NATION

NATION

Chief of Yahoo pooh-poohs talk of quick company fix

SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo Inc. Chief Executive Carol Bartz has a message for investors hoping for a quick fix at the slumping Internet company or for an online search partnership with Microsoft Corp. — don’t expect either to happen any time soon.

The no-nonsense executive hired by Yahoo six months ago got her latest points across Wednesday during an appearance at an investor conference hosted in New York by Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch.

Bartz has been trying to streamline Yahoo’s operations and improve its online advertising system since she came in January to replace co-founder Jerry Yang. While pointing to some progress, Bartz said it probably will take another year or two before Yahoo reaps the gains from her shake-up.

Pilots at Southwest reject contract offer

DALLAS — Pilots at Southwest Airlines Co. have voted down a new contract that would have given them raises in the midst of a slump in the airline industry.

Union president Carl Kuwitzky said Wednesday that despite some financial gains, there were too many negative provisions in the contract. The union board of directors will meet next week to plan for returning to the bargaining table with Southwest.

Associated Press