**Date:** 4-19-67
**Source:** Unknown
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NAUGATUCK–With only two days remaining before the contract between the United Rubber Workers of America and Uniroyal, Inc. expires, the possibility of a general strike against the company’s various plants, including the three local operations, increases. The present contract expires at midnight Thursday.
Company and union negotiators are in their sixth week of talks in Cincinnati, Ohio, and as the deadline approaches the talks are being intensified in an effort to ward off a strike. It was learned that negotiations had recessed last Thursday and resumed Saturday.
Raymond Mengacci, vice president of Local 45, Footwear Plant, declined to comment on progress of the talks, but said a call had been received from Local 45 Pres. George Froehlich Monday from Ohio, reporting that the negotiations are still in process.
An agreement had been made between the company and union negotiators that no information about the talks will be released before the talks end.
Several weeks ago union employes of the Chemical Division, the Synthetic Plant and last week the Footwear Plant, representing approximately 6,000 workers in the three locals, took an affirmative strike vote, authorizing the International Policy Committee to call a strike if the talks are stalemated.
However, if progress is being made by the negotiators when the contract expires, the company and union hope that an agreement can be reached without a strike.