International Chemical Workers Ratify New Contract With OMNOVA Solutions' Akron, Ohio Facility

FAIRLAWN, Ohio, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN) today announced that members of the International Chemical Workers Union Council of UFCW, Local 419 have ratified a three-year labor agreement at the Company's Akron, Ohio chemical plant.  The plant was part of OMNOVA's acquisition of ELIOKEM in December of 2010.  The vote of the membership was held on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.  Details of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This is a great outcome for OMNOVA Solutions and our employees at the Akron facility," said Kevin McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "We commend the Union for their willingness to work together to put an agreement in place that will allow the plant to be competitive while continuing to provide excellent jobs, wages and benefits to employees and their families.  We look forward to maintaining a positive working relationship with the Union as we focus our collective efforts on growing our chemicals business."  

The Akron, Ohio facility produces liquid latex and dry powder polymers for the coatings, drilling, compounding and other high performance specialty chemical markets.  Thirty-four employees are represented by Local 419.

OMNOVA Solutions is a technology-based company with pro forma sales (including the ELIOKEM acquisition) for the twelve months ending February 28, 2011 of $1.17 billion and a global workforce of approximately 3,000.  OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and decorative and functional surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses.  Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at www.omnova.com.

SOURCE OMNOVA Solutions