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Hawaiian dispatchers to vote

Hawaiian Airlines' dispatchers will vote on concessions for the third time tomorrow following a tentative agreement worked out late Friday between Transport Workers Union Local 540 and the company's management.

The 25-member union, which has been asked by Hawaiian to accept $186,000 in labor cost reductions, previously rejected two agreements that had required the dispatchers to give up future pay. The latest agreement incorporates that issue with others and will result in some dispatchers eventually being furloughed, according to David Durkin, president of the TWU Local.

"This agreement will end up not requiring as many dispatchers in the future and, until everything works its way out, one or two will be furloughed," he said.

Durkin said the tentative agreement will require that the TWU coordinator, who makes decisions such as the substitution of aircraft when there's a mechanical problem, to revert back to being a dispatcher with the coordinator role becoming a nonunion position. The move also will help reduce overtime.

In addition, the union has given up a now-vacant training position which will be now be occupied by an outside vendor.

WorldCom plan includes new name

CLINTON, Miss. >> WorldCom Inc., trying to emerge from the largest-ever U.S. bankruptcy, unveiled a reorganization plan today that would strip it of nine-tenths of its debt and give it a new name and headquarters.

WorldCom, whose plan gives creditors control of the company, said it will take the name of its long-distance service, MCI, and shift its headquarters to MCI's base in the Washington suburb of Ashburn, Va., from Clinton, Miss., where it was founded.

The plan, which erases about $36 billion in debt, has won the backing of 90 percent of its creditors -- which should assure that the plan wins court approval.

Long work hours cut into errands

The bank, the post office, the laundromat -- do you ever see these places on a weekday?

Many women say their long hours have destroyed their ability to get any personal errands done during the regular workday. In a survey of 300 women, 75 percent said they either work late or take work home. And after work the demands of children often supersede time for their own needs.

For example, only 10 percent of the women said they had ever found time to exercise during a normal workday.

And if work duties were less demanding? About half those surveyed said they would run errands, 48 percent said they would have lunch with a friend, 46 percent said they would exercise and 19 percent said they would shop for clothes.

Women make up nearly half the U.S. work force, 47 percent, and 34 percent of those women have children younger than 18, according to the Labor Department.

The online survey was conducted for Jones New York, a women's apparel maker.

Venezuelan oil industry hits post-strike high

CARACAS, Venezuela >> Venezuela's oil production has risen to its highest level since before a two-month strike crippled operations, the energy minister said yesterday.

Rafael Ramirez said Venezuela was pumping 3.2 million barrels a day, up slightly from 3.1 million at the end of March. Venezuela's output quota determined by the OPEC oil cartel is 2.8 million barrels a day.

"We are compensating for what we couldn't place on the market" during the strike, Ramirez told the government news agency, Venpres.

Production dropped below 200,000 barrels a day during the walkout, which began in December. The government fired 17,000 of the state oil company's 40,000 workers and gradually restarted paralyzed oil refineries.

The strike was called to force President Hugo Chavez to step down or agree to early elections on his rule but petered out in February without achieving its objectives.

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[Hawaii Inc.]

Promotions

>> Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo has named Sih-Young Jeon an associate in the firm. He joined the architecture firm's Honolulu office in 1996. Jeon is responsible for management, planning and design of various projects from concept through construction documentation. He has participated projects all over the world, including Seocho Dong Tower in Seoul, The Palace Tower at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas and Outrigger Wailea Resort's renovation on Maui.

>> Milici Valenti Ng Pack has promoted Christie Hoota, Joanne Luke, Veronica MacDonald and Rima Zegarra from assistant account executive to account executive.

Recognition

>> Straub Foundation has awarded Dr. Frank L. Tabrah the 2002 Guy Champion and John C. Milnor Professional Activities Award, which recognized volunteer work from a health care professional. He has been with Straub Clinic & Hospital for 30 years.

>> James Borges of Advanced Management Technology Inc. in Hawaii has received the semi-annual Achievement Award for Commitment to Excellence in support of the Federal Aviation Administration. Advanced Management is a national information technology integration and services company based in Arlington, Va.

>> Chris Linn, general manager and wine director of Roy's Poipu Bar & Grill, won first place in the second annual Chaine des Rotisseurs Hawaii/Pacific Regional Young Sommelier Competition. He has been the restaurant's general manager for a year and has overseen its wine program for the past three years.

>> Valerie Schmidt, a financial advisor for American Express in Honolulu for five years, has been selected for the company's Premier Club. She is being recognized for her outstanding service to clients in protection planning in 2002.