A large percentage of employees at Fort Worth's Coca-Cola plant Wednesday turned out to vote on whether to join the Teamsters -- the second attempt in 15 months to unionize.
"It's a high, high turnout," Teamsters organizer Chris Rosell said. On one of three shifts, only 25 of eligible voters did not cast a ballot, he estimated. Results were released early today showing a loss for union organization. Both sides have challenged the eligibility of about 20 people who arrived at the plant's Cowtown Conference Room, leaving about 420 able to vote, he said. The union needed a simple majority of actual voters to win.If the vote to organize had passed, the Fossil Creek plant would have become the first corporate-owned facility in the South to go union; several attempts elsewhere in the region have failed in the past year.Asked why some workers would try to unionize twice in less than two years, plant spokesman Ishmael Arebalos replied by e-mail:"Consistent with the company's workplace rights policy, we respect our employees' right to choose whether or not they wish to be represented in the workplace by a union. ... Additionally, our leadership team is committed to fostering an environment of open communications where every associate feels free to express their ideas, comments or concerns."Anti-union truck mechanics grilled at a camper parked outside a gate while union supporters and organizers waved signs, Rosell said.TCU moves up in U.S. News rankingsTexas Christian University's undergraduate business degree program has moved up 13 spots on the latest U.S. News & World Report listing of the nation's top business schools.The Neeley School of Business was tied at No. 56 on the magazine's 2013 ranking of nearly 400 schools."This ranking is based upon a peer assessment by deans of leading business schools across the country, so it reflects the continued strengthening of the Neeley School brand as a nationally recognized business school," O. Homer Erekson, John V. Roach dean of the Neeley School, said in a release.The newsmagazine says the survey took place in the spring.The University of Pennsylvania was No. 1. The University of Texas at Austin, tied for No. 7, was the only program in the state to make the top 10.Other schools of local interest are Texas A&M, No. 24; Southern Methodist University, No. 40; UT Dallas, No. 87, UT Arlington, No. 141; and the University of North Texas, No. 166.The Loft opens FridayThe Loft women's apparel and accessories store will open at 10 a.m. Friday in downtown Fort Worth's Sundance Square.The 5,394-square-foot store will be at the corner of Houston and Third streets. During opening weekend, shoppers who spend $75 or more will receive a tote as a gift. Sundance Square announced the new tenant in May and has been renovating some of the former Billy Miner's space for the store.Loft operates 500 stores nationwide and online at Loft.com. Loft is a division of Ann Inc.Here comes the martOn Tuesday, construction will start on the Nebraska Furniture Mart of Texas in The Colony. The mart, which is the size of 52 football fields, will be the largest home furnishing store in North America.It will take more than two years to build the nearly 1.9 million-square-foot showroom and distribution center, the Omaha-based retailer said. It is an anchor in a planned $1.5 billion, 433-acre mixed-use development on the south side of Texas 121 between Spring Creek and Plano parkways.Nebraska Furniture Mart is 75 years old and is a Berkshire Hathaway company.This is its first Texas store.The stores sell furniture, appliances, electronics and flooring.Kohl's plans to hire 52,000 for holidaysKohl's Department Stores said it will hire more than 52,700 associates nationwide this holiday season, a 10 percent increase over last year.That means each Kohl's store nationwide will hire about 41 seasonal associates. Kohl's said it needs more customer support to handle holiday business in stores and growth in e-commerce.Visit www.KohlsCareers.com for hiring and job information.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727sabaker@star-telegram.comJim Fuquay, 817-390-7552jfuquay@star-telegram.comBarry Shlachter, 817-390-7718barry@star-telegram.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
