LOCAL BUSINESS
Call to end dispute at Rotek
The office of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Monday called on Aurora’s Rotek Inc. to end what Brown called the “lockout” of more than 100 United Steelworkers.
Rotek, a maker of large bearing systems used in wind energy and military applications, has called the labor dispute a “strike.” The union and a hearing officer for the state’s Office of Unemployment Compensation has termed it a “lockout.”
A decision by the hearing officer in February said the union workers had been unemployed since Jan. 18 because of a “lockout” and were entitled to receive unemployment compensation.
The union says an impasse on contract negotiations had not been reached when Rotek implemented a concessionary final contract offer Jan. 14.
Pilot Flying J open in Canton
Pilot Flying J on Monday announced the opening of a Pilot Travel Center off Interstate 77 south of Canton.
The travel center, at Exit 101 (Faircrest Street), includes Subway and Cinnabon outlets. It is Pilot Flying J’s 33rd in Ohio and the 663rd overall in North America.
FAST FOOD
Taco Bell to drop kids’ meals
Taco Bell says it will stop serving kids’ meals and toys, which weren’t really boosting sales anyway.
The chain will start removing the options this month at select restaurants, and no U.S. restaurants will have them by January.
Taco Bell is owned by Yum Brands Inc. of Louisville, Ky., which also owns KFC and Pizza Hut. KFC offers kids’ meals that come in little buckets.
Earnings
McDonald’s falls short
McDonald’s is mixing up its menu with healthier, fresher-sounding items such as its chicken McWraps but not enough customers are biting.
The world’s biggest hamburger chain on Monday reported a second-quarter profit that rose 4 percent but fell short of Wall Street expectations. It also said July sales are expected to be relatively flat and warned of a tough year ahead.
The company, which has more than 34,000 locations worldwide, says global sales edged up 1 percent at restaurants open at least a year. The figure rose by the same amount in the U.S., where McDonald’s has been touting its Dollar Menu while also trying to adapt to changing eating habits with items such as its veggie-filled chicken wraps and egg-white breakfast sandwiches.
Big bite coming from Apple?
Apple’s latest quarterly results are likely to illustrate why investors are clamoring for the maker of the iPhone and the iPad to come out with another trend-setting device.
The report, due out after the stock market closes today, is expected to show that Apple Inc. is making less money as more customers buy its lower-priced iPhones and iPads instead of the top-of-the-line models. Other consumers increasingly are bypassing Apple products altogether as smartphones and tablet computers running Google’s Android software win more fans.
Those dynamics have changed the way that Wall Street — and even parts of Main Street — view Apple. Once regarded as an indomitable innovator, Apple now looks vulnerable and perhaps a step behind Google Inc. and the leading Android disciple, Samsung Electronics Co.
BANKRUPTCIES
Hearing set in Detroit
The judge overseeing Detroit’s bankruptcy case says he will hold the first hearing Wednesday.
Judge Steven Rhodes said Monday he will take up the city’s request to freeze any lawsuits challenging last week’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection.
A state judge last week ordered Gov. Rick Snyder to withdraw the bankruptcy petition in response to a lawsuit by retired public workers who are trying to protect their pensions. No action has been taken while that decision is being appealed.
Attorneys for Detroit say there’s no doubt opponents will continue to pressure the city by pursuing litigation outside bankruptcy court. The city calls that inappropriate.
TECHNOLOGY
Nokia to unveil new Lumia
Nokia Oyj, striving to regain lost market share from Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., will unveil a new smartphone for its Lumia line today, three people familiar with the matter said.
The device will be cheaper than some previous models, said two of the people, declining to be identified because the phone has yet to be announced. It will boast a 4.7-inch screen, bigger than the 4.5 inches of some older models, and a price of less than $330, a source said.
Compiled from staff, wire reports