Business news in brief

A federal judge approved Eastman Kodak Co.'s $21.4 million offer to settle class-action lawsuits by black employees who maintained white counterparts were favored for pay and promotion. After almost seven years of litigation, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Feldman signed off on a deal Friday that pays $1,000 to $50,000 to about 3,000 current and past Kodak workers. Kodak had been accused of paying black employees less than white coworkers, passing them over for promotions, and maintaining a racially hostile work environment. Some workers had objected to the settlement, so adjustments were negotiated. The decision ends a 2004 class-action lawsuit and a similar suit filed in 2007. - AP

Abbott drops plan to sell vaccine unit

Abbott Laboratories said it had abandoned plans to sell its vaccines unit, less than three months after exploring sales talks with rival companies. Abbott acquired the unit as part of its $6.2 billion purchase of Belgium-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals in February. "We explored the option to potentially sell the business and determined it was in the best interest of Abbott and the vaccines business to retain it and integrate it into the company," Abbott spokesman Scott Stoffell said. Analysts speculated that European vaccine powerhouses such as GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C. and Novartis A.G. would have been interested in the business. - AP

Continental recalls furloughed pilots

Continental Airlines Inc. is recalling 132 pilots who were furloughed in 2008, saying it needs them to offset retirements and handle an increase in international flying. Continental spokeswoman Julie King said the additional pilots would cover the company's needs over the next 18 months. Continental's traffic is running about 3 percent higher this year than a year ago due to international traffic, which is up 6.5 percent. Domestic traffic has fallen 1 percent compared with the same months in 2009. Revenue is surging thanks to higher fares and fees on many services. Second-quarter revenue jumped 19 percent compared with a year earlier. The move could help Houston-based Continental build labor support as it carries out a plan to combine with UAL Corp.'s United Airlines. - AP

Company, unions reach tentative deal

Harley-Davidson Inc. and union workers in Wisconsin reached a tentative agreement that may prevent the Milwaukee motorcycle-maker from shifting manufacturing operations out of the state. Harley-Davidson and negotiators for the United Steelworkers and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers concluded talks on contracts that the unions have recommended their members ratify, the company said in a statement. The agreements cover about 1,340 union employees and would take effect in April 2012 if approved, Harley-Davidson said. The maker of Fat Boy cruiser motorcycles had said it needed to reduce costs and increase flexibility for seasonal production changes to continue building engines and other motorcycle parts in its home state. Harley-Davidson had said it might shift production to Kansas City or other locations if it failed to reduce costs in Wisconsin. - Bloomberg News