| US: Grocery Chains Resume Talks With Union
Contract talks between three supermarket chains and the union representing Southern California workers resumed yesterday after a week. Union negotiators stopped talks on 4 Aprilafter the chains announced a pact to provide mutual aid if there was a strike. The supermarkets said the talks had been scheduled to recess.
The negotiations are being coordinated by a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, amidst a media blackout on details. The contract covering 65,000 workers at 785 stores expired on 5 March, but remains in place unless either side stops negotiating. A strike or lockout could follow 72 hours later.
Each chain is negotiating separate deals with the union. The union is seeking hourly wage increases totaling $1.25 over three years, and wants the chains to scrap a two-tiered system implemented in 2004 that pays new hires less and requires them to wait at least a year for health benefits.
F1: Stewards Confiscate Toro Rosso Parts After Spyker Protest
The thorny issue of customer cars has kicked off again in Malaysia after Spyker launched a protest against Scuderia Toro Rosso on the grounds that the car uses parts designed by another team.This violates one of the cornerstones of the Concorde Agreement, which is in turn tied in to the FIA sporting regulations via the official entry form for the World Championship.To back up its case Spyker has somehow obtained copies of factory drawings which clearly show that the parts were intended for use on both both RBR's RB3 and Toro Rosso's STR2. Significantly, the drawings are labeled with the logo "Red Bull Racing." .
Judge candiates mull mediation, truancy
Each of the five candidates for magisterial district judge for the district comprising College, Ferguson, Halfmoon and Patton townships is seeking both the Republican and Democratic nominations in the May 15 primary election. The Centre Daily Times asked the candidates to respond to an identical set of five questions. Here are the final two questions and responses. 4. What role will mediation have in civil small claims actions in the district court? Drew Clemson Age: 48 Home: Ferguson Township Experience: Police professional "I feel that mediation in civil cases serves two distinct purposes: It provides resolution to an impending legal action, and it can also save taxpayer dollars. So long as minor civil claims can be re solved to the satisfaction of all parties involved through effective mediation civil litigation in court is unnecessary.
Uganda: Govt-Kony Juba Talks Cost Shs5b
THE South Sudan mediated peace talks between the Uganda Government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army have so far cost over US$3.2million (about shs5.4billion), officials have said. It is projected that costs would soar in December to US$7 million (about shs11.9) making a total of Shs15.1 billion since the talks started last June. According to chief mediator, Dr Riek Machar about US$5.8million has been provided by several donors towards the facilitation of the negotiations mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) of which he is Vice President. .
City-employee dispute headed to arbitration
A dispute over an hour and a half of comp time could send the city of Tower into arbitration with its maintenance supervisor. The city council, on Monday, unanimously rejected a grievance filed by Randy Johnson, who is upset that an hour and a half was deducted from his comp time allotment for time he spent in contract negotiations during his regular workday. Johnsons AFSCME union representative Joe Pershern, who attended this weeks council session, contends the citys union contract allows workers to attend council meetings, during work hours, without a loss of pay. But city councilors dispute that interpretation. I researched this extensively and could find no evidence of that in the contract, said Councilor Richard Hanson, who recommended that the grievance be denied. Personally I think its ridiculous to pay people to negotiate, he said.
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