From staff and wire reports

Ube workers to vote on contract

About 300 union employees at Ube Automotive in Mason, locked out of their jobs since Nov. 7, will vote Friday on a new four-year contract proposal. Negotiators for the United Auto Workers Local 2332 and the automotive wheel maker reached agreement on the new proposal late Saturday. It includes lump-sum payments of $2,000 in each of the first two years and a 3 percent wage increase in the third and fourth years, Dan Sponaugle, Local 2332 president, said. The proposal also limits Saturday work and doesn't mandate Sunday work, he said.

Kroger pays $6.1M in severance case

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Rite Aid Corp.'s chairman has won a severance dispute with his former employer, Cincinnati's Kroger Co., which has handed over a $6.1 million payment, the companies said. The money went to Rite Aid, which two years ago advanced $5.97 million to Bob Miller while he pursued the money through legal channels. Kroger paid that sum plus interest in December, Rite Aid spokeswoman Karen Rugen said. Kroger's payment follows a Nov. 25 decision against it in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Rugen said. Kroger spokesman Gary Rhodes confirmed the company's payment, but declined further comment.

Kadant gets $3.8M order

Kadant Black Clawson Inc., the paper and pulping equipment supplier in Mason, won another $3.8 million order in China, bringing its total bookings from the nation to $37 million last year, double the prior year. The company said the order will be part of a plant to produce recycled liner board and other packaging in China.

CORRECTION

Fernando Aguirre is the new chief executive officer of Chiquita Brands International. His last name was misspelled in a headline on Page D1 in Tuesday's Business section.