Month: March 2023

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BNSF

BNSF and 3 More Unions Agree to Sick Leave

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BNSF Railway and three more of its unions have agreed to an additional four paid days off to use as sick days. The unions are the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, and the mechanical and engineering department of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART-MD).

The Transportation Communications Union, and the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers had already agreed to additional paid sick leave in February .

“BNSF remains committed to continued dialogue, including the potential addition of paid sick days for those crafts that did not already have individual paid sick days prior to the recent national bargaining round,” the railroad stated in a news release.

Starting in December of last year, District 19 set up meetings with BNSF to talk about a number of important issues, including paid sick time. Through a number of in-person meetings and Zoom calls, District 19 leadership was victorious in achieving paid sick time for our members while protecting all other negotiated benefits.

“This is a historic win for our members as we have been fighting for paid sick time for quite some time,” IAM District 19 BNSF Lead General Chairman Kenny Krause said.

District 19 was also able to make improvements and modernize the agreement by incorporating electronic mailing, allowing for better and faster transfer of information. This will also help to speed up the claims process.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Stick to Your Circle of Competence

One of Warren Buffett’s steadfast rules is to invest within what he calls “your circle of competence.” He has adhered to this principle consistently throughout his career, even when it has meant foregoing alluring opportunities.

“Different people understand different businesses,” Buffett said at the 1999 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. “And the important thing is to know which ones you do understand and when you’re operating within what I call ‘your circle of competence.’”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Adds Cayman Islands

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, a global residential real estate brokerage network, has announced the launch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands marks the brand’s continued global growth, now with more than 55,000 network agents serving clients throughout 13 countries and territories.

“With a stable economy, high standard of living and beautiful environment, the Cayman Islands could not be more ideal for our next addition to the network,” said Christy Budnick, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “The addition of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cayman Islands enables us to further service clients in this incredible market.”

Gino Blefari, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, welcomed the company to the network, “This team’s reputation for ethical, inclusive and cooperative representation makes them a stellar addition to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global network.”

The company is owned by industry leaders Paula McCartney and Anthony Lawson, who together have decades of experience in helping clients buy and sell property in the Cayman Islands McCartney comes from a family of real estate entrepreneurs and is equipped with extensive market knowledge to assist clients. While Lawson’s career is rooted in the construction industry and has excelled in the real estate sector for numerous years.

“There is an undeniable reputation of excellence that is synonymous with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices name,” said McCartney. “When consumers hear the name, they are assured they will be met with quality, the strength of the networks and a long-term view of success.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cayman Islands is a group of highly motivated agents. The team is knowledgeable in all aspects of real estate from first homes or a luxury vacation condominium. By joining the network, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cayman Islands agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks and its “FOREVER Cloud” technology suite, a powerful source for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cayman Islands luxury agents also have the opportunity to participate in the Luxury Collection marketing program to promote themselves and premier listings. The Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Luxury Collection comprises an exclusive group of real estate professionals and an unparalleled portfolio of the most magnificent homes around the globe.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: There’s Nothing Magic About a One-Year Period

Since publicly traded companies report their performance on a quarterly and annual basis, it may be tempting to assign a special significance to their results during those periods. Nevertheless, Warren Buffett argues that there is nothing particularly extraordinary about a one-year timeframe.

“The fact that the Earth revolves around the sun really is not totally connected to most business activities, or the fruition of most investment ideas, or anything of the sort,” Buffett said at the 2000 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. “We have to report every year, and, you know, I care about the yearly figures in that sense. I don’t really care about them, totally, as a measure of what we’re doing.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Marmon Group

EcoWater and Phyn Sign Exclusive Partnership

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s EcoWater has signed an exclusive partnership with Phyn, the leader in AI-powered leak detection technology, to offer Phyn’s award-winning smart water monitoring solutions to EcoWater’s extensive North American dealer network.

Phyn’s AI-powered leak detection technology measures and analyzes microscopic changes in water pressure 240 times every second to learn and categorize each water fixture in a home. This unparalleled view into a home’s plumbing system allows Phyn to alert homeowners the second a leak is detected, mitigating costly water damage. From drip leaks to catastrophic pipe bursts and everything in between, Phyn monitors a home 24/7 and gives homeowners the tools to ensure that their home is watertight.

Homeowners will now have a suite of product options through EcoWater that both protect against water-related damages and enhance their home’s water in one integrated water solution. Combined, they can potentially lower their insurance costs up to 15% with a Phyn product, while saving money on hard water related costs by prolonging the lifespan of water-using appliances, soaps, and detergents.

Phyn has been widely recognized for its innovation, including honors from the Red Dot Awards, SXSW Innovation Awards, Core 77 Design Awards, IoT World Awards, CES Innovation Awards and GreenBuilder’s Sustainability Awards among others.

Founded in 1925, EcoWater is part of Berkshire Hathaway’s Marmon Holdings.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lubrizol

New Mumbai-Based Lubrizol Lab to Develop Alternative to Lithium Soaps

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s The Lubrizol Corporation has opened a new grease lab in Navi Mumbai, India, to support the testing and development of calcium sulfonate greases with strong potential in the industrial grease market.

Lithium soaps have long been a widely used thickener for grease applications, but vehicle electrification has led to a dramatic rise in lithium demand in recent years. Over the long term, grease manufacturers will face supply constraints as supply will be favoring battery manufacturers.

“Lithium demand isn’t slowing, and grease manufacturers will very soon require a reliable thickening alternative,” said Sanjeev Kaul, Chairman and Managing Director, Lubrizol Additives India. “We want to help manufacturers throughout the region stay ahead of the curve and sharpen their competitive edge with possible alternate solutions.”

Calcium Sulfonate complex greases-based formulations can be an effective alternative to lithium soaps. OBCS (Over-Based Calcium Sulfonate) provides reliable thickening properties, good compatibility with base oils and additives, and suitable performance for long-term use. Lubrizol’s new India lab will support the rigorous testing required for OBCS formulations to demonstrate their full potential.

“India is a unique market with unique demands,” adds Kaul. “There is limited support available in the form of third-party testing labs in India focused on greases. With this lab, we are supporting small- to mid-size grease manufacturers in the region with grease development and testing services and support that can promote the development of calcium sulfonate based greases and increase their sales.”

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.