In brief: Airlines’ on-time record slips

NEW YORK – U.S. airlines were late more often in July than a year earlier, but there were only three planes stuck for more than three hours, the government said Monday.

Although there were more late flights in July, the on-time rate for the country’s biggest airlines in the first seven months of this year was the third best in 16 years.

The largest airlines operated 76.7 percent of flights on time in July, down from 77.6 percent in July 2009. The on-time rate in July was better than the month before, as severe weather that delayed planes declined from June to July. The airlines canceled more flights than a year ago.

The best at getting customers to their destinations on-time was Hawaiian Airlines. The airline with the worst on-time rate was ExpressJet Airlines, which operates regional flights.

Associated Press

Wal-Mart to offer cell phone plan

NEW YORK – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday that it is introducing the first cell phone plan that uses the chain’s own branding, further demonstrating its clout in getting special deals from wireless carriers.

The Wal-Mart Family Mobile service will run on T-Mobile USA’s network. Unlimited calling and texting will cost $45 per month for the first line and $25 for each additional line for the family. The service will be offered starting next week in most of its stores across the nation.

Wal-Mart Family Mobile will be “postpaid” like conventional contract-based plans, so the bill is paid at the end of the month.

Associated Press

WAUKESHA, Wis. Harley-Davidson Inc.’s three Wisconsin unions approved a labor contract Monday laden with steep concessions, reacting defensively after the motorcycle company threatened to move hundreds of jobs out of the state.

The proposed deal freezes employees’ pay, slashes hundreds of production jobs and assigns large volumes of work to part-time workers. But it also saves at hundreds of other jobs, at least in the short-term.

Some 1,140 union members from a suburban Milwaukee plant voted, approving the contract by a 55 to 45 percent margin. In northern Wisconsin, 293 workers at the Tomahawk plant voted, approving it by a margin of 73 to 27 percent.

Harley-Davidson Inc. executives had said they would move production out of Wisconsin if the contract were rejected, which would have eliminated about 1,350 jobs. They are now set to decide the next steps today.

The Harley workers make motorcycle engines in Milwaukee and windshields and other components in the northern Wisconsin city of Tomahawk.

Harley said it appreciated both the outcome of the vote and the members’ support of the contract.

Associated Press