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Titan Reaches Agreement With Walcott, Iowa, Workforce

16 July 1999

Titan Reaches Agreement With Walcott, Iowa, Workforce

    QUINCY, Ill., July 15 -- Titan International, Inc.
and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Local Union Lodge 2048 have reached an agreement for a new three year
contract.  Local 2048 of Titan Wheel Corporation of Iowa in Walcott, Iowa,
ratified the contract with over 85 percent of the vote in favor of the
compromise which increases wages 5 1/2 percent during the next three years.
    "It's encouraging to work with a union that understands the reality of
competition and shows true leadership by allowing their members to vote.  I
can appreciate the fact that the membership would have liked a larger wage
increase, but unfortunately with the current decline in agricultural business,
this is no time to be adding cost to our product," stated Maurice Taylor Jr.,
president and CEO of Titan International, Inc.  "Unions with responsible
leadership understand that strikes only hurt members and the companies that
employ them.  By their actions, the Machinists Union leadership chose the best
interest of its members over hollow political rhetoric.  Titan would like to
thank the Federal Mediation Service for keeping the bargaining teams focused
on what is best for the employees and the company.  Titan has invested
millions of dollars in the Walcott facility to make it the lowest cost
producer of small and mid size farm wheels and we appreciate the loyalty of
the workforce."
    Titan is a global supplier of mounted wheel and tire systems for
off-highway equipment used in agriculture, construction, mining, military,
recreation and grounds care.  Titan has manufacturing and distribution
facilities throughout the United States, Europe and South America.