ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996                  TAG: 9607260037
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 

IN BUSINESS

Employees of Jennings & Webb trucking in Covington have approved a three-year contract, union officials said.

Local 496 of the United Paperworkers International Union pushed for the contract, holding numerous meetings with the company since Feb. 7 and one picket. The agreement, ratified this week, is the first contract since the local was formed last October to represent 70 drivers, dispatchers, mechanics and others in the company, which provides services to Westvaco Corp.

The contract will raise the average wage, now $8.64, to $10.29 through annual increases of 7 percent, 6 percent and 5 percent, said union representative M. Glenn Anglin. The company will continue paying the full cost of health insurance. Workers gained two paid holidays, three days' paid funeral leave, more vacation and a free pair of safety shoes each year. A seniority system and grievance procedure were set up. - Staff report Briefly...

* R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. of Chicago will spend $30 million to expand its Lynchburg catalog printing plant. Employment, now at 900, could rise by 40 workers after the work is completed in 1998. Donnelley also is building a $102 million book plant in Roanoke County.

The company also said Thursday that it plans to repurchase up to $250 million of its common stock over the next 12 months in open-market or privately negotiated transactions.

The program will be in addition to its normal purchases of about 1.5 million shares annually for use under various employee stock plans. The concern has about 154.1 million common shares outstanding.

* Thor Inc. General Contractors & Engineers of Roanoke has won contracts for renovations to two schools in the Roanoke Valley.

One is for a $3 million addition and renovation of the existing building at William Byrd High School in Roanoke County. The architect is Martin and Associates.

The second project, for $127,000, involves a two-classroom addition and restrooms at Morningside Elementary School in Roanoke City. Barry Hall & Associates is the architect.

Construction on both projects should be completed in August.

* Security, Firearms & Investigations Criminal Justice Training Academy has opened new facilities at 1005 E. Main St., Salem.

The academy provides training for armed and unarmed security officers and for private investigators. It also has classes in firearms.

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