Business

You're on the waitlist for the iPhone 3G. Oh, I know ... and so does everyone else.

Filed under: Business

Excited about the new iPhone, Minneapolis and St. Paul? Oh, I know you are. It's not because of the long in-person lines that I know, either. It's because of a hole in AT&T's planning.

If you signed up to receive a phone when one becomes available at your local store, you're supposed to be able to check the phone's shipping status at AT&T's site. But it turns out by accessing the order screen, customers can also find out the names of all the other people waiting. Using this site, check your place in line. Or just get voyeuristic.

Continue reading "You're on the waitlist for the iPhone 3G. Oh, I know ... and so does everyone else. "

Posted by Jeff Shaw at July 17, 2008 4:07 PM | Comments (0)

 

Wal-Mart tapped for $6.5 million due to Minnesota malfeasance

Filed under: Business

Over the last seven years, a Minneapolis firm has been suing Wal-Mart based on allegedly illegal labor practices. About 56,000 people who wear or used to wear the ironic smiley claimed that the company denied them legally-required lunch and other breaks, requiring them to work without pay.

A Dakota County court agreed, awarding plaintiffs $6.5 million. And it could get worse for the retailer.

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Posted by Jeff Shaw at July 14, 2008 6:57 AM | Comments (0)

 

Line dancing: Chasing the dragon iPhone in Minneapolis

Filed under: Business

When I set out to get a new iPhone, I dragged the camera along just in case there were overwhelming lines. Upon arrival in downtown Minneapolis at the Investor's Building AT & T store, though, there wasn't a single person waiting. Score! Picked the right spot! Now, to wait 15 minutes until the shop opens, and ... wait, what's that sign?

Oops.

Most stores opted for an earlier 8 a.m. opening time to deal with the anticipated rush. When I called to confirm that this would be the case for the downtown AT & T store, I received a recorded message that included the following:

"If you plan to visit us for reasons other than iPhone, we suggest visiting us before the iPhone launch."

They were not kidding. Photos from two stores after the jump.

Continue reading "Line dancing: Chasing the dragon iPhone in Minneapolis"

Posted by Jeff Shaw at July 11, 2008 8:48 AM | Comments (3)

 

Reporter's Notebook: The Minnesota Defense Industry

Filed under: Business

The first post-911 assessment of Minnesota's share of the hundreds of billions of dollars in defense money tossed around each year found local businesses dealing in everything "from high-end eyewear and electronic interconnect and communication solutions, to anger management course design and medical transcription."

That was 2006, and the list of companies doing business with the Pentagon (or with the businesses doing business with the Pentagon) is growing.

My roundup of Minnesota companies bringing defense dollars to the state's economy looked at just a few, and looked beyond the local giants like munitions-maker Alliant Tech (now called ATK), or Hormel (who, with Schwans and Land-o-Lakes does big business stocking military mess halls around the globe.

Here's an illustrated look and some of the businesses profiled in my article (and a few who weren't). And for the data-fiends among us, you'll find some numbers at the bottom.

Continue reading "Reporter's Notebook: The Minnesota Defense Industry"

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at July 2, 2008 11:51 AM | Comments (0)

 

iScam: Don't click that Facebook iPhone ad!

Filed under: Business

If you own a television, read newspapers or Internet machines, listen to the radio or are ever in close proximity to earnest Apple nerds, then you know about the forthcoming new 3G iPhone.

I would buy one now if I could. And if they would let me buy one now, I would promise not to kick Steve Jobs in the balls for boning the early adopter yet again.

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Posted by Jeff Shaw at June 18, 2008 11:35 AM | Comments (0)

 

Want to know what companies are pocketing sales tax? The state government wants you to know too.

Filed under: Business

Think when you hand over that extra 6.5 percent sales tax to store owners they are giving it directly to the state government? Think again.

Last week The Minnesota Department of Revenue launched an Internet database to brandish companies delinquent on their payments with the online scarlet letter of of tax evasion. (Once the tax is paid, the company's name is removed from the list and its sales tax permit is reinstated.)

Since the website's debut last week at least four companies have paid their debt to the state, allowing the agency to collect $124,000 -- small change compared to the upwards of $2 million the remaining some 64 businesses owe.

Continue reading "Want to know what companies are pocketing sales tax? The state government wants you to know too."

Posted by Beth Walton at May 29, 2008 12:50 PM | Comments (0)

 

Cargill's new sweetener won't kill you or make you go sterile ... probably

Filed under: Business

I like nature more than the next guy, but have turned a skeptical eye towards "natural" sweeteners. Nightshade's natural, and so are box jellyfish. You won't catch me putting either in my yerba mate. But now a Minnesota company is hoping I'll sweeten the beverage with a new "natural" product that has inspired past concern over health effects.

Yerba mate's my beverage of preference because I'm allergic to coffee, and because I enjoy its unique, bracing taste. For years, people have been drinking the South American tea -- and masking the taste with leaves from a plant called stevia, an herb that's sweeter than sugar.

Continue reading "Cargill's new sweetener won't kill you or make you go sterile ... probably"

Posted by Jeff Shaw at May 22, 2008 6:32 AM | Comments (2)

 

Target's New CEO Faces Immediate Challenges

Filed under: Business

There's a new man on top of the bull's-eye. After more than 40 years with Target, including 14 as chairman and CEO, Bob Ulrich is handing the reins of the nation's second-largest retailer to his longtime sidekick Gregg Steinhafel.

Continue reading "Target's New CEO Faces Immediate Challenges"

Posted by Ben Palosaari at April 30, 2008 6:07 PM | Comments (2)

 

No mas

Filed under: Business

D'Amico & Partners fired 15 veteran Hispanic workers at the close of business yesterday after they failed to resolve questions about the validity of their social security numbers. The workers have filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming that they're being targeted for discriminatory treatment. The Minneapolis-based chain operates such high-end eateries as Masa and Campiello, along with numerous D'Amico & Sons restaurants.

D'Amico & Partners received "no match" letters from the Social Security Administration for each of the impacted employees indicating that there is an issue with their documentation. The employees had until Monday to resolve the problem with the federal agency. When they failed to do so, all 15 were terminated.

Continue reading "No mas"

Posted by Paul Demko at April 1, 2008 10:47 AM | Comments (13)

 

Security guards arrested at IDS Center

Filed under: Business

Dozens of protesters descended on the IDS Center at noon today. "What do we want? Healthcare," the group chanted as they emerged from the skyway system. "When do we want it? Now." The protesters also carried signs that read "Stand up for Health Care" and "Protect Working Families." They handed out flyers to the bewildered lunch crowd headlined, "Do you want strong, healthy, well-trained security officers to protect you downtown?"

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Posted by Paul Demko at March 27, 2008 3:32 PM | Comments (2)

 

Maxwell's Fire Causes New Ice Castle

Filed under: Business

Maxwell's American Pub burned yesterday. With the temperature near zero, though, water from firehoses was freezing almost on contact.

The results were these startling photos by Tony Webster.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at February 21, 2008 7:11 PM | Comments (1)

 

Just Like a Tragic Fairytale: Lunds and Byerly's Will Soon Close at the Stroke of Midnight

Filed under: Business

As I was shopping last night at the Uptown Lunds, I noticed a sign on the door proclaiming the stores new hours. Beginning February 17, all Byerly's and Lunds will no longer be open 24-7. The new hours of operation will be 6:00 am to midnight.

Continue reading "Just Like a Tragic Fairytale: Lunds and Byerly's Will Soon Close at the Stroke of Midnight"

Posted by Jessica Armbruster at February 7, 2008 5:45 PM | Comments (4)

 

Slaughterhouse workers back union

Filed under: Business

Workers at the Dakota Premium Foods beef processing plant in South St. Paul voted yesterday to retain union representation. Employees backed United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 by a 152-82 margin.

More than seven years ago, the predominantly Hispanic workforce walked off the job to protest dangerous working conditions. A month later they voted to join the UFCW. But negotiating a labor contract proved to be a bitterly contentious process that dragged on for two years. (For the full backstory see "Slaughterhouse Rules".)

The decertification vote was prompted when at least 30 percent of workers signed cards advocating for a referendum on union representation. Local 789 waged a vigorous campaign to preserve collective bargaining--visiting workers homes, leafleting outside the plant, and holding meetings at the union hall.

The slaughterhouse's current labor contract expired in June. Negotiations on a new agreement have gone nowhere. UFCW officials hope to re-start talks immediately.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 26, 2008 9:01 AM | Comments (1)

 

Labor negotiations open for grocery workers

Filed under: Business

Contract talks for roughly 5,000 grocery workers in the east metro area will begin tomorrow morning. The bargaining unit includes employees at stores such as Rainbow, Cub, Lunds and Byerlys. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789's current three-year contract expires in March. The union's goal is to have a new pact in place by then. "We think we're going to get there with these guys," says UFCW organizer Bernie Hesse. "It's always going to be about how you move money around."

Posted by Paul Demko at January 14, 2008 4:48 PM | Comments (0)

 

Food fight: labor activists target Paula Deen at MOA

Filed under: Business

On Thursday evening Food Channel celebri-chef Paula Deen appeared at the Mall of America to pimp her new memoir, It Ain't All About the Cookin'. The book reveals, among other things, the Southern culinary diva's "reluctant addiction to smoking" and "weakness for salty language."

Deen had some unwelcome visitors at the MOA gathering, however. A group of labor activists from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 showed up to pass out flyers regarding Smithfield Foods. The company operates the world's largest pork processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, and Deen endorses its line of products. (Click here for video of Deen preparing Crunchy Honey Glaze Spiral Sliced Ham.)

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Posted by Paul Demko at December 3, 2007 3:47 PM | Comments (0)