US union membership rate hits all-time low despite campaigns
The U.S. union membership rate reached an all-time low last year despite high-profile unionization campaigns at Starbucks, Amazon, Apple and other companies.
Lawsuit claims woman’s death stemmed from Disneyland fall
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A lawsuit claims Disneyland employees snickered at a disabled woman struggling to get off a Jungle Cruise boat before she fell and broke a leg, leading to her death from an infection five months later.
Business news at a glance
CNH Industrial workers on strike since May approve new deal
Juul Settlement to End Youth-Vaping Lawsuits Gets Initial Approval
Juul Labs Inc. won preliminary approval of a settlement aimed at resolving thousands of lawsuits targeting the e-cigarette maker as a major cause of a US youth-vaping epidemic.
Tom Yamachika: Should we lower taxes?
The Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie told me that he can convince me that tax cuts for everyone, such as some of the bold cuts that Gov. Josh Green is proposing, are not advisable for us today. (Actually, he can’t really talk, but he can type on my keyboard, and if I get in his way, he’ll bite me on the schnozzola.)
Tom Yamachika: More temporary tax fixes considered
The elections have been held. We know who the new Representatives and Senators are. The Hawaii legislative session doesn’t open until Wednesday, Jan. 18, but you’d better believe that legislators have been busy already.
Everything ‘is on the table’ as Southwest Airlines CEO tries to prevent another meltdown
Southwest Airlines has hired an outside firm to figure out what it needs to prevent another cancellation meltdown like the one over the holidays and “everything that we need to do to mitigate risk is on the table,” CEO Bob Jordan said Thursday.
Wall Street ends higher as company earnings season kicks off
NEW YORK — Stocks closed higher on Wall Street Friday to give the S&P 500 its best week in two months as earnings reporting season gets underway and CEOs begin to show how well or poorly they’re navigating high inflation and a slowing economy.
Tesla cuts vehicle prices in bid to boost flagging demand
DETROIT — With its sales slowing and its stock price tumbling, Tesla Inc. slashed prices dramatically Friday on several versions of its electric vehicles, making some of its models eligible for a new federal tax credit that could help spur buyer interest.
Cooler hiring and milder pay gains could aid inflation fight
WASHINGTON — America’s employers added a solid 223,000 jobs in December, evidence that the economy remains healthy even as the Federal Reserve is rapidly raising interest rates to try to slow economic growth and the pace of hiring.
7 New Year’s resolutions for your small business
Setting New Year’s resolutions is an important exercise for businesses, especially as experts predict economic uncertainty in the new year. No matter what your goal is—improving workplace culture, increasing revenue and growth, or improving workplace wellness for your employees—setting goals can bring you closer to success.
FTC proposes rule that would ban employee noncompete clauses
The Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule Thursday that would ban U.S. employers from imposing noncompete clauses on workers, a sweeping measure that could make it easier for people to switch jobs and deepen competition for labor across a wide range of industries.
Drugstores make slow headway on staffing problems
Joan Cohrs missed her chance to grab a prescription at her usual drugstore by about 30 seconds.
Parker Ranch invests in butcher shop
Parker Ranch, Inc., has become an equity owner in the existing business of Waimea Butcher Shop, the partners announced in late December.
New EV tax credits OK for leased vehicles, fed guidance says
WASHINGTON— Leased vehicles will likely be able to qualify for new commercial electric vehicle tax credits without meeting stringent mineral and battery requirements or being built in North America, according to U.S. Treasury Department guidance released Thursday.
Lives matter
In the weekly columns I have been writing in this space, I have been concentrating on money. The government makes us pay money in taxes, and then spends it in a way that is supposed to make our lives better.
Holiday sales up 7.6% despite the squeeze of inflation
NEW YORK — Holiday sales rose this year as American spending remained resilient during the critical shopping season despite surging prices on everything from food to rent, according to one measure.
Earning a procurement exemption
This week, we are focusing on the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). They have been trying to award a tourism marketing contract worth tens of millions of dollars, as they have for the past several years. In the past, that contract has always gone to the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), but this time around, there were a few twists and turns.
HFS Federal Credit Union raises over $25K for The Food Basket
HFS Federal Credit Union has stepped up to help meet the needs of the Big Island with a donation to The Food Basket.
Funding bill targets online sites amid retail theft concerns
Retailers are scoring one win in the governmentwide spending bill, which will force online marketplaces like Amazon and Facebook to verify high-volume sellers on their platforms amid heightened concerns about retail crime.
