**Source:** Unknown
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A strike will be bad for Naugatuck. People won’t buy. A wife and another whose husband works for UniRoyal, ‘Of course I don’t want a strike. It’s okay for a week, but no longer.’It is obvious that the strike was anticipated by most local residents. One can only hope that it will be settled quickly to every one’s satisfaction. UniRoyal this morning issued the following statement on the strike: ‘Approximately 22,000 employees of UniRoyal, Inc. at 19 plants represented by the United Rubber Workers of America went on strike shortly after midnight when the company and the union failed to reach agreement on a new contract covering wages and employee benefits. ‘No time has been set for resumption of the negotiations. ‘The company stated it had offered to continue the contract on a day-to-day basis with the plants in operation, which it felt would be in the best interest of its employees and customers. The union declined this offer. ‘The Company announced it had offered a substantial increase in wages and various improvements in employee benefits. ‘The strike does not affect employees at other plants of the company not represented by the URW.’ This morning, downtown Naugatuck has assumed a holiday cloak. A small number of pickets are stationed at each gate with no incidents reported. UniRoyal workers not knowing what to do with their leisure time and anxious for news of the strike are driving around the downtown areas or simply standing near the gates watching the pickets. Police Chief Frank Mariano reported this morning that Captain Joseph Summa is in charge of the men on special strike assignments. Summa reported he has posted one policeman at each gate of the striking plants with a total of 10 men pressed into extra duty. Summa also has a motor patrol checking on strike activity. The policemen are equipped with radios to keep headquarters posted on conditions, although no trouble is anticipated. Local 45 union headquarters said this morning it has pickets at every gate. About six pickets are assigned to each gate. Picketers are allowing white collar workers to cross the lines as well as doctors and nurses and anyone in need of emergency treatment. The Local also reported everything was orderly this morning, no production workers attempted to cross the lines and the company made no attempt to bring trucks in or out of the plants. Both the union and company are eager to keep the strike quiet and each is being cautious so not to step on the others’ toes. Reliable sources report that the decision of UniRoyal is most dissatisfied with the conditions of the contract being offered by the company. Goodyear has received an agreement from the union to continue working on a day-to-day basis. Negotiations were to begin at 10 this morning. The fifth of the big five rubber firms, General Tire, began negotiations Tuesday under a May 15 deadline. Contracts signed with the big firms are generally used as a basis for negotiations with smaller firms.