Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Friday, April 11, 1997
Two more groups have signed up to hold events at the Hawaii Convention Center and will pump nearly $45 million into the state economy, said the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. Convention center gets
two more bookingsAmerican Express Financial Advisors will conduct its corporate meeting at the center in the year 2000. About 4,000 attendees are expected, the HVCB said yesterday. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers will hold its convention in 2002 with about 2,200 attendees.
The American Express booking is expected to add $36 million to the state's economy with $2.8 million going to state and county taxes, said Janet Yoshida Brown, HVCB director of sales for meetings, conventions and incentives. The ASHRAE convention is expected to bring in about $8.6 million in visitor expenditures with $668,000 going to state and county government, she said. The center is slated to open July 1, 1998.
CHICAGO -- United Airlines' pilots union members approved a mid-contract wage agreement reached last month with the nation's largest airline. United Airlines' pilots
approve wage pactThe Air Line Pilots Association said yesterday that 98 percent of its members ratified the pact, with 90 percent of its members casting votes. The proposal offers two mid-term wage increases of 5 percent, with the first effective in July and the second effective in July 1998.
DETROIT -- A strike at a Detroit engine plant halted Chrysler Corp.'s production of the highly profitable Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Ram pickup and two other truck models today. Chrysler's truck output
stalled by plant strikeAbout 1,800 United Auto Workers members struck the Mound Road engine plant after negotiators failed to agree on a new local contract by the union's midnight Wednesday deadline.
TOKYO -- Transport Minister Makoto Koga said Japan and the United States will likely reach an agreement in two or three days over access to Japanese ports, according to Bloomberg News. U.S., Japan seen close
to pact on port accessU.S. officials in Washington -- where talks on the issue have been held since last week -- also said a pact was within reach.
An accord would stave off sanctions against Japan's three largest shipping companies. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission said in February that it will impose $100,000 fines from Monday on U.S.-bound ships owned by three Japanese firms.
The sanction threat followed complaints from U.S. shipping companies that their access to Japan's ports is hindered by discriminatory practices.