Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : YEEHAW CANDIDATES -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ken W who wrote (1577)	3/18/2003 12:36:39 PM
From: JoeinIowa	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23958

Ken, Todays article probably is hurting the stock. Joe Posted on Tue, Mar. 18, 2003 New union charges hit Point Blank BY PATRICK DANNER pdanner@herald.com The union trying to organize workers at Point Blank Body Armor has filed 15 new charges, including that the Oakland Park company fired a worker in retaliation for his supporting the union. The Union of Needletrades Industrial and Textile Employees (Unite) made the allegations with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week. Stuart Newman, an Atlanta labor lawyer representing Point Blank, which makes protective vests for the military and law enforcement, said on Monday that it would be inappropriate for him to comment because he had yet to see the charges. The latest charges come about six weeks after a federal judge issued an injunction ordering Point Blank to reinstate striking workers and three employees who claimed that they were fired for union-organizing activity. Many workers had gone on strike in August. ''Point Blank's actions since the federal judge's ruling have been more of the same,'' Scott Cooper, a Unite organizing director, said. 'It boils down to the company has no respect for workers' rights and no respect for federal law.'' Among the allegations are that: • Point Blank terminated Ralph Frederic, an employee since last April, on March 4 for supporting the union. • Point Blank discriminated against employees involved in union activity by not awarding them overtime. • Point Blank interrogated and threatened employees about their union activity. Jennifer Burgess-Solomon, a supervisory attorney with the NLRB, could not be reached for comment. If the NLRB were to find that the company is violating the federal judge's Jan. 30 order, it can seek a contempt order against Point Blank. The judge found sufficient evidence that Point Blank had committed unfair labor practices. Point Blank has denied prior allegations by Unite and has accused the union of trying to force it to accept union representation without a democratic vote. Cooper has countered that Point Blank has no intention of allowing a fair election. Both sides, meanwhile, are awaiting a decision from an NLRB administrative law judge as to whether Point Blank violated federal labor laws. A two-week trial was held in December, but because a decision from the administrative law judge wasn't expected for months, the NLRB sought the injunction requiring Point Blank to reinstate the workers. The NLRB voiced concern that union support would dissipate with an injunction. The administrative law judge's decision, once made, will have to be reviewed by the NLRB in Washington. email this \| print this \| license this \| reprint this

To: Ken W who wrote (1577)	3/18/2003 1:10:32 PM
From: JoeinIowa	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23958

Ken, But you have to like the WEL headline. They are one hot ticket right now. Joe Boots & Coots shares ablaze By Jenny Spitz, CBS.MarketWatch.com Last Update: 4:43 PM ET March 17, 2003 HOUSTON (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Boots & Coots soared as much as 159 percent Monday as the oil and gas services firm benefited from the increased likelihood of war with Iraq. Shares of the Houston-based firm ended the day up 61 cents, or 103 percent, at $1.20. In a furious intraday trading period, the shares flew past their previous 52-week high of 70 cents to trade up 94 cents at $1.53. Volume was more than seven times heavier than average at $72.1 million shares. Boots & Coots (WEL: news, chart, profile) specializes in responding to oil and gas well emergencies. During Iraq's retreat from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War, Iraqi troops set fire to some 700 oil wells in the country. If Saddam Hussein opts to set his country's own oil fields on fire, Boots & Coots would likely be on the front line to respond to the fires, which can take anywhere from a month to years to extinguish. The extra income would be welcome for Boots & Coots, which announced last month that it had received short-term working capital of up to $1 million from Checkpoint Business Inc., and is considering Checkpoint's proposal that it make a bankruptcy filing. Only five or six companies worldwide fight well fires, said Banc of America Securities analyst Jim Wicklund. If oil wells are set ablaze, the company would likely make more money this year than it has in at least three years, said Wicklund. With President Bush's likely announcement of war with Iraq, Monday's session may have been the last chance investors had to buy Boots & Coots stock on the cheap, he added.