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Low oil prices hurt Barnwell

Barnwell Industries Inc., a Honolulu-based oil exploration company, said a 90 percent drop in its net earnings in the last quarter was due to a decrease in natural gas and oil prices.

Barnwell reported net earnings of $150,000, or 11 cents per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with $1.52 million, or $1.10 per share, in the year-earlier period.

Morton Kinzler, chairman and CEO, said: "The most significant event of this quarter was the successful completion of the attainment of development entitlements from the Hawai'i state Land Use Commission. This was a milestone event that is not reflected in the company's earnings for this quarter."

ILWU complaint seeks update

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the Pacific Maritime Association over talks involving West Coast docks.

In its complaint to the National Labor Relations Board, the ILWU accused the Pacific Maritime Association of failing to provide the union with information about new technologies the group plans to introduce to West Coast operations.

"Refusal to provide the requested information is a violation of federal law," the ILWU said in a statement. "Without that information no meaningful talks can proceed."

While the complaint does not directly affect Hawai'i workers, negotiations here traditionally follow talks on the West Coast as the ILWU seeks parity in wages and benefits with their West Coast counterparts.