Labor & Employment

Seattle -- A Monday report by the Wall Street Journal said that Amazon.com on Friday filed a petition to add a measure on the California ballot asking voters to repeal the recently passed California law that requires online retailers to collect sales tax.

Amazon needs to submit 504,760 signatures by late September in order to get the measure on the Feb. 7, 2012 ballot for the next statewide election.

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg announced Tuesday that it will open 10 new stores in south Florida, launching simultaneous grand-opening celebrations on July 14.

The new stores located in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach counties bring the total number of Hhgregg stores in Florida to 33, according to the retailer. The openings are in the communities of Aventura, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Hialeah, Pembroke Pines, Miami, Plantation, Jensen Beach, East Wellington and West Palm Beach.

Delinquency rates in Target’s credit card portfolio are now at their lowest level in three years as more people are paying their bills on time. It is an encouraging sign for the long-term health of the nation’s economy to know that people are increasingly using credit in a responsible manner, at least those who have a Target card anyway, and therefore more likely to honor their obligations.

JACKSON, Miss. — Cal-Maine Foods announced that the company has named Todd Walters VP operations, effective July 11. Walters will have responsibility for all of Cal-Maine Foods’ production and processing facilities located in Texas.

Greatwide Logistics named a new CEO, and YRC Worldwide named a new SVP on Monday.

Greatwide said John Tague would serve as CEO, replacing Leo Suggs who is retiring, but will continue to serve as chairman. Tague previously served as president of United Airlines and also held the position of COO and chief revenue office during his eight years with the airline.

Seattle -- Starbucks said Monday that it is dividing responsibilities for its business into three global regions (instead of the current two, U.S. and international) in order to accelerate global growth.

The company has appointed three of its executives to lead the three regions: Asia; the Americas: and the combination of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Cliff Burrows will expand his current role as president, Starbucks U.S. to president, Americas, with responsibility for the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America.

Houston -- Los Angeles-based Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said that it has hired Derek Hargrove as a senior associate in the Houston office.

In his new position, Hargrove focuses on the sale of multi-tenant shopping centers throughout southwest Texas. He also holds the title of associate director of Marcus & Millichap’s National Retail Group.
 

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said it supports a transportation reauthorization proposal released today by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., but expressed concern over the measure’s funding levels.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced that it is partnering with Superior Financial Group (SFG), a leading small usiness administration (SBA) lender, to provide qualified small business customers with access to capital in the form of SBA Loans between $5,000 to $25,000. Customers can apply for a loan by visiting www.officedepot.com/sba.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced Thursday changes in its human resources and operations departments.

The 4,700-store chain named Brian Fiala as EVP human resources and Robert Thompson as EVP store operations. Rite Aid also appointed Bill Romine as SVP of the chain’s western division.

Fiala had previously served as EVP store operations, having joined the company in 2007 after working for 24 years at Target. He replaces Steve Parsons, who is leaving the company to take another position, and will report to president and CEO John Standley.