'End Support for Union-Busting Tire Maker,' Illinois AFL-CIO Urges Bank Of Montreal Subsidiary

    CHICAGO, Jan. 22 Margaret Blackshere, president of the
Illinois State Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has called on labor leaders in
the state to take action to support 1000 striking steelworkers and their
families who have been deadlocked in a two-and-a-half year struggle with Titan
International Inc., (TWI) a Quincy Illinois based manufacturer of wheels and
tires for trucks, farm vehicles and construction equipment.
    In a letter to the leaders of the federation's more than 1,300 affiliated
local unions, Blackshere urged the locals to withdraw pension and other funds
from the Chicago-based Harris Trust & Savings Bank, a subsidiary of the Bank
of Montreal (BMO), because Harris has granted Titan a $175 million line of
credit.
    The bank funds, provided soon after the strike began, have helped Titan
hire scab workers and to continue some operations at two struck plants while
refusing to negotiate with Locals 164 and 303L of the United Steelworkers of
America.
    Blackshere also asked the labor leaders to contact Illinois state
legislators to urge them to sponsor and support legislation to pull
$42 million of state funds currently deposited with Harris Bank by Illinois
Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka.
    "We must stop this greedy company," Blackshere said in reference to Titan.
And "we must send a message to Harris Bank that we will not tolerate loans to
scab companies," she said.
    Also in the letter, Blackshere pointed out that Titan has cut off benefits
to workers on disability and has threatened to move work to other plants.  She
also noted that the National Labor Relations Board found Titan guilty of
violating workers' rights at the two plants located in Des Moines, Iowa, and
Natchez, Mississippi.
    After Blackshere's letter was received by labor leaders, the head of
Local 34 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) wrote
to Harris Bank's top officer to request that Harris disassociate itself with
Titan Tire.
    Late last year, after protesting Harris's support for Titan, Local 5 of
the Laborers International Union removed $45,000 funds which were deposited at
Harris Bank.
    Titan's mistreatment of its workers also merited the attention of the
Multinational Monitor, a Washington D.C.-based public interest magazine, which
named the company one of the "Ten Worst Corporations of 2000."
    The Multinational Monitor selected Titan because it forced more than 1000
workers to strike; failed to bargain in good faith; illegally fired 300 union
employees; defied Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors and
court orders, and was found guilty of unfair labor practices by the National
Labor Relations Board.
    Unions affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Labor represent more
than 1.25 million workers in the state.  And, more than one third of Illinois
voters come from union households.
    Harris Bank, which is headquartered in Chicago's Loop, has more than
120 branch banks in northeastern Illinois.

    For more information about the struggle with Titan, contact: Don Wiener at
773-743-1167 or Bruce Bostick at 708-233-0800, both for USWA/Titan
International Council.