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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 20, 1990                   TAG: 9003202410
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WORCESTER, MASS.                                 LENGTH: Short

ANTI-BUYOUT WORKERS BURN UNION JACK

Norton Co. employees on Monday protested a British firm's hostile takeover attempt, burning the Union Jack and marching around City Hall, where officials were to meet with the bidder.

The two-hour rally by 3,000 people was timed to coincide with the visit of BTR PLC's chief executive John C. Cahill, who wants to buy the abrasives manufacturer for $1.64 billion.

Waving U.S. flags and signs that read "Ban the Brits" and "Don't Sell Out America," the protesters borrowed freely from revolutionary imagery.

"Unfortunately we didn't have Paul Revere riding down the street," said 14-year employee John Shocik, referring to the surprise nature of Cahill's bid, announced Friday. The 105-year-old plant is Worcester's largest employer with nearly 3,000 workers.

by CNB