Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507270062
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WASHINGTON - A megamerger of the autoworkers, steelworkers and machinist unions was to be announced today , according to two union officials familiar with the talks.
The combination of the United Autoworkers, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers and United Steelworkers of America would create the nation's largest union, with a combined two million members nationwide. It would leapfrog past the Teamsters Union, which has about 1.5 million members.
The three unions scheduled a press conference in Washington ``to make an announcement that will impact the future of the labor movement.''
The idea of combining the three unions arose in the 1970s. Nothing came of those talks, though, and tomorrow's announcement is likely to include a caveat that several details still need to be ironed out before members of the three unions are asked to vote on the merger.
- Bloomberg Business News
Westvaco Corp. reorganizes
Westvaco Corp., which operates a bleached-board paper mill in Covington, announced a company reorganization Wednesday that will affect some of its operations in Richmond.
Flexpak, a flexographic printer of high-quality liner for corrugated packaging for beverages and other items, will become part of the folding-carton organization in Westvaco's bleached-board division Aug. 1. Flexpak now is in Westvaco's container division.
The folding-carton operations have plants in Richmond; Newark, Del.; Cleveland, Tenn., and soon in the Czech Republic. They print and convert bleached board into packaging for consumer items such as food, tobacco, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and electronics.
Flexpak will add "technical and manufacturing depth to the folding-carton organization and strengthen our management team as we expand into new markets," said Harry Williams, folding-carton division manager. Westvaco employs over 3,000 people in Virginia, including 1,200 in the Richmond area.
- Staff report
McCormick recalls decorating candy
SPARKS, Md. - McCormick & Co. on Wednesday began recalling an item from its Cake Mate Candy Card line. The Sparks, Md.-based spice maker said all colors of its rose-shaped decorating candy are being recalled because the packaging does not mention that the product contains 1 percent egg whites, which can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Red, white, yellow and pink candies are all being recalled. Each package contains six candy roses wrapped in cellophane on a cardboard sheet. Consumers are being asked to return the items to the store where they bought them.
- Associated Press
Crest Uniform opens 2nd office
Crest Uniform Co. has expanded by moving some employees to the Colonnade One business center on Virginia 419. About 70 employees in the finance and manufacturing departments have moved, said Donna Fizer, human resources director.
The company leased 13,000 square feet at Colonnade One. Stuart Meredith of Hall and Associates negotiated the lease for the owner.
Another 290 full-time employees in the manufacturer's customer service support center will remain at 855 Cleveland Ave., Salem. All telephone and in-person dealings with clients and the public will be handled through the Salem office
Crest makes and distributes uniforms. Fizer said it opened a second office because the staff is growing rapidly.
- Staff report
Conference Center staff in City Hall
The Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission's staff has moved from the commission's office in Franklin Plaza to Roanoke City Hall.
Brian Wishneff, acting director of the commission, has a desk in the city manager's office, and other staffers who are city employees have moved to other offices. Mode Johnson, a project manager for Virginia Tech, has moved to an office in the hotel.
The commission had been scheduled to close its office in January or February, but was allowed by the building owner to stay at no charge until July 10, when the office was closed, Wishneff said.
- Staff report
by CNB