L.L. Bean plans slight cut in seasonal hiring this year

L.L. Bean plans to hire 4,500 seasonal workers, down slightly from the roughly 4,700 workers it added last year, as it gears up for the holiday shopping season.

Some seasonal workers start in the summer, to handle the Maine tourist season, while others start in September. All seasonal workers will be on the job by the end of October or the beginning of November, said L.L. Bean spokeswoman Carolyn Beem.

Most seasonal employees will work in customer service or call centers, while the rest will work in distribution facilities and manufacturing centers to make Bean Boots and tote bags, Beem said.

L.L. Bean has 4,500 year-round employees, Beem said.

Hostess Brands makes final contract offer to union

IRVING, Texas – Hostess Brands Inc., which employs 505 workers in Maine, gave a final contract offer to the Teamsters union as it struggles to emerge from its second bankruptcy in a decade.

The Teamsters union said it is reviewing the offer and would reach out to its local members in the coming weeks, according to a statement on its website. It said it would update its members later in the week after it receives input.

Hostess, which employs 19,000 employees in 48 states, did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Hostess’ biggest facility in Maine is in Biddeford, where it operates a bakery and distribution center with about 370 workers.

Last week, the New York Post said Hostess’ contract proposal called for a 5 percent wage cut in the first year, as well as health-care benefit cuts and lower pension contributions.

Target hikes profit forecast on second-quarter revenue

NEW YORK – Target Corp. raised its full-year profit projection Wednesday after the cheap-chic discounter reported better-than-expected second-quarter revenue that showed healthy spending in food, beauty, fashion and other items.

— From news service reports

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