TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

BIZ BITS

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2009

Castor targets security costs

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, has added a provision to a pending bill that will help workers and businesses at the Port of Tampa and other Florida ports eliminate duplicative and costly background checks.

The amendment prohibits states from requiring a separate security background check for port workers and businesses unless one is needed for Homeland Security.

The Transportation Worker ID Card is a national, standard port security credential. The 5-year card costs about $132.

In Florida, port workers are required to pay an additional $100 to $130 for the Florida credential.

Group rejects settlement

A group of former Eastman Kodak Co. workers objected Friday to a proposed $21.4 million deal to settle two lawsuits by black employees who maintain that they were paid and promoted less than their white counterparts.

In July, Kodak proposed paying about 3,000 current and past workers settlement amounts ranging from $1,000 to $75,000.

If approved, the deal would end a 2004 class-action lawsuit and a similar lawsuit filed by other black workers in 2007.
Microsoft profit falls

Microsoft Corp. said Friday that its net income fell 18 percent in the last quarter, largely because it deferred revenue when it let some recent PC buyers get free upgrades to Windows 7, which was released this week.

Microsoft said Friday its earnings dropped to $3.6 billion, or 40 cents per share. That was higher than analysts' estimate of 32 cents per share in a Thomson Reuters survey. In the same period last year, Microsoft earned $4.4 billion, or 48 cents per share.

Revenue sank 14 percent to $12.9 billion. If Microsoft had counted all the Windows sales, it would have posted a 4 percent drop in revenue, to $14.4 billion.

Fortune starts redesign

Fortune is embarking on a redesign of its business magazine to become more competitive in the face of a vicious advertising slump. Fortune, a publication of Time Inc. in New York, said it will publish 18 issues a year, down from 25, starting in January.

The magazine said it will focus on more in-depth stories. It will also ditch its trademark CEO covers in favor of more conceptual images, and add columns with advice, such as how to handle one's career.

A staff and wire report

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT