
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 3, 1994                   TAG: 9407030047
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PAPER WORKERS REJECT CHESAPEAKE CO. OFFER

Members of United Paper Workers Local 843 voted overwhelmingly Friday evening to reject a proposed contract from Chesapeake Packaging Co., the Roanoke division of Richmond-based Chesapeake Corp.

James Bush, local union president, said 94 percent of the roughly 130 members present voted to reject the contract at a meeting at the Franklin Road Ramada Inn.

All but two of the 144 workers at the 802 Kyle Avenue plant are union members. The company designs and manufactures corrugated containers.

Before going into the meeting, Bush said, "It doesn't look good for us."

He would not say what kept the contract from approval, but said the union hopes to meet with company officials again this week to work out their differences.

Bush said the union has no plans at this time to vote on whether to strike.

"Our goal is a fair agreement for our membership," he said.

Edward P. Godsey, president and general manager of the company's Roanoke operations, said the company had no comment on the proceedings.

by CNB