Hyatt housekeepers to file OSHA complaints

Hyatt housekeepers in eight cities are expected to file complaints today with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, complaining of injuries they sustained on the job.

The complaints are being filed against the company by workers at 12 Hyatt properties, including four in Chicago, with the backing of Unite Here, the hotel workers union that has launched a campaign against the chain in an effort to lower the number of room housekeepers are expected to clean. Get the full story »

JPMorgan faces foreclosure fraud suits

JPMorgan Chase & Co. faces two possible class action lawsuits alleging common law fraud and misrepresentation, as well as violations of state consumer fraud statutes, the U.S. bank said in a regulatory filing Tuesday.

In September, JPMorgan temporarily halted home seizures after finding glitches in foreclosure documents. Last week, it said it planned to start refiling the foreclosure documents within weeks.

Google announces ‘Instant Previews’ search feature

People searching on Google will soon be able to see previews of websites before clicking on them.

The “Instant Previews” feature announced Tuesday is meant to help people bypass websites that are either irrelevant or simply too visually cluttered for their tastes. It works for Google web searches, as well as searches for news, video and local businesses. Get the full story »

Chevron to buy Atlas Energy in $4.3B deal

Chevron will buy natural gas producer Atlas Energy Inc., marking the major oil company’s first foray into the rich gas fields in the eastern part of the U.S. Chevron will pay with both cash and stock, the companies said Tuesday. Including debt of about $1.1 billion, the deal is worth $4.3 billion.

Study: Wind means jobs for Illinois

For every megawatt of wind power developed in Illinois, 17 manufacturing jobs are created, according to a new study by the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago.

The study, which identified more than 100 Illinois companies that are in the wind industry supply chain, did not identify how many the jobs created are in Illinois, but found that Illinois is fast becoming a hub for the nation’s wind power. Get the full story »

Wealthy pull back on charitable donations

Charitable giving by wealthy Americans dropped by more than a third between 2007 and 2009 as the worst U.S. recession in decades put pressure on the nonprofit sector, according to a study released Tuesday. Get the full story »

Whirlpool opens showcase center downtown

Whirlpool Corp., hoping to spur sales of its appliances to designers and architects, is opening on Tuesday a showcase center in downtown Chicago called “The World of Whirlpool.’’

Josh Gitlin, Whirlpool sales director of training and development, said the idea is to show products in action to designers, architects and the media year around, without having to wait for trade shows where the company might only get a few minutes with potential customers. Get the full story »

IEA: More need to be done to prevent oil price spike

Governments need to do more to increase efficiency and boost green technologies to avoid a spike in oil prices as energy demand is expected to jump 36 percent through 2035, the International Energy Agency warned Tuesday.

In its annual World Energy Outlook released, the Paris-based IEA said emerging nations like China will account for most of the surge in demand and that much will depend on the strength of the economic recovery over the next few years. Get the full story »

The day ahead in business

Reports: Wholesale trade inventories for September, 9 a.m.; Job openings and labor turnover survey for September, 9 a.m.

Hearings: Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker speaks at financial conference; EU Trade chief Karel de Gucht outlines EU trade strategy for next decade.

Major earnings:
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Toshiba

Metropolitan Bank Group to consolidate 11 banks

Metropolitan Bank Group said it plans to merge Edens Bank, First Commercial Bank and Northwest Community Bank into North Community Bank and merge Community Bank of DuPage, Metropolitan Bank & Trust and Chicago Community Bank into Citizens Community Bank, which will be renamed Metrobank. Get the full story »

Potash: Shareholders need details on BHP plan

From Bloomberg | A lawyer for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., the world’s biggest fertilizer company, say the company’s shareholders need more information about BHP Billiton Ltd.’s plans to acquire the company or to compete against it.

Queen Elizabeth II joins Facebook

On Monday, the British monarchy got even more modern, when its page on the popular social networking site went live. The page, called “The British Monarchy,” will provide updates on the royal family’s activities and upcoming schedule. It has 113,000 “likes” so far, and more coming fast.

EPA chief: Look beyond damage oil to restore Gulf

The U.S. Gulf region must repair not only the damage from the BP oil spill but also that caused by decades of environmental abuse, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said on Monday. Get the full story »

Gold passes $1,400 amid economic fears

Investors looking for safer places to stow their assets pushed gold to a record price above $1,400 an ounce Monday as they become more worried about the global economy.

Amazon to buy Diapers.com owner for $500M

Expanding its online retail empire, Amazon.com Inc. said Monday that it is buying Quidsi, the owner of Diapers.com and Soap.com, for $500 million in cash.