Calgon workers nix deal
By a margin of more than 2-to-1, picketing workers at Calgon Carbon Corp.'s Neville Island plant on Monday rejected a labor agreement proposed by management during the weekend, said United Steelworkers Local 5032. With 37 opposing and 17 rejecting, most of the workers balked at the company's continued call for cuts to health and pension plan benefits. USW bargainers made no recommendation as to how members should vote, the union said. Nearly 60 workers have been locked out at the plant since Feb. 29, four weeks after their contract had expired. Calgon Carbon makes products used to purify air and water. Labor negotiations are supposed to resume today.
StarKist to be sold
Del Monte Foods Co. said Monday it will sell its seafood business, which includes the StarKist brand, to a South Korean company for $363 million as it focuses on higher margin produce and pet foods. Del Monte, which operates brands such as Contadina, Kibbles 'n Bits and 9Lives, said the divestiture will improve margins, eliminate a source of earnings volatility and reduce debt. In fiscal 2008, the seafood business generated about $560 million in sales. The sale to South Korea's Dongwon Enterprise Co. includes Del Monte's manufacturing operations in American Samoa; Manta, Ecuador; and certain StarKist manufacturing assets in Terminal Island, California and Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Entrepreneur awards
Western Pennsylvania companies swept seven of the eight categories in the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards for the Tri-State region on Friday. The seven winners and their categories are: Walter Dollard, president, and Michael Gunniers, principal of Premier Automation, Monroeville (Industrial/Retail Products); D. Raja, CEO of Computer Enterprises, Pittsburgh (Integrated Technology); Peter Michael DeComo, CEO of Renal Solutions Inc., Marshall (Healthcare); Inderpal Guglani, CEO of Guru.com, Pittsburgh (Business Services); Sean McDonald, CEO of Precision Therapeutics, Pittsburgh (Applied Sciences); Denise DeSimone, CEO of Advanticom Inc., Pittsburgh (Specialty Services); and John Manzetti, CEO of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Pittsburgh (Supporter of Entrepreneurship). An upstate New York company won in the Advanced Technology Solutions category.
Health deal done
Highmark Inc. and West Penn Allegheny Health System said Monday they signed a five-year contract between the region's largest health insurer and West Penn Allegheny's six hospitals. Terms weren't disclosed. "Maintaining our long-standing relationship with West Penn Allegheny was very important to us and our members," Highmark President and CEO Kenneth Melani said in a statement. "The system plays an important role in the health care of our region, and we are pleased to be able to have their services available to Highmark members."
Bank chief sees losses
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. CEO Robert Kelly said he expects more losses for banks, creating buying opportunities for his and other financially healthy banks. Fallout in the financial sector would allow stronger banks "to acquire the not-so-strong," Kelly said in a speech to the European American Press Club in Paris. Banks will raise capital and cut dividends, said Kelly, who also predicted the crisis in the U.S. housing market will continue.
Other business news
• Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania said it will open a store in Peters in early August to serve northern Washington County and nearby Pittsburgh suburbs such as Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. Used clothing and household items are being accepted now at the store, a former Prizant's Carpet location at 3492 Washington Road. Renovations are under way at the 12,000-square-foot store. About 15 people from the area will be hired. Goodwill runs 23 stores.
• Cellumen Inc. of Harmar announced a research collaboration Monday with the National Center for Toxicology Research, part of the Food and Drug Administration. The company will use its CellCiphr toxicity risk assessment technology to study liver toxicity compounds, including failed and marketed drugs, for the NCTR. The government center then wil use the results to create a liver toxicity knowledge base.
• Only 61.9 percent of Pittsburgh-area company executives expressed confidence in their prospects in June, according to a survey issued Monday by National City Corp. The results were a sharp drop from 67 percent in May and 68.4 percent a year ago. In the last 12 months, only March's 61.8 percent showing was worse, the bank's survey showed. Businesses expressed the most confidence last July, when 70.9 percent of respondents were up-beat.
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