First, HNI would discontinue part of its two-step nylon carpet fiber operations located at the Chesterfield plant by Dec. 14, 2003. Second, BASF, which owns some of the polymer and compounding assets in the Chesterfield Plant, would discontinue its compounding operations in Building 5 sometime in the first quarter of 2004. Finally, HNI would upgrade and re-commission one of its polymer production units to produce carpet fiber-grade resins and possibly other specialty polymer products by late February 2004.

As a result of all of these proposed actions, approximately 120 positions (hourly and salary) at the Chesterfield Plant would be at risk. The Chesterfield plant currently employs about 875 people, including about 725 operations and maintenance workers represented by the Teamsters Local 101 and about 150 salaried employees.