EMPLOYEES - The Salt Lake Tribune

Kennecott announces first wave of layoffs

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:42:13 MDT

Kennecott announces first wave of layoffs

By Paul Beebe The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 04:42PM MDT

Kennecott Utah Copper laid off an unspecified number of salaried employees on Thursday, blaming the unprecedented landslide inside Bingham Canyon Mine last month. “In order to make our business financially sustainable moving forward, we have to look at all costs, and unfortunately that also means people costs. The actions that we are taking today are a direct result of the slide on April 10,” said Kennecott spokesman Kyle Bennett. Bennett said he could not reveal the number of layoffs until all ...

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Utah’s Solera Network accepts buyout from Silicon Valley firm

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:48:46 MDT

Utah’s Solera Network accepts buyout from Silicon Valley firm

By Paul Beebe The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 09:48PM MDT

A Silicon Valley Web security firm will acquire South Jordan’s Solera Networks in a deal that will add jobs in the Salt Lake Valley. Blue Coat Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif., is buying Solera, a fast-growing company that makes security products for computer networks. Terms weren’t disclosed, but the deal is expected to close June 10, Solera CEO Steve Shillingford said Tuesday. Solera sells a software “camera” that records and analyzes attacks by malware and hackers intent on damaging computer netw...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thousands of Utahns face Defense Department furloughs

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:54:32 MDT

Thousands of Utahns face Defense Department furloughs

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Updated May 16, 2013 10:54PM MDT

The Pentagon’s plan to impose furloughs in response to federal budget cuts is expected to affect more than 13,000 civilian workers at four Utah military installations. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced this week that furloughs of 11 days will start July 8 on as many as 680,000 civilian employees nationwide. For the most part, Utah’s military installations have identified the number of civilian employees who will be forced to furlough. But some agencies say it is not yet clear wheth...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IRS chief ousted over tea party scandal

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:19:10 MDT

IRS chief ousted over tea party scandal

By Matt Canham The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 15, 2013 10:19PM MDT

Washington • President Barack Obama removed the Internal Revenue Service’s acting commissioner Wednesday in reaction to a growing scandal over the targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. Conservatives, including Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, had pressed the president to demand the resignation of Steven Miller, who was aware of the IRS’ inappropriate political filter during the 2012 election and withheld the information from GOP lawmakers. “It is important to institute new leader...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

IRS commissioner ousted over tea party targeting

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:33:20 MDT

IRS commissioner ousted over tea party targeting

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER The Associated Press

Updated May 17, 2013 10:33AM MDT

Washington • Hurrying to check a growing controversy, President Barack Obama ousted the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service late Wednesday amid an outcry over revelations that the agency had improperly targeted tea party groups for scrutiny when they filed for tax-exempt status. Obama said Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew had asked for and accepted Steven T. Miller’s resignation. Obama made no public criticism of Miller but spoke of inexcusable “misconduct” by IRS employees and said ...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tooele County approves changes to retirement benefits

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:38:23 MDT

Tooele County approves changes to retirement benefits

By Cathy McKitrick The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 11:38PM MDT

Tooele • With cash flow evaporating in this sprawling county’s budget, Tooele County commissioners voted Tuesday to change the structure of retiree medical benefits. Speaking to a packed house, Commissioner Shawn Milne said they heard constituent concerns expressed two weeks ago and adjusted accordingly. “What we were proposing at that time was that all retirees be obligated to pay for 25 percent of their medical coverage, [and] ceasing coverage on dental and life insurance,” Milne said, “and ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Feds block Utah law over police power on public lands

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:02:01 MDT

Feds block Utah law over police power on public lands

By Robert Gehrke The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 12:02AM MDT

A federal judge signed an order Monday blocking implementation of a Utah law prohibiting some Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service employees from enforcing state laws anywhere in Utah after the U.S. Department of Justice argued the law was unconstitutional. HB155, sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, makes it a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, for federal employees who are not certified law enforcement officers to enforce any state law within Uta...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ATK to acquire ammunition maker Caliber Co. to complement munitions efforts

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:20:50 MDT

ATK to acquire ammunition maker Caliber Co. to complement munitions efforts

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 13, 2013 10:20AM MDT

ATK said it has entered into an agreement to acquire Caliber Co., the parent company of Savage Sports Corp., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hunting rifles and shotguns. The purchase would expand ATK’s portfolio of munitions-related operations of commercial and security ammunition. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and conditions, with closing anticipated by the end of June. Under the terms of the transaction, ATK will pay $315 million in cash, which it will finance ...

Senator: IRS targeting of tea party is ‘chilling’

Sun, 12 May 2013 23:07:55 MDT

Senator: IRS targeting of tea party is ‘chilling’

The Associated Press

Updated May 12, 2013 11:07PM MDT

Washington • Republicans said Sunday that the Internal Revenue Service’s heightened scrutiny of conservative political groups was “chilling” and further eroded public trust in government. Lawmakers said President Barack Obama personally should apologize for targeting tea party organizations and they challenged the tax agency’s blaming of low-level workers. “I just don’t buy that this was a couple of rogue IRS employees,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. “After all, groups with ‘progressive’ in...

Granite employees

Fri, 10 May 2013 01:01:05 MDT

Granite employees

Updated May 10, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Re “How’s your Utah school district’s budget for next year?” (Tribune, May 2): Granite School District plans once again to punish its employees. This time, it is going after the hard-working, less-paid, staff, such as teacher’s aides and bus drivers. Here’s the problem: For employees working 30 or more hours a week, the Affordable Care Act will require the district to pay for their health insurance. Therefore, the district plans to have them work 29 hours a week instead. I find this mind-boggl...

Business Insight: Helping small businesses navigate Obamacare

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:51:02 MDT

Business Insight: Helping small businesses navigate Obamacare

Updated May 10, 2013 09:51AM MDT

Jess Griffiths, an attorney at the Salt Lake law firm of Jones Waldo who leads its Healthcare Law Practice Group, says the Affordable Care Act needn’t be a minefield for small businesses. What are the aims of the Affordable Care Act? Its main goals are to make affordable, quality health care available to everyone, establish greater consumer protections, create more consumer options on coverage and bring everyone into the health care system. Historically, small businesses and individuals ha...