URW

Negotiations

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Negotiations

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that “the economy of the whole valley is affected by the strike.”

Although the governor cannot take coercive action, McGrath felt that persuasion from the highest office in the state might have some effect in bringing about a settlement.

“This is too important a situation to just sit back,” McGrath said. To date, no one has taken official action to help bring about a settlement.

If Governor Dempsey and his advisors cannot wield the necessary influence, McGrath said, he would consider seeking federal action.

Reports have been received from Ohio that it is felt by URW membership that a faster settlement will be reached if all negotiators sit down in a body and discuss all the issues, including the local issues.

Negotiations are presently being held in three Ohio cities. UniRoyal and Goodyear are negotiating in Cincinnati, Firestone and General Tire in another city with Goodrich in the third location.

TECH-AGE [partial text visible at bottom]

Goodrich Negotiators Holding Up Settlement?

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Goodrich Negotiators Holding Up Settlement?

Goodrich Negotiators Holding Up Settlement?

6-5-67 [handwritten]

According to a story in an Ohio newspaper, one group of union negotiators, reportedly from Goodrich, may be preventing the United Rubber Workers and Big Five rubber companies from moving toward rapid settlement of the 44-day strike against three of the companies.

Arrangements reportedly had been made for representatives of all five companies, Goodyear Firestone, UniRoyal, Goodrich and General Tire, to sit together at the bargaining table with representatives of the union locals from each firm.

Word was that all the companies and URW policy committees from four of the firms has agreed to the industrywide bargaining. The Goodrich negotiators reportedly wouldn’t go along.

The mass talk plan was viewed as significant for two reasons: All parties involved in the negotiations would know exactly what was going on. The full range of negotiable natters, including pensions and insurance, could be put on the table.

Current talks have involved only wages and working conditions. Contracts covering pensions and insurance haven’t expired.

URW members from Firestone and Goodrich plants say they don’t want to face another strike in three months. And they say there is nationwide sentiment for wrapping the whole thing up in one sitting.

URW President Peter Bommarito rejected the companies’ offer of wage increases in a two year package plus other improvements, saying it was worth about 2.5 per cent and most settlements in the last year or so had been in the 5 per cent range.

Bommarito has been saying that the companies just aren’t bargaining and Thursday went so far as to charge Firestone with just that, refusal to bargain, in a complaint to the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board in Cleveland.

The Rubber Companies have a mutual pact which calls for the firms not struck to give financial help to the ones that are. Bommarito said the industry has taken its pact to the bargaining table.

Union insiders admit they haven’t been able to exert much economic pressure on the companies because of the pact. But they say the real problem is that because of the pact the companies first have to negotiate with each other and reach agreement on what to offer before they can talk at the tables.

The massed meeting would eliminate this type of union griping, URW sources say. It would put everyone face to face with most decisions made on the spot or in adjacent caucus rooms.

The URW has been negotiating with Goodyear and UniRoyal in Cincinnati, Firestone and General in Cleveland and Goodrich in Columbus. The industry-wide meeting would have been in a neutral city, Pittsburgh.

Locally, the picketing has remained calm at the gates of the Footwear, Chemical and Synthetic plants. The striking workers have resigned themselves to no early settlement.

A few hopeful strikers rumor that work will begin next week, but tracing down the rumor, no

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Governor’s Aid Urged In Uniroyal Dispute

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Governor's Aid Urged In Uniroyal Dispute

Governor’s Aid Urged In Uniroyal Dispute

6-6-67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK — The Board of Mayor and Burgesses may take action today to seek Gov. John Dempsey’s aid in settling the master contract negotiations between Uniroyal and the United Rubber Workers.

Third Ward Republican Burgess Edward McGrath said Monday night he plans to make a motion during tonight’s borough board meeting to “bring the governor into the picture ”

“It’s high time the governor took action,” said McGrath, adding that “the economy of the whole valley is affected by the strike.”

An attempt to reach Governor Dempsey for a comment Monday night failed.

Although the governor cannot take coercive action, McGrath felt that persuasion from the highest office in the state might have some effect in bringing about a settlement in the six-week-old strike.

“This is too important a situation to just sit back,” said the burgess. To date, he added, no one has taken any official action to help bring about a settlement.

If Goverior Dempsey and his advisors cannot weild the necessary influence, McGrath said he would consider seeking federal action, possibly through President Johnson.

Although Uniroyal’s negotiations are on a national scale, noted McGrath, the immediate situation is local, and warrants the governor’s attention.

Negotiators for Uniroyal and the URW met face to face Monday for the first time since May 26. Following a Memorial Day weekend recess, the groups did not convene as scheduled last Wednesday.

It was claimed that the meetings did not take place at that time because both groups “had some things to discuss.”

Management negotiators contacted Monday night said that both groups met during the day, but declined to state whether any signs of progress could be seen. They are scheduled to meet again this morning.

Although federal mediators are present in Cincinnati, where the negotiations are taking place, it has been reported that they are not at the negotiating table.

Goodrich Negotiators

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Goodrich Negotiators

Goodrich Negotiators

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basis can be found for the story.

No negotiating sessions were held last week for the first time since the strike was called April 20. Both sides met separately to discuss the situation.

The lack of income is beginning to touch all striking workers and the borough in general. URW members were buying merchandise to work on homes and yards in the first weeks of the strike but now are beginning to be cautious with their savings.

UniRoyal Strike Could End This Week-End

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UniRoyal Strike Could End This Week-End

6-8-67 [handwritten]

A very reliable source told the NEWS this morning that the strike could be settled over the weekend; and, if not, by the middle of next week.

Matters seem to be coming to a head with both management and union making proposals.

Our source also informed us that under a three year contract offered by the company, pension payments, both for new and retired employees would be increased to $4.75 a month per year of service (not $5.25 a month as was stated yesterday). This would be an increase of $1.50 from the present $3.25.

The United Rubber Workers Union will cut their striker’s

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Borough Will Request Aid In Ending Strike

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Borough Will Request Aid In Ending Strike

6-7-67

NAUGATUCK— Mayor Joseph C. Raytkwich has been empowered to seek the aid of Gov. John Dempsey in bringing about a settlement in the Uniroyal-United Rubber Workers negotiations.

The board, during its Tuesday meeting, unanimously passed Third Ward Burgess Edward McGrath’s motion seeking the governor’s aid.

The Republican burgess cited the “potentially permanent and serious effect” the seven-week strike could have on the economy of the borough if it continued any longer.

Following passage of the motion, Mayor Raytkwich said that he would contact Gov. Dempsey “as soon as possible.”

Although the governor c about a settlement, it is possible that he could persuade the two groups to settle.

Amid scattered rumors that a settlement could be effected Thursday, press services reported Tuesday that negotiations with three maor tire producers, including Uniroyal, were in recess until Thursday with the union considering a three-year contract offer.

Attempts to contact union negotiators failed Tuesday. An unidentified person answering one negotiator’s telephone late Tuesday night reported that the negotiator was in a meeting and would be there “for several hours.”

A management negotiator contacted at the same time said that talks were recessed until Thursday, but not because the union was considering a management offer.

He claimed that the URW’s legal counsel died Monday, and that many of the union members planned to attend the funeral.

Press services reported that management’s offer of a three-year contract was made Monday by Firestone, Goodyear and Uniroyal. B. F. Goodrich made a similar offer Tuesday. General Tire and Rubber was expected to make its offer later this week.

United Rubber Workers negotiators said the proposed new contract would give tire plant workers, who now average $3.30 to $3.60 an hour, a 38-cent hourly raise in three yearly steps— 16 cents in the first year and 11 cents in each of the last two years.

Nontire plant workers would get 13-9-9, for a total of 31 cents.

Company officials said their offer added up to 60 to 73.5 cents an hour, including fringe benefits such as pensions and insurance.

The union has separate agreements on pensions and insurance that do not expire until Sept. 15. The companies reportedly offered to increase their monthly payments into the pension fund from $3.25 to $5.25 per employe, with commensurate increases in amounts paid retired workers.

Rubber Strike 60-Cent-An-Hour, 3-Year Pact Offer Submitted To URW

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Rubber Strike

6-7-67

60-Cent-An-Hour, 3-Year Pact Offer Submitted To URW

The five major rubber companies have offered a single package wage, pension and welfare proposal estimated to cost more than 60 cents an hour over a three year period to the United Rubber Workers Union, it was reported today.

A breakdown of the proposal shows the contract will call for a pay boost of 38 cents an hour for tire workers and 31 cents for none-tire workers. This offer is being studied by URW negotiators.

A settlement of the 47-day old strike, if it comes, is considered unlikely before tomorrow.

The contract-renewal plan, lumping together for the first time in the industry pension and welfare benefits with wage increases, was proposed by Uni-Royal, Goodyear and Firestone Monday. Goodrich and General Tire joined the move yesterday.

Present three-year pension and welfare contracts aren’t due to expire until September. But the proximity of the two rounds of negotiations was said to be blocking a wage agreement alone. Evidence increased last week, however, that the union had become less adamant about keeping the two contracts separate.

A three-year contract as proposed by the companies, rather than a two-year offer, might still be an obstacle to an early settlement.

The proposed pay boosts for tire workers would break down to 16 cents an hour the first year with 11 cent increases in each of the two succeeding years. Other production workers (this is of interest locally) pay rates would be raised 13 cents the first year and nine

cents each of the two following years.

The proposed package, including pension and welfare benefits, would amount to an hourly increase of about five per cent.

Peter Bommarito, president of the International URW, rejected a previous proposal which would boost the pay rate of tire workers 23-1/2 cents an hour and non-tire workers 18 cents an hour over two years. He termed this boost as inadequate and only about 2-1/2 per cent.

Under the new proposal, the companies would lift the pension payments, both for new and retired to $5.25 a month each year of service, and increase of $2 from the present $3.25. Improvements are also included for insurance and vacations as well as broader pay-boost differentials for skilled trandesmen workers who perform maintenance tasks on rubber goods production equipment. This had been a key issue in the URW contract demands.

Further liberalization is also included in the contract proposal for supplementary unemployment benefit payments. The amount wasn’t disclosed, but it is understood that it fell short of the URW bid.

Talks between the union and companies negotiating teams, will be recessed today so that the package can be studied and to permit union officers to attend the funeral of Garnet L. Patterson, URW general counsel, who died Saturday. It is doubtful, however, that the proposal will be accepted without several counter proposals be-

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Rubber Firms Offer Striking Union a Pact Combining Pay, Pension, Welfare Benefits

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6-7-67

Rubber Firms Offer Striking Union a Pact Combining Pay, Pension, Welfare Benefits

By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter

AKRON—A single-package wage, pension and welfare proposal estimated to cost more than 60 cents an hours over three years was received by the United Rubber Workers Union from the five major rubber companies.

The contract proposal, calling for pay boosts tataling 38 cents an hour for tire workers and 31 cents an hour for nontier workers, is being studied by URW negotiators. A settlement of the 47-day strike against three of the concerns, if it comes, is considered unlikely before tomorrow. Acceptance of the proposal would almost surely be followed by price boosts on tires and other rubber products.

The contract-renewal plan, lumping together for the first time in the industry pension and welfare benefits with wage increases was proposed by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and Uniroyal Inc. Monday. B. F. Goodrich Co. and General Tire & Rubber Co. joined the move yesterday.

Strike Began April 21

About 51,000 URW members have been on strike since April 21 against Firestone, Uniroyal and Goodrich, following expiration of a two-year wage contract. Production has continued, however, at Goodyear’s plants, whose contract also expired April 20, and at two General Tire plants, where contracts ran out May 15.

Present three-year pension and welfare contracts aren’t due to expire until September. But the time proximity of the two rounds of negotiations was said to be a block to a wage agreement alone. Evidence increased last week, however, that the union had become less adamant about keeping the two contracts separate.

A three-year contract, as proposed by the companies, rather than a two-year offer, might still be an obstacle to an early settlement.

The proposed pay boosts for tire workers would break down to 16 cents an hour the first year with 11 cent increases in each of the two succeeding years. For other production workers, pay rates would be lifted 13 cents in the first year and 9 cents in each of the two following years.

Average hourly wages of tire workers is about $3.69 and those of other production workers about $2.68. The proposed package, including pension and welfare benefits, would amount to an hourly cost increase of about 5%.

Previous Offer Rejected

An ealier proposal covering only wages was made by Goodrich, Uniroyal and Firestone prior to the strike it called for tire-worker pay boosts of 23½ cents an hour and increases for other workers of 18 cents an hour over two years. Peter Bommarito, URW international president, put these boosts at 2½% and termed them inadequate.

Under the new proposal, the companies would lift pension payments, both for new and present retirees, to $5.25 month for each year of service, an increase of $2 from the present $3.25. Improvements are also included for insurance and vacations as well as broader pay-boost differentials for skilled tradesmen—workers who perform maintenance tasks on rubber goods-production equipment. This had been a key issue in the URW contract demands.

Further liberlization is also included in the contract proposal for supplementary unemployment benefit payments, another basic issue in the union’s demands. The amount wasn’t disclosed, but it is understood that it fell short of the URW bid. This demand was an integral part of the union’s “full employment” program for gaining a form of guaranteed annual wage. The union sought to raise supplementary payments sufficiently to provide laid-off workers 95% of their normal straight-time pay. Present payments provide for up to 65% off such pay.

Union, Uniroyal Talks Continuing In Cincinnati

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rbury American, Tuesday, April 18, 1967

Naugatuck

4-18-67

Union, Uniroyal Talks Continuing In Cincinnati

NAUGATUCK—Less than three days remain before the contract between the United Rubber Workers of America and Uniroyal, Inc., expires at midnight Thursday.

After that date the union may

Naugatuck Valley

call a general strike against the company’s various plants throughout the country, including the local Footwear Plant, the Naugatuck Chemical Co. division, and the Synthetic Rubber Plant.

Company and union negotiators are in their sixth week of talks in Cincinnati, Ohio, and as the deadline approaches the talks are being intensified in an effort to ward off a strike. It was learned that negotiations had recessed last Thursday and resumed Saturday.

Raymond Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, Footwear Plant, declined to comment on progress of the talks, but said a call had been received from Local 45 Pres. George Froehlich Monday from Ohio, reporting that the negotiations are still in process.

An agreement had been made between the company and union negotiators that no information about the talks will be released before the talks end.

Several weeks ago union employees of the Chemical Division, the Synthetic Plant and last week the Footwear Plant, representing approximately 6,000 workers in the three locals, took an affirmative strike vote, authorizing the International Policy Committee to call a strike if the talks are stalemated.

However, if progress is being made by the negotiators when the contract expires, the contract may be extended in the hope that an agreement can be reached without a strike.

One of the issues being discussed, it was learned besides additional benefits, is a guaranteed annual income for all employes of the nation’s big rubber companies.

Uniroyal, Union Resume Contract Talks Today

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Deadline Near

4-20-67 [handwritten]

Uniroyal, Union Resume Contract Talks Today

NAUGATUCK — Although only hours remain before a two-year-old master contract expires between Uniroyal, Inc., and the United Rubber Workers (AFL-CIO), both union and management spokesmen seem to maintain an air of extreme calm.

At press time Wednesday night talks between the two groups were continuing without the slightest hint of difficulty from spokesmen of both sides, although the present contract is due to expire at midnight tonight.

Representatives from the two sides were reluctant to answer any questions, as both had agreed not to release any information unless there was a joint effort to do so.

It was rumored from unofficial sources, however, that strike placards were ready in the event of a breakdown in the negotiations.

At the same time, as further evidence of calm, at least on the surface, it was claimed that both labor and management at the three local plants had discussed what would have to be done should a shutdown occur.

John D. Evans, factory manager at the company’s chemical complex, said that no special preparations were being made, and said that if a strike were called, the local operation could shut down in a very short time.

He said that no start had been made to quiet any operations at the Naugatuck factories.

Contacted in Cincinnati, Ohio, where negotiations between the two groups are being held, George Froelich, president of Local 45, cited the agreement between the company and the rubber workers not to divulge any information.

Edward Alves, president of Local, 308, cited the same agreement, stating only that the negotiations were still in progress. He declined to say whether the two groups were close to agreement.

Talks had apprently recessed for the evening at press time, as one spokesman said they “will resume at 9 a.m.” today.

A strike decision, said one union spokesman, would not be made until midnight, at which time a joint statement would be released. Although neither side would indicate Wednesday how

close they were to agreement, an extension of the present contract could be in order if the two groups are close to agreement at tonight’s deadline.

If a strike is called, however, some 5,000 employes in the corporation’s three local plants would be affected.

Negotiations for a master contract between the rubber industry’s four largest employers and the United Rubber Workers began a month ago. In total, over 71,000 workers, including 22,000 from Uniroyal plants across the country, will be covered by the contracts.

Once the master contract is settled, negotiations for secondary contracts, affecting only local operations, will begin.

Officials Mum On Rubber Talks

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Officials Mum On Rubber Talks

4-20-67 [handwritten]

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Negotiations continued today between the nation’s four major rubber companies and the United Rubber Workers Union URW on a new contract to replace the pact expriring at midnight tonight.

Both sides refuse to comment on any progress in the talks which would affect some 78,000 workers. The outcome of the talks would influence General Tire’s contract expiring May 15 and a number of smaller firms having a total of 100,000 workers.

The four companies negotiating contracts at present are Goodyear, UniRoyal, Firestone and Goodrich.

The rubber industry has been hit by only two major strikes since 1947. The largest one was several years ago when a walkout lasted for 51 days. The last company-wide strike affecting a major rubber firm was a six-day walkout against UniRoyal in 1965.

The new president of the 175,000-member URW, Peter Bommarito, contends he does not want to strike but since taking office last September, he has given the URW a more militant appearance, visiting locals around the country and taking a personal hand in negotiations.

His militancy has caused the big five companies to form a mutual aid pact for the first time in their history. The plan calls for providing substantial financial aid to any member hit by a strike.

Goodyear and UniRoyal negotiations are being held at Cincinnati while Firestone’s contract is being discussed in Cleveland and Goodrich at Columbus.

Uniroyal, Union Still Negotiating As Midnight Strike Deadline Nears

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4-20-67

Uniroyal, Union Still Negotiating As Midnight Strike Deadline Nears

NAUGATUCK—Both management and union spokesmen are maintaining an air of calmness although only hours remain before the two-year-old master contract expires between Uniroyal, Inc. and the United Rubber Workers (AFL-CIO) at midnight tonight.

Talks betwen the two groups are continuing today without the slightest hint of difficulty, it was reported by spokesmen from both sides.

Current contract talks do not involve wages, with increases negotiated a year ago. Talks at present relate to fringe benefits and working conditions.

Representatives from the two sides were reluctant to answer any questions, as both had agreed not to release any information unless there was a joint effort to do so.

It was rumored from unofficial sources, however, that strike placards were ready in the event of a breakdown in the negotiations.

At the same time, as further evidence of calm, at least on the surface, it was claimed that both labor and management at the three local plants had discussed what would have to be done should a shutdown occur.

John D. Evans, factory manager at the company’s chemical complex, said that no special preparations were being made, and said that if a strike were called, the local operation could shut down in a very short time.

He said that no start had been made to quiet any operations at the Naugatuck factories.

Contacted in Cincinnati, Ohio, where negotiations between the two groups are being held, George Froelich, president of Local 45, cited the agreement between the company and the rubber workers not to divulge any information.

Edward Alves, president of Local, 308, cited the same agreement, stating only that the negotiations were still in progress. He declined to say whether the two groups were close to agreement.

A strike decision, said one union spokesman, would not be made until midnight, at which time a joint statement would be released. Although neither side would indicate Wednesday how close they were to agreement, an extension of the present contract could be in order if the two groups are close to agreement at tonight’s deadline.

If a strike is called, however, some 5,000 employes in the corporation’s three local plants would be affected.

Negotiations for a master contract between the rubber industry’s four largest employers and the United Rubber Workers began a month ago. In total, over 71,000 workers, including 22,000 from Uniroyal plants across the country, will be covered by the contracts.

Once the master contract is settled, negotiations for secondary contracts, affecting only local operations, will begin.

Naugatuck Rubber Workers Join Nation-Wide Strike

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Naugatuck Rubber Workers Join Nation-Wide Strike

4-21-67 [handwritten]

About 5,500 members of the United Rubber Workers struck the UniRoyal plant at Naugatuck as part of a nation-wide strike against three of the Big Four rubber companies. Contracts expired at midnight.

More than 50,000 union jobs were affected by the action — the first comapny – wide strike since 1965 when the rubber workers manned picket lines against the U.S. Rubber Co., now UniRoyal.

The companies affected are Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich Co. and Uni-Royal.

The Sponge Products Division of B. F. Goodrich in Shelton is not affected. Employes are not covered by union contract.

Shortly after midnight the three locals at Naugatuck set up about 15 pickets at gates of the company’s three divisions —footwear, chemical and synthetic. The locals said the pickets would continue through today and then daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until a contract agreement is reached.

Word of the breakdown in Firestone negotiations came at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday. The Goodrich strike was announced shortly after midnight, and Uniroyal was struck a few minutes later.

Picket lines across the coun-

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Strike—

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try were manned, according to a URW spokesman, while negotiations continued with Goodrich early today.

The union said Firestone officials were willing to renew negotiations today, but a company spokesman had no comment on the statement.

No talks were planned in the Uniroyal dispute.

Negotiators for about 21,250 workers at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. voted to continue work on a day-to-day basis. Sessions were scheduled to resume with Goodyear at 10 a.m. today.

The four rubber companies and the General Tire and Rubber Co. agreed, effective April 1, that they would give mutual aid to any one of the five struck by the rubber workers.

General’s contract expires May 15. Negotiations got under way Monday in Cleveland.

The union continued its joint policy with the rubber industry of not releasing details of negotiations until bargaining is completed.

When negotiations began last month, however, the rubber workers said its goals included a “substantial wage increase,” plus increases in skilled trades rates, elimination of “unwarranted wage differentials” and a “full employment earnings program.”

The earnings program as outlined by the union would boost benefits for laid-off workers to 92½ per cent of regular pay.

The union said the program could be financed by raising the employer’s contribution from the present five cents to seven cents an hour per worker.

The supplemental unemployment benefits now pay up to 65 per cent of the laid-off worker’s regular pay for 26 weeks, union researchers estimate.

Present wages range from $3.25 to $3.35 an hour for semi-skilled or unskilled labor. A URW spokesman said recent U.S. government reports indicate the tire and tube division employes, considered the highest paid in the industry, make about $3.67 an hour.

UniRoyal Struck

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UniRoyal Struck

Continued from page 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Local also reported everything was orderly this

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

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

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

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

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

[Left column]

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

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

UniRoyal this morning issued the following statement on the strike:

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

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Chance Of Rubber Industry, Union Accord Before Monday Dim

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Contrasting Attitudes

PICKETS at the Maple St. gate of the Footwear Division, Uniroyal, Inc., in Naugatuck, do their duty early today as a borough street sweeper does his, apparently unconcerned as to what happens on the sidewalk behind him.—Coviello Photo.

Chance Of Rubber Industry, Union Accord Before Monday Dim

NAUGATUCK— Representatives of the United Rubber Workers Union met in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 10 a.m. today, and the possibility grew stronger that there will be no further talks with representatives of Uniroyal, Inc. until Monday morning.

This will extend the walkout of some 5,000 members of the three local unions over the weekend. The strike began shortly after midnight today, when talks failed in Cincinnati

Pickets were set up at the Maple St. gate and warehouse office entrances by Local 45 at the Footwear Plant and at one gate each at the Chemical Division and Synthetic Plants.

Picketing was peaceful this morning and all three locals were permitting management personnel to pass through the lines.

Throughout the early morning hours today, pickets were also peaceful as third shift personnel manned their posts in 40-degree temperature. Teams are scheduled to picket in two-hour shifts.

Labor and management representatives from the giant URW and four major rubber producers have been negotiating terms for a new two-year master contract for one month.

Although it was not known what obstacles prevented a settlement by midnight Thursday, three of the four major producers, B. F. Goodrich, Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. and Uniroyal, were struck at midnight or shortly after.

In negotiations with Goodyear in Cincinnati, the union agreed to continue negotiating on a day-to-day basis, with the first session scheduled for 10 a.m. this morning.

Across the nation some 75,000 workers are affected by the negotiations, with approximately 21,000 employed by Uniroyal

As the contract deadline drew near Thursday night, a call from the local presidents in Cincinnati asked the locals—45, 218 and 308—to hold strike action for one-half-hour to permit management to present its final proposal

Handwritten note (top right corner): 4-2-67

Uniroyal Workers Strike Naugatuck Plants

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Uniroyal Workers

Strike Naugatuck Plants

4-21-67

By TOM NUGENT

NAUGATUCK — Negotiations on a master contract between the United Rubber Workers (AFL-CIO) and Uniroyal, Inc. broke down shortly after midnight Thursday after management presented its final proposal, and pickets took up their positions.

Although the old master contract signed June 7, 1965 expired at midnight, union officials contacted the various locals across the country to withhold strike action until final notice.

The two groups reached a deadlock however when the final proposal was submitted at 12:30 a.m. and a strike was called.

Final word that the negotiations were deadlocked was followed by an orderly shutdown of machinery as the three Naugatuck locals, 308, 45 and 218, set up five picket points around the borough operation.

Each team is scheduled to picket in two-hour shifts throughout the night and starting today from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until agreement is reached.

Affected by the strike are approximately 5,000 employes in Naugatuck. Across the country another 17,000 Uniroyal workers are involved. It was not known at press time whether employes in the three other major rubber companies were also on strike.

The strike against Uniroyal was called following a month of negotiations between labor and management groups.

No information was immediately available as to what obstacles stood in the way of a settlement or as to which of the issues have already been settled.

Picket teams from Local 45, largest of the three, are assigned to the Maple St. gate, central warehouse office entrance. The other two locals are picketing one gate each at their respective plants.

Others Strike

AKRON, Ohio (UPI)—The United Rubber Workers struck the B. F. Goodrich Co. and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. at midnight Thursday after negotiations failed to produce a contract agreement.

In negotiations with Goodyear in Cincinnati, the union agreed to continue working on a day-to-day basis. Negotiations were recessed until 10 a.m. Friday.

The strikes against the two firms idled 4,800 workers at Goodrich and 5,500 at Firestone.

The fifth firm in the rubber industry’s big five, General Tire, began negotiations Tuesday under a May 15 deadline.

Some 75,000 workers are directly affected by the negotiations. Contracts signed with the big five are generally used as a basis for negotiations with smaller firms.

Firestone employes involved total 17,500 in 11 plants located in eight states. B. F. Goodrich has 10,000 workers covered by the contract in nine plants. Goodyear employes 21,000 in 11 plants and Uniroyal has 22,000 in 19 facilities.

Naugatuck Rubber Strike Idles 5,000

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4-21-67

Naugatuck Rubber Strike Idles 5,000

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK —A strike, the second in the past two years against Uni-Royal by the United Rubber Workers, AFL-CIO, has closed the company’s three local divisions and idled some 5,000 workers today.

The decision to strike the entire Uni-Royal operation was made early this morning after contract talks between management and the URW’s International Policy Committee broke down when the midnight deadline passed. The old contract between the company and union expired at midnight.

The URW, in addition to striking Uni-Royal, hit two others of the big four of the rubber industry as workers at Firestone and Goodrich were called out. Good year, the other member, is presently negotiating with the union on a day-to-day basis.

Although Goodrich is being struck, the Shelton and Derby plants of the Goodrich Sponge Products Division were not affected by the strike since neither plant is unionized.

It is estimated that over 50,000 union workers are on strike nation-wide. Of this total, Uni-Royal employs 22,000; Firestone, 18,000 and Goodrich, 11,000.

At Chicopee Falls, Mass., 1,600 UniRoyal employes went on strike, led by 500 third shift workers who walked off their jobs. Union spokesmen said pickets would be set up this morning.

At Woonsocket, R. I., 800 UniRoyal employes went on strike and picket lines were established.

Another 700 employes struck the Uni-Royal plant in Providence, R. I., and set up pickets.

At Fall River, Mass., union leaders called a strike by 650 employes of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., and pickets were established.

All 800 employes at the Goodyear plant in Windsor, Vt., were reported on the job today. A company official said they would work on a day-to-day basis while negotiations continued.

Representatives of the three locals involved —Local 45, Footwear Division; Local 208, Synthetic and Local 218, Ch emical —are partipitating in the contract negotiations that have been in progress this past month at Cincinnati, Ohio. Talks are expected to resume today.

Immediately after word was received about the breakdown in talks, preparations were made for establishment of picket lines at the three local plants. Shortly before 1 a.m., the pickets were marching.

Magnagement personnel were permitted this morning to cross the picket lines and assume their duties. No incidents were reported as a pre-strike agreement had been reached concerning the admittance to plants of supervisors, foremen and office employers.

It is not known at this time whether the company will adopt a policy of having supervisory personnel “live in” at the chemical plant. Several years ago when the plant was struck, this procedure was followed and the operation continued with this skeleton crew.

Workers who reported Thursday at 11 p.m. for the regular last shift at the three divisions, walked off the job when notified that the strike was in progress.

Union officials reported that it was an orderly walk-off since the locals and the company had agreed on plans for closing down the operation.

The pickets have been instructed to stop all trucks entering and leaving the plants that might be transporting company products. However, the company will not be affected by such a stoppage as merchandise for customers had been shipped by rail and truck in excessive amount during the past two weeks.

The strike does not come as a surprise to most union members here. They had been alerted to such a possibility for the past week as news out of Cincinnati indicated that the negotiators were not making any headway.

“However, there was a faint hope expressed late Thursday that an extension of the talks might be granted.

Two years ago, the walkout carried through three working days. Another strike eight years ago crippled production for three weeks.

Information that has filtered through from Cincinnati indicates that the company has turned back the first proposals for wage increases, reportedly around 20 cents an hour for pro-

See STRIKE Page 2

‘There’s A

Uniroyal Talks Slated Monday

by

Uniroyal Talks Slated Monday

4-12-67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK—The first day of picketing by the three United Rubber Workers’ Naugatuck locals—45, 218 and 308—passed very quietly, with no official reports of disturbances being heard.

Negotiations between Uniroyal and the URW were suspended throughout Friday, with the next session scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday.

As of Friday evening, picketing by Locals 45 and 308 was suspended at 6 p.m. for the weekend, with resumption scheduled at 6 a.m. Monday. Local 218, chemical plant personnel, continued to picket one gate throughout Friday night and is scheduled to continue today until 6 p.m. There will be no picketing Sunday.

The three locals joined other locals of the URW across the country shortly after midnight Thursday in a strike against Uniroyal, Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., and B. F. Goodrich Co. after a month of negotiations failed to produce contract agreements.

The fourth and fifth members of the rubber industry’s “big five”—Goodyear and General Tire and Rubber Co.—were not struck.

Although Goodyear’s contract with the union expired at the same time as the struck firms, negotiations continued in Cincinnati on a day-to-day basis.

Following the strike order from union officials in Cincinnatti, the three borough locals manned their picket points after machinery was shut down.

Third shift personnel in the local operation manned their posts throughout the night keeping spirits fairly high despite nippy temperatures.

Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, picket teams worked in two-hour shifts, permitting management personnel to pass through the lines. Although police stood by, the atmosphere was one of almost extreme calm as the teams talked and marched.

Both union and management negotiators for the struck companies declined to discuss issues, but sources said wages and a guaranteed annual income were the principal matters in dispute.

Uniroyal said management offered “substantial increases in wages and employe benefits” but the offer was rejected.

The average wage for a worker in the rubber industry is $2.80 an hour. Wages in the tire and tube facilities average $3.76 an hour.

Plants idled by the walkout included the world’s largest tire factory, a Uniroyal plant in Detroit which makes more than 10 million tires a year. About 60 per cent of them are sold to auto makers for use on new cars, the Uniroyal spokesman said.

Naugatuck’s Quiet Strike Into 2nd Day

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4-22-67

Naugatuck’s Quiet Strike Into 2nd Day

NAUGATUCK (AP) — Three divisions of employes at the UniRoyal plant here are at a standstill on strike against the company as a national walk-out of United Rubber Workers continues in its second day.

The strike affects the footwear, synthetics and chemical divisions of UniRoyal. Some 5,500 workers, members of locals 45, 218 and 308 are involved.

Although B. F. Goodrich was also struck, the Shelton and Derby plants of the Goodrich Sponge Products Division are not unionized and therefore maintained regular production schedules.

The first day of picketing at Uniroyal passed quietly. No incidents were reported, and management personnel were allowed to enter the plant under a prior arrangement with the union.

Locals 45 and 308 suspended picketing last night for the weekend, and Local 218, chemical plant personnel, was scheduled to picket one gate today until 6 p.m. There will be picketing tomorrow.

There were strikes at Uniroyal formerly the U.S. Rubber Co., two years and eight years ago at Naugatuck. The 1965 strike lasted three days and the 1959 walkout stopped production for three weeks.

Nationally, the strike involves more than 50,000 workers and is the largest to hit the industry since 1959.

The union called its members out against Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., the B.F. Goodrich Co., and Uniroyal, mem-

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7

UniRoyal Strike Situation Quiet

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UniRoyal Strike Situation Quiet

4-22-67

The first day of the United Rubber Workers strike against UniRoyal, closing down the large plants in the borough, passed without incident.

Picketing was conducted in an orderly fashion and the company made no attempt not to honor the lines around the plants. Pickets were stationed at all gates by the three locals of the borough from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. yesterday.

Picketing was suspended last night at 6 p.m. for the weekend and will be resumed Monday at 6 a.m.

All’s quiet in downtown Naugatuck this morning with the air of excitement of the first day gone. The big question today is how long will the strike last.

Negotiators are returning to the borough from Ohio today with talks scheduled to be resumed Wednesday.

The strike order came to the borough from Cincinnati about 12:30 a.m. Friday morning. Within minutes of the announcement by the Union officials of the strike operations for closing down the plants began. White collar workers were allowed to pass through the lines all day yesterday.

The strike call came after weeks of negotiations which failed to produce agreements on a new contract.

Both union and company officials have failed to disclose the issues in a pact that no information will be forthcoming unless released simultaneously. However, rumors persist that the main issues are wages and a guaranteed annual income.

URW workers have struck three of the big five Rubber firms, UniRoyal, Firestone and B.F. Goodrich. Negotiations with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. have continued on a day-to-day basis. However, 500 workers at a Goodyear plant in North Chicago, Ill., walked off the job yesterday forcing the plant to shut down. Work continued at all of the company’s other plants.

The fifth firm, the General Tire & Rubber Co., is negotiating toward a May 15 contract deadline.

Uniroyal Talks Due Wednesday

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Uniroyal Talks Due Wednesday

4-24-67 [handwritten date at top]

NAUGATUCK — Negotiations between the striking United Rubber Workers and Uniroyal, Inc. will resume Wednesday morning in Cincinnati, local union spokesmen reported Sunday night.

Pickets at the three Locals, 45, 218 and 308, are scheduled to resume their strike posts today at 6 a.m. and continue throughout the day in two-hour shifts.

Joseph Rzeszutek, president of URW Local 218, chemical workers, has called meetings of his group today at 2 and 7 p.m. in Union Hall, Curtis St., to report to the local on the contract negotiations he attended last week in Cincinnati.

George Froelich, president of Local 45, will report on negotiations to the local executive committee this morning at 9:30. President of Local 308, Edward Alves, reported he met with his executive committee Saturday evening for a briefing on contract talks.

The three local presidents, along with three additional policy-making members of Local 45, will attend the national URW policy-making session in Cincinnati Tuesday evening in preparation for Wednesday morning’s resumption of negotiations.

Due to its large, over 4,000 membership, Local 45 is allowed three policy-committee members, making it the largest represented group attending the session. The three committee members, John Butler, James Nardello and Lionel Turner, along with Froelich give Local 45 a four-man team, out of a total of 31 national policy committee members.

Contract talks between URW and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. will resume this morning in Arkon, Ohio, but no negotiations for any of the three strike-bound firms are set before Wednesday.

The strike, which has idled some 50,000 members of the URW, was called at midnight Thursday against the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., and the B.F. Goodrich Co., both of Akron, and Uniroyal, Inc.

The three firms produce half the nation’s rubber products.

The strike spread to one Goodyear plant in North Chicago, Ill., Friday when 500 workers walked off the job, but work continued at other Goodyear plants under the old contract which was extended on a day-to-day basis.

The other member of the industry’s ‘Big Five,’ the General Tire and Rubber Co., is negotiating toward a May 15 contract deadline. In Akron, 1,800 general employes have been idled by a two-week-old wildcat walkout.

Talks will resume Wednesday morning with Firestone in Cleveland, and B. F. Goodrich in Columbus.

Higher wages and a guaranteed minimum wage were the major issues in the negotiations. The union sought payments for laid-off workers amounting to 93 per cent of their regular eranings.

UniRoyal Strike Quiet Here; Negotiations Tomorrow In Ohio

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4-7-67

UniRoyal Strike Quiet Here; Negotiations Tomorrow In Ohio

Picketing at the Chemical Division of UniRoyal has been “stepped-up,” according to an announcement made by officials of Local 218.

They report that pickets will be on duty “24-hours a day, seven-days a week.” Also that members will picket in three-hour shifts.

Local 218 began a buildup of picketing Friday when members decided to picket throughout the night and all day Saturday.

Picketing at the other Uni-Royal plants in the borough continued on a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. basis with members participating in two-hour shifts.

The presidents of the three borough Locals George Froehlich, Local 45; Joseph Rzeszutek, Local 218; and Edward Alves, Local 308; were scheduled to return to Cincinnati today in preparation for resumption of negotiations tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

No incidents have been reported due to the strike in the borough. Picketing is being conducted in an orderly fashion and the company has honored the picket lines.

The presidents of the Locals returned to the borough over the weekend to inform officials of the unions what transpired at the negotiating sessions. However, no information has been released for publication.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Negotiations with three strikebound rubber firms were scheduled to resume Wednesday while talks continued today between the United Rubber Workers Union (URW), and two other members of the industry’s “big five.”

The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich and Uni-Royal, Inc., have been closed by a nationwide walkout of 50,000 workers since contract negotiations ended Thursday with no agreement.

Negotiations continued today with the General Tire & Rubber Co. in Cleveland and with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Cincinnati. The contract with General does not expire until May 15. The Goodyear pact expired Thursday, but both sides agreed to continue working on a day-to-day basis.

A wildcat strike in the mill room at the General Tire plant in Akron ended when the URW agreed to send its men back to work tonight. The strike began three weeks ago when 64 workers walked off the job in a dispute over rest periods, forcing shut down of the plant.

Another wildcat strike against the Seiberling Tire & Rubber Co. in Barberton, Ohio, continued to keep 1,000 workers idle. The strike began last Wednesday over a dispute on work rules.

The chief stumbling block to a settlement with the big three struck firms appeared to be union demands for higher pay and a guaranteed minimum wage.

Spokesmen for the auto industry say the strike was not expected to affect new car production for several weeks. Inventories were reported to be sufficient to meet the needs of defense and aerospace production for some time.

Rubber Strike Negotiations Resume Today

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Rubber Strike

Negotiations Resume Today

4-26-67

For the first time since the United Rubber Workers called its members out on strike shortly after midnight Thursday, negotiations for UniRoyal, Inc., and URW officials will resume talks today in Cincinnati.

While negotiations are conducted in Ohio, peaceful picketing continues in the borough. Capt. Joesph Summa of the local police department is maintaining his special force of policemen at the gates. Due to the orderly picketing, only one officer is assigned to each gate where pickets are stationed.

No official word has been released on the progress of the negotiations. However, it is felt that the major source of disagreement is the union’s demand for a guaranteed annual wage. UniRoyal announced Friday that “a substantial increase in wages and various improvements in employe benefits” offer had been made.

Members of Local 218 of the Naugatuck Chemical may apply at Local headquarters on Curtiss St. today and tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. for strike benefits, according to the Local treasurer, Robert McDermott.

Locals 45 and 308 are waiting for the necessary forms to enable its members to apply for benefits. Mrs. Rita Ruggiero, secretary of Local 45, said that they expected them tomorrow or Friday. Local 45, the largest of the three borough Locals, has a membership of 4,500.

AID REFUSED

by

against Negroes.

4-26-67

AID REFUSED

NAUGATUCK (AP) —Pickets at the Uniroyal plant were getting wet in Monday’s rainy and snowy weather.

Company officials inside the plant discussed the situation, then offered some rain gear — one of the firm’s products — to the pickets.

But the strikers ignored the move. A union official arrived with a dozen newly purchased umbrellas.

Some 5,500 workers are on

Applications For Strike Benefits Taken

by

Applications For Strike Benefits Taken

4-28-67 [handwritten]

United Rubber workers and UniRoyal are continuing negotiation talks in Cincinnati as locals in Naugatuck are announcing schedules for applications to be taken for strike benefits.

Local 45, the largest of the three URW Locals in the borough, began taking applications this morning at 10 a.m., according to an announcement by Rita Ruggiero, secretary and treasurer of the local. The office will be open today for applications from 10 to 12 noon and from 1 to 4 p.m.

Art Calder, treasurer of Local 308, said that his local will maintain the same schedule for taking applications for benefits. Both units will also open their offices at the Portuguese Hall Monday, maintaining the same schedule, enabling members to file for benefits.

Members are urged to bring their social security card with them when making an application. Benefits will be payable the following week.

A union official in Cincinnati said that negotiation meetings are being conducted daily on a day-long basis. The meeting yesterday was in session until 10:45 last night and discussions were scheduled to resume this morning at 9 o’clock.

Ohio Talks Continue In Strike At Uniroyal

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Ohio Talks Continue In Strike At Uniroyal

4-27-67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK—Talks between the striking United Rubber Workers union and Uniroyal, Inc., are being continued today in Ohio, according to Local 45 Pres. George Froehlich. Negotiations were resumed Wednesday morning following a weekend recess.

Contacted Wednesday night in Cincinnati, Ohio, Froehlich declined to state whether or not an agreement between the two groups was in sight. His only comment was that negotiations will continue.

Although no official word has been released on the progress of the negotiations, it has been reported that a major stumbling block in the talks is the union’s demand for a guaranteed annual wage.

While negotiations between representatives of the URW and Uniroyal continue in Cincinnati, rubber worker locals in plants across the nation continue to picket operations.

Picketing in the borough remains quiet, with small groups of pickets keeping vigil at strategic locations around the plant entrances. The locals will shortly be entering their second week of striking.

Both Locals 45 and 308 maintain picket operations from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., with no reports of difficulty procuring volunteers to carry the strike placards. Local 218 is maintaining its picketing “24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.”

Members of Local 218 were asked to report to local headquarters on Curtiss St., Wednesday and today from 1 to 4 p.m. to fill out applications for strike benefits. Locals 45 and 308 have not yet notified members to report for the applications.

Firm Offers “Inadequate,” Union Charges

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Rubber Strike 4-27-67

Firm Offers “Inadequate,” Union Charges

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — Negotiations were to continue today in the week-old rubber industry strike in the face of charges that four major companies have failed to make an adequate wage offer.

Peter Bomarito, international president of the striking United Rubber Workers, leveled the charge at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich, UniRoyal, Inc., and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

Contracts with the four firms expired last Thursday and all but Goodyear were struck. Both sides in the Goodyear negotiations agreed to extend the old contract on a day to day basis.

Bomarito said the companies have refused to follow a formula on wage adjustments that would give rubber workers about the same wages paid in the auto industry.

“For 20 years wage adjustments in the rubber and auto industries have paralleled each other,” he said.

“This year the major rubber companies say they will not follow the tandem relationship between auto and rubber workers because it will provide too great an increase,” he said.

Negotiations resumed Wednesday, with the three struck companies for the first time since 50,000 workers went on strike last Thursday.

Picketing in the borough remains quiet while rumors circulate that this will be a long strike.

Both Locals 45 and 308 are maintaining a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. picket schedule with members working two-hour shifts on the line. Local 218 is maintaining a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week schedule for its pickets.

Local 218 started yesterday and again today from 1 to 4 p.m. to have its members fill out applications for strike benefits. The other two Locals in the borough have not yet notified its members to report for applications.

This week local plants will be paying its striking workers for the last time until the strike comes to a conclusion. White collar workers are maintaining a regular work schedule within the plants.

Continuing Talks Give Hope Of Uniroyal Settlement

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Continuing Talks Give Hope Of Uniroyal Settlement

4-30-62 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGTUCK — Hope that a breakthrough in the stalemated contract talks between the nited Rubber Workers and Uniroyal may develop is being expressed by local employes of the rubber company as the strike heads into its 10th day.

The optimism is predicated on the willingness of both the URW Policy Committee and management of Uni Royal to continue negotiating sessions in Cincinnati Saturday and again today.

Normally, negotiations are recessed on a weekend. Therefore, the meeting Saturday and the one scheduled today are considered by the 5,000 workers who struck the Uniroyal footwear, chemical and synthetic plants here April 21.

Last weekend, the negotiating teams not only recessed for that period but stayed apart until Wednesday.

Failure to agree on clauses of a contract when the old one expired at midnight April 20, caused URW to strike the 19 plants of Uniroyal scattered about the country.

Both sides have adopted a set pattern against any public announcements on progress of talks. But second-hand reports indicate that hourly wage increases and URW’s request for a guaranteed annual pay wage of about 95 per cent of salary are the main stumbling blocks.

It has also been indicated here that representatives of the three area locals — 45, 218 and 308 — are in a settling mood. However, according to the report, tire plant workers of Uniroyal are still at odds with management over pay hikes.

Strike Benefits

Meanwhile, URW executive committees are setting up machinery so that local union members may receive strike benefits. Applications were accepted Friday and they will again be received Monday to enable the strikers to be eligible for weekly checks while the shutdown endures.

Picketing at Uniroyal’s Naugatuck Chemical Co. continued this weekend on around-the-clock schedule. At the footwear and synthetic plants, however, pickets were called off until Monday morning.

During the past week, management personnel was permitted to cross the picket lines. It has been reported, however, that this privilege may be denied starting Monday. Management has reportedly instructed personnel, if challenged, to withdraw without question.

Negotiations At Uniroyal Continuing

by

Negotiations At Uniroyal Continuing

5-7-67 [handwritten notation]

NAUGATUCK — An unidentified union spokesman in Cincinnati reported negotiations will continue today as the strike against Uniroyal’s three plants here by the United Rubber Workers remains and pickets continue quietly.

Due to an agreement between union and manangment groups not to release any information, no indication of progress was given.

Whether or not some of the major union demands had been granted was not known, although it is believed the greatest stumbling block preventing a settlement is the demand for a guaranteed annual wage.

At present, six-member picket teams keep vigil at the company’s main entrances, permitting office workers to pass through the lines. How much longer pickets will permit this remains in the air, but one picket recently remarked that there was “too much business going on in there.”

Members of the three Naugatuck locals, 45,218 and 308, have by now filed for strike benefits which entitle them to $25 weekly until the strike ends. The last paychecks have been received.

Although union members also remain in the dark as to the progress of the negotiations, rumors are circulating among the membership that the strike will continue for some time to come.

UniRoyal Strike Negotiations Continuing

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UniRoyal Strike Negotiations Continuing

5-1-67

Negotiating talks continued Sunday between the United Rubber Workers and UniRoyal as the strike has entered its second week. However, there is no indication from either side as to the progress.

The negotiating talks now concern the master contract. Once agreement is reached, the talks will be conducted on local levels.

All three of the borough Locals have been taking strike benefit applications from its membership. The striking employes received their last pays this weekend and are now facing payless days until the strike is settled and they complete a week’s work.

Presidents of the borough’s three Locals, George Froehlich, Local 45; Joseph Rzeszutek, Local 218; and Edward Alves, Local 308, are in Cincinnati participating in the talks.

Picketing continues in the borough at all gates of the plants in an orderly fashion. Picket lines of six persons are maintained at the gates with one police officer on hand. No attempt has been made by UniRoyal to cross the lines. Union officials are allowing white collar employes to continue working.

PICKETS were outenmasse at the warehouse building on Rubber Ave. to ensure no one or nothing passed through the line

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5-4-67

NAUGATUCK NEWS (Conn.) Thurs., May 4, 1967 – Page 7

PICKETS were out enmasse at the warehouse building on Rubber Ave. to ensure no one or nothing passed through the line yesterday morning. Early in the morning several scuffles kept the policemen on their toes but no serious incidents were reported. –(News photo by Nichols)

[Visible on protest sign in image: “UNITED RUBBER WORKERS ON STRIKE”]

Uniroyal Warehouse In Bristol Picketed

by

Waterbury Republican, Thursday, May 4, 1967—45

Uniroyal Warehouse In Bristol Picketed

BRISTOL—Pickets appeared in front of the Uniroyal Inc. warehouse on Center St. Wednesday just after midnight when it was learned that management was going to try to ship from the local warehouse.

The pickets represent Local 45, United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of

Bristol

America, who have been on strike since midnight April 20 against Uniroyal Inc.

Three pickets took up their posts in front of the warehouse about midnight and by the time mid-morning rolled around, there were 11. Early in the afternoon there were six.

Four members of management were in the office this morning. When they arrived no one knows and Bill Clisham, manager of the local warehouse, declined to say. Sitting it out with Clisham were Richard Quatrano, assistant superintendent of the fabric shoe mill, Naugatuck; Francis Schildgen and Charles Lodge, foremen at the Naugatuck footwear division. Clisham would not disclose how much stock in the warehouse was ready for shipment.

The pickets were firm about not letting any more members of management into the warehouse. They will however, allow those already inside to leave. They have to keep their hands in their pockets, they said, but that doesn’t keep them from lining up shoulder to shoulder to form a solid line or keep them from using their feet.

According to one of the men, the union had agreed not to picket this warehouse or the one in Beacon Falls, but when they heard that management intended to break the freeze on shipments, they felt justified in picketing the Bristol facility.

According to reports Wednesday night, picketing had ceased around 9:30.

BRISTOL WAREHOUSE of Uniroyal Inc. was picketed Wednesday by members of the United Rubber Workers Union, which struck the firm April 20. Reports of a possible shipment from the building prompted the picketing. — Rosenberg Photo.

[Visible on picket signs in photo: “UNITED RUBBER WORKERS ON STRIKE”]

Pickets

by

Pickets

(Cont’d from Page One)

lated among Uniroyal management, was neither confirmed nor denied by top level Local officials in Cincinnati.

The statement claimed that although Uniroyal had offered to continue negotiations on a day-to-day basis after the strike was called, the URW had turned down the offer, “with the result that 22,000 of our people are losing more than $500,000 per day in wages and benefits.”

The circular also stated that “although major economic proposals were submitted on April 12, the union did not present proposals on the labor contract until April 19, one day before the contract expiration deadline.”

It was further claimed that the union’s proposals were “unrealistic and prohibitive, and to date, (April 28) the union has made no changes in these demands.”

In Bristol, pickets appeared in front of the Uniroyal warehouse on Center St. Wednesday just after midnight when it was learned that management was going to try to ship from the local warehouse.

Three pickets took up their posts in front of the warehouse about midnight Tuesday and by the time mid-morning rolled around, there were 11. Early in the afternoon there were six.

Four members of management were in the office this morning.

50 Arrested In Uniroyal Strike

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50 Arrested In Uniroyal Strike

5-4-67 [handwritten]

By PATRICK KEATING
and
JAMES FLEMING
Register Staff Reporters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See UNIROYAL Page 2

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

Reds At Marines

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

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

Strong Cor Would Cu

By WILLIAM E. KEISH JR.
Register Staff Reporter

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

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

Strike Benefits To Begin Today

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Strike Benefits To Begin Today

NAUGATUCK—United Rubber Workers, Locals 45, 218 and 308, will disburse strike benefit checks Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Members of each local are asked to report to their respective local headquarters to receive the benefit checks. Those members who have either performed or made themselves available for strike duty are eligible for the checks.

Local 45, Footwear plant, will disburse benefit checks according to employe clock numbers as follows: Tuesday 9 a.m., clock numbers 1 to 3,000; Tuesday noon, numbers 3,001 to 7,000; Wednesday 9 a.m., 7,001 to 11,000; Wednesday noon, numbers 11,001 to 15,999.

[Handwritten notation in top right corner appears to read: “12-5-5” or similar]

Arrest 21 Pickets

by

Arrest 21 Pickets

5-3-67 [handwritten date in top right corner]

A potentially explosive situation between management and members of striking unions against UniRoyal was averted this morning as pickets allowed male management and office workers to pass through the lines into the Maple St. entrance to the Footwear Division.

The situation was not relieved however, before 21 more pickets, mostly all members of Local 45, URW, were arrested on charges of breach of the peace. They were cited at about 7 a.m. when a group of management personnel attempted to cross the lines.

A large group of office and management workers were later booed by strikers as they filed quietly into the gate on the south side of Maple St.

Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, explained the situation to the strikers over a police department bullhorn.

He said the local police would be augmented by State Police if any violence ensued on the picket lines. He said State Police would have in their possession “riot guns and tear gas.”

Mengacci said he would leave the decision of what the strikers would do when management personnel came down Maple St. from The Green up to them. He explained, however, that any violence would lead to the participation of State Police.

Mengacci told the large crowd that he was due in court in Waterbury at 2 p.m. today to appear at proceedings in which UniRoyal is seeking an injunction regarding the amount of picketing.

Mengacci said the company wants to limit picketing to five persons per gate.

“If the company wins that match,” he told the crowd surrounding him on Maple St., “there’s nothing we can do.”

Some of his remarks were met with jeers from strikers who wanted to continue fighting management and keep them from entering the firm.

RAYMOND MENGACCI, vice-president of Local 45, URW, on strike against UniRoyal, Inc., explains today’s tense situation to pickets at the Maple St. entrance to the company over a Police Department bull-horn. Mengacci said local police would be aided by State Police “with riot guns and tear gas” if there is any violence as management and office workers file into the factory grounds. —(News photo by Jensen)

Strike Benefit Checks Given Tuesday, Weds

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Strike Benefit Checks Given Tuesday, Weds

United Rubber Workers local unions, Local No. 45, Naugatuck Footwear, Local No. 218, Naugatuck Chemical, and Local No. 308, Naugatuck Synthetic, will disperse strike benefit checks commencing Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Members of each respective local should report to their own local union headquarters for strike benefit checks.

Those members who have performed or made themselves available for strike duty will be eligible for strike benefit checks.

Local No. 45, Naugatuck Footwear, will disperse benefit checks according to employee’s clock numbers as follows: Tuesday, 9 o’clock numbers 1 to 3,000; Tuesday, 12 noon, No. 3001 to No. 7000; Wednesday, 9a.m., No. 7,001 to No. 11,000; and Wednesday, 12 noon, No. 11,001 to No. 15,999.

HOLDING THEIR hands up for silence, aids of Raymond Mengacci, with bull-horn, vice-president of Local 45, URW, stand beside their leader as he explains the strike situation to pickets.

by

HOLDING THEIR hands up for silence, aids of Raymond Mengacci, with bull-horn, vice-president of Local 45, URW, stand beside their leader as he explains the strike situation to pickets.

CY BLANCHARD, vice-president of Local 218 talked to his men who were assisting on the picket lines on Maple St. this morning while Ray Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, stands by.

Handwritten notation in margin: 5-5-67

Strike Violence

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Strike Violence

Naugatuck police forcibly restrain picket (top photo) who attempted to prevent supervisory personnel from entering Uniroyal this morning. He was arrested and charged with breach of peace. Two persons were reported hurt in the near-riot, a woman with a cut on her knee and a man who said he had been kicked. Newsmen were also pushed. Twenty – one persons were arrested increasing the two-day toll to 64. In photo, right center, Rubber Workers Union veep Raymond Mengacci warns employes on picket lines that state police will be called unless violence ends. Policeman (lower right) escorts woman picket from in front of company. (Sentinel Photos by Cotter)

[Handwritten note in margin, left side:]
5-3-67

Pickets Arrested

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Pickets Arrested

5-5-67 [handwritten notation]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hugh R. Ga-

Judge Warns Union On “Interference, Violence” Here

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Judge Warns Union On “Interference, Violence” Here

5-6-67 [handwritten]

WATERBURY – A warning to refrain from any violence and interference with the operations of UniRoyal’s Footwear Division was given yesterday to the United Rubber Workers (URW) Union by Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney.

The court issued an order to show cause why a temporary injunction should not be issued in favor of the rubber firm. Judge Gaffney gave the union until 11 a.m. Tuesday to prepare its case.

“In the event of interference with the plaintiff’s operations at its plants in Naugatuck,” Judge Gaffney said,” or any acts of violence between now and the time the court rules on the company’s motion, upon show of facts, a restraining order will be issued forthwith.”

Atty. Daniel Baker, counsel for the URW, asked if this included “peaceful picketing.”

Judge Gaffney said it did not in any way restrict peaceful picketing.

But he admonished all those present to look up the definition of “peaceful picketing.”

Atty. Edgar Bassick represented UniRoyal in the proceedings.

Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, was present with other union officials. Four or five UniRoyal executives attending the brief proceedings, led by John Smith, factory manager.

Set for 2 p.m., the court was not called to order until some

Conferences between attorneys and their respective clients and conferences between the attorneys and Judge Gaffney took up considerable time until the brief proceedings got underway.

In effect, the Judge gave union attorneys until Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock to prepare a case against the granting of UniRoyal’s injunction request.

His remarks about “peaceful picketing” and mention of “violence” in regard to the quick issuance of a restraining order

brought to mind to those present the more than 60 arrests and scuffling that has gone on in the past three days at the Footwear Division in the borough.

UniRoyal attorneys sought the injunction on the grounds that union members have “engaged in mass picketing…intercepted and blocked persons who approached the plant and plant premises by foot or by vehicle, pushing and shoving such persons, kicking them, stepping on their feet, calling them names in loud and menacing manners.”

The strikers “have congregated in large and unruly masses 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 rubber firm wanted the

Train Tragedy Narrowly Averted

A number of pickets and police at a gate of UniRoyal, Inc., on Elm St. narrowly missed being struck by a train backing into the firm’s warehouse yesterday afternoon.

Policemen came close to being hit by the train, apparently operated by supervisory personnel of the New Haven Railroad.

A number of pickets blocking the tracks of the railroad apparently thought the train was going to stop when the end boxcar reached the picket line. Police on duty also apparently were of the opinion the train would stop.

As the train drew close to the pickets, police moved in to move them aside and allow the train to pass. Some of them with their backs to the moving train narrowly missed being hit, as well as pickets.

At least one person was slightly injured in the incident.

than 60 persons arrested.

Pickets of Local 45, URW, had been notified of the attempt by UniRoyal to get some boxcars into the warehouse.

At about 1 o’clock, when the incident occurred yesterday, only a handful of pickets were at the warehouse. A call quickly went to union headquarters and the number of pickets increased considerably.

As soon as it was evident to the pickets the train was moving toward the warehouse, they began milling in front of the gate. Police had arrived at the scene only minutes before.

When the train went through the gate without regard for the men standing around it, police and pickets alike were astounded.

Everyone standing near the scene was visibly shaken by the incident. Some pickets said the train went by at an alarming

Please Turn to Page 10

Please Turn to Page 10

Strike

by

Strike-

Continued from Page 1

Police Chief Frank J. Mariano
and Capt. Joseph Summa, in
charge of the strike detail.

They agreed that there should
be no further violence.

The Rubber Workers have
been on strike since April 21 as
part of a nationwide walkout.
More than 5,000 persons are af-
fected locally, and about 50,-
000 nationally.

Order Returns To Naugatuck Uniroyal Strike

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Order Returns To Naugatuck Uniroyal Strike

By PATRICK KEATING
Register Staff Reporter

NAUGATUCK —Peace and order, conspicuous by its absence during strike demonstrations here Thursday and Friday, which resulted in wholesale arrests, returned once more as the strike by the United Rubber Workers Union against Uniroyal enters its 17th day.

The turnabout from an explosive atmosphere is attributed by both union and management officials to the successful application by Uniroyal in the Waterbury Superior Court Friday for a restaining order against URW.

The order as granted compels Local 45 of the Footwear Division to restrict the mode of its picketing and also desist from attempts to prevent management personnel, company trucks and other public conveyances from entering and leaving the factory.

The union’s insistence that management personnel be barred along with no shipping of company products during the strike touched off the distrubances that almost reached riot proportions on Thursday and Friday.

Union officials who were individually served with restraining order proceedings Friday night agree that they must abide by the court orders.

Start Monday

Accordingly, on Monday office help and supervisory employes will be permitted to cross the picket lines without any challenges. The same policy will be in effect as to entrance the departure of any trucks that might be transporting Uniroyal merchandise.

Members of the union were instructed Friday night on these privileges granted the company as a result of the order. They also were requested to abide by the court action.

The order should eliminate hard feelings that were aroused between the strikers and members of the borough Police Department. Some pickets required hospitalization and so did some policemen reportedly injured in the scuffling.

Charges have been hurled back and forth and there was a report Friday night that a suit may be levied against the borough by the union over a supposedly act of brutality.

Contract Talks

Meanwhile, forgotten in the rash of demonstrations was the progress, or lack of it, at the conference table at Cincinnatti where a new contract is being negotiated.

The talks were recessed for the weekend and will be resumed Monday morning. A contact at Cincinnati reported that apparently no great step was taken to reach an agreement.

In Naugatuck, the strike called April 21 has shut down operations at the Footwear, Chemical and Synthetic Divisions of Uniroyal.

And for union members, it means that they are now in the third week of a strike that has already cost them two full pay checks.

Finanical Aid

Some financial assistance will be forthcoming on Tuesday and Wednesday when Locals 45, 218 and 308 will hand out special strike benefit checks to their memberships.

The crippling strike has not only hit the union members hard but is also being felt by stores, restaurants, business establishments and tradesmen that rely on factory workers for much of their revenue.

The economic pinch has also hit the borough in an unusual way since its meter receipts have been greatly affected. Employes of the Footwear Division while at work use the all-day meters, costing 25 cents for an eight-hour period.

[Handwritten notation at top of page appears to read: “5/7/67”]

Uniroyal Pickets Quiet As Workers Cross Lines

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5-8-67 BEACON FALLS

Uniroyal Pickets Quiet As Workers Cross Lines

Office and supervisory employes at the Uniroyal plants in Beacon Falls and Naugatuck crossed picket lines without incident this morning to go to work.

About 50 persons entered the Beacon Falls plant — the first to do so since the strike began April 21. Some 200 went into the Naugatuck plant. There was no violence or name – calling.

There were perhaps a dozen pickets on duty in Beacon Falls. Token picketing in Naugatuck was in sharp contrast to the mass picketing of last week.

Raymond Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, United Rubber Workers of America, told The Sentinel today that he had ordered his picket captains to permit no interference with persons entering or leaving the plants.

Warning Heeded

Union officials have said they would heed the warning given Friday by Judge Leo V. Gaffney of Superior Court in Waterbury against mass picketing.

A hearing will be held at 11 Court on Uniroyal’s application for an injunction to bar mass picketing and picket – line violence.

Meanwhile union officials announced that strike benefit checks will be available tomorrow and Wednesday.

Members of Locals 218 and 308 may get their checks between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at their local headquarters.

Members of Local 45 will re-

ceive them on the following schedule at union headquarters: Tuesday morning, Clock Numbers 1, to 3000; Tuesday afternoon, 3001 to 7000; Wednesday morning, 7001,to 11000; Wednesday afternoon, 11001 to 15999.

UniRoyal Seeks Injunction

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In Superior Court Today

5-9-67

UniRoyal Seeks Injunction

Picketing remains quiet and orderly in the borough today as negotiations between the United Rubber Workers and UniRoyal continue in Cincinnati.

Four trailer trucks and four U.S. Mail trucks entered and left the Warehouse on Elm St. yesterday afternoon without incident. Eleven other trucks approached the gates and the drivers turned away without entering.

The first truck to enter the gates was from Darcey’s, a Waterbury trucking concern. The second truck from Wilson Freight Co. out of New Haven, followed by an Elliot Bros. truck from Waterbury. The last truck was rented from a local dealer by Lombard Bros.

The truckers who turned away from the gates were greeted with calls from the picketers, “There goes a good Teamster.”

Although the picketers moved from the gates to let the trucks pass by without incident, catcalls could be heard. The trucks moved in and out of the gates all afternoon.

The freight cars that were moved into the Warehouse Friday have not as yet been moved out.

Local management of UniRoyal went into Waterbury Superior Court Friday to seek an injunction to restrain mass picketing after strikers demonstrated last week and sought to keep white collar workers from entering the Maple St. gates.

Judge Leo V. Gaffney ordered United Rubber Worker officials to appear in court this morning at 11 a.m. for a show cause hearing on the injunction sought by UniRoyal.

At that time he issued a warning to the union to halt mass picketing. Since Friday, only small teams of pickets have been stationed at the gates. For the past two days, white collar workers have crossed the picket lines with friendly remarks exchanged between the two groups.

The injunction sought today would ban mass picketing, close formation picketing and marching in the vicinity of the UniRoyal plants.

Some 5,500 employes are entering their third week of strike. No information as to how the negotiations are progressing or what the issues are, that hold up agreement on the master contract.

8 Trucks Pass Through Uniroyal Amid Jeers

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6—Waterbury Republican, Tuesday, May 9, 1967

8 Trucks Pass Through Uniroyal Amid Jeers

NAUGATUCK—A barrage of 19 trucks approached the Uniroyal warehouse gate on Elm St. during a three-and-one-half hour period Monday afternoon. Although 11 drivers turned away without entering, four trucks from private firms and four U. S. mail trucks passed through the lines of striking United Rubber Workers without incident, although catcalls could be heard.

Picket teams of approximately 13 people stood in front of the gate to halt the passage of the trucks, but quietly made way for those wishing to go in or out.

The relative quiet which pervaded the scene Monday afternoon may well affect the outcome of an injunction hearing scheduled for today in Waterbury.

Four freight cars, shoved into the warehouse Friday afternoon without stopping, are still in the warehouse, and according to sources are due to be shipped out, loaded, today.

During the period in which the trucks approached the gate Monday afternoon from about 1:30 to 5 p.m., negotiations were reportedly continuing in Cincinnati, although the negotiators could not be reached for comment Monday night.

The first truck to approach the gates, and the first to enter, was from Darcey, a Waterbury trucking firm. The second truck to enter was from a New Haven firm, the Wilson Freight Co. The Elliott Bros. Trucking Co. firm Waterbury and the Lombard Bros., who rented a truck from a local dealer, also entered the gates.

Most of those who turned away from large firms engaged in interstate commerce. When a truck from one of these outfits left, one of the pickets chortled, “There goes a good Teamster.”

Fur police patrols were at the gate at the time, under the leadership of Capt. Joseph Summa.

The scene Monday afternoon at the gate was in marked contrast to the clashes with police which marked the early morning hours of three days last week when pickets attempted to prevent white collar personnel from entering the Footwear plants on Maple St.

Following those three days of clashes, during which 71 pickets were arrested on charges of breach of peace, a hearing for the purpose of preventing mass picketing was held in Waterbury.

At that time, Judge Leo V. Gaffney issued a warning to pickets to stop mass picketing. Since that time picket teams have been small in number and management personnel has been allowed to enter the plants without incident.

Uniroyal Strikers Get Benefit Checks

by

BEACON FALLS

5-9-67

Uniroyal Strikers Get Benefit Checks

Union officials and volunteer workers were busy in Naugatuck today distributing benefit checks to members of three union locals on strike against Uniroyal.

Lines were orderly at the headquarters of Locals 45, 218 and 308, United Rubber Workers of America. The workers have been on strike since April 21 against Uniroyal plants in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.

Eight trucks yesterday afternoon passed without incident through picket lines at the Elm Street gate of Uniroyal’s Naugatuck plant. Four were United States mail trucks.

Drivers of 11 other trucks turned back, refusing to cross the picket line.

Pickets made way for drivers who insisted on entering the plant. There were catcalls from the pickets, but no violence.

Naugatuck police patrols, under Capt. Joseph Summa, were at the scene.

In Beacon Falls, a detail of State Police under Sgt. James Ferguson of the Bethany Barracks stood by as trucks entered and left. There was no disturbance and no jeering from the pickets.

Pickets at Naugatuck and Beacon Falls had been ordered by Raymond Mangacci, a union vice president, to avoid violence.

Five railroad freight cars that entered the central warehouse in Naugatuck Friday were still inside the plant today.

Thomas J. Nelligan, a Uniroyal spokesman, said the cars would be moved out when loaded.

The company plans to continue shipments by truck and rail, Nelligan said.

The calm that has prevailed this week contrasts with the near – roits of last Thursday and Friday, when 64 strikers were arrested.

Union Explains Procedures For Strike Aid

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Union Explains
Procedures
For Strike Aid

5-10-67

Procedures to be followed by
employes to obtain emergency
aid during the strike at the
Naugatuck footwear plant of
Uniroyal were explained last
night by Kenneth Knott of the
United Council and fund Agen-
cy, AFL – CIO.

The procedures were explain-
ed to officials of area communi-
ties at a meeting at Local 45,
United Rubber Workers Union
headquarters.

Knott said employes should
register for employment with
the state employment depart-
ment. They then should apply
for aid with the S t a t e Welfare
Agency, 79 Linden Ave., Water-
bury and apply to the first se-
lectman, mayor or welfare de-
partment in their respective
communities.

Knott said processing of appli-
cations will be expedited if the
employes follow these three
rules.

The unions have designated
officials from each of the three
locals to assist applicants in
filing the necessary forms.

They are John Butler of Local
45; Laura Soares of Local 218
and Jean Burke of Local 308.

Individuals who desire federal
food stamps can obtain the
necessary information from the
three local representatives.

Attending the meeting were
Adam Mengacci, vice – presi-
dent Local 45; Joseph Arbu-
chowkaus, vice – president Local
308; Cyrus Blanchard, vice –
president, Local 218 and William
Fernandez, international repre-
sentative.

Also, Pat DelVecchio, first
selectman, Beacon Falls; Ern-
est H. Culverwell first select-
man, Seymour; William M.
Calabrese, first selectman, Mid-
dlebury; Katherine M. Brennan,
Superintendent Naugatuck Wel-
fare Department; Peter D. Po-
cius, director of Waterbury Wel-
fare Department, and William
P. Kalvaitis, State Welfare De-
partment, Waterbury.

Picket Duty Explained By Union Head

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Picket Duty Explained By Union Head

NAUGATUCK — Some members of United Rubber Workers Local 218 reported evidence of confusion Tuesday over the question of receiving the weekly strike benefit of $25 .According to Vice President of Local 218, Cy Blanchard , receipt of the check depends on whether or not a member appeared for strike duty at least once every five days.

Many of the members, appearing for their benefit checks Tuesday, were told that in order to qualify for them they would have to serve today. They were told that they had until 3 p.m. today to make up lost picket time.

According to Blanchard, with only 530 members available for picket duty, it was necessary to schedule each man at least once every five days. Some men, he said, have appeared only once for a three-hour picket duty, while others have done more than their share.

He noted that although some members were surprised when they heard they had to serve again before qualifying for the checks, he thought it was each man’s duty as a union member to volunteer his services. It seems unfair, he said, that the man who has served only once gets the same benefit as the man who has served many times.

“We have not denied anyone any benefits,” said Blanchard, adding that “we are giving every member full opportunity” to fulfill his picket obligations.

There are some, he said, who are unable to picket because of health or other reasons, but these are also put to work to make everything fair.

Each member is being scheduled once every five days so that there are about 110 pickets every day, he said. He added that he hoped every member would volunteer his services for picket duty to qualify. This picket duty must be continued in order to continue to qualify, said Blanchard.

The ruling that each man picket for three hours once every five days was cleared through Cincinnati, said the Local vice president.