DIA skycaps join suits over reduced tips
BOSTON — After a jury’s award of more than $325,000 to nine skycaps, three more lawsuits have been filed against United Airlines, US Airways and American Airlines by skycaps — including those who work at Denver International Airport — who claim they lost tips when the carriers began charging a fee for checking bags at the curb.
The suits, filed in federal court in Boston over the past two weeks, are similar to a lawsuit filed by American Airlines skycaps who won their case against the airline. On April 7, a jury awarded the skycaps $2 for every bag they had checked since the baggage fee was put in place in 2005, for total damages of more than $325,000.
United CEO’s pay halved
CHICAGO — United Airlines parent UAL Corp. said it paid chief executive officer Glenn Tilton $10.3 million in total compensation for last year, less than half of the $23.8 million he received for 2006.
Tilton’s pay last year included a salary of $850,000, stock awards valued at $4.71 million and stock options worth $4.18 million, the company said Friday in a regulatory filing.
Hodas leaving Frontier
Joe Hodas, senior director of corporate communications for Denver-based Frontier Airlines, will leave the company effective Wednesday to pursue a new opportunity with a Denver private equity firm.
Clear Channel dropped from countersuit
NEW YORK — A New York state judge dropped Clear Channel Communications Inc. from a countersuit brought by six banks that were sued for refusing to fund a $19.5 billion acquisition of the company by two Boston-based buyout firms.
Whole Foods CEO avoids SEC action
AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market Inc., the grocer that bought Boulder- based Wild Oats Markets Inc. last year, said that Securities and Exchange Commission staff recommended no action against the company or its executives over chief executive John Mackey’s Internet message-board postings.
Mackey wrote anonymous messages on the message boards from 1999 to 2006 using the name “rahodeb.” Some comments praised his company’s performance while others criticized rivals.
