Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 19, 1993 TAG: 9308190108
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
General Electric Co. said 18 workers at its Salem Drive Systems plant have walked off the job for three days in a dispute over overtime pay.
The workers, all from second shift, indicated they would be out Wednesday through Friday. They make up about 3 percent of the factory's 600 workers.
Roger Farley, GE spokesman, said the dispute stems from an incident in October when most people at the plant worked overtime on a Saturday.
He said four second-shift stockroom workers were not called to work because the computer system was not functioning.
The employees say they should have received overtime work like others on the shift, he said, while the company says overtime hours need only be reasonably balanced. A spokesman for the union representing the workers could not be reached. - Staff report
\ Va. Blues set up transition team
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Virginia said Wednesday it has created a managed-care strategic business unit to oversee its transition from a health insurance carrier to a managed-care company.
Ronald Bargatze, executive vice president of operations, will head the new division and Bruce Carlson, former director of health-care programs for James River Corp., is vice president for strategic product planning and marketing.
The unit and both executives are based in Richmond. James Goss, spokesman for the company, said the changes will have no immediate impact on its Roanoke operation.
Of the company's 1.8 million customers, 700,000, or 38 percent, are in managed care programs such as preferred-provider groups, health-maintenance organizations and point-of-service plans.
Blue Cross also plans to develop several regional managed-care partnerships with health-care providers.
The company said it will change its name to Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield on Sept. 9. - Staff report
\ Briefly . . .
\ NationsBank Corp. said Wednesday it has increased its previously announced 10-year subordinated note offering by $50 million to $600 million, based on market demand for the debt issue. The 10-year, non-callable subordinated notes have a coupon interest rate of 6 1/2 percent.
\ Delano Lewis, president of Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. of Washington since 1988, on Wednesday was named president of National Public Radio. Lewis, 54, will become the first black to head a major public broadcasting organization. He succeeds Douglas Bennett, who resigned in May to become assistant secretary of state for international organizations.
\ Ford Motor Co. outlined its goals in a meeting with top United Auto Workers Union bargainers at Dearborn, Mich., on Wednesday, but made no economic offers. Ford's initial contract offer is expected early next week. General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. also are preparing offers. The union will announce Aug. 30 which of the Big Three automakers will be its strike target.
by CNB