ACTWU IN THE SOUTH WINS UNPRECEDENTED 5-YEAR CONTRACT FOR 2,900 HOECHST CELANESE WORKERS.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 1995--The Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) won a vote of confidence on its 5-year unprecedented contract with Hoechst Celanese that includes $40 million dollars in wage and benefit increases. The first year economic settlement totalled over 7.2% with 4% in wage and over 3% in fringe benefits mainly retirement related. Workers at plants in South Carolina and Virginia voted on June 16th to ratify the contract, which contains many provisions that go into effect immediately.

"This contract surpasses the rate of inflation, and represents significant long-term job stability for Hoechst Celanese workers and retirees," says Bruce Raynor, Executive Vice-President and Southern Region Director. "Along with that stability workers can also look forward to earning good wages and excellent benefits."

Major improvements in wages and benefits include: a pension plan paying benefits for long-term employees amounts near $1,000 per month; managed healthcare coverage with no deductible for many services, and $10 office visits; an average wage increase of 4% resulting in an average wage over $12.25 per hour; and a 50-cents on the dollar company match to employee payments for a 401k retirement savings plan.

The negotiating team led by Raynor, Bruce Dunton, ACTWU Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, and Sydney Young, ACTWU Piedmont-Carolinas District Manager, also included a joint committee from the 1,300 Celanese workers in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and the 1,600 in Narrows, Virginia.

"This was truly an effective and cooperative effort by all involved," says Young. "The company needs 24-hour seven-day-a-week production in order to effectively operate, and our members need the compensation and security this contract provides in order to do their jobs effectively."

Hoechst Celanese is a multi-million dollar acetate and cigarette filter manufacturer with plants throughout the United States, Canada and Germany. "The Company and our Union are working towards a partnership that will result in job security and good wages and benefits for our members and continued economic success for Hoechst Celanese. "This contract allows us to meet those goals."

The new contract also includes a profit sharing program paying up to 7% of employees annual pay, increased sick pay benefits, and a nearly 33% increase in life insurance coverage. "American workers deserve contracts like this," adds Raynor. "ACTWU is here to make sure they get more and more of them."

ACTWU represents more than 250,000 workers nation wide, and nearly 55,000 in the Southeastern States.

Next week in Florida, delegates from ACTWU and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union will vote on a proposal to merge ACTWU and the ILGWU, UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees).

CONTACT: ACTWU, Rock Hill

Sydney Young, 803/366-4411