union

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

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5-4-67

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

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

Uniroyal Quiet After Flareup

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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.”

LOOKING SULLEN as management and office workers file into the Maple St. gate of UniRoyal Raymond Memorial, vice-president of Local 45, URW, checks each person to be certain all are UniRoyal employees. Some who didn’t have UniRoyal badges shown prominently were asked to display them.

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LOOKING SULLEN as management and office workers file into the Maple St. gate of Uni-Royal, Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, URW, checks each person to be certain all are UniRoyal employes. Some who didn’t have UniRoyal badges showing prominently were asked to display them. —(News photo by Jensen)

[Handwritten note on right margin:]
8-5-67

Court Restrains Uniroyal Pickets

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Court Restrains Uniroyal Pickets

5-6-67 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK — Management of the Footwear Division, Uniroyal, was granted an injunction against Local 45, United Rubber Workers, Friday afternoon at Waterbury Superior Court which will restrict the overall picketing by the union of the plant, effective immediately.

See PHOTO Page 25

The injunction, which had been sought by Uniroyal, will limit the manner of picketing and also restrain the union from stopping management personnel, company trucks, and independent carriers from entering and leaving the Footwear premises.

Management had requested the court action to curb in the future any near-rioting that was prevalent Thursday and Friday as pickets clashed with management personnel and police.

Seventy-one union members were arrested for a breach of peace and several hospitalized during the two-day outbreak.

Local 45 had challenged the entry of office help and supervisors, and also sought to prevent the company from shipping merchandise to its customers.

Friday afternoon, the company was able to have the New Haven Railroad switch five freight cars into its central warehouse. These cars are being loaded by male supervisory help and will be shipped as early as possible.

Pickets were unsuccessful in their efforts to prevent the freight cars from entering the warehouse on its spur line. The switching engine was manned by railroad officials as the regular crew, members of the Brotherhood, recognized the strikers by refusing to cross the picket line.

Two of the pickets were injured slightly by contact with the moving freight train which forced the strikers to jump to

See UNIROYAL Page 2

Five Hurt When Train Won’t Stop

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Five Hurt When Train Won’t Stop

5-7-68 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK—An attempt to push five railroad freight cars into a Uniroyal warehouse on Elm St. Friday afternoon resulted in injuries to at least five men as police officers tried to move picketing United Rubber Workers out of the way of the constantly moving train.

According to reports from some of those involved in the incident, a locomotive and five cars approached the gate leading to the warehouse at about 1 p.m.

Policemen at the scene said they expected the train would stop to allow them time to clear the track and gate of circulating pickets. They added that the train did not stop, but continued toward the warehouse at an estimated 10 mph. They had reportedly received a call claiming that the train would not stop.

Pickets held their position in front of the gate while police, some of whom were unaware that the train was still coming, trid to haul the pickets out of the path of the train.

Both police and pickets suffered injuries as the cars continued into the gate. Men from both sides were occasionally shoved against the moving cars.

Two pickets, Robert Sequenzia, 440 South Main St., and Mario Carniero, 18 Bridge St., were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital where they were treated and released.

One patrolman, Ronald Pruchnicki, received bruises and was treated at the hospital, returning to work for the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.

Police Lt. Richard Payne received a groin injury, but was not taken to the hospital.

Strike Scene Quiet Following Judge’s Warning To URW Union

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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.

Quietness Reigns In Strike Here

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Quietness Reigns In Strike Here

The three Locals of the United Rubber Workers in the borough maintained their teams of picketers at the gates of the struck UniRoyal plants today.

Picketing is being conducted in a quite orderly fashion with no incidents reported. White collar workers of UniRoyal continue to pass in and out of the gates across the lines, maintaining their regular work schedules.

Trucks have been permitted in and out of the Elm St. gate to the Warehouse. Some Teamster Union truck drivers, however, have refused to cross the lines. It has been noted that several of the trucks coming to the warehouse are driven by officials of the trucking concerns doing business with UniRoyal.

Surprise Move

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., (UPI) – Teamsters boss James

[Handwritten text at top right of image:]
BAR LIBRARY
SUPERIOR COURT STENOGRAPHER
LADIES ROOM

PRINCIPALS in yesterday’s action in Superior Court in Waterbury talked over the situation in the lobby of the County Courthouse after Judge Leo V. Gaffney continued for two weeks the UniRoyal petition for an injunction and restraining order against the United Rubber Workers Union. Left to right are Atty. Dwight Fanton, UniRoyal Counsel; Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, URW; and Atty. Daniel Baker, counsel for the union.

-(News photo by Jensen)

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 2 No. 2 – Page 4

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Page 4 | CHEM TEXTS | Vol. 2 No. 2

[IMAGE: Safety glasses with visible damage/marks]

Safety Glasses Save Employee’s Eyesight

While U. Genga of the Materials Handling group was unloading cyclohexylamine drums, the bung sprung off and the “heel” splashed against his eyes. Fortunately he was wearing his safety glasses at the time. The picture shows how the glasses protected his eyes against serious chemical burns, and possibly loss of his sight. His only injury was slight burns of the eye lids.

It’s a good idea to always wear your safety glasses. You can never be sure when something unexpected will happen. You can bet U. Genga was glad he wore his.

Enter Safety Slogan Contest Win $25.

You, your sons, your daughters, your wife, the whole family can win a $25.00 gift certificate for the employee salesroom or any Uniroyal Company store. For a few minutes of time you may easily be the winner in this Slogan Contest.

The rules for the contest are simple:

  1. Each member of the family may submit as many slogans as they want.
  2. The entry must be 10 words or less.
  3. An entry can be re-submitted in new contests provided it has never won.
  4. The decision of the 3 judges is final.
  5. All employees can enter except the plant staff and members of the joint union-management safety committee.
  6. If you don’t use the form, be sure you include all of the nessary information on your entry.
  7. The contest closes June 28.

SAFETY SLOGAN

Contest #2

Date:___

Name___

Address___

Dept.___

My suggestions are:

1.___

2.___

3.___

4.___

5.___

JIM HARTNETT WINS THE SAFETY SLOGAN CONTEST

[IMAGE: Man standing next to Uniroyal U.S. Rubber truck]

Jim Hartnet, of the Materials Division, won 1st. prize, a $25. gift certificate. His winning slogan was: “Safety 1st. is 2nd. to none.” Judges were Union Safety Committeeman, Walter Scott; Hank DeVries and Sal Aloise of the Industrial Relations department.

[IMAGE: Three men at table signing documents]

170 UNION EMPLOYEES SIGN UP FOR IN-PLANT BANKING PROGRAM

Banking is easier with the new “In-Plant” banking and saving program set up by Local 218 of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America and the Naugatuck Office of the Waterbury National Bank.

According to Union President Joe Rzeszutek and Vice-President Cy Blanchard, the new program is available to all members of Local 218. 170 union employees have signed up for the plan.

The “In-Plant” banking and savings program was set up for the convenience of the union employee. Under the plan, a member authorizes weekly paycheck deductions which are deposited directly to any number of the Bank’s services such as checking, savings accounts, Christmas clubs or loan repayments.

The Bank also provides additional services including financial counselling on money management and the availability of individual lines of credit for union members.

Union members interested in the plan can call or stop in at the Waterbury National Bank in Naugatuck or at its branch offices. Before you buy your next car, improve your home, start a checking account, or need vacation expenses, investigate the lower interest rates offered in the plan.

CHEM TEXTS

PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT

UNIROYAL Chemical
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770

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

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 2 No. 3 – Page 3

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CHEM-TEXTS

Page 3 | Vol. 2 No. 3

HOUSEKEEPING IMPRESSES G. VILA ON PLANT VISIT

In 1936 George R. Vila joined Uniroyal Chemical, worked in the labs for a short time and became a salesman for rubber chemicals. 32 years later he returned to the Naugatuck plant where he started his career, as chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Uniroyal, Inc. for a full day visit of the plant facilities.

After a quick tour of the EMIC and TSSC buildings, Mr. Vila led F. Hopkins, G. Anderson, J. Evans, J. Cronin, B. Leach, H. Scullin and R. Van Allen on a “jogging” trip through the plant that ended late in the day.

The housekeeping, cleanliness of the plant and the buildings impressed Mr. Vila considerably. Since his last visit to the plant, he “was startled at some of the changes that have taken place — new machinery, new methods, and new products.”

As he stated in Uniroyal World, “I was also impressed by the fact that many things have’nt changed, particularly those concerning the human beings who do the work in our factories . . . Whether executive, manager, salesman, scientist or production worker, we are striving for the same things, sharing the same difficulties, and enjoying the same advantages”.

With housekeeping in tip top shape through the efforts of the Materials Dept. and every employee, the challenge is to keep it this way . . . even improve it. Everyone prefers to work in a clean plant; they not only enjoy the better working conditions, but safety is improved and injuries avoided.

L to R: James A. Cronin, Superintendent of Chemical Production watches as George R. Vila, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Uniroyal, Inc., shakes hands with Edward C. Watts who has worked for the Chemical division 42 years.

L to R: On his tour Mr. Vila stops in to visit Patrick P. Sgrillo while John D. Evans, center, looks on.

Cerinus J. Barriault of the Materials Handling Department unexpectedly meets George R. Vila as he leaves Bldg. 86 Warehouse. On the left is Herbert P. Scullin, Superintendent of Materials Handling; with back to camera on the right is John D. Evans.

L to R: Cyrus J. Blanchard, Vice-President of Local Union 218 of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America looks on as George R. Vila shakes hands with Joseph Rzeszutek, President of Local Union 218. Seated at right is Walter M. Scott.

Gordon A. Anderson, George R. Vila and Dr. Charles D. McCleary, Director of Research and Development for the Uniroyal Chemical division, converse with Edward Alves, President of Local Union 308 of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America.

L to R: Francis D. Maher, Kermit M. Snyder, Edward A. Szczesiul and Nunzie A. Ruby, Chemical Production operators welcome George R. Vila as Gordon A. Anderson, Director of Manufacturing for the Chemical division, James A. Cronin and John D. Evans watch.

Synthetic Production, Materials Handling Win Dinners

The Dinner award winners for the first quarter of the year were the Synthetic Production and Material Handlings department. Both departments worked 3 consecutive months without a lost time or serious injury. Free dinners at a restaurant of their choice were given to Armanda Vierira of the Materials Dept. and William Wasilus of Synthetic Production.

In the second quarter of the year (April, May, and June) no department qualified for the “Free Dinner” award. Safety slipped in every department with a lost time or serious injury occurring in each department during the three months.

To qualify for the $15 Dinner Award, a department must work 3 months of the quarter without a lost time or serious injury.

Two Departments Win July Contest For Free Coffee.

Only two departments worked without a lost time or serious injury in July to qualify for “Free Coffee.” The departments were Chemical Maintenance and Synthetic Maintenance. The “Free Coffee” cards can be picked up from foremen or supervisors.

Debra Dubinsky Gets Foremen’s Club Scholarship

Lou Kaiser, president of the Uniroyal Chemical Foremen’s Club announced that Debra Dubinsky, a senior at Kennedy High School, was the first recipient of the $250 scholarship award initiated this year. Her mother is presently employed in the Order Processing Department. The scholarship was available to employees’ sons or daughters who were high school seniors and planned on a college education.

The committee of Dr. Phil Paul, Joe Murtha, Tom Dowling, and Hank Lynch selected Miss Dubinsky on the basis of her scholastic record and her participation in school and civic activities. She will attend Central Connecticut State College, majoring in mathematics and plans a career in teaching upon graduation.

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 2 No. 4 – Page 3

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CHEM TEXTS

Vol. 2 No. 4 — Page 3

Company Breaks Ground Recently For New Complex In Oxford Area

[IMAGE: Aerial view of architectural model]

Architect’s model shows the present plans for the Companys new Oxford complex to be completed by 1970.

An informal ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sept. 24 for the Company’s new Oxford Complex, making the often discussed plans a reality. A formal groundbreaking ceremony will take place at a later date.

The new complex will serve as an adjunct to the Company’s worldwide headquarters in New York City.

It will eventually bring together some 1500 employes and consolidate research and development activities now scattered countrywide over a number of locations. Greater cohesiveness, increased operating efficiency and an advantageous living and working environment should result from the move, the company said. Estimated cost of the complex runs into eight figures.

Set in a 1500 acre site, the new complex will consist initially of three buildings, two or which, the administration-office building and expanded computer center, and the personnel training center, are scheduled for completion by the summer of 1970. The third facility, which will be ready later, will combine the corporate research staff and the product development facilities of the company’s consumer, industrial and plastics products divisions.

The Uniroyal personnel training center for developing management, merchandising and other skills will provide not only technical training areas, but facilities for lodging training center participants and overnight guests. A large cafeteria and dining area will be a part of this facility, the company said.

According to present plans, the Uniroyal building in New York City, will continue to be the headquarters for corporate officers including finance, advertising, public relations and legal staffs. Certain sales activities and other corporate functions will also be maintained in New York.

Administrative office people of the consumer, industrial and plastics divisions, the plantations division and part of the international division will be transferred to Oxford.

Other corporate departments to be established wholly or in part at Oxford include purchasing, traffic, distributing branches, engineering, accounting, operating services, internal audit, comptroller, taxes and renegotiation, economic analysis, compensation, management development and training and medical staffs.

[IMAGE: Architect’s drawing of building]

Architect’s drawing of the Administration Building.

[IMAGE: Group photo of people at ceremony]

Attending the ground breaking ceremony were from left to right: J. Evans, T. Kwapien, B. McNomee, R. Davidson, E. Phillips, D. Ross, W. Norton, Project Director; N. Husted and A. Nicolai.

Union-Management Safety Committee Concerned Over Employee’s Attitude

At a recent Union-Management Safety Committee meeting, the Committee unanimously agreed that there is a growing indifference to safety in every area of the plant. Committee members, J. Rzeszutek, C. Blanchard, W. Scott, A. Krampetz, H. DeVries, L. Coscia, S. Aloise, H. Scullin, C. Houseknecht, R. Van Allen, and S. Gillette expressed a deep concern over the employee’s attitude to his own safety and the safety of fellow employees.

This poor attitude toward safety is shown by both wage and salaried employees. Lost time accidents and serious injuries along with minor injuries occurring in the plant have shown little improvement for the past 3 years.

Several reasons may be responsible for this poor safety attitude: 1) a lack of ability to get things done; 2) poor communications or misunderstandings; 3) poor judgement; and 4) lack of knowledge.

The Committee believes that it is often difficult for wage and salary employees to face the fact that we are not as safety conscious as we should be. Questions for every employee to ask himself about safety are: Do I always wear my safety glasses? Do I always wear a hard hat? Do I take chances and operate when shutting down would be better? Do I provide or use the proper safeguards — tools, protective equipment etc.? Do I act now or put it off?

What Does An “Accident” Mean

Four different dictionaries define the word “accident” in different ways but end up with the basic meaning; an unexpected happening. These definitions emphasize the necessity to be continually aware of safety on our job, at home, and on the road.

Webster’s Dictionary: An unforeseen or unplanned event. An unexpected happening causing loss or injury.

Pocket Medical Dictionary: An event occurring to an individual without his expectation.

MacMillan’s Modern Dictionary: That which happens unforeseen; unexpected event.

Random House: An event that happens unexpectedly without a deliberate plan or cause.

This means an accident can happen at any time, any place, to anyone. Therefore, we must always be on our guard to protect ourselves from the unexpected.

No matter how much experience a person has on his job, the possibility of the “unexpected happening” always exists. A good example of this was the near serious injury which could have cost several employees loss of their eyesight. A mechanic was using a drill and the bit broke, (an unforeseen or unexpected happening). The broken piece hit his glasses and bounced away (an unexpected event). His glasses protected him from an eye injury. A search of the area within a radius of 20 feet failed to locate the broken bit; this means that anyone in the area was subject to a head or eye injury.

Excuses are often used by some employees such as “I use them in the red area”, or “I wear them when I’m working” or “I wear them when there is danger”. Would these excuses have protected you if the unexpected happened such as in the above case?

Always wear your personal protective equipment and use it correctly.

SAFETY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY

Your Vote May Change Elections Vote Nov. 5th.

On Election Day, what’ll happen if you don’t vote or if you feel my one vote doesn’t mean much. It will mean a lot because in this critical election year, every single vote will count in the election of Presidential candidates. By not casting your one vote, you’re letting someone else elect candidates for you.

As a country we have a very poor voting record. In the 1964 Presidential election, only 62% of the eligible voters went to the polls. In the “off-year” of 1966, only 45% of the people voted. In some foreign countries 85% to 92% of the people vote. What’s happened to American democracy?

In 1960, John F. Kennedy’s national plurality was less than one vote per precinct. He defeated V.P. Nixon by less than 120,000 votes. In 1962, the Governor of Maine won by 483 votes; the Minnesota Governor by 91 votes.

The only wasted vote is the uncast vote. Don’t let the other fellow decide for you, who should be President, Senator, Representative or Town official. You elect them.

Be sure to register as a voter now. If you’ll be out of town, obtain an absentee ballot. Be sure to vote on Nov. 5th. on your knowledge of candidates, not gossip; vote with your beliefs, not on the basis of “polls.”

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 2 No. 4 – Page 4

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Page 4 | CHEM TEXTS | Vol. 2 No. 4

Pohl Made Industrial Relations Manager For Baton Rouge Plant

[PHOTO: Group of four men in suits]

Ron Pohl, second from left, was honored by fellow employees and friends at a dinner recently. At left is Ed Alves, President of Local 308, Synthetic Plant. Next to Pohl is Joe Rzesutek, President of Local 218, Chemical plant. At right is Ron Mitchinson, Industrial Relations Manager for the Naugatuck plant.

Plant Contributes 148 Pints Of Blood To Bloodmobile Visit

The Connecticut Red Cross Bloodmobile made its annual visit to the Naugatuck plant in August. Usually the visit occurs in June or October when most plant personnel are available. In 1967 the plant contribution dropped to a low 100 pints.

This year’s visit, sponsored when several buildings were closed for repairs and many employees on vacation, brought 148 pints to the Red Cross, a highly commendable response by Naugatuck employees.

184 employees volunteered, but only 166 showed at the Bloodmobile unit. 18 employees were rejected and 22 walk-ins appeared.

A five gallon pin was awarded to Orlando Gabianelli and two gallon pins awarded to Walt Frankenberger and Jack Vergosen. Other employees contributing were: V. Alves, R. Amidon, R. Ashby, D. Beauchamp, B. Begin, J. Bickerdike, A. Bilez, L. Borg, D. Boulanger, P. Brandis, R. Breton, W. Broden, E. Brooks, R. Brown, J. Bucciaglia, C. Bulka, W. Campbell, K. Canham, B. Carr, R. Clark, P. Cookson, R. Cornell, A. Crandall, A. Crapo, J. Cronan, A. Cross, S. Curtis, T. Curzi, B. Daily, R. DeBlasio, D. Delagrange, H. DeVries, P. Dillon, H. Donald, J. Doran, K. Dowling, E. Easterbrook, G. Emond, S. Famiglietti, W. Ferguson, J. Fink, E. Fischer, B. Fisher, T. Fitzgerald, R. Foltz, L. Fortier, H. Francolini, A. Gedraitis, P. Hans, M. Heller, G. Hennessey, C. Herb, J. Hoey, D. Houde, J. Jarvis, J. Johnson, J. Jokubaitis, R. Keenan, L. Koth, A. Krampetz, R. Krause, A. Krivitsky, J. Lawson, P. Lazaras, B. Leach, L. Lombardi, H. Lynch, T. Lyons, W. Madura, F. Maffia, C. Magnuson, R. Manulla, M. Marmaccio, N. Mason, W. Mathewson, M. Matos, F. Mayo, J. McGowan, R. Mitchinson, R. Morel, A. Mukosey, K. Nelson, E. Newell, P. Norton, S. Ostrowski, L. Owens, J. Painter, K. Parikh, P. Petti, R. Quint, A. Radowich, J. Riccardi, L. Roberts, H. Robinson, E. Root, J. Rourk, E. Runowicz, R. Ruris, R. Schultz, S. Schwartz, W. Scott, K. Searles, R. Semeraro, F. Semplenski, P. Sgrillo, J. Shepard, T. Shevzov, A. Smith, N. Smith, W. Smith, M. Stanco, F. Sterniak, J. Sullivan, J.J. Sullivan, M. Sutton, A. Swaan, S. Swan, A. Tidmarsh, L. Triano, S. Tummarello, J. Walsh, T. Ward, C. Wehman, P. Welch, F. Wintsch, J. Wojtczak, and R. Valentine.

Ed Boisvert Retires Recently

[PHOTO: Two men shaking hands]

Ed Boisvert (left) a millwright in the Mechanical Department is congratulated by John Evans upon his retirement after more than 18 years service with the Company.

Synthetic Team Finishes Second In Slo-Pitch League

The Synthetic Cardinals recently completed a very successful campaign in the Naugatuck Daily News Twilight Slo-Pitch Softball League. The team’s season record was 21-10 to give the Cardinals second place in the National Division. A runner-up trophy for the team’s finish in the league will be presented to members of the team and placed in the Control Room at the Synthetic Plant. Members of the Synthetic Cardinals were Pete LaCharity, Charlie Roland, Joe Wojtczak, John Johnson, Bill Broden, Jim Shea, Vic Kloc, Keith Hughes, Jack Prior, Vin Rooney, John Stamm, Chico Henriques, and Don Carey.

The team’s hitting for the season averaged .447, with Pete LaCharity batting a hefty .540; Charlie Roland, .525 and Joe Wojtczak at .510.

Synthetic Production, Synthetic Mechanical Win Sept. Free Coffee

Two departments, Synthetic Production and Synthetic Mechanical worked during September without a lost time accident or serious injury. Free Coffee cards for members of both departments can get their cards from their foremen or supervisors.

SAFETY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY

SAFETY SLOGAN

Contest #4

Date:___

Name___

Address___

Dept.___

My suggestions are:

1.___

2.___

3.___

4.___

5.___

Get Your Family To Enter Safety Slogan Contest. Win $25

Safety is not only a job responsibility but even more important a family responsibility. The plant’s Safety Slogan contest which is open to all employees and their families is one way of making your family safety conscious.

For instance over the last Labor Day weekend more than 700 people lost their lives in accidents, a staggering figure and a needless loss of human lives.

Get your family interested in safety by entering the Safety Slogan contest. Send all entries to Safety Dept. Bldg. 84.

The rules for the contest are simple:

  1. Each member of the family may submit as many slogans as they want.
  2. The entry must be 10 words or less.
  3. An entry can be re-submitted in new contests provided it has never won.
  4. The decision of the 3 judges is final.
  5. All employees can enter except the plant staff and members of the joint union-management safety committee.
  6. If you don’t use the form, be sure you include all of the necessary information on your entry.
  7. The contest closes Oct. 31.

SAFETY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY

CHEM TEXTS

PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT

| UNIROYAL Chemical | U.S. Postage |
| Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770 | PAID |
| | Permit No. 10 |
| RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED | Naugatuck, Conn. 06770 |

21 Held In New Uniroyal Row Company Asks Picketing Curbs

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5-5-67

Register Photo by Stuart Langer

Fighting breaks out at Maple Street entrance to Uniroyal plant.

21 Held In New Uniroyal Row Company Asks Picketing Curbs

By JAMES FLEMING
Register Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See UNIROYAL Page 2

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 1, No. 1 – Page 1

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Page 001

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

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6-9-67

URW Rejects

Continued From Page 1

  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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Life Insurance – An increase in Company paid insurance from $6,500 to $7,500 for active employees.
  5. Hospitalization – An increase in the coverage for the maximum stay in the hospital from 365 to 730 days.
  6. X-Ray and Radium Therapy – An increase in the aggregate maximum payment from $200 to $300.
  7. Visiting Nurse – An increase in the maximum daily payment from $6 to $7.
  8. Surgical – Provide for full payment of the reasonable and customary fees prevailing in the area for the surgical procedures.
  9. 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

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Union Demands, Logical Attainable - Bommarito

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

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Negotiators To Study URW Counter-Proposal

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

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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

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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

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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”

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General Tire Offers "Attractive Package"

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

by

(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”

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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

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Strike Situation: No New Developments In Negotiations

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

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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

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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.

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.

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.

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

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Fourth Rubber

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Fourth Rubber

6-17-67

Continued From Page 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 Rubber Firms Now On Strike

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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

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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

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Union Seeking Restraining Order Against UniRoyal

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

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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

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Conciliator, Uniroyal Groups To Meet Today

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Conciliator, Uniroyal Groups To Meet Today

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

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Federal Officials Enter Talks In Rubber Strike

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

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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

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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-

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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

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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

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“Show Cause” Hearing

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“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

by
Judge Delays Ruling

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

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Rumors Of Production At UniRoyal Unfounded

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

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Rumors Of Production

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6-30-67

Rumors Of Production

Continued From Page 1

the city’s income tax revenues.
The Chamber of Commerce said
retail store sales also dropped
off in May and June and banks
reported a heavy draw on savings.

It also was reported that
many wives of strikers had gone
to work and that strikers themselves were finding jobs.

URW President Peter Bommarito said Thursday that a $1
million check from the United
Auto Workers union to bolster
the URW’s nearly depleted
strike fund would enable the union to “carry out our strike benefit plan indefinitely.”

The union’s strike fund stood
at $6.5 million when the strike
began.

About 50,000 rubber workers
were on strike against Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., B.F.
Goodrich and Uniroyal. The
firms were struck April 20.

Another 4,000 workers were
idled last week when the union
struck two plants of the General Tire & Rubber Co.

Work at the Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co. continued on a day-
to-day basis.

Peace resumed in Akron
Thursday after mass picketing
incidents the last two days. Local 5 members met with union
officials and Summit County
Prosecutor James Barbuto and
aired a list of grievances that
triggered the picketing. Included was a charge college students were hired to do production work, which was denied.

Uniroyal, URW to File Briefs In Union Injunction Request

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Uniroyal, URW to File Briefs In Union Injunction Request

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.

Strikers Rush To Apply For Unemployment Funds

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Strikers Rush To Apply For Unemployment Funds

8—Waterbury Republican, Saturday, July 1, 1967

Strikers Rush To Apply For Unemployment Funds

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

Naugatuck

might be eligible for unemployment compensation.

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

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

Few Strikers Seek Aid

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Few Strikers Seek Aid

From Welfare Agency

7-4-67

Few Strikers Seek Aid

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rubber Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Cincinnati

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Rubber Strike Negotiations Resume Today In Cincinnati

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

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Rubber Strike Continued From Page 1

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

No Break In 76-Day-Old Rubber Industry Strike

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No Break In 76-Day-Old Rubber Industry Strike

No Break In 76-Day-Old Rubber Industry Strike

7-6-67 [handwritten]

The five major rubber companies and the United Rubber Workers union resumed talks yesterday in Ohio. Representatives of the borough’s three Locals and UniRoyal representatives met again in Cincinnati with other talks being conducted in three other Ohio cities.

No indications of a break in the 76-day-old strike were forthcoming, according to sources.

The offer of Akron Mayor John S. Ballard to assist in negotiations of the four Akron based firms of Goodyear, Goodrich, Firestone and General and his appeal for around the clock negotiations was not eagerly accepted by all concerned.

Goodrich and Firestone, among the companies and the union, replied to the request, citing their willingness to conduct negotiations continuously. Doubt was expressed, however, that third-party participation for a single community would be helpful, since talks embrace company plants in numerous cities.

According to sources many local issues have bogged down the negotiations.

Third Ward Republican Burgess Edward McGrath had appealed to Gov. John Dempsey to help in the negotiations; however, the Borough Board was informed that he was watching the situation. No concrete action in mediation was mentioned in his communication.

Locally, picketing remains quiet at all gates of the three UniRoyal plants in the borough with strikers taking their turns on the picket line as matter of course.

The financial drain on the strikers is becoming more evident with each passing week. The $15 a week union benefit check is far from sufficient to maintain a family. An increasing number of borough residents are finding it difficult to maintain their installment payments, although local banking institutes have been most understanding of the situation.

Striking UniRoyal workers are looking forward to receiving vacation pays to give them a temporary financial lift.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — The president of the B. F. Goodrich Tire & Rubber Co. said today if the record-long strike against the rubber industry continues much longer the firm’s operations here will be reduced.

“We will not leave Akron but the operation will become smaller,” said J. W. Keener. “The longer the strike goes on the less certain we are to maintain customers.” Goodrich employes about 5,000 workers here.

Keener said reduced operations would result “because of the inability to stay in some businesses by becoming non-competitive.”

The strike, in its 77th day, was called against Goodrich, UniRoyal Inc., and the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. when United Rubber Workers (URW) contracts expired April 20.

General Tire & Rubber Co. was struck June 21. Work has continued at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on a day-to-day basis.

“With the offer that we made to this union our costs are increased to a degree greater than the small companies with

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Few Strikers Seek Aid

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Few Strikers Seek Aid

From Welfare Agency

7-4-67 (handwritten)

Few Strikers Seek Aid

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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No Break

7-6-67

Continued From Page 1

which we compete,” Keener said.

General has offered 43 cents an hour in wage increases over three years, 80 per cent supplemental unemployment benefits, an additional paid holiday, and an increase in pension payments from $2 to $5.50 a month for each year of service.

The other firms offered 38 cents an hour to tire workers, 31 cents to non-tire workers, an added 10 cents an hour to skilled tradesmen, 75 per cent unemployment benefits and pension payments of $5.25 per month.

Keener turned down an offer from Mayor John Ballard to assist in marathon bargaining sessions. He said marathon negotiations and formal mediation efforts did not offer the best hopes for an early settlement.

Ballard received no reply Wednesday from the URW and General, but both indicated answers were forthcoming. Firestone declined the offer.

Raymond C. Firestone, board chairman of the Firestone Company, said the firm would meet regularly with union negotiators until a settlement is reached.

“We are deeply concerned with the extended strike and the interests of our 17,000 employes who have been out of work in 11 cities,” Firestone said.

Nationally the strike has idled 54,000 URW members in 34 cities.

Negotiations On Strike Settlement Stalemated

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Negotiations On Strike Settlement Stalemated

Negotiations On Strike Settlement Stalemated

7-7-67

Negotiation talks continued yesterday in Cincinnati between the United Rubber Workers Union and UniRoyal, Inc. However, sources indicate that negotiations are still stalemated.

Some progress has been noted since the beginning of the sessions, but the wage differential is said to be a barrier against settlement. Also, according to reports, the union’s

The office of the Clerk of Waterbury Superior Court, when contacted by the NEWS this morning, said that a decision from Judge Leo V. Gaffney on the Local 45 suit seeking a restraining injunction against the footwear plant of UniRoyal had not been handed down as yet.

Judge Gaffney had said at the end of the two-day court hearings, that he would reach a decision as soon as possible and hoped for one by today.

insistence of a guaranteed annual income is barring settlement.

According to a statement in a New York financial news-

paper, “Another worry to auto makers is the special interest Walter Reuther is taking in the rubber industry negotiations, where guaranteed annual income is a key unresolved issue. Officials of the United Rubber Workers union have consulted with the UAW on strategy and recently borrowed $1 million from the UAW after their strike fund was depleted.

“There is a strong suspicion in Detroit that Reuther is trying to engineer, by proxy, a breakthrough on guaranteed annual income in the rubber industry and then get an improvement on the rubber pattern from the three auto makers.”

William Simkin, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, has issued no recommendation following the three-day talks in Pittsburgh. It appears that the government has bowed out after a brief attempt to mediate.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — A statement that the 78-day old strike against the rubber industry could jeopardize future operations of the B. F. Goodrich Co. here brought a sharp retort from the United Rubber Work-

ers Thursday.

URW President Peter Bommarito criticized Goodrich President J. W. Keener for using “the good offices” of Mayor John Ballard to “threaten employes and counter with retaliatory action against the employes” who are exercising their right to strike.

Ballard had offered to assist in mediating the strike and called for round-the-clock bargaining sessions if they were needed to halt the walkout. He got a polite no.

Keener said Goodrich would not shut down its Akron plant, but might be forced to reduce the size of its local operation because of loss of competitive power.

He said the strike had “serious implications for the future of the company’s operations.”

Bommarito said Keener’s statements were “not conducive to a quick or durable settlement” and added the union will accept nothing less “than that to which they are entitled under sound economic logic and social morality.”

Bommarito said the union appreciated Ballard’s offer, but said he could not commit the five URW policy committees to marathon sessions.

“Each policy committee decides its own course of action outside the URW International,” he said.

More than 54,000 rubber workers have been idled by the strike against Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Goodrich, Uniroyal, Inc., and the General Tire & Rubber Co.

Work at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has continued on a day to day basis.

The latest General offer, higher than the others, called for

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State Refunds $2,885

Negotiations On Strike

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Negotiations On Strike

7-7-67

Negotiations On Strike

Continued From Page 1

increases of 43-cents an hour over the next three years and an 80 per cent supplemental unemployment benefit plan.

The other companies offered 38-cent an hour raises to tire workers and 31-cents to non-tire workers and a 75 per cent unemployment plan.

The union was not happy with either offer. It wanted greater wage increases, a 95 per cent supplemental unemployment plan and elimination of differentials between tire and non-tire workers.

There have been no signs a settlement was near.

Naugatuck Locals May Quit Talks, Seek Own Accord With Uniroyal

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Naugatuck Locals May Quit Talks, Seek Own Accord With Uniroyal

Naugatuck Locals May Quit Talks, Seek Own Accord With Uniroyal

7-9-67 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK — Speculation was growing here this weekend that striking Locals 45, 218 and 308 of the United Rubber Workers, AFL-CIO, may pull out of talks between their union’s International Policy Committee and the management of Uniroyal, Inc., and go their own way in an attempt to end the 80-day-old walkout.

The three locals — representing, respectively the Footwear, Chemical and Synthetic Divisions of Uniroyal here — have a membership of more than 5,000.

Their representatives, together with officials of other United Rubber Workers locals striking against Uniroyal, B. F. Goodrich and the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. have been engaged for several weeks now in talks at Cincinnati with the rubber panies.

Last week, Local 45 held an executive board meeting in Naugatuck with George Froehlich, local president, in attendance. There was reportedly strong talk or ordering Froehlich and the local’s other representatives on the International Policy Committee to return home this weekend if no firm progress were made.

Indications were that the other locals would follow Local 45’s lead.

It was also indicated that there is a widening of a breach between the tire plant workers of Uniroyal and non-tire employes, including those in Naugatuck. This disagreement reportedly stems from the wage increase differential between tirement and the non-tire group.

If the Naugatuck locals decide to bargain on their own, union sources said, it would not necessarily be considered a desertion of union principles.

Although union officials here were not available for comment on the rumor, progress reports from Cincinnati from time to time indicate that URW negotiators have been meeting separately with their respective companies.

URW Locals Deny Rumor Of Breach

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7-10-67

URW Locals Deny Rumor Of Breach

Local 45 (Footwear division), Local 218 (Chemical Division) and Local 308 (Synthetic Division), United Rubber Workers Union, issued a joint statement today to emphatically deny the rumors that the three locals were considering pulling out their respective policy committee members from the master contract negotiations with UniRoyal, Inc.

“At no time was any such action considered by any of the three locals executive boards or memberships,” Cy Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, said this morning as spokesman for the three Locals.

“All locals give their full support to their policy committee members in Cincinnati. We have the utmost confidence in the policy committees’ ability to reach an equitable and satisfactory settlement for all URW members.

“There is no breach between the tire and non-tire workers of the UniRoyal policy committee section as they are solidified in their intent to reach a settlement with the company with the common interest of all the URW membership at heart,” Blanchard said.

Drawing up the statement were Blanchard, Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, and Joseph Arbachauskas, vice-president of Local 308.

Blanchard said the vice-presidents searched today for the source of the rumor but could not pin it down.

A negotiating session between UniRoyal and the United Rubber workers unions representatives was held Saturday in Cincinnati. Additional meetings are scheduled for today in an effort to narrow the differences separating the two sides.

UniRoyal president, George Vila, issued a letter July 7th, mailed to the company’s stockholders, describing the issues in the strike of 22,000 employes and its impact on the company’s second-quarter earnings.

The letter notes that negotiations with the union are continuing, and there has been some progress; however, it is very slow.

When the strike was called, the company had sizable inventories in many product lines which helped to cushion the impact of the strike sales. However, the impact on earnings is severe because necessary fixed costs in the striking plants continue without the production necessary to absorb them. As a consequence, net income for the second quarter will sharply lower than the $1.06 a common share in 1966.

The strike has closed 19 plants and idled 22,000 workers. These plants represent 50 per cent of the employes and over 70 per cent of the sales.

The letter states that four days of negotiations by the major rubber companies and the union with Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service took place in Pittsburgh late in June. Federal mediators, not finding it possible to conclude agreements, discontinued these talks after an extensive exploration of the issues.

Vila spelled out to the stockholders the company’s latest wage, pension and insurance offer to the union and explained the differential between tire workers and non-tire workers pay is because competitors in the non-tire segment of the company’s business do not pay the same high wages and benefits and do not provide the same increases as UniRoyal does.

“Strong Possibility”

Rubber Walkout Might Include Goodyear Tire

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Negotiations were to resume today in the 80-day old rubber industry strike with a warning from a union official here that the walkout could spread.

John Nardella, president of Local 2, United Rubber Workers, said “a strong possibility” existed a strike deadline would be called in negotiations with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Other union sources indicated the deadline might be midnight Wednesday.

Nardella said Goodyear negotiators had indicated the company was ready to make a move on its offer, but had not yet done so.

Nardella gave a detailed report Sunday to the Local 2 membership on progress in contract negotiations. He said union policy committee “would initiate a new course of action” if no settlement was reached soon.

As of Friday, all contractual issues with Goodyear had been resolved except economic questions, including wages, pensions and vacations, Nardella said.

Work at Goodyear has continued on a day to day basis since April 20 when the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., UniRoyal Inc., and the B. F. Goodrich Co. were struck. General Tire & Rubber was struck June 21.

A strike against Goodyear would idle some 21,000 men at 11 plants in addition to the 54,000 men already on strike across the nation.

The union has rejected as “inadequate” the latest offers from the five firms.

General has offered 43 cents an hour in wage increases over three years and an 80 per cent supplemental unemployment plan.

The other four firms have offered wage increases of 38 cents an hour to tire workers, 31 cents to non-tire workers and a 75 per cent unemployment plan.