| Mediation fails to prevent Laboratory Workers' str
DHBs were in mediation with the Lab Workers' Union in Auckland today but were unable to find a solution to get the strike called off. DHB Spokesman, Gordon Davies - CEO of Canterbury DHB, says mediation will never be able to overcome an unrealistic claim when the union is not prepared to make a meaningful shift in its position to find some common ground. "The union's pay and conditions claims are still unrealistic and unaffordable. Another insurmountable hurdle is their claim to include private laboratories in the agreement. Private Labs have made it clear they do not consider this appropriate and this would prevent a deal with the union - even if all other matters could be resolved. "We've moved considerably during these negotiations to try and find a compromise. Our offer would give Lab workers 8.5% over three years with a pay scale from $45,000 to $56,000.
Bankruptcy cases of strategic companies in Moscow court drops 50%
MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - The number of bankruptcy cases of strategic facilities handled by the Moscow Arbitration Court at the beginning of this year has shrunk by approximately 50% compared to 2006. A court spokesman told Interfax that in the middle of March the court was handling five such cases. The court spokesman noted the fact that bankruptcy procedures against certain companies have been launched several times by the same or different claimants. Earlier Moscow Arbitration Court chairman Oleg Sviridenko said on several occasions that strategic facilities should have a separate bankruptcy law. .
Courts Reject Alexandria Power Plant Moves
The city of Alexandria got slapped down in two courts yesterday, suffering setbacks in its long-running campaign to shut down the pollution-producing Mirant power plant on the Potomac River. In one case, Virginia Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth B. Lacy ruled that Alexandria had improperly used its zoning power to require the power plant to obtain a special-use permit. The city would then have been able to designate the plant as a "non-complying use," which could have forced the plant out of the city. Mirant had sued to block the zoning change. .
Former banker pleads guilty in fraud
ALBANY -- A former senior vice president of lending for the National Union Bank of Kinderhook faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for issuing more than $2 million in phony loans to cover for a customer who wasn't repaying an earlier debt. Daniel R. Kline, 34 Knollwood Drive, Valatie, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court this week to one count of making a false entry in books and records. He also faces up to $1 million in fines. .
School reduces racial tensions
HILLSBOROUGH - A mediation session between Hispanic students and the white students who were bullying them at Cedar Ridge High School has helped ease tension between the groups, the mother of one of the bullied children says."I think this worked," said Suyapa Santos.Earlier this month, some white students threatened some Hispanic students in the cafeteria, in the hallway, on the bus and at one student's house, Santos told The News & Observer for an earlier article.The threats started with the white students telling the Hispanic students that they would force them out of the school, Santos said.The white students later threatened to hit one student and kill another, she said.Principal Gary Thornburg has referred questions to district spokeswoman Anne D'Annunzio.Both she and a representative of the Dispute Settlement Center in Carrboro said the mid-March mediation session went well.The school followed up by organizing a meeting with Hispanic parents to hear their concerns.School officials will hold a breakfast meeting next week to continue building a relationship, Santos said.D'Annunzio said that the school is considering creating a student human relations committee next school year but that Thornburg had that idea before the incidents occurred.A rally that Hispanic students had scheduled for Tuesday was called off after school officials reached out to Hispanic parents and students.
|
