Hawaiian Air clerical union OKs pact

Hawaiian Airlines' largest union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers—Clerical Division, has ratified a new contract.

The new four-year agreement provides the 1,245 IAM clerical employees with increased compensation while also allowing for operational improvements that benefit the company. The contract was ratified by 75 percent of those voting. IAM clerical employees handle airport customer service, ramp, reservations, schedule planning, purchasing, records and crew scheduling.

Hawaiian's IAM-Mechanics Division is the remaining union still in negotiations. The company recently reached contracts with its pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers.

Swissport closing operations in Hilo

Swissport USA Inc. is ceasing operations at Hilo Airport due to the termination of a contract.

Swissport reported to the state Department of Labor that it would be laying off 16 employees at the airport because there was no other business to where the work force could be transferred. The last day for the workers is Feb. 6.

Swissport, which provides ground services to the aviation sector, served Mesa Air Group's go!, which formed a joint venture with Mokulele in mid-October.

Google puts China cell phones on hold

SAN FRANCISCO » Google has delayed the debut of two mobile phones designed to connect with its Internet services in China, widening the void that might be opened if the company and Beijing can't resolve their rift over online censorship and security.

The phones, made by Motorola and Samsung, use the Android operating system, created by Google to steer people to its search engine and other services.

The postponement yesterday is the latest aftershock from Google's threat to shut down its services in China, which could cut off the world's most populous country from Google's services through any kind of computer or phone. Google says it will remain in China only if the government relents on rules requiring the censorship of content the ruling party considers subversive.

IBM revenue growth resumes

SAN FRANCISCO » IBM Corp. said yesterday that it managed a 9 percent increase in profit in the last quarter as the technology company's revenue grew for the first time in a year and a half.

It also offered a better forecast for 2010, although IBM already had been telling investors it was “;well ahead”; of the pace it would have needed to reach its previous target.

The revenue boost in the latest quarter, which ended Dec. 31, was just under 1 percent. And it was helped by currency fluctuations. At constant values for the dollar, IBM's revenue would have dropped 5 percent.

But even the slight increase was notable because the last time IBM's revenue had risen was the July-September quarter in 2008.

IBM earned $4.8 billion, or $3.59 a share, in the last three months of 2009, up from $4.4 billion, or $3.27 per share, a year earlier. Revenue was $27.2 billion versus $27.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Jobless benefits available online

Hawaii's unemployment insurance claimants can now file for weekly benefits online, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced.

Online filing is a new option for claimants who have filed for their weekly benefits via the current telephone system or in person.

The weekly filing system is available at the Unemployment Insurance Web site at http://www.hawaii.gov/labor/ui.

ON THE MOVE

Central Pacific Bank has hired Corlis Nihei as vice president and region service support officer. She has 30 years of financial services industry experience, and was previously vice president and retail support officer for American Savings Bank.

Servco Insurance Services has announced the following new appointments:

» Lorraine Nakasone as vice president of its employee benefits consulting practice. Her experience includes being assistant vice president of Aon Consulting.

» Marisa Mamizuka as account manager. She will oversee customer service for Nakasone's clients.