Air Cargo Company

Business Highlights

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Target faces much-watched union vote in New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Target may be known for its cheap-chic apparel, but workers at one New York store say the company is just plain cheap.

Late Friday night, about 250 workers at a Target store in Long Island plan to vote on whether to join the country's largest retail union. This is the first union vote Target has faced in two decades and if workers vote "yes," the store will be the first of the company's 1,700 locations to bring in organized labor.

The vote could have a ripple effect in the U.S. retail industry as the economy recovers from the worst recession since the 1930s. At a time when jobs are scarce, the retail industry is expected to be one of the strongest sectors for job growth during this decade. But the hours and pay for jobs selling clothes, computers and other goods have been declining in recent years. At the same time, the industry has faced decreasing union membership, which can limit workers' ability to fight for better wages.

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Greece steps back from prospect of debt default

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece appeared to step back from the prospect of a devastating debt default Friday after its prime minister quelled chaotic political infighting and Germany softened a contentious demand on the participation of the private sector in a new European bailout.

After two days of dissent inside his Socialist party that threatened to bring down his government, Prime Minister George Papandreou named his main internal rival as finance minister. The move is expected to solidify the support from lawmakers Papandreou needs to pass a 28 billion euro ($39.5 billion) package of steep tax hikes and budget cuts so despised inside Greece that riots exploded outside parliament this week.

European donors and the International Monetary Fund require Greece to pass the austerity measures before releasing the next 12 billion euro ($17 billion) loan from a 110 billion euro package agreed on last year to keep Greece afloat until it can get its struggling economy back on track.

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Deepening crisis casts shadow over Lagarde IMF bid

PARIS (AP) — Christine Lagarde's bid to head the International Monetary Fund could face new scrutiny now that Greece's worsening debt storm risks toppling one of her candidacy's key pillars — her track record shepherding the eurozone through the worst crisis of its 12-year existence.

With Greece coming close to a default, which would spark a chain reaction that some fear could break up the eurozone, the crisis management strategy of Lagarde and her European colleagues will come in for renewed criticism, analysts say.

UK Government Blocks UPS Air Cargo Screening

The UK government has stopped parcel company UPS from screening air cargo at some outlets in the country because of security problems.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has not outlined any specific security issues but said the ban would remain in place until the company "has satisfied current security requirements."

UPS said it was working to address the problems highlighted by the department.

The issue could relate to an incident last October when a bomb was found on a UPS plane at the UK's East Midlands Airport. The explosives were discovered after a tip-off and were not picked up in routine security screening.

Investigators discovered the bomb was hidden in a printer cartridge posted in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. The flight had been bound for the US. A similar bomb had been discovered on a FedEx plane in Dubai.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The safety of the traveling public is paramount and our security regime is kept under constant review.

"We can confirm that, following careful consideration, the department has restricted the number of sites in the UK at which UPS Ltd are permitted to screen air cargo until it has satisfied current security requirements.

"For obvious security reasons we will not comment on the details."

A UPS spokesman said: "As part of a scheduled review by the DfT of UPS procedures and employment documentation related to security, the DfT identified areas of concern that UPS now is working to address.

"Some facilities have been temporarily taken offline, which in some cases has led to delays in the movement of packages. UPS has activated contingency plans, communicated with customers and expects service levels to return to normal early next week.

"The DfT reviews have been helpful, educating UPS on the expectations of DfT auditors.

"UPS continues to assess the operation of its UK network and, in co-operation with the DfT, may refine it to ensure an even more efficient level of service to its customers.

Air cargo, a business of systems

Freight transport, eighth report of session 2007-08 : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

Critical Issues in Air Transport Economics and Business

International Directory of Company Histories

Air cargo in mainland China and Hong Kong