NEWS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
PACE INT'L. UNION, AFL-CIO/CLC

For Immediate Release: April 19, 1999            
Contact: Joe Drexler, Special Projects Director,
         (410) 837-7906.
         Lynne Baker, Associate Director of
         Communications, (303) 987-5334.

     LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- Two rank-and-file members of the
PACE (Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy
Workers) International Union were arrested today for
protesting on public property in front of Texas Governor
George Bush's mansion in Austin. They are the latest in
a string of handicapped and environmental protesters to
be arrested in front of the governor's mansion.

     Mike Covington and Karen Sloan, members of PACE
local union 4-227, were arrested while they were
protesting the continuation of Governor Bush's voluntary
pollution reduction compliance program. One of the first
companies to sign up with the voluntary program, Crown
Central Petroleum, received the largest pollution fine in
Texas history last year. The state fined Crown $1.1
million for its air pollution, and there are ongoing
proceedings against the company for as much as $14
million in additional environmental enforcement
penalties.

     Covington and Sloan were two of the 252 employees
Crown Central Petroleum locked-out in February 1996 after
the company failed to force the workers out on strike.

     Also arrested today were Rick Abraham of the
environmental group, Texans United, and Roger Baker of
the Austin, Texas, Green Party.

     "At a time when this country is denouncing the lack
of free speech in Kosovo, I find it ironic that Governor
Bush is arresting American citizens for exercising their
constitutional free speech rights," said Joe Drexler,
PACE special projects director.

     Labor and environmental groups have joined together
to expose Governor Bush's compliance program and Crown's
environmental degradation at its Pasadena, Texas,
refinery. 

     "This so-called `voluntary' program lets polluters,
like Crown, off the hook," said Drexler. "It's no
surprise, however, since Crown CEO Henry Rosenberg is a
regular contributor to Governor Bush's campaign.

     "Labor and environmental groups will continue to
hold Governor Bush accountable to the citizens who
elected him."