Titan files federal racketeering lawsuit against USWA

QUINCY, Ill. (Sept. 29)—Titan International Inc. filed racketeering charges of $240 million in federal court Sept. 29 against two United Steelworkers locals and more than 100 named individuals, a company release said. The suit stems from long ongoing strikes at two Titan tire facilities by Local 164 in Des Moines, Iowa, and Local 303 in Natchez, Miss. The suit details laws that the union and the individuals have broken during the strike "in an attempt to force Titan out of business," the release said. Maurice Taylor Jr., Titan CEO and president, also called for changes in strike voting and company/union information exchange procedures through a proposed "Workers´ Bill of Rights."