Posted at 12:04 p.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2005
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Verizon Wireless spent $31M on upgrades
Advertiser Staff
Verizon Wireless said yesterday it spent $31 million on upgrades in Hawai'i last year aimed at improving call quality and coverage. The upgrades include added cell sites to boost coverage in Waikuikui, downtown Honolulu and Pearl City and on Maui and Kaua'i.Verizon Wireless, which is owned by New York-based Verizon Communications Inc., is not involved in the pending sale of Verizon Hawaii, which is a separate subsidiary of Verizon Communications. Verizon Hawaii is in the process of being sold for $1.65 billion to The Carlyle Group.
Hawaiian Airlines machinists ratify contract
Members of International Association of Machinists District Lodge 141 yesterday ratified a new three-year contract with Hawaiian Airlines.
The contract, ratified by a two-to-one vote, covers 1,329 employees of the IAM Clerical unit working in accounting, reservations, customer service, and ramp services. They are the airline's largest and most diverse labor group.
The new contract, like the others Hawaiian has negotiated, is contingent on reaching similar agreements with all six labor groups. Hawaiian so far has reached agreement with four of the groups, and is continuing to negotiate with IAM Mechanics unit and the Air Line Pilots Association.
The agreements will take effect after Hawaiian exits chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Big Island development board names director
Mark McGuffie was named executive director for the Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board effective today.
McGuffie, a certified hotel administrator, began his career in 1970 at a luxury resort in the southwest of England. He also assisted the owners of Keauhou Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona through a transition of management companies and as corporate director of operations overseeing operations at The Pacific Beach Hotel, Pagoda Hotel and King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel.
The Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board is a non-profit corporation focused on economic development and job creation the Big Island.
Stevedoring unit on Big Island undergoes reorganization
Matson Terminals Inc. has completed the acquisition of certain assets of HT&T Stevedoring in Hilo and Kawaihae, Matson announced today.
HT&T's 39 employees will transfer to a new division, which will operate under the name Big Island Stevedores. As part of the agreement, Matson acquired various pieces of HT&T stevedoring equipment such as fork lifts, passenger vans and pickup trucks. Matson Terminals is a unit of Matson Navigation Co. Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin Inc.
