Labor & Employment

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates announced the promotions of Gary Alterman, Sal Ferrigno, Jackie Totolo and Elyse Bandel in the firm’s New York office.

Alterman has been promoted to executive VP from senior VP. Ferrigno has been promoted to VP from senior managing director. Totolo has been promoted to director from associate.  Bandel has been promoted to executive VP, marketing & communications, from senior VP, marketing & communications. 

Tarrytown, N.Y. -- DLC Management Corp. announced that it has named two new members to its leasing team.

Fred Battisti, Jr. joined the company on Feb. 21 as a leasing representative in DLC’s Tarrytown, N.Y., headquarters. He is responsible for leasing several properties in the Midwest and Northeast regions, primarily focused on the Ohio area at this time.

Prior to joining DLC, Battisti was with The Cafaro Co. as a Commercial Leasing Representative.

By Lonnie Giamela, [email protected]

Generation Y workers, defined as those individuals born between 1977 and 1995, are becoming an increasing part of our workforce.  These individuals occupy a wide variety of positions from cashiers at a retail store, to warehouse employees at a distribution center, to administrative employees at a corporate office.

After being left for dead four years ago, Pier 1 Imports has recuperated fully to the point where it recently embarked on a new three-year plan to restore growth to the company.

Key elements of the plan call for the acceleration of e-commerce, improvements to existing stores, new store expansion and investments in infrastructure to support the enterprise and improve efficiency.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Friday that it increased the borrowing amount on its domestic revolving credit facility to $3.275 billion from $2.441 billion.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the maturity date is also extended from June 12, 2012 out to April 7, 2016. The facility also has a lower interest rates and the fee the lender charges Sears for holding available credit was reduced.

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. CEO Michael Kowalski received a pay package worth nearly $7.1 million for 2010, a 13% increase over 2009, according to a report by the Associated Press.

A Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday showed that Michael J. Kowalski, 59, received a base salary of $958,957 and a performance-based bonus of nearly $1.6 million.
 
The bulk of his award came in the form of stock and option grants worth $4.4 million when they were granted.

New York City -- A judge ruled Thursday that a San Diego pro-gay marriage group can continue canvassing outside of Target stores in California, the Associated Press reported. However, protestors must stay 30 ft. away from store entrances and canvass at just one entrance at a time.

The retailer had sought an injunction barring the activists from every outlet in the state, alleging they harass customers by cornering them near store entrances to discuss gay marriage, solicit donations and collect signatures on petitions.

NEW YORK -- Uniqlo, a subsidiary brand of Japan-based Fast Retailing Co., announced that it will open its third New York City location at 31 West 34th Street this fall. The 34th Street store is set to open late in the fall of 2011, following the opening of the company's largest flagshop store on Fifth Avenue in early fall. Uniqlo operates a store in NYC's trendy SoHo neighborhood.

In conjunction with the news of its NYC expansion, Uniqlo announced plans to hire 1,000 retail associates and 100 supervisors from the local tri-state area.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Sales at Rite Aid fell during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011, according to financial results announced Thursday.

The 4,714-store retail pharmacy chain had sales of $6.5 billion for fourth quarter 2011, which ended Feb. 26, with a net loss of $205.7 million. Still, that was less than fourth quarter 2010’s loss of $208.4 million. For the fiscal year, sales were $25.2 billion, compared with $25.7 billion in fiscal year 2010. The year saw a net loss of $555.4 million, compared with $506.7 million in 2010.

MEMPHIS — Fred's on Thursday reported a 3% increase in sales for the five weeks ended April 2, reaching $188.8 million.

Comparable-store sales for the month rose 0.7%, versus an increase of 3.6% in the same period last year.