The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA filed a petition Wednesday asking the National Mediation Board to oversee an election that would allow flight attendants at Northwest Airlines' Compass subsidiary to vote on union representation. Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said Compass has 22 attendants, will add 18 next week and expects to have 360 by the end of next year. Compass began flights with one aircraft between Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., in May, and, on Tuesday, added two Embraer 175 jets that will connect Minneapolis with Dallas, Omaha, Neb., Nashville, Tenn., and Missoula, Mont. The union represents 8,000 attendants at Eagan-based Northwest. The union asked the mediation board to conduct the vote after 90 percent of the attendants submitted signed cards supporting representation. Beazer Homes sues to block default claim
Beazer Homes USA Inc., an Atlanta-based builder, asked a federal court to block its bondholders from declaring the company in default on $1.3 billion in debt. Beazer sued Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp's U.S. Bank National Association, the bondholders' trustee, asking an Atlanta judge to prevent it from trying to accelerate debt repayment after the homebuilder announced this month that it had delayed filing a quarterly report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Beazer told the regulator Aug. 15 that it couldn't meet a demand to accelerate the debt and might not be able to refinance. In its complaint, the company said the possibility bondholders will declare a default is threatening its share price and access to credit. U.S. Bancorp spokesman Steve Dale declined comment on the suit.
BRIEFLY
Stillwater-based Cub Foods said Wednesday it has begun making the switch to canola oil, a trans fat-free cooking oil, in all its delis. The supermarket chain is a unit of Eden Prairie-based Supervalu.
INSIDER TRADES
Mathstar Inc.: Daniel Sweeney, chief operating officer, bought 20,000 shares Aug. 16 at $1.20 per share; holds 65,834 shares.
Winmark Corp.: John Morgan, chairman of the board, bought 740 shares Aug. 16 at $17.67 per share; holds 1,393,787 shares.
Appliance Recyclng Centers of America Inc.: Duane Carlson, director, sold 4,200 shares Aug. 15 at $7.03 per share, option related; holds 4,375 shares.
Digital River Inc.: Joel Ronning, chief executive officer, sold 56,635 shares Aug. 17 at $43.25-$44.62 per share, option related, 10(b) 5-1 Plan; holds 700,472 shares.
Otter Tail Corp.: George Koeck, officer, sold 6,600 shares Aug. 20 at $37-$37.98 per share, option related; holds 500 shares. John MacFarlane, chairman, sold 26,000 shares Aug. 20 at $35.82-$38 per share, option related; holds 8,165 shares. Kevin Moug, chief financial officer, sold 10,000 shares Aug. 20 at $36.30-$36.47 per share, option related; holds 14,019 shares.
Trading of company stock reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to Bloomberg News; holdings include only common shares owned and do not include stock warrants or options.
- Staff and wire reports
