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

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Train Tragedy

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Train Tragedy 5-6-67

Continued From Page 1

rate of speed, considering the situation.

It was believed the train was being operated by New Haven Railroad supervisory personnel. The train had been seen stopping earlier on the mail line next to the UniRoyal warehouse.

Some men got off the train and others got on it. When the train backed into the UniRoyal warehouse siding, the man hanging on the side was dressed in a business suit and not normal railroad trainmen garb.

It was said later that the regular trainmen on the switch engine and four or five boxcars refused to operate the train through the picket line.

Pickets were visibly disturbed by the actions of the switcher engine and its operators. They gathered around the trainmen as they left the warehouse property after leaving off the box-cars.

Although there wasn’t any violence, there were cries of “Hope you sleep well tonight” and “Hope you are proud of yourself.”

Judge Warns

Continued From Page 1

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

NEW HAVEN Railroad switch engine enters warehouse property of UniRoyal, Inc., yesterday afternoon to unhook several box-cars. This photo was taken shortly after a number of pickets and police darted out of the path of the backing train.

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5-6-67

547

NEW HAVEN Railroad switch engine enters warehouse property of UniRoyal, Inc., yesterday afternoon to unhook several box-cars. This photo was taken shortly after a number of pickets and police darted out of the path of the backing train. -(News photo by Piscitelli)

Calm Returns to Uniroyal After Warning by Judge

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Calm Returns to Uniroyal After Warning by Judge

3-6-67 [handwritten notation at top]

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

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

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

Hearing Tuesday

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

Such an injunction has been sought by the company.

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

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

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

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

Picketing Reduced

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Strike

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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.

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

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20

5-7-67

AP

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

EUBLIC

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EPUBLIC

  1. Second Class Postage Paid at Waterbury, Conn.)

DAY, MAY 6, 1967 TWENTY-TWO P

Note: This appears to be a partial/cropped image of what is likely “THE REPUBLICAN” newspaper masthead from Waterbury, Connecticut, dated May 6, 1967. The image is cut off on multiple sides, showing only a portion of the header. There is also what appears to be tape or adhesive residue visible at the top of the image.

Union Told To Stop Blocking Operations

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Union Told To Stop Blocking Operations

Dr. Bingham Resigns Post

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

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

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

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

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

assigned to studying the state’s educational needs.

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

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

(Cont’d On Page 2 —Bingham)

Rado Not Resigning From Post

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

Rado had told a reporter ear-

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Conditions Very Quiet Today In UniRoyal Strike

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47.17

PICKETERS at the Maple St. gate of UniRoyal wore smiles this morning as they allowed white collar workers enter the plants without incident. Peaceful picketing was the order of the day, a far cry from the near riot conditions of Thursday and Friday.
—(News photo by Piscitelli)

8-8-67

Conditions Very Quiet Today In UniRoyal Strike

Peaceful picketing was conducted at the gates of all UniRoyal plants this morning as negotiations on the UniRoyal master contracts resumed in Cincinnati.

After Thursday and Friday mornings near-riot conditions on Maple St., management of UniRoyal went into Waterbury Superior Court Friday afternoon seeking a restraining order.

Judge Leo V. Gaffney issued a stern warning to the unions to cease blocking operations and allow the white collar workers to enter the plants. He continued the case until tomorrow to allow the union to prepare its case.

Raymond Mengacci, vice-president of Local 45, said he issued instructions to his picket captains to uphold the law and allow company personnel to pass through the lines.

Mengacci was at the Maple St. gates this morning to insure picketing remained peaceful.

Police relieved that the tension has eased, spent the morning assessing the situation and checking on damaged clothing and injuries received while trying to control the situation.

UniRoyal, along with the restraining order it is seeking, is asking $1 million in damages from the union as a result of the strikers’ alleged interference with plant operations.

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

Neither President of Local 45, George Froehlich, or its vice-president, Mengacci, have any comment to make on this claim of damages.

[Visible on picket signs in image:]
– UNITED RUBBER WORKERS ON STRIKE
– UNITED RUBBER WORKERS ON STRIKE

Peace Prevailing Today At Strikebound Uniroyal

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Peace Prevailing Today At Strikebound Uniroyal

NAUGATUCK — An air of peace prevailed this morning at the strikebound Uniroyal Footwear Plant as company personnel entered the Maple St. gate office without incident from nearby picketing members of the United Rubber Workers, in contrast to clashes between the strikers and police during the latter part of last week.

Instructions for peaceful picketing were given to picket captains by Raymond Mengacci,

Naugatuck Valley

vice-president of Local 45, Sunday, in the wake of a stern warning from Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney, Friday, to refrain from interfering in any way with operations of the Uniroyal Plant, pending a hearing on an injunction petition by the company against mass picketing. The hearing will be held Tuesday at 11 a. m.

Damages of $1 million are being asked b y Uniroyal management from the union as a result of the strikers’ alleged interference with plant operations. The injunction request reads in part that “the plaintiff (Uniroyal) has been and will continue to be unable to perform functions vital to its operations. . .”

No comments on t he company’s damage claims were made by Mengacci, who said he had not been aware of the subject and would have to wait until Tuesday’s hearing before making a statement. Local 45 President George Froehlich, also contacted Sunday, s aid he had “no comments.”

As far as it could be determined, this is the first time in which this large figure in damages have been claimed by the company during strikes within the past several years.

Talks on a new contract between the company and the union resume today in Cincinnati as the strike enters into its third week. However, Froehlich, when contacted Sunday, declined to comment on the progress of the talks between the union and management representatives.

Picketing at the two other plants of Uniroyal, the Chemical Division and Synthetic, has been peaceful from the beginning of the strike.

have gone back to their normal routine. The chief expressed his appreciation to Vice-Presidents Mengacci of Local 45 and Cy Blanchard, Local 218, for restoring peace and order to the picket lines. He also said he had the highest praise for his police staff during the crucial moments of the uneasiness that had prevailed between the pickets and police last week.

Strike benefit checks will be issued by the union Tuesday and Wednesday between 9 a. m. and 3 p. m. Members of each local should report to his local’s headquarters.

Those eligible are members who have performed or were available for strike duty.

Mayor Joseph Raytkwich said today that a special meeting will be held today at 7 p.m. by the Welfare Board to set up a policy for welfare benefits for those affected by the strike. Inquiries on benefits, he said, have been coming to his office and to the Welfare Department.

Mayor Frederick W. Palomba of Waterbury and First Selectman Norman W. Husted, Oxford, also have received inquiries on welfare aid, it was reported.

[Handwritten note at top: 5-9-66]

[Bottom partial text visible: Frank Mariano]

No Trouble Anticipated On Uniroyal Picket Line

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No Trouble Anticipated On Uniroyal Picket Line

3-8-67

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

Naugatuck

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

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

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

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

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

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

$1 Million Asked

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

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

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

Arrest Driver

Police arrested a local driver

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

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

URW Vows Fight For Contract Goals

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6, 1967

‘Realistic, Logical’: 5-6-67

URW Vows Fight For Contract Goals

Akron, O.—The Rubber Workers, on strike against three of the Big 4 rubber companies at 39 plants in 36 cities, have a bargaining program that is “realistic, logical and attainable” and the union will continue to fight to get it, URW Pres. Peter Bommarito said here.

Contract talks continued as 50,000 pickets kept marching at plants of Firestone, Goodrich and Uniroyal, formerly the U.S. Rubber Co., but no immediate settlement seemed in sight, the union reported.

The strikes started Apr. 21. Employees of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., fourth major tire firm, continued to work on a day-to-day basis without a contract. Workers at a Goodyear hose plant in North Chicago, Ill., struck briefly, but returned to their jobs after visiting other Goodyear locations.

Meanwhile, a Goodyear progress report to company executives on the negotiations was made public. It said the company had offered a two-year package of 23.5 cents an hour for tire plant workers, 18 cents for others.

Firestone and Uniroyal acknowledged that they had made similar offers.

Bommarito had said previously, without spelling out the terms, that the wage offer was inadequate. He called the lower offer for non-tire employes “an attempt to divide the union.”

The Goodrich report said the firm had offered “liberal” improvements in the supplemental unemployment benefits (SUB) program, but Bommarito said the “offer” was in the area of a fraction of a cent.

The URW has asked the Big 4 firms to make the SUB program the base for a new Full Employment Earnings Program (FEEP) giving laid-off workers 92.5 percent of their regular wages. Bommarito put the cost of FEEP at 2 to 3 cents an hour.

Goodrich said it offered to give one-year employes two weeks of vacation. It now takes three years of work to get two weeks of vacation.

Management said it offered to make numerous changes in contract language, but Bommarito said satisfactory working conditions are a major objective of the strikers—perhaps more important than substantial wage increases, with neither yet achieved.

Talks have started between the URW and the General Tire Co., fifth major firm. The contract deadline is May 15 but no progress was reported there, either.

The companywide strikes are the first since 1965, when the Uniroyal chain was shut down for six days. The same firm was closed in 1959, along with Firestone and Goodrich.

Current strikes involve wages, vacations, holidays and working conditions. Agreements on pensions, health and welfare are up for renegotiation next August.

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.

THE FIRST OF EIGHT Trucks to enter the gate at the Warehouse on Elm St., yesterday afternoon prepares to leave as picketers move on. Four private trucks and four mail trucks passed in and out of this gate during the afternoon without incident.

by

5-9-67

DARCEY
TRANSPORT
CONN. R.I. & MASS

THE FIRST OF EIGHT Trucks to enter the gate at the Warehouse on Elm St., yesterday afternoon prepares to leave as picketers move aside. Four private trucks and four U.S. Mail trucks passed in and out of this gate during the afternoon without incident. —(News photo by Piscitelli)

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.

Strike Benefits Contingent On Picketing

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Union VP Says:

5-10-67

Strike Benefits Contingent On Picketing

Cy Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, in an effort to straighten out some of the confusions surrounding strike benefits, issued the following explanation.

He said receipt of the $25 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 checks yesterday, were told that in order to qualify for them they would have to serve on picket duty today before 3 p.m. to make up for lost picket time.

Blanchard stated that with a membership of 530 members available for picket duty, the schedule calls for each man to serve three hours, once very five days. Some members have only been on duty one three-hour period while others have done more than their share.

“We have denied no one benefits,” he said, adding “we are giving every member full opportunity to fulfill his picket obligations.”

Those who are unable to picket because of health or other reasons are put to work at other things to make everything fair, he said.

With each member doing a tour of duty once every five days, the Local is able to maintain a schedule of 110 pickets a day. Blanchard stated that he hoped every member would volunteer his services for picket duty to qualify. The duty must be continued in order to qualify.

The ruling of one three-hour period of picket duty, once every five days, has been cleared through Cincinnati, Blanchard noted.

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.

the strikers attempted to prevent white collar workers from entering the plant. the incidents led to the arrests of 71 pickets.

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the strikers attempted to prevent white collar workers from entering the plant. The incidents led to the arrests of 71 pickets.

Fanton said the company’s decision to hold off on the injunction hearing was prompted largely by the relative calm which prevailed in picket lines at the plant Monday and Tuesday. He said there was “no serious interference with the employer’s operations” during those two days.

The union had been warned Friday by Judge Gaffney against any interference or violence.

Union Opposing Uniroyal’s Bid To Have Court Limit Picketing

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Union Opposing Uniroyal’s Bid To Have Court Limit Picketing

5-1067 [handwritten notation]

NAUGATUCK—Officials and attorneys of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, are in Waterbury Superior Court today to oppose a company petition for an injunction prohibiting mass picketing at Uniroyal’s Footwear Division plant.

The hearing is scheduled before Judge Leo V. Gaffney. The union is now picketing under a restraint order issued by Judge Gaffney last Friday.

The order obtained by Uniroyal has blocked recurrence of the near-rioting of last Thursday and Friday which resulted in the arrest of some 70 union members.

Uniroyal has also instituted court proceedings seeking $1 million in damages from the union because of the strikers’ alleged interference with plant operations.

The pickets Friday also attempted to stop the company from shipping from the central warehouse. However, they were unsuccessful in preventing a string of freight cars from being switched into the warehouse for loading.

The pickets have complied with the restraining order and also followed the instructions of their leaders not to interfere with trucks entering and leaving the plant. Some trucking firms that are unionized and some, non-unionized made pickups from the main warehouse.

Drivers of some trucks, when apprised by captains of picket lines of the situation, refused to enter the gates. As they drove away, they were cheered by the strikers.

No report was forthcoming from Cincinnati on the progress of the contract talks, resumed Monday after a weekend recess. The strike by United Rubber Workers against Uniroyal is now in its 19th day.

Uniroyal Plea Stayed

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5-10-67

Uniroyal Plea Stayed

NAUGATUCK—Uniroyal officials agreed Tuesday to continue for two weeks their Superior Court petition for an injunction against the United Rubber Workers Union to restrain mass picketing at the strike-bound footwear plant here.

The company accepted the agreement suggested by Judge Leo V. Gaffney “with the understanding that there will be no interference whatsoever with the (company’s) operations,” company attorney Dwight F. Fanton of Bridgeport said.

While Judge Gaffney spoke in Waterbury, picket teams at the borough remained quiet and small in number.

A repeat of Monday’s performance was staged again Tuesday when trucks were allowed to enter the warehouse on Elm St. without incident. Although the exact number of trucks approaching the gate were not known, it was learned that many drivers turned away, while some went through after contacting their dispatchers.

Five freight cars, shoved into the warehouse Friday, were still in the warehouse Tuesday, and it has not been learned when they are due to leave, although some thought they would be pulled out Tuesday.

Before giving court sanction to the continuance, Judge Gaffney warned the union that “In the event of any interference with the normal business of this company or any violence which would force the plaintiff into court to seek a restraining order…upon a showing of the evidence, I will issue such an order.”

The judge said that based on information he received during negotiations in chambers with company and union lawyers, “There is no doubt in my mind a case would have been established” supporting the issuance of an injunction.

He said he was “willing to go along” with the continuance in the hope that “good relations” which existed between the company and the union prior to the current strike “can be restored.”

The judge cautioned, however, that he will be available at any time, including Saturdays and Mondays when the court is not normally in session, to hear the case should the union violate terms of the agreement. “I will come from wherever I am and open court” he said.

He told the union that if it restricts the picket line “to a reasonable number of pickets, spaced properly, and there is no name calling, we won’t have any trouble here.”

He also warned that it is “incumbent upon the union to keep the…three or four agitators who are stirring up trouble…away from the picket line.” He said the names of the “agitators” are known to him and to union officials.

Although the Naugatuck operations have decided to continue their court petition, it was learned that injunctions have been granted to Uniroyal operations in Mishawaka, Ind., where there are 3,700 employes in one local. Injunctions have also been granted to two Uniroyal operations in Ohio and Alabama.

The injunction against Local 65 in Mishawaka was granted Friday when the company charged that pickets were interfering with office workers. Rumors that the National Guard had been called out in that town of 35,000 were denied by a local newspaper.

The injunction petition in Naugatuck was initiated by the company Friday after three days of clashes last week between pickets and police when

Atty. Daniel Baker of Stamford, counsel for the union, said the union ‘intends fully to comply’ with Judge Gaffney’s instructions. He said local union leaders will do ‘everything in their power’ to maintain a peaceful picket line.

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Atty. Daniel Baker of Stamford, counsel for the union, said the union “intends fully to comply” with Judge Gaffney’s instructions. He said local union leaders will do “everything in their power to maintain a peaceful picket line.”

He said they will “make sure there are a reasonable number of pickets . . . and they will avoid any situation . . . which could get out of control.”

Fanton and Baker crossed swords briefly when the company attorney asked Judge Gaffney to address himself directly to International Representative William Fernandes and Vice President Raymond Mengacci concerning picket line activity regarding attempts to restrain passage of delivery trucks in and out of the plant.

Baker said the union has “worked out a good mechanism” with local police for dealing with trucks. He said the company should “recognize the union’s right” to talk to truck drivers and ask them whether they want to cross the picket line.

Union officials explained that strikers have arranged to have police officers on duty at the gates ask the truck drivers whether they wish to cross the lines. In the event that they do, the picket line withdraws, the officials said. Drivers of 11 of 19 trucks which approached the warehouse gate on Elm St. Monday refused to cross the line and turned away.

Judge Gaffney said the union is “entitled to peaceful picketing and to use (its) arts of peaceful persuasion,” but, he added, it “cannot do what has been determined is illegal.”

He said motor and freight shipments are expected at the plant soon and he warned that “any interference with these shipments will bring about a restraining order and the penalties therein.”

The penalties referred to usually include a high bond and the threat of contempt of court for any violations of the restraining order.

“I’m taking a lot on myself by recommending this continuance,” Judge Gaffney said. “The onus will fall on me if this experiment doesn’t work.”

He added, “The court hopes that within two weeks the strike will be over and there will be no need for the court to lay down strict rules.”

Strike Violence Flares For Second Day At Uniroyal Plant

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Strike Violence Flares For Second Day At Uniroyal Plar

New Haven Reg. MAY 3, 1969

Register Photos by Stuart Langer

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

William Battles of Waterbury is dragged away from the Maple Street plant at Uniroyal by police after fighting broke out there today when strikers prevented office employes from crossing picket lines. Battles, who was charged with breach of peace by assault, was later taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, where he was treated and released.

Pickets Arres

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; Ronald Kezelevich, 23, 16 Melbourne Court; Robert J. Mikulsis, 26, 29 Fern St.; Joseph J. Foley, 40, 190 Cherry St.; Michael Kalinoski, 49, 29 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, 55, Prout 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, 628 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 Henan, 30, 194 Maple St., all of Naugatuck; George Petro, 30, Bradley Lane, Prospect; Nicholas Cesarello, 53, 122 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 St.; Hugh R. Ga-

[Column continues with partial text visible:]
rahan, 29, 21 […]
tin C. Cross, 48,
Earl C. Matthew
St., all of Naug
Kinsey, 31, 79
Waterbury, and […]
bert, 34, 19 Goos […]

The arrested […]
bers of the United
ers Union, AFL.
leased without b[…]
pear in the Wa[…]
Court, June 8.

UniRoyal Case Continued

by

UniRoyal Case Continued

5-10-67 [handwritten]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uniroyal Injunction Delayed

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BEACON FALLS

5-10-67

Uniroyal Injunction Delayed

Superior Court Judge Leo V. Gaffney yesterday continued for two weeks the petition of Uniroyal for an injunction against the United Rubber Workers Union to restrain mass picketing at the strike-bound footwear plant in Naugatuck.

The company accepted the agreement suggested by Judge Gaffney “with the understanding that there will be no interference whatsoever with the company’s operations,” Dwight F. Fanton of Bridgeport, company attorney, said today.

Judge Gaffney, at a “show cause” hearing yesterday in Waterbury, siad he felt issuing a restraining order was not necessary at this time.

Judge Gaffney said he will be available should the situation change.

Union officials are to notify picket captains of the continuance.

While Gaffney heard testimony from both sides, pickets at the Borough plant remained quiet and small in number. This was in contrast to last week when pickets rioted for 2 days in opposition to the company’s plan to resume shipping.

Three locals of the United Rubber Workers, representing about 5,000 employes, have been on strike since April 21 as part of a nationwide walkout affecting 50,000 workers.

Judge Gaffney told union officials that it is their right to have picket captains use their powers of persuasion to prevent carrier drivers from crossing picket lines.

“But there is to be no loud or threatening language or bodily harm,” the judge said.

Present at Hearing

Present at the hearing were John M. Smith, plant manager; Thomas J. Nelligan, industrial relations representative, and Atty. Fanton.

Raymond Mengacci, William Fernandez and Daniel Baker represented the union.

Also in attendance were Naugatuck Police Chief Frank J. Mariano and Capt. Joseph J. Summa.

A check of local and area retail merchants showed no appreciable drop in business volume to date.

Mengacci told The Sentinel that the company offered a 12½ cent an hour increase for the tire workers and nine cents for other production employes.

It was not learned whether the offer was made before the strike or during the present negotiations.

Management would not comment on the statement, explaining there is an agreement between union and management that only joint statements are to be issued on the negotiations.

Few Words On Negotiations; Strike Enters Fourth Week

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Few Words On Negotiations; Strike Enters Fourth Week

5-11-67

Striking UniRoyal employes are feeling the pinch as they face the second payless week. The strike will enter its fourth week as of midnight tonight.

Waterbury Welfare Director Peter Pocius said yesterday his department had received about 100 applications from strikers residing in that city. Of the 100 applications, about 70 qualified for assistance.

The Naugatuck Welfare Board met in special session Monday night to discuss the question of aid for rubber worker strikers. They decided they would grant assistance along the same lines as the department normally uses in deciding who is eligible for aid.

United Rubber Workers three Locals in the borough payed its first benefit checks of $25 each this week.

The union has allowed trucks to pass through UniRoyal gates at the Warehouse on Elm St. for the past three days without incident.

Picket team captains inform all truck drivers they are passing through a picket line and check to see if the drivers are Teamster Union members or management.

No word is forthcoming from the negotiations in Cincinnati. It is assumed that the daily sessions are still being conducted but neither management or union have issued comment as to the progress if any that is being made.

Rumors are circulating the borough today of immediate settlement while another rumor states that the strike will last another week. The points of disagreement have not been publicized.

The union is paying strict attention to the warnings issued by Judge Leo Gaffney in Waterbury Superior Court that an injunction will be issued if further incidents erupt.

Picketing Peaceful In Uniroyal Strike

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Picketing Peaceful In Uniroyal Strike

5-11-67

NAUGATUCK—Picketing at the three strikebound Uniroyal plants in the borough continues to be quiet and, for the third straight day, striking United Rubber Workers allowed trucks to pass through the warehouse gates on Elm St. without incident.

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

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

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

At midnight today, the strikers will enter the fourth week of picketing. Although police and

pickets clashed in the early hours of three days last week, most of the strike has been quiet.

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

Picket Lines Yield Again For Trucks

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Picket Lines Yield Again For Trucks

5-11-67

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letters to the Editor

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Letters to the Editor

5-12-67

Editor
Naugatuck Daily News

Dear Sir:

After reading the “Letter to the Editor” of May 11th 1967 in your newspaper, I know now that you are on a ONE WAY STREET.”

This unidentified person (name withheld) states that the white collar worker also pays the local “Gendarmes” salaries, I agree, but compared to the blue collared workers, they can be counted on your fingers. This “Ingrate” is a very uninformed person. If it were not for members (of International Rubber Workers) like Local #45 we would have no pensions large or small for them to enjoy during their retirement, as far as the cost of living going up where has this “ingrate” been? Long before we went to the bargaining table the cost of living had gone up. As not being informed by the Union as to what we are striking for, why doesn’t he or she come up (or call) the Union Hall? Perhaps the “ingrate” is ashamed?

As for renewing the old contract and voting a NO strike vote he (or she) should be ashamed of themselves. If we send our Policy Committee to the bargaining table without a vote of confidence from the people back home, we might as well go back to the days of depression, when we or our parents worked as slaves for 20 – 25¢ an hour, we would have no benefits as they did and couldn’t afford some of these luxuries we now enjoy.

If this “ingrate” (that’s all I can say for this person) is so much against what the Union is trying to get for them, then I say when everyone else accepts these gains the said “ingrate” should get up and forfeit said gains and when the “ingrate’s spouse secures more benefits (due to the fact the blue collar worker have it) the spouse also should reject such gain and then stand up and be counted! I’m sure they will be alone.

One more thing, I’ll bet this “ingrate” never even did any picket duty, but probably was one of the FIRST in line for strike Benefits!

Another point, we’re not that bad that we have to burn your house down, we are Union Members of Locals #45 – 218 – 308 and do not do things out of Hatred, but because we are interested in our jobs, present and future. I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done on behalf of Local #45 and you have my permission to print my name to this letter.

Jose F. Pinho
129 Aetna St.

Dear Sir:

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Dear Sir:

It was with amazement I read the letter in the newspaper about our Police force. I wonder if that woman thinks only UniRoyal union members pay their salaries. Did it ever occur to her that management personnel also pay their share of the Policemen’s salaries? So I should hope they have a right to be protected also. They didn’t vote to go on strike, so they have a human right to work How dare anyone force their will on these people?

It’s bad enough that I am a union member that didn’t vote to strike, but have no choice but to go along with the herd. Everyone I talk to agrees that a raise does no good because the prices go up. If a raise does us no good, think of what it does to the people that are trying to live on a pension. Remember that someday you will be trying to struggle along on a pension that stays the same while the prices keep going up because of union demands. Every two years, more and more, where will it all end? Think of what happened to Vickers in Waterbury and the newspaper in New York. I heard the editor of the paper say union demands do put them out of business.

No matter what we get we will never make up our loss. The union didn’t ask us if we wanted a raise. We aren’t even allowed to know what the issues are. That’s what happens when the union gets too strong. We don’t tell them anything, they tell us.

Why can’t they just reinstate the old contract instead of asking for more and more every two years.

Also, I don’t think it’s right to stop UniRoyal from shipping the shoes we already got paid good money to make, some of us even got time and a half.

Not long ago everyone was up in arms and wrote letters to Congress to cut down foreign made shoes, because we didn’t want UniRoyal to lose customers. Now where is the concern for the customers? Why cut your nose to spite your face? We will be the ones to suffer the big loss.

And it’s plain ridiculous to expect a layed-off employee to get 93% of their wages. Just who would be fool enough to want to sweat all day for a few dollars more than the guy sitting home on his backside. Everyone would fight to be layed off.

Please don’t print my name after seeing that unreasonable crowd the other day. I would probably get my house burned down. This is the only way to voice my opinion, which, I hope,

[Handwritten marks visible in left margin appearing to be checkmarks or notation marks]

Letters to the Editor

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Letters to the Editor

May 5, 1967

Editor
Naugatuck Daily News
Church St.
Naugatuck, Conn.

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

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

Thank you.

5-8-67 [handwritten notation]

Dear Editor:

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

Why are we paying their salaries?

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

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

Uniroyal Rumors Stay Unconfirmed

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Uniroyal Rumors Stay Unconfirmed

5-18-67 [handwritten notation at top]

NAUGATUCK—Although rumors ran rampant throughout the borough Thursday to the effect that B. F. Goodrich Rubber Co. was approaching settlement with United Rubber Worker negotiators on its master contract, the rumor remained unconfirmed. Many thought that if B. F. Goodrich reached a settlement, Uniroyal, Inc., would also probably settle soon.

For the seventh straight day, negotiators involved with Uniroyal could not be reached in Cincinnati, where the negotiations are taking place. It is not known whether the United Rubber Workers and Uniroyal are making progress in the negotiations.

It was reported, however, that talks continued Thursday between the major rubber producers and the union. There was no announcement whether negotiations would recess for the weekend as they did last weekend.

In the borough, pickets continued in a peaceful vein, permitting trucks to enter and leave the gates. The procedure was the same as has been observed throughout the week, with the team captain approaching the truck drivers to inform them of the situation. Although drivers turned away, those who did go through, were allowed to without incident.

Besides Uniroyal, the companies struck are B. F. Goodrich and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. is continuing production on a day-to-day basis.

General Tire and Rubber Co.’s contract with URW does not expire until Monday, but talks have been in progress since last month.

About 45,000 Americans a year die from kidney failure.

Australia has 3.5 billion tons of bauxite reserves.

Negotiations Recess Until Tuesday A.M.

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5-13-67

Negotiations Recess Until Tuesday A.M.

Negotiating sessions in Ohio between UniRoyal, Inc., and the United Rubber Workers (URW) were recessed at noon yesterday and won’t resume until Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock, it was reported here last night.

Meanwhile, quiet picketing is still going on in the borough and there have been no incidents all week.

Trucks have been allowed in and out of the UniRoyal Footwear Division warehouse on Elm St. A string of four or five box-cars, pushed into the warehouse a week ago yesterday, is still inside.

21 Held In New Uniroyal Row Company Asks Picketing Curbs

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Register Photo by Stuart Longer

Fighting breaks out at Maple Street entrance to Uniroyal plant.

MAY 5, 1967 N.H. Reg.

21 Held In New Uniroyal Row

Company Asks Picketing Curbs

By JAMES FLEMING
Register Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See UNIROYAL Page 2

the middle between the union l office personnel.

esterday’s scuffling nned from union concerns t Uniroyal would try to ship rchandise from a struck ehouse. In the morning, hing began as office em-yes tried to enter the build-pass. Later in the day, a U.S. mail truck was blocked when it tried to leave the company grounds. The pickets converged on it but let it pass after a few minutes’ delay.

UNIROYAL

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UNIROYAL

(Continued from Page 1)

Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, United Rubber Workers, warned strikers that state troopers would be called if the office help were not permitted to enter the plant. He said, “The union had come to an agreement to let male office workers in, but 150 women office workers would have to go home.”

“No, no, we won’t let them in,” was shouted by many of the strikers. Mengacci warned there might be “bloodshed” if it became necessary for the State Police to restrain the workers. One angry worker retorted, “Custer made his last stand; we’ll make it here.”

Mengacci said any violence would be useless, since the company was trying to get an injunction to prevent the pickets from blocking employes who wanted to enter the plant.

Cyrus Blanchard, vice president of Local 308 at the Uniroyal Chemical plant across town also pleaded with the strikers. The male salaried workers began filtering into the plant with little resistance at about 8:30 a.m., although some were bumped as they passed pickets. The women workers had already started home and did not try to come in with the men.

The scene then quieted, although the pickets and other striking employes maintained their vigil outside the gates.

Seventeen of the 21 arrested today were charged with breach of the peace and were released on cash bonds of $150 each, posted by union officials. On Thursday, arrested employes were freed without posting bond.

In contrast to Thursday, when all of those arrested walked over to the police station a block away, today four had to be dragged, although most went quietly. The four were charged with breach of the peace by assault, and their bonds were $200 each.

Mengacci and William Fernandes, a union representative, will appear in Superior Court this afternoon, when the company seeks to obtain a restraining order.

The strike is in now its 15th day. Negotiations are being conducted on a national level in Cincinnati where issues involve a guaranteed annual wage.

To maintain order, Chief Mariano has brought in added policemen on an overtime basis as well as supernumeraries. Many of the policemen involved in the fighting are related to the strikers and one patrolman said, “I have half my family working there.”

A number of the policemen complained about being caught in the middle between the union and office personnel.

Yesterday’s scuffling stemmed from union concerns that Uniroyal would try to ship merchandise from a struck warehouse. In the morning, pushing began as office employes tried to enter the building. Later in the day, a U.S. mail truck was blocked when it tried to leave the company grounds. The pickets converged on it but let it pass after a few minutes’ delay.

Train Enters Chemical Division Without Incident

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Train Enters Chemical Division Without Incident

Three pickets stood at the main gate of the Chemical Division of UniRoyal,Inc., yesterday afternoon and watched a train go into the company’s yard without incident.

The engine of the train came into the local railroad station from Waterbury during the noon-hour, stopped at the local station where management and railroad police boarded the engine. It then proceeded to the Elm St. railroad yard where it spent almost an hour switching cars and lining them up to take into the Chemical Division. When the train was ready to roll, railroad employes left the train to railroad management and railroad police to operate, honoring the United Rubber Workers picket line.

President Joseph Rzeszutek of Local 218, flew in from Cincinnati Tuesday night, when news of the company’s intent to start activity at the Chemical Co. was relayed to him.

He and other Union officials met yesterday morning in the offices of John Evans, manager of the Chemical Co., with Evans and Ronald Pohl, labor relations director. No comment on the meeting was released, by either management or labor.

The Union, laboring under the threat of an injunction, has been extremely cautious that no incidence occur.

This morning, all was quiet on the picket lines at the Chemical Division. Only three pickets were observed at the main gate, one of which was a woman.

Small teams of pickets were on duty at all gates of the borough’s UniRoyal plants this morning where calm is maintained.

A group of pickets at the Elm St. gate of the Footwear Warehouse came close to being run down by a truck attempting to enter the gate at a fast rate of speed. The pickets said that the truck was coming so fast that they were unable to move from its path where they were standing talking.

Local police on the scene slowed the truck down to avoid an accident.

AKRON, Ohio (UPI) — The ‘Rubber Capital of the World’ today continues to function under a lengthy rubber strike.

Mayor John Ballard has expressed concern that an extended strike, and the resulting loss of workers’ income tax, will hamper city finances.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the General Tire and Rubber Co. and the United Rubber Workers Union remained recessed although both company and union officials say they can be resumed at any time.

The company’s 3,300 employees, covered by the union contract which expired at Monday midnight, continued working at the facilities here and at Waco, Tex.

In the rest of the industry, negotiations continued Wednesday with Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in Cleveland; with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and with UniRoyal in Cincinnati, and with B. F. Goodrich in Columbus.

Only Goodyear is continuing production, on a day to day basis. The other three companies are closed down by strikes. The companies have a mutual aid strike agreement.

CHEM-TEXTS – unknown-s238

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Page 238

CHEM-TEXTS

Page 3

Synthetic Plant Dismantled

The Synthetic Rubber plant is nearing the final stages of dismantlement. In the reactor area above many of the tanks and salvageable equipment have been removed.

The Federal Equipment Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, who purchased the plant for resale, has been shipping the tanks and useable equipment to all parts of the country and overseas.

The Hortonspheres, which were navigational landmarks for airplane pilots, have been carefully cut, piece by piece, prior to shipment to Canada for re-erection.

Thomas Ennis of the Plant Engineering department is in charge of the operation which has been going on for several months.

Pallets Avert Mishap

Thomas Carey points to the broken support under a tank trailer, loaded with a caustic byproduct.

The Materials Department has found a new use for old pallets as safety supports under tank and trailer trucks.

The pallets have already saved thousands of dollars when the support of a tank trailer filled with a caustic byproduct collapsed between Bldg. 118 & Bldg. 18. Besides the loss of the material, the spill would have interrupted the operation of the pretreatment plant.

To prevent recurrences of such mishaps it has been made a standard safety practice to place the old pallets under the trailers.

2,000,000 Manhours . . .

continued from page 1

Safety Record & Costs — 1966 to 1975

in 1975 they had dropped to $100,000.

Since the plant is self-insured, its insurance costs per 100 hours were high because of the frequency and severity of the accident. These costs adversely affected the profits of the plant.

Lost Time Serious Injuries Total Total Costs
1966 21 84 105 —
1967 22 56 78 —
1968 20 68 88 —
1969 23 56 79 —
1970 6 66 72 —
1971 20 63 83 $231,567
1972 11 62 73 $275,641
1973 9 24 33 $199,682
1974 4 23 27 $238,359
1975 3 26 29 $ 95,307

New Sewer System Reduces Pollution

by Richard Shaw

When the new $3,000,000 liquid waste water pretreatment plant went into full operation it became necessary to start work on the next major item of water pollution control, the separation of the storm and process sewers. The entire project will cost about $1,500,000.

The Chemical plant was built with only one sewer system which carried all the process waste, sanitary waste and storm water to the Naugatuck River. The sewer system is now connected to the pretreatment plant

$1,116….

continued from page 2

Pasquale Tortorici, Reclaim, was presented $168. Eleanor Chmielinski, Research and Development received $156. An award of $100. was given to Lawrence Fortier, Chemical Production.

All Employees Eligible to Submit Ideas

Any employee may participate in the Idea Plan. It’s a simple way to earn extra money by recommending improvements in the way things are done.

Awards are made for suggestions on production improvement, equipment changes, materials handling, waste reduction and other areas.

The minimum award for an Idea is $25.00. There is no limit on the maximum award.

The new sewer separates the rain and process waters. It will carry the rain water to the river and prevent an overflow at the Pretreatment plant.

and during periods of heavy rain or snow melt there is too much water for it to handle. Some of the water must overflow to the river carrying some process waste with it.

To prevent the overflow the plant is installing a separate sewer system for storm water which will collect water from the building roofs and the yard areas and carry it directly to the river.

Storm sewers will be installed continued on page 4

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Talks Resume Today In Uniroyal Dispute

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Talks Resume Today In Uniroyal Dispute

4-26-67 [handwritten]

NAUGATUCK — Negotiations between Uniroyal, Inc., and the United Rubber Workers will resume in Cincinnati today at 10:30 a.m.

As yet, no official word on the actual progress of the negotiations up to last Friday has been received although neither side has denied statements in the press to the effect that a major stumbling block in the negotiations is the union’s demand for a guaranteed annual wage.

Although the company announced it had offered a “substantial increase in wages and various improvements in employe benefits,” it made no comment about the guaranteed annual wage.

While negotiations continue in Ohio, the various locals continue to picket the plant’s operations. Picketing in Naugatuck remains peaceful, and it has been reported that many workers are volunteering to work on the picket lines.

Strike Benefits

Local 218 Treasurer Robert McDermott said Tuesday that members of the local, which operates in the Naugatuck Chemical division of Uniroyal, may appear at local headquarters on Curtis St. today and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. to apply for strike benefits.

Locals 45 and 308 have not yet received the necessary material to enable its members to apply for the benefits. Mrs. Rita Ruggiero, secretary of Local 45, said that officials of the local were thinking in terms of Thursday or Friday.

Action before that time, said Mrs. Ruggiero, would be impossible because the necessary material has not come in. She anticipates a heavy amount of paperwork when the forms do arrive, as the local has approximately 4,500 members.

Footwear Payroll

Officials at the footwear plant announced Tuesday that payrolls for hourly employes of the plant will be paid on the following days:

The regular Wednesday payroll will be made today after 1 p.m. at the payroll office. The second and third shifts will be paid Thursday after 2 p.m. at the office, and the first shift will be paid Friday at the Water St. gate from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pushing and Shoving

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5-4-67

PUSHING AND SHOVING against each other, police and pickets in front of the Maple St. entrance of UniRoyal’s Footwear Division resulted in the arrest of 43 strikers this morning. In the foreground is a picket being hustled off to the Police Station by Police Officer Thomas Hunt, presumably to be booked for breach of the peace. Huddled in the background are masses of pickets and police. The latter group was able to break the picket line long enough for a number of management personnel and office workers to gain entrance. (See photo below.) —(News photo by Jensen)

2 Unionists Help Calm Near-Riot

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2 Unionists Help Calm Near-Riot

5-5-67

Naugatuck police arrested 21 men this morning after the second scuffle in two days outside the Maple Street gate of the struck Uniroyal plant.

One man was taken to a hospital.

Officers of the striking United Rubber Workers of America, Local 45, were ordered to appear this afternoon in Superior Court, Waterbury.

They were to respond to an order sought by the company, directing them to show cause why mass picketing should not be prohibited.

The three officers of the Rubber Workers’ union summoned to appear are Raymond Mengacci, vice president of Local 45; Antoinette Zuccarelli, secretary, and Rita Ruggero, treasurer.

Forty – three strikers were arrested yesterday.

Today’s disturbance, like yesterday’s, broke out when pickets tried to prevent office workers and management personnel from entering the plant.

Women pickets shoulder to shoulder were on the north side of Maple Street. Male pickets were on the south side, also in tight formation.

Supervisory personnel milled around on the sidewalk on the south side.

When some of the supervisory employes attempted to enter after Capt. Joseph J. Summa read the “riot act” warning the pickets to disperse, the battling between police and pickets began.

The women pickets were singing. The baiting continued until Police Chief Frank J. Mariano arrived. He called the union and company officials together and they went inside the plant.

When they came out, Summa ordered all the company personnel to leave Maple Street and assemble on the nearby green.

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13

Way Cleared For Strike

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Way Cleared For Strike

NAUGATUCK—It was reported Wednesday that United Rubber Workers Local 218 armed its negotiators Tuesday with authority to call a strike should contract negotiations with Uniroyal management fail to produce an agreement by the contract expiration date.

Negotiations opened Tuesday in Cincinnati, with the three local Rubber Workers Union represented at the conference. The present contract, signed in June, 1965, expires April 20.

A spokesman said the local, representing workers at the Naugatuck Chemical Division, approved the strike vote by a vote of 490 to 70.

[Handwritten notation in upper right corner appears to read: “3-3” or similar numbers]

THREE OF 21 PICKETS ARRESTED THIS MORNING IN THE UNIROYAL STRIKE IN NAUGATUCK ARE HUSTLED OFF TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS TO BE BOOKED ON CHARGES OF BREACH OF PEACE. AT LEAST TWO PICKETS CLAIMED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIVITIES.

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5-5-67

THREE OF 21 pickets arrested this morning in the Uniroyal strike in Naugatuck are hustled off to Police Headquarters to be booked on charges of breach of peace. At least two pickets claimed injuries as a result of the activities.
—Coviello Photo.

US Rubber Proxy Statement – Page 3

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Page 003

United States Rubber Company
PROXY STATEMENT
Solicitation of Proxies
Execution and return of the enclosed proxy, which may be revoked by written request to the secretary at any time before it is voted, is being solicited on behalf of the management of the company for use at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 21, 1964, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of meeting. The cost of solicitation of proxies, including the cost of reimbursing banks and brokers for forwarding proxies and proxy statements to their principals, will be borne by the company. Proxies will be solicited without extra compensation by certain officers and regular employees of the company by mail, telephone, telegraph or personally. All shares represented by valid proxies will be voted; and, where a stockholder has specified a choice by marking any of the ballots in the form of proxy, his shares will be voted as so specified. As stated in the form of proxy, if a stockholder does not otherwise specify, his shares will be voted in favor of continuing the company’s Bonus Plan in effect (as referred to in item “2” in the accompanying notice of meeting and as described below), in favor of continuing the company’s Management Incentive Plan in effect (as referred to in item “3” in said notice and as described below), and in favor of adopting the proposed 1964 Stock Option Plan (as referred to in item “4” in said notice and as described below).

Voting Securities and Record Date
On January 31, 1964, the total number of shares of first preferred stock outstanding was 642,091, and the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was 5,549,014. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of preferred and one vote for each share of common stock registered in his name on the company’s books on March 4, 1964, at the close of business, the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting.

Matters to be Considered
The management does not know of any matters to be considered at the annual meeting other than those referred to in items “1”, “2”, “3” and “4” in the accompanying notice. If any other business should come before the meeting, the proxy will be voted in respect therein, and discretionary authority to do so is included in the proxy.

Nominees for Election as Directors
The persons named as proxies intend to cast all votes pursuant to the enclosed form of proxy for fixing the number of directors at 15 and for the election as directors of the 15 persons listed on the following page, hereinafter called “nominees,” upon their nomination for such office at the annual meeting. Directors so elected will hold office for one year and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead. In the event of the decease or incapacity of any of the nominees prior to the election, or the refusal or inability of any of the nominees to accept nomination or election (none of which eventualities is now expected), the persons named as proxies intend to cast all such votes for the election, as director or directors, upon nomination at the annual meeting, of such other person or persons as may be recommended or designated for such nomination and election by a majority of the then members of the board of directors of the company. Certain information as to the nominees is set forth in Table I below and on pages 5-7.

US Rubber Proxy Statement – Page 4

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Page 004

TABLE I — INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

Approximate amount of
each class of stock of the
company beneficially owned
directly or indirectly
January 24, 1964

Nominee for director Principal occupation or employment Year first Common First
became Preferred
director
Eugene N. Beesley President, Eli Lilly and Company, 1959 100 —
Indianapolis, Ind.
J. Simpson Dean President, Nemours Corporation. 1960 1,600 —
Wilmington, Del.
George P. Edmonds Chairman of the board of directors, Wilmington 1944 2,000 —
Trust Company. Member of the executive com-
mittee of the company.
Wilmington, Del.
Malcolm P. Ferguson President, Bendix Corporation. 1957 200 —
Detroit, Mich.
G. Arnold Hart President, Bank of Montreal. 1961 100 —
Montreal, Canada
Harold H. Helm Chairman of the board of directors, Chemical 1957 802 —
Bank New York Trust Company.
New York, N. Y.
H. E. Humphreys, Jr. Chairman of the board of directors and chairman 1938 10,000 —
of the executive committee of the company.
New York, N. Y.
James P. Lewis* President, The J. P. Lewis Company, 1962 200 —
Beaver Falls, N. Y.
John W. McGovern Member of the executive committee of the com- 1951 8,097 —
pany. Former president.
New York, N. Y.
Robert J. McKim Chairman of the board of directors, Associated Dry 1961 200 —
Goods Corporation.
New York, N. Y.
John M. Schiff Partner of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., investment bankers. 1958 10,000 —
Member of the executive committee of the company.
New York, N. Y.
W. Dent Smith President, Terminal Warehouses, Ltd. 1956 508 —
Toronto, Canada
Charles M. Spofford Partner of Davis Polk Wardwell Sunderland & 1962 200 —
Kiendl, attorneys.
New York, N. Y.
George R. Vila President and vice chairman of the executive 1960 2,894 —
committee of the company.
New York, N. Y.
Medley G. B. Whelpley Member of the executive committee of the com- 1940 1,000 —
pany. Retired corporate executive.
New York, N. Y.

  • By reason of his direct and indirect beneficial ownership of stock of The Beaver River Power Corporation and that corporation’s beneficial ownership of 50% of the preferred stock and 49% of the common stock of Latex Fiber Industries, Inc., Mr. Lewis beneficially owned indirectly, as of January 24, 1964, 17% of the preferred stock and 16.66% of the common stock of Latex Fiber Industries, Inc., one of the company’s subsidiaries.