Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Wednesday, September 3, 1997

Fines likely on
Japan ships' port calls

Japan's three ocean shipping lines will almost certainly face stiff fines each time they make U.S. port calls after 6 p.m. today Hawaii time, even if the U.S. and Japan reach agreement giving U.S. shippers better access to Japan's ports, a U.S. State Department official said today.

However, Hawaii won't feel the impact immediately since the one Japanese freight line that makes regular calls in Hawaii, Nippon Yusen KK, isn't due for a Honolulu port call until Sept. 15, its local agent said.

"So there's two weeks for this to sort itself out," said the agent, Mike Clarity, Hawaii district manager of Lavino Shipping Agencies Inc.

Hawaii had earlier been spared the worst impact of the U.S. plan to retaliate against Japan over Japanese ports' restrictions on shipping companies.

Isle engineers union
reaches contract pact

Operating Engineers Local 3 has reached a contract agreement with the General Contractors Labor Association and the Building Industry Labor Association.

Adrian Keohokalole, district representative for the union, would offer no details but said the agreement, reached yesterday, is "fair." He said the contract, yet to be ratified, will likely be approved by union members next week.

The Operating Engineers, which represents heavy machinery operators, had been negotiating jointly with the Hawaii Carpenters Union since mid-July.

Carpenters to hold
ratification meetings

Hawaii Carpenters Union will conduct statewide contract ratification meetings Saturday by secret ballot at the following places and times:

Oahu: Farrington High School Auditorium, 1564 N. King St., 9 a.m.

Maui: Maui Carpenters Office, 330 Hookahi St., Wailuku, 8:30 a.m.

Hilo: UPW Union Hall, 362 E. Lanikaula St., 8 a.m.

Kona: Kona Carpenters Office, 75-126 Lunapule Road, 8 a.m.

Kauai: Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy St., 7 a.m.

The Carpenters came to an agreement on Sunday, averting a statewide strike. An estimated 5,000 non-retired union members are eligible to ratify the proposed contract with the General Contractors Labor Association and Building Industry Labor Association.

Terms of the settlement will not be available until after ratification but officials say it touches on wages and benefits, job preservation and subcontracting of union jobs.