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Digest

Talk of the day

By TIMES WIRES
Published October 13, 2006

China labor group targets Kodak and Dell next

China's state-sanctioned labor body is targeting Kodak and Dell in a campaign to organize unions at foreign-owned companies after its success at unionizing Wal-Mart's 62 Chinese outlets. "We are going to exert very high pressure on these companies until unions are established there," said Guo Wencai, director of grassroots organizing for the All-China-Federation of Trade Unions. The campaign is aimed at doubling the ACFTU's presence in foreign companies by the end of this year to 60 percent of the total, or some 90,000 enterprises, Guo said. ACFTU-affiliated unions have been set up in more than 300 foreign companies since the first Wal-Mart Stores Inc. outlet was organized on July 29, Guo said. He said they include Swiss food company Nestle SA and General Semiconductor Inc., a unit of Vishay Intertechnology Inc.

Other chatter

GREEN TEA THAT CAN BURN CALORIES?: The Coca-Cola Co. said it will introduce a new green-tea beverage that has been proven to burn calories. Enviga, which will hit the market in the Northeast next month and nationwide in January, is the product of a joint venture with Nestle S.A. and could burn 60-100 calories with three 12-ounce servings, Coca-Cola said. The company said the drink contains caffeine, calcium and an extract known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which speeds up metabolism, especially with caffeine.

DELTA SURVEYING ITS FREQUENT FLIERS: Delta Air Lines Inc., seeking to improve its service as it moves toward emerging from bankruptcy, is asking frequent fliers on long-haul domestic flights if they'd like to have pillows and certain foods for sale throughout the entire cabin. The nation's No. 3 carrier sent a survey to frequent fliers this week, asking them to rank which is most important for them to have on domestic flights over four hours: an amenity kit, hand wipes at the end of the flight, a game pad or pillows. The survey also asked frequent fliers to rank the foods they would buy if Delta were to again offer food.

NEW FRENCH AIRLINE TO FLY TO NEW YORK: Elysair, a new French airline offering only business class service, said Thursday it plans to start operations between Paris' Orly airport and the New York area in December. The airline will use a Boeing 757-200 converted to carry up to 90 passengers, instead of the normal 200, chairman Marc Rochet said. Fares would be competitive with mainstream airlines, he said.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 23:34:11]