Union supporters protest Conti Carbon lockout at shareholders meeting

PONCA CITY, Okla. (July 2)—Union representatives protesting the lockout of 85 workers at Continental Carbon Co.'s Ponca City carbon black plant created a stir at the July 26 annual meeting of one of the firm's Taiwanese parent companies. Security personnel at the meeting of China Synthetic Rubber Co. in Taipei prevented demonstrators from addressing company shareholders and board members, specifically over labor and environmental issues facing subsidiary Continental Carbon in the U.S. Brief scuffles ensued, and eventually the protesters were ushered out of the building. Members of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union Local 5-857 were locked out in Ponca City in May 2001.