BUSINESS DIGEST || Bill would penalize overseas call centers

Bill puts focus on overseas call centers

WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown has sponsored legislation that would require companies to disclose when customers’ telephone calls are being transferred to overseas call centers.

According to a Communications Workers of America (CWA) analysis of May 2011 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 198,450 Ohioans were employed in call center occupations such as switchboard operators, telephone operators, bill collectors and customer service representatives.

Between 2008 and 2011, Ohio had a net loss of 2,330 call center jobs.

In addition to mandating customers know when their call is transferred overseas, Brown’s bill would also make businesses that move call center jobs overseas ineligible for federal loans and grants, have the United States Department of Labor make a list of companies that have outsourced call center jobs, and require agencies to give preference to U.S. companies that do not appear on the list.

Task force: Area got $961M in capital

cLEVELAND

A task force of investors from greater Cleveland found that the area attracted $961 million in venture capital and other investments between 2007-11.

A five-year overview of equity investment in Northeast Ohio shows that 67 percent of the funds came from outside the state. The region’s hospital systems, research centers and universities accounted for 61 percent of capital raised during the five-year period. Software companies,SFlbmedical equipment suppliers and health care services collectively attracted $587 million.

Start-up companies in those industries were said to have a profound effect in generating new capital for the area, according to the task force’s findings.

Drilling equipment company to move

charleston, w.va.

A company that provides equipment to the oil and gas drilling industry is moving from West Virginia to Ohio.

Great Plains Oilfield Rentals expects the move from Buckhannon to St. Clairsville, Ohio, to occur Oct. 1.

About 120 employees will be affected. They will be given the opportunity to transfer to St. Clairsville. Those who opt not to transfer will get severance pay.

Great Plains is an affiliate of Chesapeake Energy.

Northeast regional manager Jerry Banta tells media outlets that in order to be competitive, Great Plains needs to be near where Chesapeake is doing the majority of its drilling.

Southwest Airlines, union seek mediator

dallas

A union representing about 8,500 ground workers at Southwest Airlines and the airline itself are asking federal mediators to break a standoff in contract talks.

The Transport Workers Union said Wednesday that there’s been almost no progress made in 14 months of negotiations. Both sides say they asked the National Mediation Board to step in.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 24.14 —.04

Avalon Holdings,3.85.19

Clear Channel, .73 67.75 .69

Cortland Bancorp, 10.25.00

Farmers Nat., .126.34 .11

First Energy, 2.20, 43.54.24

FirstMerit Corp., .64,15.46 .25

First Niles Financial, .32,6.80.00

First Place Fin., .7010 .0190

FNB Corp., .48,12.00.06

General Motors,24.75.32

General Electric, .68,22.43.19

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 7.04—.01

JP Morgan Chase, 1.20,41.34.08

Key Corp, .20,9.04.15

LaFarge, 13.77 .23

Macy’s, .80, 39.04.54

Parker Hannifin, 1.64, 85.93.75

PNC, 1.60,66.16.49

RTI Intl. Metals,24.11—.19

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.20,160.67—1.03

Stoneridge 6.37 —.06

United Community Fin. 3.05—.01

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.