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February 1996

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Poorly educated more likely to be pro-Buchanan because of economic insecurities, according to Globe writer (Thursday, 2/29/96)
John Yemma, writing in the Boston Globe, tells about a man who doubled his income by earning a professional degree, and, in the process became less "populist". The poorly educated are the most insecure in their jobs, he says, and more likely to respond to appeals such as those offered by presidential candidate Pat Buchanan. Also, a new census report supports the notion that there is an overall economic advantage to acquiring advanced formal education. On the average, highly educated people make much more than poorly educated persons.

However, the key word here is "average." With your head in the refrigerator and your feet in the oven, on the average, you'll be comfortable, as we used to say. Higher education credentials used to be pretty much a guarantee of economic security and well-being. Now, if you're poorly educated, you will almost surely do poorly. If you're well educated, you may still do poorly, but you may also have huge student debt to pay off. The statistical relationships between higher education and economic security have gotten far more complicated. It is to the advantage of institutions selling degrees to emphasize the averages, not the risks, and students are tacitly encouraged to assume large debt loads. The underlying reality seems to be that the new economy is far more interested in actual competencies than academic credentials, which have never been more than a very rough measure of competence in anything anyway. For success in the new economy, one must actually be able to do something that the new economy is eager to pay well to have one do, not simply undergo an academic "blessing" of some sort. We feel it is time for a searching examination of academe's most fundamental assumptions.

Public disagrees with economists on economics (Thursday, 2/29/96)
Robert Reno, writing in Newsday, says that, while economists are almost unanimously in favor of free trade, the public doesn't believe in it. For instance, 1,000 economists signed a petition saying that the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act during the Hoover administration was "insane," but it became law anyway, with a result being a prolongation of the Great Depression. It brings up interesting questions about the conditions under which systematically verifiable knowledge really makes a difference in anything. Public opinion polls in recent years have found that about 1 out of 7 American adults were unable to locate the United States on a world map, and that, 450 years after Copernicus, nearly half of American adults indicated that they believed that the sun revolves around the earth. We've felt that people know much more about geography and astronomy than they do about psychology, for instance. However, what psychology and economics have in common is that everybody thinks s/he knows more about these things than the experts.

German electronic industry worried (Thursday, 2/29/96)
Bloomberg reports that there is widespread anxiety in the German electronics industry about a growing shortage of engineers after the turn of the century. Recent sluggishness in the German economy has resulted in large numbers of unemployed engineers, and this has discouraged students from studying engineering at German universities.

Quinn predicts uncertainty for Kassenbaum-Kennedy bill (Thursday, 2/29/96)
In her nationally syndicated column today, Jane Bryant Quinn says the bipartisan bill that would help people keep their health insurance when changing or losing jobs, despite "pre-existing conditions," is hung up in Congress and its passage is anything but assured. Several members, notably Minnesota Senator Rob Grams, have been blocking the bill, even though Senator Dole has said that he will bring it to the floor in the Senate in April or May. Presidential politics seems to be having an influence.

Korean opposition party emphasizing economics (Thursday, 2/29/96)
The National Congress for New Politics, an opposition party in South Korea, is campaigning hard for parliamentary elections next month, emphasizing economic issues. To benefit the middle and lower classes, it would lower the tax rates of wage and salary income. The Korea Herald News has the story.

Worker offices changing, some disappearing (Thursday, 2/29/96)
The February 26 edition of the Christian Science Monitor reports that offices are quickly adapting to the demands of the new economy, including the need to economize. Many workers who used to have offices, now might have a cart or a drawer, or even work entirely out of their cars. With portable computers, cellular phones, and other technologies, sales people, in particular, have less need for permanent offices space.

Worker backlash may transform economy in next few years (Wednesday, 2/28/96)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune contains a piece by Mike Meyers, the paper's national economics correspondent, in which he reports on a speech yesterday by Morgan Stanley chief economist Stephen Roach. Roach believes that growing worker resentment over pay levels and a fair share may change the American economy during the second half of this decade. The presidential candidacy of Pat Buchanan has put such issues on the political agenda, leading to fears of a political solution to the current problem, which companies will want to head off. The Star Tribune is on the web, but this story isn't. Neither is their story about the Jobs Now Coalition claim that 20 percent of working Minesotans don't earn enough for essentials. State officials say that sounds on the high side.

Jobs lost as computer line is discontinued (Wednesday, 2/28/96)
Micron Electronics is discontinuing its Zeos line of personal computers, resulting the elimination of 300 jobs. Other reports indicate that the top three personal computer makers all lost market share last year in what continues to be one of the most volatile industries. One Silicon Valley entrepreneur once remarked that, if business is war, the computer business is thermonuclear war.

Trade gap worsens as auto companies get ready to hire (Wednesday, 2/28/96)
As additional evidence that the American economy is a broad, turbulent stream fed by many sometimes counteracting tributaries, recent slow car sales have kept retail spending numbers down at the same time that the "big three" American auto makers get ready to add workers, and also at the same time that the trade deficit gets worse. Got all that?

House Democratic Leader Gephardt wants economic summit (Wednesday, 2/28/96)
The Democratic House leader wants to get economic leaders together to figure out how to improve the economy, including worker wages. Republican presidential primary results show what many persons have recognized for years: people are feeling insecure and it may have political implications. When is news not news?

Bureau studies work and education (Wednesday, 2/28/96)
The December 1995 edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Monthy Labor Review contains a major section on the relationship between formal education and earnings. It reports on a major study in an article entitled "Earnings of college graduates 1993." Another article asks the question, "Are more college graduates really taking 'high school' jobs?" The answer, to be precise, is, well, yes and no. Finally, there is a commentary by Daniel Hecker, one of the individuals responsible for the original study. Lots of data showing wide variation both within and across various higher educational fields of study. Worth digging out at your library for a look. The Bureau is on the web with a tremendous amount of data, research reports, and other resources of interest.

Two major acquisitions yesterday have implications for jobs (Tuesday, 2/27/96)
Toronto's Thomson Corporation has announced the purchase of West Publishing, the nation's largest law book publisher, and Silicon Graphics is buying Cray Research, Inc. Both deals are large, although the Thomson-West deal is far larger at $3.4 billion, as opposed to $752 million. However, both reflect fundamental changes occurring in the information economy. Silicon Graphics was founded by Dr. Jim Clark, who has founded Netscape Communications more recently. Cray Research descended from the legendary Seymour Cray who was once a key design engineer with other Minnesota companies and a close colleague of Control Data Corporation founder William Norris. Thomson has made an effort to reassure West employees about their jobs, but many still seem to have anxieties. However, West will issue major bonuses to employees and retirees in order to share the financial benefits of the transaction.

WSJ runs careers section (Tuesday, 2/27/96)
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal contains an entire 15-pound section on careers. Wait a minute. Maybe it's 15 pages. We can't remember; but, like the Journal generally, it's big. Read this paper thoroughly each day and you won't have time for a job anyway.

Last of newspaper series on jobs (Tuesday, 2/27/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press completes it's series on the new job scene today, finishing a large collection of informative articles. The paper's on the web.

Wall Street's enthusiasm for job cuts may be cooling (Tuesday, 2/27/96)
The Washington Post has an article today by Jay Mathews suggesting that the time when companies could easily boost their stock value by firing workers may be ending. For instance, AT&T's stock didn't surge when they announced the elimination of 40,000 jobs at the beginning of the year. Mathews says, "The market's tendency to see job cuts as a sign of good, tough management has become an issue in the presidential campaign," because, of course, this may not be all it means. Cuts aren't new, but some suggest that what has made them politically sensitive has been the tendency for them to occur in the white collar ranks now. Others have suggested that the media have been more inclined to report on the problem now that it affects people very much like media people themselves. The Washington Post doesn't appear to be on the web, but rumor is that it will be soon. Also, the Los Angeles Times seems ready to join other major papers in cyberjournalism, as well.

Retailing continued weak during January (Tuesday, 2/27/96)
The recent holiday shopping season was one of retailing's weakest in years, and the tendency continued through January, according to reports by nearly all major news services in the U.S. Sluggish car sales helped keep things down. Here's Reuters' version of the story, and here's another version from USA Today. USA Today also reports that President Clinton has added his voice to a growing number of leaders in both private and public sectors encouraging Fed chairman Greenspan to forget about inflation a bit and allow faster economic growth. The argument is that structural changes in the economy have brought about qualitative changes in the historic relationship between inflation and growth. Additional growth would mean more jobs, and job growth is good for an incumbent president running for re-election.

Lock up your children; Congress returns from recess (Tuesday, 2/27/96)
Congress is back and ready to focus on the economy. Reuters has the story. Reuters also has stories about economists predicting slow growth for the remainder of the year, as well as economists predicting that the risk of recession is not great. Also, job opportunities are expected to improve during the second quarter, according to a new report. They also have a story about the infamous Denver airport baggage system eating a computer. We realize this doesn't have as much to do with work as our other stories this morning, but we think it's useful to know about anyway.

Another major newspaper features jobs issues (Monday, 2/26/96)
The Tononto Star is running a series on the new world of jobs. The Star is Canada's largest newspaper, but doesn't appear to be on the web. The St. Paul Pioneer Press continues its jobs series today, and most of today's stories can be found right here.

Worker legal rights nearly nil, according to attorney (Monday, 2/26/96)
Attorney Marshall Tanick, a specialist in constitutional and employment law, has an opinion piece in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today describing differences between the legal situation of American workers compared to workers in some other countries. Most American workers can be dismissed "at will," according to an ancient legal doctrine, says Tanick, even for apparently trivial reasons. Contrary to what most seem to believe, employers are not legally required to provide notice or any sort of severance, in most cases. The paper's on the web, but we were unable to determine if this article is included, because the link was not responding. We believe the condition to be temporary.

Research underway on the meaning of work (Monday, 2/26/96)
Richard Blackburn, Associate Professor of Management in the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, is conducting research on the meaning and motivation for work in the 21st century, supported by a grant from the Foundation for Excellence in Consulting and Management. He needs persons willing to complete either of two different questionnaires. Interested individuals should contact Professor Blackburn at blackbur.bsacd1@mhs.unc.edu.

Writer says Buchanan should look at trucks heading south from Laredo (Monday, 2/26/96)
Miguel Conchas believes Pat Buchanan would be more enthusiastic about NAFTA if he would look at what's happening. Conchas writes in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram which has a web site. However, it isn't clear whether the paper's site is still freely browsable or not, as announced on their home page. They intend to begin charging for subscriptions.

Buchanan after Perot folks in California (Monday, 2/26/96)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Buchanan volunteers are asking members of Perot's Reform Party to re-register as Republicans so they can vote for Pat in the March 26 primary. Perot has agreed with Buchanan on his opposition to NAFTA. Incidentally, Graham Searjeant, writing in the Times of London says that an American commentator claims that Buchanan would be a "national socialist," if history had not made that term so insulting. He appeals to people at different ends of the political spectrum, and there is a message for Europe in the Buchanan factor. The Times also contains a story today about the benefits for employees of work councils in the UK.

New Harvard study supports immigration fears (Monday, 2/26/96)
Earlier studies have shown only slightly higher welfare use by immigrants compared to native-born Americans, but a new study by Harvard economist George Borjas supports popular fears reflected in the backlash that seems to help support Pat Buchanan's candidacy for the American presidency. The story is in the San Francisco Chronicle and is on the web.

Sexual harassment said to be common in the California Capitol (Monday, 2/26/96)
Lance Williams, writing in the, San Francisco Examiner, reports that alleged victims of sexual harassment in the California Assembly have been fired for speaking out.

Paper features jobs crisis on front page (Sunday, 2/25/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press today begins a series of stories on the new work world on the front page of its Sunday edition. Richard Chin and Aron Kahn have a major story called "Workers face changing rules," and Kay Harvey presents a story called "Selling self can be toughest job." Parts of the series can be found on the paper's web site. For instance, Dave Beal, senior business editor for the paper, looks at where the jobs have gone in Minnesota. William Hershey writes that "People in the heartland fear economic security slipping away." His piece appears in the same edition, but is not part of the jobs series. Another article, originating in the Houston Chronicle, says that employees who try to sue their employers may get sued. Incidentally, the jobs series is called "Brave New Work." Since "Brave New Work World" has been our trademark for months, we're flattered that they like this way of expressing it. The Pioneer Press' web site is one of the more innovative and useful newspaper sites on the web.

Workers with sick children (Sunday, 2/25/96)
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune business section contains a major article on the problem of caring for sick children, particularly in familes with two working parents. The story's on the paper's web site. We reported earlier on a story in The Detroit Journal about a company trying to help with this problem. See the January 16 headline in our archives.

Television station to broadcast "video resumes" (Sunday, 2/25/96)
Public television station KTCI in the Twin Cities will air a two-hour program Monday called "On-Air Job Fair," in which 20-second pre-taped videos made by job seekers will be presented. The program will also provide information about more than 100 job openings. A tape of the program is available for a fee by calling (612) 222-1717 in the U.S.

Yelsin says government must ease economic condition of people or somebody else will (Saturday, 2/24/96)
Boris Yeltsin, fearing the return of Communists to power in Russia, warned members of the present government that they must soften the impact of economic reform measures if they are to survive in power. A Russian presidential election approaches, and Yeltsin's supported has diminished, in part because of widespread economic suffering during the post-Soviet period. Yeltsin has been attempting to guide Russia's transition to a market economy.

Kmart stores to close, 1,500 jobs will go (Saturday, 2/24/96)
Kmart, still struggling to compete effectively with Wal-Mart and others, is attempting to return to profitability by pruning 15 unprofitable stores in eight states. Reuters and the Detroit News have the story. Kmart is the second largest retailer in the United States, but, despite efforts to increase efficiencies, still generates considerably less revenue per square foot than Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart's rapid movement to the top of American retailing has arisen out of a business model that has made heavy use of computer technologies to streamline operations and minimize costs. However, Wal-Mart's growth has also stalled recently, as retailing in general has cooled.

President promises jobs to California (Saturday, 2/24/96)
President Clinton has announced a $1.8 billion dollar contract to buy eight C-17 cargo planes and wants to order 80 more. He expects 4,700 new California jobs to result. California has the largest number of electoral votes, and it is generally believed that no candidate can win the American presidency without winning in California. USA Today reports.

Leaders concerned about a competitive work force (Saturday, 2/24/96)
The Boston Globe reports on a call on the part of Massachusetts business and academic leaders for the expansion of skills-training programs with additional financial support. About 100 leaders have been meeting in Boston. Studies are cited indicating that, given present trends, insufficient numbers of highly skilled workers will be available to support economic growth in the region, unless action is taken quickly. Moreover, skilled workers have been leaving the region.

Vocational training resources on the web (Saturday, 2/24/96)
The New York Times describes how the Internet can be used by persons interested in upgrading vocational skills.

Slight increase in growth would produce a half million new jobs (Saturday, 2/24/96)
The Christian Science Monitor, one of the world's most respected newspapers, has had a disappointing web site for sometime. That is changing. Their current site is much improved, and a full scale version is scheduled for April. The Monitor's current edition contains an article by David Francis on the National Association of Manufacturers' claim that pushing economic growth up to 3 percent should be a major priority. It would result in 500,000 new jobs and reduce the deficit. The same edition contains an article on the increase in the number of women serving prison time and the problems they face in becoming self-sufficient when they are released.

Railroad on job cut track (Friday, 2/23/96)
Conrail of Philadelphia will phase out 900 non-union jobs over the next several years by encouraging early retirement and voluntary separation, Reuters, which claims to be the world's largest wire service (and we don't doubt it), reports on the cuts.

Salt Lake City area hiring (Friday, 2/23/96)
The Desert News reports that many employers in Salt Lake City expect to bring on new workers during the second quarter of the year.

Seller's market for skills (Friday, 2/23/96)
The New York Times News Service reports that skilled workers are in high demand and in short supply in the Southeast.

Violence in Oakland teachers strike (Friday, 2/23/96)
A striking teacher was injured on the picket line yesterday. The San Francisco Chronicle has the story on the web.

University police officer files sexual harassment suit (Friday, 2/23/96)
The Boston Globe reports that a 40-year-old woman claims she was taunted by a male supervisor on the University of Massachusetts police force. Management was unresponsive, she says. The paper also has a story about a major New England banking organization intending to close 81 branches and cut 415 jobs.

Something entirely different (Friday, 2/23/96)
The Bank of Ireland is offering mortgages to the unemployed. The story is in the Irish Times.

Voting personal economic self-interest (Thursday, 2/22/96)
A current nationally distributed column by Jane Bryant Quinn says the bad news for President Clinton's campaign is that real wages have remained no more than flat. She discusses the contemporary paradox of a "healthy" economy, according to many conventional indicators, but with increasingly distressed people who depend on paychecks. Real hourly earnings have continued to decline since 1979, more for people with limited formal education, but, on average, for persons with advanced education as well. The American economy continues to generate a lot of jobs, but a growing "polarization" has set in with more of them low pay or high pay, fewer in the middle. Pat Buchanan successfully seized on the growing discontent of workers and laid off workers to win the New Hampshire primary.

Worker distress in Cyprus (Thursday, 2/22/96)
The Cyprus Mail and Haravghi report that temporary civil service workers are "treated with hostility" by the government, and that their demands for permanent jobs have been ignored. Latest word is that they have gone on strike. A growing reliance on temporary or contract workers cuts across various national economies.

Public sector union membership down too (Thursday, 2/22/96)
Union membership in the private sector has dipped to half of what it was in the 1950's, but, after being strong for a decade, public sector union membership has dropped for the first time since 1984. William Hershey reports from the Bal Harbour meeting of the AFL-CIO leadership for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Will calls for Republicans to defend against Buchanan's economic nonsense (Thursday, 2/22/96)
Conservative columnist George Will, in his column today, says that Buchanan's anti-corporate protectionism is economic nonsense, but he's got Dole saying similarly nonsensical things. The Republican party needs to defend itself against Buchanan, according to Will. George Will writes for the Washington Post and is syndicated throughout the United States.

Appearances and reality (Wednesday, 2/21/96)
Dale Dauten, in his "Corporate Curmudgeon" column distributed by King Features explains why it isn't enough to look busy anymore, why nobody is safe, and why "downsizing" will continue. An example of a corporate graphic arts department is presented to make the point clearer.

Living on the minimum wage (Wednesday, 2/21/96)
In an opinion piece in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, Debbie Atterberry points out that the current minimum wage amounts to a full-time yearly income of $8,500 before deductions. Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Twin Cities will take 78% of that. The paper's on the web, but the article isn't.

Corporate slashers (Wednesday, 2/21/96)
The current edition of Newsweek features a cover story called "Corporate Killers" and profiles individuals the magazine calls "the hit men." These are corporate heads who have been responsible for the largest job cuts in recent years. As examples, Louis Gerstner cut 60,000 jobs at IBM, while Robert Stempel laid off 74,000 at GM. In his "Judgment Calls" column in the same issue, Robert Samuelson offers a counterpoint, arguing against a "demon theory" of current economic events, and claiming that government can't provide job security, despite rhetoric. Also, he says, statistics indicate it's not as bad as claimed anyway. Along these lines, the current edition of Fortune magazine contains Bob Norton's "Reality Check" column titled "Presidents don't create jobs." We should beware of rhetoric during an election year, he says. Presidential candidates make promises and presidents take credit for good news; but, while the Federal Reserve can have some influence on the prevention of recessions, that's about it, so far as government is concerned. Overall, jobs have been growing at about the same rate since World War II. Newsweek has a rather odd and limited site on the web. The Fortune Business Report is on the web as well.

Aim taken at teachers' unions (Wednesday, 2/21/96)
The cover story in the current edition of U.S. News is called "Why teachers don't teach: How teacher unions are wrecking our schools." Various horror stories are recounted, but alternative interpretations are presented. The story's on the web.

Rally for Canadian miners (Tuesday, 2/20/96)
Thousands of people rallied for 1,200 Canadian miners laid off by a government-owned company Sunday. Tax breaks for corporations laying off workers are criticized. The Canadian Press Association provides the story on the web. In another story on the same web site, Ontario's civil servants have rejected a government contract offer that could bring a strike before the end of the month. Most provincial public services would be halted by the action.

Buchanan appeals to "voiceless workers" in New Hampshire (Tuesday, 2/20/96)
On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Republican candidate Pat Buchanan appeals to middle-class workers anxious about their jobs. Reuters has this story, as well as stories about the AFL-CIO's plan to recruit members as well as for overall reorganization, Solidarity's setbacks in Poland, the dip in Japan's trade surplus with the United States, a wildcat strike at Chrysler Corporation, and economist Richard Freeman's call for an increase in the minimum wage, because, among other things, "crime pays better than entry-level jobs."

Glass possibly part of White House construction (Tuesday, 2/20/96)
The current edition of Business Week contains a commentary asking the question, "Is there a glass ceiling in President Clinton's cabinet?

Candidate appeals to economic interests of voters (Tuesday, 2/20/96)
A candidate for his country's presidency campaigns for the support of voters who are concerned about their economic well being. In this case the candidate is Yeltsin, the country is Russia, and the voters are small entrepreneurs.

Welfare mothers already working (Tuesday, 2/20/96)
In an opinion piece published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Gilbert Cranberg, former editor of the Des Moines Register opinion pages, says that efforts to get mothers out of the home and "away from their kids so that they can do really useful labor like flip hamburgers" are flawed. Current welfare reform proposals denigrate child-rearing and place low value on the children themselves during a time when other political rhetoric calls for the strengthening of families.

Republican candidates adopting Democratic concerns? (Monday, 2/19/96)
Bill Salsbury writes that American Republican presidential candidates Buchanan and Dole are beginning to sound like Democratic Representative Martin Sabo in emphasizing diminishing worker buying power, the growing income gap, and corporate layoffs.

Labor unions planning aggressive campaign (Monday, 2/19/96)
Peter Kilborn, writing in the New York Times, describes the Bal Harbour meeting of "more militant" union leadership that is going on right now. The major unions seem to be ready to emphasize issues of broad concern to all workers, both unionized and non-unionized. Union membership in the United States has dipped to about a sixth of the workforce, about half of what it was thirty-five years ago.

New York region restructures (Monday, 2/19/96)
The New York region lost 770,000 jobs during the last recession. Only about a third have been recovered since. Kirk Johnson and Thomas Lueck, writing in the New York Times, tell of the region's fundamental rearrangement in the new economy. The region's experience symbolizes a familiar pattern during recent years. As usual, layoffs occur as the economy goes into a cyclical recession, but fundamental restructuring occurs by the time it comes out, resulting in the permanent loss of previous jobs. A tremendous number of high-quality blue collar jobs were lost this way during the recession of the early 1980's.

Labor meeting at Bal Harbour (Sunday, 2/18/96)
Union membership and political influence have sagged considerably during recent years. Labor leaders want to fix that, and they're meeting to see what they can do. One thing will be to pour millions into this fall's Congressional campaigns, which the Republican Congressional Committee claims is a violation of election laws, as reported Wednesday. Reuters has details.

Many women earning more than their husbands in the new economy (Sunday, 2/18/96)
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports on a survey conducted jointly by the Whirlpool Foundation Families and Work Institute and Louis Harris and Associates, as well as other research, showing the growing alteration of family structure in the new economy. The situation is very fluid in many relationships, though, given the uncertainties and rapid changes that are becoming increasingly typical. Downsizing, which has affected so many middle-class men, has contributed to the new situation, but so has the opening of additional careers to women. Sociologists have conducted much research on these phenomena, including the extent to which family roles overall modify in line with provider roles. In many families, the woman's role has broadened to include that of co-breadwinner, while also retaining most of the traditional domestic responsibilities, resulting in her having two "full-time jobs." The resistance to accepting more household responsibilities on the part of many men can be linked to the way males are socialized and how many are taught to interpret the concept of "masculinity." Unfortunately, neither this story nor the paper appear to be on the web.

Increase in casual workplace dress (Sunday, 2/18/96)
The Washington Post reports that a survey conducted by Levi Strauss & Co. and the Society for Human Resource Management finds that 90 percent of human resource managers are allowing causal dress at work at least occasionally, compared to 63 percent in 1992.

Companies interview students via video teleconferencing (Sunday, 2/18/96)
Thomas Healy, writing in the Raleigh News & Observer, reports that an increasing number of companies are saving travel costs by conducting job interviews with students through the use of teleconferencing technology.

Workers could invest part of their Social Security taxes, according to one of several plans (Saturday, 2/17/96)
All major news organizations in the United States are reporting this morning on an advisory council's plan to partially privatize Social Security in a manner similar to what Presidential candidate Steve Forbes has proposed. Here's USA Today's version of the story.

"Workfare" bill moving through Minnesota Senate (Saturday, 2/17/96)
If bill becomes law, counties would be able to choose to require welfare recipients to look for work, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The New York Times has an article about similar moves in other areas of the country, as well as a story about a proposal from the nation's governors.

Where Presidential candidates stand on jobs (Saturday, 2/17/96)
CNN examines the candidates' messages on jobs and pay during an election year. Deep public concern is noted.

Minnesota governor vows to veto wage bill (Friday, 2/16/96)
Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson says he will veto a bill narrowly approved in the Minnesota House of Representatives that would raise the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.35 an hour. More than 100,000 Minnesota workers would be affected. The St. Paul Pioneer Press has the story. Amy Lindgren also offers help in your job search.

Matching behaviors to work situations (Friday, 2/16/96)
Kerri Smith, writing for Scripps Howard Newspapers, describes Rebecca Mann's book, Behavior Mismatch: How to Manage Problem Employees Whose Actions Don't Match Your Expectations (American Management Association Press). There is a long history of research and theory dealing with the relationships among various temperaments, "styles," or personalities, on the one hand, and alternative work roles or settings, on the other.

Nevada and Delaware led in personal income growth (Friday, 2/16/96)
The Desert News describes a U.S. Department of Commerce report showing that Nevada and Delaware had the greatest increases in the growth of personal incomes last summer, while Hawaii was largely unimproved.

More good news for British economy (Thursday, 2/15/96)
The Times of London reports that unemployment in Britain has dropped to the lowest level in five years. In the same edition, you'll also find a story about increasing efforts to "bridge the gap" between education and industry by increasing links between the two.

Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (Thursday, 2/15/96)
Gordon Slovut, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's medical writer, reports on the research of some Purdue University professors attempting to assess who's at risk for developing complications as a consequence of excessive keyboarding. Keyboard design doesn't seem to be important, but time at the keyboard and thin wrists can increase one's chances of developing a repetitive stress injury. Sitting position and wrist position can also make a difference. Unfortunately, the story is not on the Strib's web site.

Forcing business to pay a living wage? (Thursday, 2/15/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that an idea that was rejected for the city of St. Paul, Minnesota some months ago is now taking state-wide aim in the Legislature. The bill proposes that businesses could not get state development aid if they pay wages below the federal poverty level. The paper also reports on 8,300 jobs that have been subsidized by the state since 1991. Both stories are at the same web location.

Russia cuts off Ukraine's power, factories close (Wednesday, 2/14/96)
In addition to strikes protesting unpaid wages that have caused a dwindling of coal supplies, industrial distress in the Ukraine has been aggravated considerably by Russia's decision to disconnect the country from electrical sources within Russia. Factories throughout the Ukraine have been shut down and workers sent home.

Worker gains at end of 1995 contrast with entire year (Wednesday, 2/14/96)
Reuters reports that American worker salaries and benefits rose more toward the end of 1995 than expected, but the year as a whole was the worst on record. Reuters also has a story today about a Russian interior minister's call for the nationalization of major Russian companies, including oil and gas companies. This would amount to a reversal of trends during the post-Soviet period, but might strengthen Yeltsin's chances for re-election.

Labor unions accused of election law violations (Wednesday, 2/14/96)
The Republican Congressional Committee has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing the AFL-CIO of violating election laws by pledging to work for Democratic control of the House of Representatives as part of its opposition to Republican plans for balancing the budget.

Career changers drawn to education (Wednesday, 2/14/96)
E. J. Gong, Jr., writing in the Seattle Times, reports that a growing number of professionals from a variety of fields, including dentists, lawyers, bankers, engineers, and others, are switching to teaching in primary and secondary schools during mid-career. The University of Washington has a master's degree program specifically for persons wanting to begin a teaching career later in life. The Seattle Times has a very limited site on the web, but this story isn't included. Too bad. It's a good one.

Middle-class among the forgotten, according to legislator (Wednesday, 2/14/96)
Myron Orfield, Democratic member of the Minnesota house of Representatives, writes on the "Commentary" page of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune today, indicating that working individuals and families in Minnesota are "suffering in a land of plenty." He claims that Republicans have weakened major programs providing middle-class assistance in education, health care, pensions, and day care. Productivity gains have not benefited middle-class workers. He also discusses what he calls the growing "wealth schism" in American society. The "Star-Tribune" has a limited site on the web, but this article is not included. You can sign up for a free trial of their more extensive service, but it will cost you after the trial period.

Good day for people who love computers
There may be debate about whether it's a good thing that the 50th anniversary of the computer falls on Valentine's Day, but that's the way it is. Happy birthday, or happy Valentine's Day, depending. Much of the current revolution in the world of work was set in motion on this day in 1946.

Renault cutting more jobs as part of privatization (Tuesday, 2/13/96)
Renault, the French car manufacturer, plans to cut nearly 2,800 jobs this year after eliminating more than 1,700 jobs last year. The firm is in the final stages of becoming a private company.

Clinton to sign executive order on illegal workers (Tuesday, 2/13/96)
Reuters reports on the Administration's current crackdown on illegal immigration. Firms hiring illegal aliens will not be eligible for federal contracts for a year. Reuters also has a story about still more workplace violence, this time in California. A fired worker sprayed bullets, but didn't injure anyone.

More labor troubles at Yale (Tuesday, 2/13/96)
The Boston Globe reports that new talks are scheduled in the strike of more than a thousand clerical and technical workers at Yale University. Some weeks ago, graduate teaching assistants briefly withheld grades in an effort to get the university to recognize their union.

New 48 hour work week (Tuesday, 2/13/96)
The Irish government's Minister of State for Labour Affairs is preparing industrial relations legislation that will limit the work week and provide other protections. You'll find the whole story in the Irish Times. In the same edition, look for stories on new jobs being created by small international service companies, as well as Irish unions agreeing on a new method of balloting.

Smallest increase in worker incomes since 1982 (Tuesday, 2/13/96)
USA Today reports on the U.S. Department of Labor's announcement that American worker wages, salaries, and benefits increased by 2.9% in 1995, the smallest increase on record. The government began tracking employment costs in 1982. Modest job growth and corporate restructuring have weakened the bargaining position of workers.

Greater pay increase for physicians than for nurses (Monday, 2/12/96)
The Electronic Telegraph reports that junior doctors will receive six percent pay increases, while the government has awarded nurses an increase of about two percent. The nurses will press their case. Hundreds of thousands throughout Britain are affected.

Recession may be here (Monday, 2/12/96)
Jonathan Marshall, writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, reports that some economists believe that the U.S. economy is already in recession.

Inflation canceling out wage increases in Chinese cities (Monday, 2/12/96)
China has the fastest growing economy in the world, but it's also tormented by very high inflation which the government has struggled to control. Wage increases have been substantial in urban areas, but inflation is wiping them out. The Hong Kong Standard has the story.

Britain leading Europe in job creation (Monday, 2/12/96)
For many years following World War II, the big news was the "German economic miracle," while the British economy stumbled. However, today's Wall Street Journal reports that German insolvencies have increased dramatically, adding to German economic woes, while The Times of London says that a British government report to be released today claims that Britain is leading Europe in reducing unemployment and creating jobs.

Want somebody to "foot" your bill? (Monday, 2/12/96)
Check the Detroit News today for information on the career prospects for podiatrists.

Post-traumatic stress disorder at issue in workplace (Sunday, 2/11/96)
"Post-traumatic stress disorder," a psychiatric diagnostic category arising out of the experience of some Vietnam War veterans, has become an issue in some suits brought by workers against their employers, according to the Wall Street Journal. A Washington, D. C. prison guard has been awarded $300,000 for residual emotional effects of her supervisor's behavior.

Lengthy split shift a factor in New Jersey train wreck? (Sunday, 2/11/96)
Investigators in the collision of two commuter trains in New Jersey say there is no evidence that human error was responsible, but they have noted that an engineer had been on duty in a split shift lasting more than fourteen hours and had been making an extra round trip at the time of the crash. Some safety experts say the split shift is inherently dangerous. At issue may not only be fatigue, but also the possibly disorienting effects of so-called "jet lag" phenomena relating to the body's well-documented circadian rhythms.

Make it scannable (Sunday, 2/11/96)
The New York Times Job Market section this time contains an article with advice about your resume during the Internet age. The same section contains an article about educational alternatives on the web.

Slave labor continuing in Serb-held Bosnia? (Sunday, 2/11/96)
The New York Times reports that hundreds of Croatians and Muslims are still forced to labor in Serb-held Bosnia, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Prisoners were to have been released after the Dayton accord. Here's Reuters' version of the Times' story. Reuters also has stories about the increasing pessimism of economists and about President Clinton's newest call for an increase in the minimum wage.

Despairing fired worker kills five and himself, wounds another (Saturday, 2/10/96)
Reuters reports on Florida man's downward spiral during the past year. Reuters also has stories this morning about guilty pleas in the Los Angeles slavery case and about an improved Canadian employment picture.

New salary survey (Saturday, 2/10/96)
Working Woman magazine presents the results of its 17th annual salary survey in the February edition. Want to see what people in the various occupations are making on the average? Want to see what some individuals make? The gender gap has narrowed in some areas, but mostly because of a decline in men's average incomes with restructuring, layoffs, and so on, only a little because women have made gains. Some "leveling" does seem to be happening, though. In the same issue, check their discussion of "flextime;" i.e., working out a customized work schedule with your boss. Also, check out their list of the top women-owned businesses and the hottest careers for women. Working Woman, Working Mother, and Ms magazines are accessible at the Women's Web home page. You'll also find databases and other information.

House fight over verification heating up (Friday, 2/9/96)
The Congressional Quarterly reports that Representatives Chabot and Gallegly, both Republicans, disagree on whether new immigrant legislation should require employers to verify that newly hired workers are legally eligible to work in the United States. Rep. Chabot says it smacks of "big brother;" Rep. Gallegly says it will end fraud. The Congressional Quarterly has a gopher site on the Net.

Slower productivity gains, or maybe not? (Friday, 2/9/96)
Newly released government data on nonfarm business efficiency suggests that productivity increased at a slower rate during the early 90's than originally thought. However, some blame the findings on new measurement methods which may provide underestimates of what is really going on. If accurate, the data could discourage the use of layoffs as an instrument for increasing productivity by indicating that the effects aren't as great as expected.

Ukraine coal strike continues for now (Friday, 2/9/96)
Reuters reports that 5,000 miners vow to continue striking until they receive unpaid wages owed them. A similar economic gridlock is occurring in Russia, as previously reported

Major hiring at Boeing (Friday, 2/9/96)
Today's Wall Street Journal reports that Boeing in Seattle will hired 7,000 new and laid off workers by early next year. Boeing had cut 30,000 jobs during the past five years.

Unemployment claims fall last week (Thursday, 2/8/96)
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a sharp decline in new claims for unemployment benefits after a six month high earlier, strengthening the interpretation that earlier increases were partly a result of the East Coast blizzard.

Japanese economy recovering, according to government report (Thursday, 2/8/96)
The Japan Times reports favorable economic indicators in Japan after a four-year slump. Among other things, industrial production is up .8 percent.

Unions object to charitable organizations' free access (Thursday, 2/8/96)
The Detroit News reports that giving charitable groups free access to the fronts of Meijer stores in order to raise funds is unfair. Unions want the same access for themselves.

More workplace violence (Wednesday, 2/7/96)
A man who was laid off just before Christmas shot a supervisor and took a hostage in Honolulu. He was shot by police. Here's USA Today's version of the story. The paper also offers stories about employers' concern about workers wasting time on the Internet, a bill that would make employee-management productivity teams legal, and a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas that layoffs in the United States totaled 100,000 in January.

Help with painful co-workers (Wednesday, 2/7/96)
Sherri Eng, writing for Knight-Ridder Newspapers, offers advice on what to do when people you have to work with are driving you up the workplace wall.

Despite dislocations, technology will produce higher living standards, according to Greenspan (Tuesday, 2/6/96)
CNN reports on Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's address to the National Governors Association. Technology is raising productivity; living standards will follow, he says. Incidentally, President Clinton has not yet announced whether he will nominate Greenspan for a third term.

High earnings for temp work (Tuesday, 2/6/96)
The Boston Globe tells about the success of Cambridge's MacTemps. They sell Macintosh and Windows software skills. The paper also reports on how the Massachusetts state attorney general's office is nearly overwhelmed by wage law violations.

Generous severance (Tuesday, 2/6/96)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that senior managers laid off as a consequence of the Wells Fargo-First Interstate merger will get a minimum of $200,000 each. Displaced middle managers will be offered at least one year's pay.

Russian miners back at work (Monday, 2/5/96)
CNN reports that the Russian coal union has ended its two-day strike after the government promised to pay back wages. Russian President Yeltsin's rise to power was helped by the union, but he's lost much of its support. CNN also has a story about the Justice Department's actions to encourage the Laborer's International Union to rid itself of the influence of organized crime, as well as a story about how displaced managers in Japan are moving overseas to work.

NY janitors return to work (Monday, 2/5/96)
Approximately 30,000 janitors and other building employees in New York City went on strike for higher pay in early January. After intensive negotiations, the strike has been settled, according to Reuters. Incidentally, the long newspaper strike in Detroit continues.

An economist by any other name? (Monday, 2/5/96)
Job opportunities for economists seem to be declining as the "dismal science" faces a dismal image problem. Many economists in the private sector are abandoning the title in favor of "strategic planner," "finance specialist," and others. Another example of euphemisms for newly created "dirty words," we think. Also, perhaps a matter of blaming the messenger for bad news.

Are women adjusting to new realities better than men? (Monday, 2/5/96)
Gail Sheehy, who helped invent the concept "midlife crisis" in her 1976 book, Passages, says that men need to learn how to accept their wives' work success. In her column this morning, she describes how many men are becoming displaced from familiar employment situations, while women are working "longer and later," and, in many cases, earning more than their husbands. Many men respond with "hostile dependency" to a situation with which they have difficulty coping. Sheehy is recognized for her work on adult development. Her recent ideas can be found in her latest book, New Passages: Mapping Your Life Across Time.

Poll finds widespread anxiety, but also myths (Monday, 2/5/96)
A Knight-Ridder poll finds anxiety about the economy across all demographic categories now, as opposed to only six years ago. However, women are expressing more distress than men. This may not mean that women really are more distressed, but simply that they are more willing to express it. The poll also suggests that people have not become more hostile and intolerant of others in response to their own anxieties, as is widely believed, in what psychologists refer to as "displaced aggression." A series is running this week in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The "Strib" is on the web, but this story doesn't appear to be.

Hotel employees await unpaid wages (Sunday, 2/4/96)
The Cambodia Times reports that eight former Cambodia Plaza Hotel employees, despite verbal assurances that they would be paid back wages totaling US$32,250 by January 10, still have not been paid. The company is owned by South Korean-based Kobo, Inc.

Vietnam embraces capitalist economics, but with state control (Sunday, 2/4/96)
Vietnam has announced a five-year plan under which industry would expand 15 percent per year. Since 1991, the country's industry has been expanding at nearly 14 percent yearly, generating significant employment and contributing to overall economic development. Don't expect democracy, though.

Job losses in retail and defence sectors, but British Airways is hiring (Sunday, 2/4/96)
The Times of London has several stories about jobs today. While 3,000 may be lost in some areas, 1,000 may be gained elsewhere.

Help for Minnesota women entrepreneurs (Sunday, 2/4/96)
Dick Youngblood, writing in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning, describes a series of workshops for women starting their own businesses. The four-part series will be held in April and will be conducted by three businesswomen, along with the Minnesota Entrepreneur's Club and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). Information is available at (612) 898-5645.

Clinton urges passage of health bill (Saturday, 2/3/96)
In his weekly radio address, President Clinton claims that the bipartisan health bill sponsored by Senators Kassebaum and Kennedy is being held up because of lobbying from the insurance industry. The bill would make it easier for many Americans to obtain health care coverage and also to keep it when changing jobs.

Court overturns Presidential order (Saturday, 2/3/96)
President Clinton issued an order last March prohibiting the federal government from doing business with companies that hire replacement workers during a strike. An appeals court has overturned that order.

Job cuts reach United Nations (Saturday, 2/3/96)
The United Nations is in a financial crisis that threatens bankruptcy. As a consequence, it has announced the largest personnel cuts in a half century. Up to 1,150 of its 14,000 staff positions may be cut.

Unemployment up, new jobs down (Friday, 2/2/96)
The U.S. Department of Labor was able to announce data for the previous month on time this time. No federal government shutdown, no paralyzing blizzard like last month to delay the statistics. However, last month's snowstorm in the eastern United States helped to drive down the number of new jobs created. Also, unemployment jumped from 5.6 percent in December to 5.8 in January. It's important to keep in mind that "unemployed" has a technical definition. Many persons who have been out of work for a long time are not counted, so the published rate is almost always an underestimate of employment distress. The Department of Labor is on the web.

Opposition to bipartisan health bill mobilizes (Friday, 2/2/96)
Business and insurance industry opposition is building to the bipartisan health initiative that President Clinton endorsed in his State of the Union speech. The bill would make it easier for people who change jobs to obtain group insurance, even if they have pre-existing conditions, and also easier for individuals to buy their own coverage. Here's the story .

Secretary of Education says there could be teacher layoffs (Friday, 2/2/96)
Up to 50,000 teachers could be laid off if Congress cuts Title I budgets 17% for the entire fiscal year, as it has done in a temporary spending measure. The program provides help to low-income students in more than 50,000 schools in poor communities.

Labor movement conference this weekend (Friday, 2/2/96)
A conference called "Rebuilding the Labor Movement" is being conducted this weekend at Macalaster College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Information is available at (612) 696-6371.

Hot jobs list published (Friday, 2/2/96)
The Minnesota Department of Economic Security has published a 48-page booklet forecasting what may lie ahead for 500 occupations in Minnesota. Among the occupations presently creating the most new jobs are retail salespersons, waiters, general office clerks, registered nurses, and home health aides. The report is available for $5.00 at Minnesota Department of Economic Security, 390 N. Robert St., St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 (USA). The department is on the web and its site may be of interest to persons in other regions.

Russian hunger strikers attempt to collect pay owed them (Thursday, 2/1/96)
University teachers in St. Petersburg, who have not been paid since November, have conducted a 5-day hunger strike in an attempt to collect wages owed them by the Russian government. The government has promised payment in early February.

More on the Russian economic situation (Thursday, 2/1/96)
David Hoffman, writing in the Washington Post, tells about "economic gridlock" in Russia. Unpaid debts, salaries, and taxes pervade the system. At a Siberian match factory, workers were given 5,000 boxes of matches each instead of money, and laid off for two weeks.

New deal with Russia to benefit American aircraft workers, Administration says (Thursday, 2/1/96)
Reuters reports on the new $1 billion aircraft trade agreement.

Some American farmers will benefit from wheat prices (Thursday, 2/1/96)
Self-employment has become increasingly treacherous during recent years, and, for American farmers, whose numbers have diminished tremendously during the post-War period, it's always been a roller coaster. However, wheat prices are at a 14-year high because of a major new purchase by China, plus unfavorable weather conditions in some parts of the Midwest. Russia may place a large order as well. Twenty years ago, following the Arab oil boycott, major Soviet oil discoveries, and a Soviet agricultural disaster, huge wheat purchases by the Soviet Union led to tremendous inflation of farm land values in the American Midwest. This, in turn, led to expansion and heavy debt loads for many farmers. When land prices deflated a few years later, large numbers of farmers were driven out of business. A new farm bill pending in Congress would produce the greatest changes in farm subsidies in more than a half century, but passage won't be swift.

Deluxe Corporation to close 21 plants, eliminate jobs (Thursday, 2/1/96)
Deluxe, the world's largest printer of checks, is adjusting to an information economy in which an increasing number of transactions are conducted electronically. Plants throughout much of the country will close, eliminating 3,000 jobs. However, the company plans to add 1,800 jobs at existing facilities as part of the consolidation. In the small world department, Heidi Roizen, founder of T/Maker, a leading software company, has joined ailing Apple Computer Corporation as a vice-president after selling her company to Deluxe. What is going on? We don't know either.

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