From: Urthman@aol.com
	by imo13.mx.aol.com (IMOv12/Dec1997) id SEYBa27714
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 16:37:01 EST
To: Labor-Rap@csf.colorado.edu
Subject: Letter of Support for Locked Out Crown workers (forwarded message)
Re:	 Letter of Support for Locked Out Crown workers
Date:	98-02-04 15:11:57 EST
From:	nicwj@igc.apc.org (National Interfaith Committee)


Friends,

Attached is an open letter to Mr. Henry Rosenberg, CEO of Crown Central
Petroleum Corporation, whose company locked out their refinery workers
during contract negotiations two years ago.

On Wednesday, February 11, 1998, Baltimore religious leaders and
representatives of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice will
be paying Mr. Rosenberg a visit -- to deliver the messages from the people
across the country who have signed on to this open letter and to ask him to
end the lockout.

If you haven't already signed on to this letter, we urge you to do so right
away.  Please email your name back to us at  nicwj@igc.org or call me at
(773) 381-2832 and we can add you to the list.

If you would like to circulate this to others, please circulate it as
quickly as possible.  The more names this delegation can deliver, the better.

Thank you for your quick response.  Please give me a call if you would like
more details about the situation.  You can also refer to the December issue
of Faith Works.

*************************************
Open Letter to Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr.
CEO of Crown Central Petroleum Corporation

Dear Mr. Rosenberg,

	As people of faith, we are deeply concerned about the ongoing lockout of
250 workers at the Crown Pasadena refinery in Houston.  This lockout has
persisted since February 1996, when the company and the union failed to
reach an agreement.
	Crown workers have been members of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers
Union for 45 years.  We understand that just a few years ago, workers
considered Crown a model place to work.  Now, the workers are locked out and
the AFL-CIO has called a national boycott of all Crown products.  Management
and union employees have filed a class action lawsuit against the company
for discriminatory practices, and citizens around Crown's Pasadena refinery
have sued the company for health and property damages.  The dispute, has
escalated over the two years, with few signs of reconciliation.
	All of our faith traditions support the rights of workers to be treated
with justice and dignity.  Most faith traditions firmly oppose organized
efforts to break existing unions.  Locking out workers is unjustifiable in
contract negotiations.
	We call on the company to end the lockout and to address the issues of
discrimination and environmental pollution.  Finally, we urge you to take
steps to reach a fair agreement with union representing the workers.
With peace and justice,

Full Name (please include title):
Organization/Congregation:
Address:
City/ST/Zip:
Phone:
Fax:
email:

Please return to nicwj@igc.org
National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice
1607 W. Howard St., Suite 218
Chicago, IL  60626
(773) 381-2832 phone * (773 381-3345 fax
www.igc.org/nicwj