CANTON, Ohio, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Timken Company and United Steelworkers union met yesterday to begin the effects bargaining process involving the Canton bearing plants. In tandem with this process the parties agreed over the next few weeks to explore the possibility of opening formal negotiations over the current labor contract.

The meeting was productive and the parties will be focusing on opportunities to lessen the impact on employment involving the recent closure announcement of the Canton bearing plants.

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR, www.timken.com) is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered bearings and alloy steels and a provider of related products and services with operations in 29 countries. The company recorded 2003 sales of $3.8 billion and employed approximately 26,000 at year-end.

Media Contact: Denise L. Bowler, Manager - Communications Planning and Integration, (330) 471-3485, or visit www.timken.com/media

Investor Contact: Kevin R. Beck, Manager - Investor Relations, (330) 471-7181, or visit www.timken.com/investors

SOURCE The Timken Company

CONTACT: Media, Denise L. Bowler, Manager - Communications Planning and 
Integration, +1-330-471-3485, or Investors, Kevin R. Beck, Manager - Investor
Relations, +1-330-471-7181, both of The Timken Company
Web site: www.timken.com
www.timken.com/investors
www.timken.com/media

(TKR)