NATION
NATION
Tenn. law gives incentivesfor keeping jobs in U.S.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed a law that may have made Tennessee the first state to give businesses an incentive for not outsourcing data-entry and call-center work to cheaper offshore locales. The new law asks state procurement officials to give preference in bids for such services to contractors employing workers only in the United States. Legislatures in 35 states have introduced bills seeking to address the issue, usually by banning the state from contracting with companies planning to employ offshore workers. Intense lobbying by business groups has helped prevent passage of those bills in other states.
US Airways to lay offgate agents, union says
PITTSBURGH -- US Airways expects to lay off about 200 gate agents in the fall because it plans to install automated ticket readers, according to a union official.
The layoffs will mostly occur at Pittsburgh International Airport and the airline's two other hubs, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C., said Chris Fox, president of Communications Workers of America Local 13302. "The hard thing about Pittsburgh is they're planning on downsizing it anyway," Fox said. "We're losing our hub, so we probably stand to lose the most."
The airline has about 4,160 ticket and gate agents.
REGION
Promoting Hermitage
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Hermitage Business Association is backing both the Hermitage Arts Fest and the annual Father's Day Car Show. The association has presented $500 sponsorships to both events.
The association is a group of business, industrial and professional members promoting the Hermitage area by developing a unified business community, organizing cooperative marketing programs and supporting growth of the business members.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports