European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 a the stars and stripes wednesday september 18,1991 Money matters publisher Sells share in Walden project Boston apr Atlantic Magazine publisher Mortimer b. Zuckerman said monday that he sold his interest in an office project planned a few Hundred Yards from Walden Pond site of Henry David Thoreau a 19th Century nature observations. The development has been fought for years by advocates led by musician Don Henley opposing construction so close to the site synonymous with conservation since Thoreau wrote his classic Walden there in 1845. Zuckerman blasted Henley and his group Walden Woods project saying he and his partners at Boston properties tried to sell them the 18-acre property at Cost. A Henley has failed to disclose a multiyear Effort by Boston properties to reach agreement to sell the site to him on a no profit basis a Zuckerman said. The publisher and real estate magnate said he stands by an earlier pledge to contribute $100,000 to Walden Woods project. The new owner who he refused to name agreed to give the Henley organization a Sample time to buy it. Zuckerman had said the company would sell the land for what it originally paid plus design fees finance costs and Public improvements a an estimated $8 restrictions making smokers the pariahs of . Workplaces by Frank Swoboda the Washington Post you re beginning to Sec them almost everywhere you go. Little knots of people standing outside their office or shop puffing on a cigarette. They Are the social outcasts of the american workplace. And judging from the results of a new Survey by the society for human resource management and the Bureau of National affairs the plight of smokers in the workplace wont be getting any better. The Survey shows a dramatic increase Over the last five years in the number of companies adopting smoking policies in response to concerns by non smokers. When the two organizations conducted their first smoking Survey in 1986, Only 36 percent of the firms reported they had a policy governing smoking. This year 85 percent of the companies said they had adopted smoking policies. And More than half the companies surveyed that currently have no policy on smoking Are considering them. High costs for health care and employee complaints were two of the biggest reasons cited for adopting smoking policies in the workplace. Of those companies with smoking policies 34 percent banned smoking altogether and another 34 percent banned smoking in any open work area. Eighty percent of All smoking policies were developed out of concern for nonsmokers and More than half the programs were developed in response to employee complaints. Although Only a third of the companies million. Zuckerman s remarks a highlight the basest of motives greed a said Kathi Anderson a spokeswoman for Henley. She said the land was appraised last year at $2.8 million. The claim that Zuckermann a company had not received a serious offer from the group was a absolutely untrue Quot she said. A a we be been negotiating with his partner on a daily basis and have been making some marked Progress a Anderson said monday. A we have come up with a creative Deal. We have been at the negotiating table As recently As  Henley co chairs Walden Woods project with Michael Kennedy son of the late sen. Robert f. Kennedy . Henley and celebrities including Don Johnson de Begley jr., Bonnie Raitt Glenn Frey Bob Seger John Cougar Mellencamp . Doctorow and Dana Delaney have campaigned for the site to be converted into a conservation area. They held two Benefit concerts last year to raise $250,000 toward the Cost of buying the land. Others who have Lent their names to the Effort include Kirstie Alley Ted Dan son Michael Douglas Carrie Fisher Arlo Guthrie whoops Goldberg Alex Haley Kevin Mchale and meryl Streep. Surveyed have a total ban on smoking the overwhelming majority extend their smoking Hans Well beyond the open work  90 percent of the employers prohibit smoking in hallways while 87 percent ban smoking in restrooms. Nearly two thirds ban smoking in private offices and employee lounges and cafeterias. According to the Survey this is nearly twice As common As five years ago. The Survey showed that unlike the past smoking policies today Are much More Apt to contain enforcement provisions and penalties for violators. A workers who violate the smoking policy Are Likely to be subject to the same disciplinary procedures As those who engage in other forms of misconduct a according to the Survey report. A smokers who Light up in restricted areas Are subject to possible discharge at 84 percent of the firms with disciplinary procedures a the Survey continued. In i aces where City ordinances govern smoking in the workplace employees also May find themselves subject to Law enforcement penalties. The Survey found however that approximately 70 percent of the companies with smoking policies rarely had a problem with violations of their policy. As More and More employers adopt smoking policies the labor departments occupational safety and health administration is about to look into the possibility of Banning smoking As part of a broader study on indoor air Quality in the workplace. Handful of knowledge this new machine puts a whole encyclopedia at the users fingertips. Built by Sony the data disc Man holds the contents of the entire Comptons concise encyclopedia on a single 3-Inch optical disk. It will be available in stores in the United states in november for about $550.upi seeking Relief from employee contract Washington a United press International asked a Federal judge monday to reverse his ruling so Thal the news Agency can seek cancellation of part of its labor contract covering . Employees. Earlier this month up proposed laying off 150 people in its Effort to stay in business. It is seeking court permission to eliminate contract provisions guaranteeing those employees Severance pay Advance notice of layoffs and other benefits. On aug. 28, up sought bankruptcy Protection for the second time in six years filing the new action in new York. However creditors in the 1985 bankruptcy action handled in Washington asked that the new Case be transferred to Washington. That request triggered an automatic stay in All other proceedings in the Case thus preventing up from seeking court permission to abrogate the contract Over the objections of the wire service Guild a local of the american newspaper Guild. Up on Friday asked . District judge Thomas f. Hogan to lift the slay and allow the news Agency to ask a new York judge to allow the employees contract to be modified. Hogan denied the emergency request but allowed All sides to submit written arguments this week. In court papers filed monday up said that if it is not allowed to drop the contract provisions soon it Quot Iii he compelled to cease operations and a liquidation will occur rather than a  up s losses attributed to the contract Are accumulating at the rate of $555,000 a month and the proposal would save about $478,000 a month the company said. The 84-year-old news service employs about 585 people in the United states and abroad Down from a reported 1,600 before its Purchase by inf technology in 1988. Inf technology also has sought bankruptcy Protection in new York. Up employees agreed in november to the first of several pay and benefits cuts. Currently workers Are receiving about 80 percent of contract pay Levels a or about $568 a week for top level employees. Up s Layoff propose would affect about 135 Union covered Empl yees and 15 managers said Milt Capps senior vice president for corporate affairs. The company wants to replace the workers with stringers or Independent contractors. The wire service Guild has rejected up s request to eliminate contract guarantees of Advance notice of Layoff two weeks Severance pay employee permission to a company Transfer limits on the use of stringers and the right of senior employees to bump Junior workers from their jobs. In its monday filing up asked Hogan to reverse his Friday ruling allowing up to ask a new York court for a change in the contract. The company said the judge could also decide to Transfer the Case to Washington and Rule on the contract question in Washington