Briefly
Group Health workers extend contract
About 100 nurses, therapists and couriers working for Group Health Cooperative offices in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene have extended their contract until Aug. 6
The contract had been set to expire July 23.
The health-care workers are represented by Service Employees International Union 1199 Northwest and are among more than 2,200 workers in negotiations with Group Health statewide.
SEIU members voted last week to authorize strike activities.
Federally-mediated talks will occur Tuesday July 27 and August 3.
Venture capitalists show 15.7 percent return
San Francisco Venture capitalists recorded an average return of 15.7 percent during the year ending in March, marking the first double-digit annual gain since the dot-com boom, according to industry figures released Wednesday.
The last time venture capital funds averaged an annual return of at least 10 percent occurred in late 2000, coinciding with the end of the Internet investment frenzy the industry helped finance.
The industry’s annual returns are reported every three months by the National Venture Capital Association, an industry trade group, and Thomson Venture Economics, a research firm.
Boeing, Airbus land more contracts
Farnborough, England European aviation group Airbus clinched a sale of four passenger jets to Kingfisher Airlines of India, while rival Boeing Co. announced an order for two cargo jets to Air China.
The deals were announced Wednesday at the Farnborough International Air Show in southeastern England.
Airbus and Kingfisher signed a memorandum of understanding for four A320s and options on an additional eight, Airbus said. Airbus didn’t disclose the purchase price.
Boeing, meanwhile, said it received firm orders for two 747 freighters from Air China Cargo. Boeing didn’t specify the price, but executive vice president Toby Bright told reporters at Farnborough that Air China would make an official announcement in the next few days.
Chicago-based Boeing announced a $2.96 billion sale to Emirates Airline on Monday.