WORKERS PICKET THORNGATE PLANT

A difference in recent negotiations and a work contract settlement of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, along with application of raises to base salaries for workers in Thorngate plants in Cape Girardeau and Chaffee, sent workers to an informational picket line at noon Thursday, a union spokesman said.

"We have a three-year contract," said a worker who requested anonymity. "We were supposed to receive a 15-cent-an-hour raise in April, and another 15-cent raise in October." But workers didn't, he said.

"Different people in different sections of the plant received different raises," said the spokesman. "Some received the full 15 cents to their base pay; others received only 14, and yet others received 13 cents.

"It's not the pennies but the principal of the thing," said the spokesman. "If we don't say anything now, we may not get our full amount in October."

Also at issue were health and safety concerns, the spokesman said.