News

Obama Offers Tax Credits To Hiring Companies

January 29, 2010 3:45 am | by Charles Babington and Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Writers | Comments

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key House Republican leader said the GOP expects President Barack Obama to do more listening than talking when he huddles privately with lawmakers Friday at a retreat in Baltimore. Obama wants to offer tax credits to companies that hire new workers, a plan that drew a cool reception from Congress last month despite the nation's double-digit unemployment rate.

Toyota Fixes Accelerator Problem, But Sales May Still Slip

January 29, 2010 3:42 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | Comments

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. says it has figured out how to fix a problem with sticking accelerator pedals and will update employees with details. The company said in an e-mail to workers Thursday night that it presented a remedy to federal regulators. The e-mail obtained by The Associated Press says that plans are being developed on a variety of fronts.

Feds: Series Of DuPont Leaks Unrelated

January 29, 2010 3:41 am | by John Raby, Associated Press Writer | Comments

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Three recent chemical leaks at a DuPont plant, one of which killed a worker, don't appear to be related, a federal investigator said Thursday. U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigator Johnnie Banks promised a thorough investigation into the leaks, which prompted the plant's temporary shutdown over the weekend.

Oracle Looks To Hire 2,000 After Sun Acquisition

January 27, 2010 4:04 am | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Oracle Corp. is planning to hire 2,000 sales and engineering employees, which will outnumber the cuts it is making at its latest acquisition, Sun Microsystems Inc., The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison told the newspaper that his company, the leader in proprietary database software, is charting a new course with its $7.

Caterpillar Expects Strong 2010 Despite 4Q Tumble

January 27, 2010 3:57 am | Comments

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Caterpillar said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit tumbled as its dealer inventories dwindled, the same reason the company expects sales and revenue to rebound this year. Leading the way will be China and other developing countries where the world's biggest mining and construction equipment company has seen an increasing share of its business go.

Indiana Unions Push for 'Green' Manufacturing Jobs

January 27, 2010 3:43 am | Comments

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Union workers are joining with environmentalists in calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation they say would bring new "green" manufacturing jobs to Indiana. Members of the Blue Green Alliance held a news conference Tuesday at the Statehouse to urge state lawmakers to pass legislation requiring that the state get a certain percentage of its electricity from renewable sources.

Boeing Gives Cautious 2010 Outlook For 787 Delays

January 27, 2010 3:41 am | by Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer | Comments

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Boeing is giving a cautious outlook for 2010 after dealing with program delays and declining orders in 2009. The airplane maker and defense contractor expects to earn $3.70 to $4 per share. Wall Street analysts were expecting $4.26. Boeing says the guidance accounts for lower production of its 777 aircraft, some smaller defense programs, and "market risks.

Toyota Idles 6 American Plants Due To Faulty Cars

January 27, 2010 3:40 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | Comments

TOKYO (AP) — The faulty gas pedals that prompted Toyota to suspend U.S. sales of eight of its most popular models — including the Camry, America's best-selling car — are also in its vehicles sold in Europe, an official with the automaker said Wednesday. Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota Idling Could Hurt Quality-Based Reputation

January 27, 2010 3:38 am | by Dan Strumpf, AP Auto Writer | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Toyota's suspension of U.S. sales on an unprecedented scale to fix faulty gas pedals deals a blow to the automaker's reputation for quality and endangers its fledgling earnings recovery. The suspect parts are made by a U.S. supplier, but they are also found in its European-made vehicles, an official with the automaker said Wednesday.

Mueller Industries Fined $638,000 For Unsafe Operations

January 26, 2010 3:41 am | Comments

FULTON, Miss. (AP) — Federal labor officials are recommending that three Mueller Industries subsidiaries in Mississippi pay $638,000 in fines for allegedly exposing employees to unsafe working conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the companies in Fulton for 128 alleged violations.

Oshkosh Corp. Tallies Up $325 Million In Military Contracts

January 26, 2010 3:27 am | Comments

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — The defense arm of Oshkosh Corp. has received two hefty military orders for spare parts and repair kits for its new class of mine-resistant trucks. Oshkosh Defense said Monday the deals with the U.S. Army are worth more than $325 million. The parts are for M-ATVs, which are all-terrain military vehicles that are specially designed for the rougher terrain of Afghani battlefields.

Federal Investigation At DuPont After Leaks, Worker Death

January 26, 2010 3:22 am | Comments

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says a four-member team of investigators is heading to DuPont's idled chemical plant in Belle. The board says it expects the team to be on site Tuesday to start investigating a series of leaks that resulted in the death of one worker and the operation's temporary shutdown over the weekend.

GM Returns To Building Electric Motors In-House

January 26, 2010 3:21 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | Comments

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp. is back in the electric motor business. The automaker said Tuesday that starting in 2013, it plans to build its own electric motors for hybrid and electric vehicles. GM has been getting electric motors for those vehicles from suppliers, but wants to make the motors in-house in order to lower costs and improve quality and reliability.

U.S. Sodexo Workers Demand French Protections, Benefits

January 25, 2010 11:09 am | by Fannie Dassie, Associated Press Writer | Comments

PARIS (AP) — A group of U.S. employees at French food services giant Sodexo on Monday demanded workplace protections in North America similar to those their colleagues in France enjoy. Their tactics were viewed with curiosity in France, where it is more common to see French labor unions pressing for more rights from big American employers.

Ford Adds 1,200 Jobs To Chicago Assembly Line

January 25, 2010 11:06 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | Comments

DETROIT (AP) — A person briefed on the matter says Ford Motor Co. will add 1,200 jobs at its Chicago assembly plant to build the new Ford Explorer starting later this year. The company and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn are scheduled to make the announcement on Tuesday at the factory. Quinn told reporters in Chicago on Monday that an unspecified company would be announcing 1,200 new jobs in Illinois.