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Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Thursday, March 8, 2001

Aloha Air lives up to 'on time' slogan

For the fourth month in a row, Aloha Airlines in January beat out the nation's 10 biggest airlines in on-time performance, with 93.9 percent of its flights arriving on time. The next closest carrier was Northwest Airlines with 81 percent on time, followed by Continental, with 80.6 percent on time.

Alaska Airlines finished last among the 11 carriers, with 66.2 percent of flights arriving on time. Aloha's figures cover all interisland and mainland flights.

Aloha is not required to disclose arrival statistics to the federal government, but began doing so in October. The 10 major carriers must report every month.

Bush wins repeal of workplace rules

WASHINGTON-- Congress voted late yesterday to repeal new workplace rules aimed at curbing repetitive motion injuries, the first legislative accomplishment for business-friendly Republicans who won control of the White House and Congress last year.

The measure cleared the House on a largely party line vote of 223-206, less than 24 hours after Senate passage. It awaits the signature of President Bush, who has supported the measure.

Glass ceiling persists worldwide

GENEVA -- Women represent more than 40 percent of the global work force yet hold less than 3 percent of top executive jobs due to the "glass ceiling," the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said today.

In a study issued to mark International Women's Day, the United Nations labour agency also said woman only account for 1 percent of trade union leaders, although 40 percent of trade union members worldwide are female.

The pay gap remains one of the most persistent forms of gender inequality, according to the ILO study.

In other news . . .

Sydney, Australia -- A resilient U.S. dollar and a slowing domestic economy were behind the Australian dollar's drop this week toward an historic low of 50.70 U.S. cents. A high for the year of 57.25 U.S. cents was set in January. Weaker than expected GDP data was announced yesterday.