In brief: Starbucks extends free Wi-Fi access
CHICAGO – Starbucks Corp. will offer unlimited free wireless Internet access at all company-operated U.S. locations starting July 1, part of an ongoing effort to bring more customers in the door.
The Wi-Fi access, which will eventually include a new network of news and entertainment content exclusively for customers, comes as Starbucks works to take business back from rivals like McDonald’s Corp. and independent cafes that have long offered free Internet.
The cafe chain had previously offered two free hours of Web access each day to registered customers.
On average, laptop users spend about an hour using the wireless Internet in Starbucks stores while mobile phone users who can use Wi-Fi spend about 15 minutes on the network.
After the two-hour window, consumers at the Seattle chain were charged $3.99 for two additional hours.
Associated Press
Pilots to resume talks with grounded airline
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Spirit Airlines and its striking pilots are set to resume negotiations today.
Even with talks beginning again, relief is still at least a few days away for stranded Spirit travelers. It has canceled all flights through Wednesday.
Sean Creed, the head of the pilot union at Spirit, says the National Mediation Board has asked both sides to meet in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. However, union officials say they will stay on strike until there’s a deal.
Spirit pilots walked out on Saturday in a dispute over pay.
The airline has been grounded ever since.
Associated Press
Briefcase
From wire reports
•Companies that offer employee health insurance expect another steep jump in medical costs next year, and more will ask workers to share a bigger chunk of the expense, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report. For the first time, most of the American work force is expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or more.
• Sara Lee Corp.’s CEO Brenda Barnes is recovering from a stroke, the food maker said Monday. Last month the company said Barnes, 56, would take a temporary medical leave but declined to specify the reason.
•United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said Monday the union will continue to fight for federal card-check legislation that would make it easier for workers to organize, a high priority for the UAW as it continues to lose thousands of members.
•A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement under which the Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. will pay $72.5 million to more than 21,000 people nationwide who alleged the insurer engaged in fraud in settling their injury claims.