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USWA Charged with Federal Racketeering by Titan International

2 October 2000

United Steelworkers of America Charged with Federal Racketeering by Titan International

    QUINCY, Ill., Sept. 29 Titan International, Inc.
has filed racketeering charges in Federal Court case number
00CV3257, Springfield, Illinois, against the United Steelworkers of America
(USWA) Locals 164 and 303L and over 100 named individuals.  The suit is for
damages of $240 million, but under Federal Racketeering Laws, such suits carry
treble damages bringing the value to $720 million.
    "It is time for companies to stand up to labor unions and demand that
the laws be upheld," stated Maurice Taylor Jr., Titan president and CEO.
"Companies need to defend the rights of their employees.  The Titan lawsuit
will bring to light the union's unbelievable disregard for laws.  The union is
accustomed to using its propaganda machine to influence politicians and public
opinion, but it is very difficult to bully a Federal Court with the same
tactics.  Titan will be asking other companies to step forward with
information regarding similar acts committed by the USWA.  Titan also plans to
organize a group of companies to focus on changing the labor laws of this
country to better protect workers' rights."
    For the past two and a half years, Titan has been hiring and training a
new workforce of over 1,100 workers due to strikes at tire facilities in Des
Moines, Iowa, and Natchez, Mississippi. The employees have worked to
strengthen the company in the face of the negative propaganda of the USWA.
The Federal lawsuit outlines the laws that the union and individuals have
broken in an attempt to force Titan out of the tire business.  Titan believes
this suit will prevail to its fullest extent.  The union has threatened
workers who wished to return to work with injury to themselves, their spouses
and children.  These threats and actions have been organized under the
direction of various individuals, but a pattern suggesting the USWA leadership
is involved is evident.
    Taylor continued, "Companies deserve the right to explain their contract
offers to employees on company time.  Today, union members only hear these
offers as filtered by their union leaders, if at all.  Employees should be
allowed to hear both sides of the issues being negotiated.  Also, all votes
should be conducted by ballot and supervised by the National Labor Relations
Board.  Current practices allow unions to call a voice vote to strike,
regardless of whether or not a majority of the members are present.  We need
labor laws that protect the workers."
    Titan is calling for a Workers' Bill of Rights to include:

    1.  Strike votes must be conducted by ballot and administered by
        the NLRB.

    2.  Companies should be allowed to explain the offer to employees
        before they vote. (Currently they are not.)

    3.  During a strike, workers should be able to vote on each
        offer by ballot administered by the NLRB.

    4.  Every 30 days during a strike, employees should vote
        (administered by the NLRB) on the following options:
         a.  Continue the strike
         b.  Accept the company's offer
         c. Return to work while negotiations continue

    5.  If the above Bill of Rights is honored, no permanent
        replacement workers can be hired unless the strike
        continues for more than six months.

    Finally, Taylor stated, "Titan plans to set the record straight and go on
the offensive to ensure justice for our employees.  I would like to personally
thank all of the Titan employees who have made an extra effort during these
past 30 months, our customers who have offered us encouragement, and the Titan
stockholders who have maintained faith in our vision.  I believe the best is
ahead of us."