadequate.

Locally, the URW Local 45 and the UniRoyal footwear plant is awaiting the decision of Judge Leo V. Gaffney on the request for a restraining injunction to be issued against the Footwear plant. The Judge is expected to make his finding known sometime the latter part of the week.

The Footwear plant seeks to start production on some 45,000 pairs of sample shoes using non-bargaining personnel. The Local is blocking this move, bringing into court an agreement made between plant officials and the Local, April 18.

The Judge must find whether this agreement was in effect at the time the company sought