The labor contract expires July 31, with the two sides set to resume talks next week. UPS handles a quarter of the nation’s packages, which is why businesses are scrambling to address likely supply chain disruptions.
Business Watch
Covering the intersection of business and policy, and informing Michigan employers and workers on the long road back from coronavirus. Our Michigan Economic Dashboard shows key metrics that show how the state is performing.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Judge denies bid to halt site work for Ford EV battery plant in Marshall
A citizens group filed a lawsuit against the city, seeking to force a vote on rezoning. Their request to stop work on the property until a decision is made was declined. The judge has yet to rule on the requested referendum.
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Despite national slump, Michigan vacation rentals are going gangbusters
Vacationers are hedging away from Airbnb and VRBO rentals in hotspots like Austin, San Francisco and Cape Cod, but the Michigan market is still growing rapidly in vacation areas near Lake Michigan.
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Tight labor market helps Michigan’s ex-prisoners find jobs
The pandemic-induced labor market squeeze has created new opportunities for formerly incarcerated Michiganders. Experts say businesses have become increasingly open to hiring applicants with criminal records.
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Traverse City salon banning trans clients won’t be last business battle
A Supreme Court ruling backing a Christian website designer who didn’t want same-sex clients has created uncertainty in Michigan over the limits of business owners’ First Amendment rights.
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Citizens group’s zoning lawsuit may stall Ford’s Marshall EV battery site
A court ruling the week of July 17 will decide if work can continue on the eventual site of Ford Motor Co.’s $3.5 billion battery factory in Marshall. A citizens group is asking a judge to issue a temporary restraining order on site work during litigation over whether they can force a public vote on the property’s zoning.
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In settlement with critics, DTE Energy agrees to faster coal phase-out
The utility, which is Michigan’s largest electricity provider, will get off coal by 2032, three years earlier than previously planned. That still lags two years behind the goals set forth in Gov. Whitmer’s climate plan.
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Ann Arbor is launching a guaranteed income program. What that means
Ann Arbor joins other U.S. cities testing the idea that recurring cash sets families up for financial success. A national nonprofit recently pitched a program for Detroit.
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Demands for cleanup at contaminated Michigan industrial site. ‘Job is not done’
With another phase of cleanup starting at the former McLouth Steel plant in Downriver area near Detroit, the state is adding a new area of concern after a spring fish kill and contaminant plume.
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How Michigan watches the Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons is likely to change
Fans of the three Detroit teams could find themselves sorting through a mix of viewing platforms as Bally Sports Detroit and other regional sports networks struggle amid consumer migration to streaming services.