Business Briefs: Machinists file suit against anti-labor governor
Published 12:01 am Friday, January 21, 2011
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is facing her first big lawsuit after saying the state would try to keep unions out of the Boeing plant in North Charleston. The lawsuit filed Thursday by the International Association of Machinists and AFL-CIO asked for a court order telling Haley and her labor director to remain neutral in matters concerning union activities. “There’s no secret I don’t like the unions,” Haley said when asked about the litigation. “We are a right-to-work state. I will do everything I can to defend the fact we are a right-to-work state. We are pro-business by nature. I want us to continue to be pro-business. If they don’t like what I said, I’m sorry, that’s how I feel.” The lawsuit stems from Haley’s comment that she nominated Catherine Templeton to run the state’s labor agency because her union-fighting background would be helpful.
Buffet retiring from newspaper board
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is leaving the board of the Washington Post Co. after spending decades as a close adviser. Buffett, whose company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns 1.7 million Washington Post shares, first joined the Post’s board in 1974, and except for one eight-year break he has remained on the board since then. In a statement Thursday, Buffett said he will continue to offer any help that management asks. But he will step down from his formal role in May, when his term expires. The Post is the parent company of The Herald.
Google co-founder takes over CEO spot
Google Inc. co-founder Larry Page is taking over as CEO in an unexpected shake-up Thursday. Page, 37, is reclaiming the top job from Eric Schmidt, who had been brought in as CEO a decade ago because Google’s investors believed the company needed a more mature leader. Schmidt, 55, will remain an adviser to Page and Google’s other co-founder, Sergey Brin, as Google’s executive chairman. The changes will be effective April 4.
From Herald news services
