Special hearing set for brewer's request to end labor pact (Bankruptcy)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/briefs/s_465155.html



Briefs: Special hearing set for brewer's request to end labor pact

From staff and wire reports
Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Pittsburgh Brewing Co.'s request to terminate its union labor contract will be heard in an emergency hearing Aug. 17 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh, Judge M. Bruce McCullough decided Monday. On Friday, the bankruptcy brewer of Iron City beer filed a motion asking the judge for permission to reject the labor contract, saying it needs a new, lower cost labor contract with the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America Locals 22(B) and 144(B) in order to survive. The unions, which represent about 160 workers, last month would not accept the company's proposal that would cut wages by 10 percent and increase the workers' health care costs.

[The Deacon]

1. I'm Waiting For The Headline:

"Bankruptcy Court Suspending <insert favorite corporate bankruptcy fraud here>'s Unwarranted & Ruinous Bonuses to Executives."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Don't hold your breath.

That'll happen the day they tie Congressional payraises to minimum wage increases.

[Sherman A1]

4. I would prefer

That the members of our Congress work for minimum wage. After all they set the rate, so I bet it would be higher than it is. Although I think we are really only getting minimum work out of this batch so $5.15/hour might be about what they are worth.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Oh, on the contrary

If they can get a ruling in their favor, the execs will have proven that they deserve big bonuses.

Whatever happens, it justifies big bonuses.

[nealmhughes]

5. How could Iron City be in trouble except from bad management?

Noone drinks that crap except in Pburgh and Wheeling area...and they are devoted to it.

I guess the suits wanted ponies as well as Mercedes...

Another union job in a union town drinking union beer going to Ayn Randian politics, meanwhile those union workers can't get personal bankruptcy if their insurance runs out and someone has cancer. Thanks US Congress and federal judiciary.