The Soaring Press

United Parcel Service's plan to offer buyouts to full-time U.S. drivers has moved from internal debate to federal court amid mounting opposition from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. What's Happening Now On Feb. 9, the Teamsters filed a lawsuit and emergency motion in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt what the union calls "a second illegal buyout scam targeting UPS Teamsters drivers."  The Teamsters allege that UPS's Driver Choice Program, a second round of voluntary separation offers for drivers, violates provisions of the 2023 National Master Agreement between the union and UPS. The union says UPS ignored repeated requests for contract-related information and dealt with employees outside agreed procedures. UPS, in a statement with multiple outlets, said the separation program is "entirely voluntary" and aimed at giving drivers a choice during a major network reconfig...

  Your Synergy Gift Card Might Not Work: Here's the "What Now" What Happened? Synergy World, Inc. (operating as the Synergy Gift Card Network) has collapsed. After 30 years in business, the company abruptly shuttered its operations in late Jan. 2026 and is preparing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. While they initially told customers they had until January 31 to use their balances, the company pulled the plug early on Jan. 30, citing a "tremendous surge in redemption rates." Because Synergy provided the digital processing for these cards, their shutdown means the hardware in local restaurants is now throwing "Program Discontinued" errors. The money you or your loved ones spent is currently frozen in a legal limbo.   What Now: Ways to Protect Your Wallet If you have a card with a "Synergy" Logo or a multi-restaurant card bought at Costco, here is your game plan: Go to Costco immediately : If you purchased your cards at Costco (the primary seller), th...

BELLEVUE, Wash.  — Eddie Bauer LLC, operator of Eddie Bauer retail and outlet stores in the United States and Canada, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move came on Monday after the company reached a restructuring support agreement with its secured lenders to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The agreement, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, outlines a court-supervised process that allows Eddie Bauer to keep its roughly 180 U.S. and Canadian stores open while it pursues a sale of some or all of its retail operations or an orderly wind-down if no buyer emerges. The company said that its online and wholesale operations will not be affected and that stores will continue to serve customers. Its e-commerce and wholesale operations are operated by Outdoor 5, LLC and are not a part of the bankruptcy. Stores outside of the U.S. and Canada will not be affected.  Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands, explains that declining sales, inflation, s...

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Mint has suspended production of the one-cent coin , known as the penny , as economic factors and production costs rise. On Nov. 12, the United States Mint held a ceremony where   United States Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final penny marking the end  of its 232-year production run. “Today the Mint celebrates 232 years of penny manufacturing,” said Kristie McNally , Acting Mint Director. “While general production concludes today, the penny’s legacy lives on. As its usage in commerce continues to evolve, its significance in America’s story will endure.”   According to the U.S. Mint, the decision stems from the escalating cost of making each penny, which is 3.69 cents. The cost of producing the penny has more than doubled its face value, up from 1.42 cents a decade ago. This decision is projected to save Americans roughly $56 million every year. How the halt in penny production will affect families In the near term, families are not ...