This article was modified at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2005, to correctly identify Allegheny General Hospital's stance in dealing with a union organizing drive. The hospital has chosen not to engage in a dialogue with the union.
Investcorp, a Bahrain-based buyout firm, said Wednesday it has acquired Global Promo Group, the parent company of U.S. promotional products giant Leed's, which has a company in Upper Burrell and Washington townships that employs 500, and Hong Kong-based Marlow International. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Investcorp will merge Leed's with Netherlands-based promotional products leader Polyconcept, which Investcorp acquired in April . Created in 1986, Leed's primarily prints logos of companies on business accessories, such as duffel bags, writing pads, tote bags and golf equipment.
Officials to lobby airlines
Four Allegheny County Airport Authority officials plan to lobby a half-dozen airlines to begin or expand service at Pittsburgh International Airport during an industry conference in Calgary, Canada. Prospects include JetBlue Airways, with which the authority has already discussed initiating Pittsburgh service, spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny said Wednesday. The conference lasts from June 13 to 15 and is hosted by Airports Council International, North America, whose current chairman is Kent George, airport authority executive director. "We'll try to fill in the gaps left by US Airways," said Jenny of the bankrupt airline's curtailed service here. She could not immediately identify the other airlines expected to meet with local officials.
US Airways awaits ruling
After hearing final arguments from US Airways' management and labor, a federal bankruptcy court judge said Wednesday he expects to rule within seven days on the airline's manager retention plan. U.S. Judge Stephen Mitchell will decide whether to honor the bankrupt carrier's request to spend as much as $51 million on severance payments to almost 1,900 salaried workers. The aim is to coax them to stay with US Airways and work through its proposed merger with America West Airlines. In court papers, US Airways said ongoing attrition among key workers "will only get worse" as the airlines approach a deal closing expected in September or October. But US Airways' major labor unions, who since 2003 have conceded some $2.1 billion a year in wages and benefits, have objected to the plan.
Union targets hospital
Allegheny General Hospital is spending $2,000 a day for a consultant to help the hospital defeat a unionizing effort by the Service Employees International Union, pro-union forces said Wednesday. A number of community leaders, including state Sen. Jim Ferlo and state Rep. Jake Wheatley, are to speak at 1 p.m. today at the Unitarian Church on the North Side about the hospital allegedly spending thousands of dollars to fight the union while asking the state for additional tax dollars. Thomas Chakurda, spokesman for Allegheny General parent, the West Penn Allegheny Health System, said in a statement, "SEIU organizers have continued in their efforts to organize workers at AGH not currently represented by a union. As far as we can tell, such efforts have been under way since January. While the union has spent considerable time, energy and resources on soliciting AGH employees, Allegheny General has chosen not to (engage in a dialogue) with the union because the issues primarily concern the union's own self-interest."
Bombardier has profit
Bombardier Inc. on Wednesday reported net income of $55 million, or 3 cents a share, for the quarter, compared with a loss of $174 million, or 10 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue in the latest quarter climbed 8.7 percent to $3.8 billion from $3.5 billion. For Bombardier Transportation, the rail-equipment division, earnings before interest and taxes was $44 million, compared with a loss of $115 million a year before. It said its order intake increased by $700 million to $1.6 billion, especially in locomotives, subway and light rail equipment. Revenue rose to $1.8 billion from $1.7 billion.
Contractor fined $106,800
The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it has cited a Cleveland-based painting contractor and proposed $106,800 in penalties against the firm for allegedly failing to protect employees removing lead-based paint from the Heinz Lofts Apartment project on the North Side. OSHA said it cited Mike McGarry and Sons Inc. for 12 alleged "willful, serious and other-than-serious violations of workplace safety and health regulations" after an inspection by the agency that began in February. OSHA last year cited 11 contractors, seven from the Pittsburgh area, for alleged health and safety violations at the 267-unit luxury apartment complex, which had its official opening in April, although some construction continues. Kate Dugan, an OSHA spokeswoman, said a majority of those original complaints are in litigation.
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