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USWA Dismisses Titan Lawsuit as `Another Ludicrous Assertion By a Misguided CEO'

29 September 2000

USWA Dismisses Titan Lawsuit as `Another Ludicrous Assertion By a Misguided CEO'

    PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29 The following was issued today by the
United Steelworkers of America:

    In a statement released late this afternoon, the United Steelworkers of
America (USWA) said it has not yet seen a federal law suit filed against it in
Quincy, IL on Thursday by Titan International Inc. , but said that
accounts of the press conference announcing the suit suggest:
    "This is another in a long line of ludicrous assertions by a misguided CEO
whose attempts at union-busting have succeeded in doing nothing but causing
suffering for hundreds of working families and shareholders alike."
    In addition to the Steelworkers, Titan CEO Maurice Taylor's announcement
of the lawsuit attacked:

     -- Vice President Al Gore for taking part in a demonstration in support
        of USWA Local 164  members, who have been on strike for 29 months at
        plants in Des Moines, IO and Natchez, MS.

     -- The U.S. Secret Service for "locking" strikebreakers in Titan's Des
        Moines plant while Vice President Al Gore spoke to striking USWA
        members outside the plant.

     -- Local 164 members for filing worker compensation claims.

     -- The Des Moines fire department for entering  the Des Moines plant
        during a 1999 fire caused by an explosion in which a trucker died.

    Taylor also called for a wide array of "labor law reforms" that the
Steelworkers said "are unique in their commitment to turning back the rights
of workers to 19th Century standards.
    "Professing concern for the rights of employees while simultaneously suing
them for `mail fraud' for filing worker compensation claims is only the latest
example of Mr. Taylor's absurd insistence on continuing to abuse our members
rather than settle an agreement, as tire makers Continental General,
Bridgestone Firestone, and Cooper Tire have since this dispute began."

    For more information, contact:  Marco Trbovich of USWA, 412-562-2440 or
412-418-7513.

    Visit the USWA Web site:  http://www.uswa.org