In brief: Boeing workers in S.C. to vote on union

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – About 3,000 production workers at Boeing plants in South Carolina will decide next month whether they want representation by the Machinists union.

The union announced Tuesday that the Machinists and Boeing have agreed to the National Labor Relations Board conducting a one-day vote April 22 at five locations on the company’s North Charleston campus.

The union last week petitioned for an election for production workers at the company’s 787 Dreamliner assembly plant and the nearby Interiors Responsibility Center, which provides interior parts for the 787.

The vote also includes production workers at its new propulsion plant.

Company spokeswoman Candy Eslinger said Wednesday that about 3,000 company production workers are eligible to vote. Boeing employs about 7,500 workers in South Carolina.

Durable goods orders slip

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that orders for durable goods dropped 1.4 percent in February, disappointing economists who were looking for a small increase. The decline was the third drop in the past four months, and January’s increase, previously reported as a 2.8 percent gain, was revised down to a more moderate 2 percent.

The key category of core capital goods retreated 1.4 percent, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline in the sector, which serves as a proxy for business investment plans.

The weakness in February was widespread, with falling demand for commercial aircraft, autos and machinery.

Settlement costs PayPal

WASHINGTON – PayPal Inc. has agreed to pay $7.7 million to settle with U.S. regulators who said the payments company allowed violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Sudan.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control, an agency of the Treasury Department, announced Wednesday the civil settlement with the digital payments processor.

The agency said PayPal, a division of eBay Inc., didn’t adequately screen transactions so it could detect those by people or entities subject to sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Sudan. OFAC says the lapses occurred over several years through 2013.

Wells Fargo pares 1,000 jobs

NEW YORK – Wells Fargo will close its home lending servicing office in Milwaukee and eliminate 1,000 jobs, saying fewer homeowners are falling behind on payments and seeking help keeping their homes.

Employees at the office work with U.S. residents who were behind on their home loan payments. In an emailed statement, Wells Fargo & Co. said Wednesday that as the economy has improved over the past two years, fewer customers have become delinquent on their payments, and fewer customers have needed assistance to stay in their homes.

Ford recalls police vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford is recalling about 213,000 police vehicles in North America to fix springs that may not keep doors closed in a crash.

The recall affects Ford Explorer and Police Interceptor utility vehicles from the 2011 through 2013 model years.

The company traced the problem to a spring that controls the interior door handles. The spring can become unseated and may become unlatched in a side-impact crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Ford said it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries from the problem.

Dealers will inspect all four doors and fix or replace the handles if needed, free of charge.