International press reports on life and work in the
revolutionary new world economy
NewWork News
Archives
Home

March 1996

Links included were live and functioning at time of publication.
They may not necessarily remain so, and this is not under our control.

Summary of economic statistics (Sunday, 3/31/96)
How are we doing? USA Today sums it up with a list of the latest economic indicators and statistics.

Catholic men still twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestant men, according to Irish report (Sunday, 3/31/96)
A new Fair Employment Commission report finds limited progress on jobs bias, according to the Irish Times.

Legislation to streamline job-training programs popular, but being held back (Sunday, 3/31/96)
Both the House and Senate have passed bills to bring more simplicity out of dozens of federal job training programs, and many, including the President and many Republicans in Congress, feel it's a step in the right direction during a period of downsizing. However, some provisions look like "big brother" to some conservative groups in Congress. Presidential politics is playing a role too. Here's the story from the New York Times.

Health care reform still not certain (Sunday, 3/31/96)
Legislation to help workers keep their health insurance when they change jobs or to obtain coverage, despite "pre-existing conditions" has passed the House and the Senate, and President Clinton wants to sign the right bill, so it's coming for sure, right? Don't be too sure, says U.S. News. It could all hang up again.

Social Security changes attached to debt bill (Saturday, 3/30/96)
President Clinton has signed a spending bill to keep the government operating, as well as a bill raising the debt ceiling so that the federal government will not default on its financial obligations. Attached to the latter is a measure that will gradually increase to more than $30,000 per year the amount that Social Security recipients can earn without losing benefits. The changes will be phased in and will reach the maximum allowable early in the next century. Reuters reports this story, as well as President Clinton's efforts to persuade Republican Congressional leaders to stop blocking a vote on an increase in the minimum wage.

Executive pay rose sharply in 1995 (Saturday, 3/30/96)
The New York Times reports on a preliminary survey suggesting that corporate executive compensation increased faster last year than at any time since the mid-'80's. Performance-based pay plans were put into operation in the '80's, and much of the top executive's pay now comes from stock options and other performance-related bonuses, rather than salary. Performance-based compensation may become more common throughout the economy. However, one possible problem in the case of top executives is that these programs provide powerful incentives for cutting jobs in order to improve their companies' bottom line. This, in turn, has tended to boost company stock prices from which executives will also benefit personally, if they have strong stock options. Overall, these programs may have reduced the extent to which corporations are effective integrated systems by putting the interests of executives at odds with the interests of other workers. It remains to be seen whether this will prove to be a "penny wise, pound foolish" policy in the long run. The Times has one of the better newspaper sites on the web. You must register, but, so far, at no cost.

Swiss canton of Bern cutting jobs in deficit battle (Saturday, 3/30/96)
Neue Zuercher Zeitung reports that the government of the canton of Bern will cut 900 jobs, mostly in administration and teaching areas.

Spending cuts in education produce strike (Saturday, 3/30/96)
Students and teachers marched Thursday in Liege, Belgium to protest budget cuts in education. Two policemen were injured. An April 2 strike is planned, according to Le Soir.

Japanese bank loses sex discrimination suit in England (Saturday, 3/30/96)
Fuji Bank must pay £81,000 to a former female employee who says that she was discriminated against in promotion and pay raises. She also alleges sexual harassment, according to The Times of London. Today's Times is on the web.

German public employees wage negotiations to begin (Saturday, 3/30/96)
Germany's public employees want a 4.5% pay increase and parity for workers in Eastern Germany. German Interior Minister Manfred Danther claims that the demand is not acceptable. Frankfurter Allgemeine and other German publications are carrying the story. Overall, the German economy has weakened during recent years, and unemployment has increased in the private sector.

Confusing American economy continues to confuse (Friday, 3/29/96)
How are we doing? Well, great, er, awful, er, well, it depends. Indicators continue to be mixed. Most news services this morning are reporting that the U.S. trade deficit has worsened significantly, while new home sales have slipped, and last week's new jobless claims were the highest since 1992. Here's Reuters' story on the trade deficit, and here's the same story from CNN Financial. Of course, there has been considerable good news and various optimistic forecasts during recent weeks too, so stay tuned.

Health insurance reform assisting workers seems to be on its way (Friday, 3/29/96)
President Clinton supports the Senate version of a bill that would make it easier for workers to retain their health insurance when changing jobs or to obtain insurance coverage, despite "pre-existing conditions." Now, the House of Representatives has passed a different version with provisions that might doom it to Presidential veto. Nonetheless, while the politicians are circling each other, some sort of change seems to be in the wind, but it's likely to be far more limited than national health insurance proposals that were debated only two years ago.

Japanese court rules that man was killed by overwork (Friday, 3/29/96)
Reuters reports that a man's family will receive a major court-ordered award in compensation for his suicide brought on by overwork. His employer has been held liable. Reuters also reports today on the failure of Senate Democrats in the U.S. to overcome Republican resistance to their proposal to raise the minimum wage. Some Republicans think that it's an election year effort to embarrass presidential candidate Bob Dole. In addition, here's a big story about a major sex-discrimination lawsuit involving a Florida corporation.

First Secretary Reich, now some in Congress want to offer incentives to corporations that are kind to employees (Friday, 3/29/96)
Some Democrats in both the House and the Senate think government promotion of "corporate responsibility" is a good idea. Corporations would like government to butt out, and it's not because they want to be "irresponsible," they say. It's part of the very old argument about the extent to which government should mess with market forces, and whether it's possible for government to do more good than harm when it tries.

Chinese agree to protect interests of workers brought to Hong Kong (Friday, 3/29/96)
Exploitation, extortion are alleged in relation to workers brought to Hong Kong to work on airport construction. The Hong Kong Standard has the story.

Office work has its hazards (Thursday, 3/28/96)
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune contains a "Health Notebook" piece by Gordon Slovut today about the physical hazards associated with spending many hours at a desk and keyboard. Traditionally, some occupations have been recognized as physically hazardous (e.g., fire fighter, police officer, iron worker), while others clearly have their psychological hazards (e.g., hospital emergency room worker, psychotherapist, social worker). The latter category contains people who deliberately put themselves into situations most persons try to avoid, suggesting that those work situations contain potentially toxic elements. However, as the Strib piece suggests, the information economy can cause health problems for its workers too. Slovut describes ten useful exercises to save your neck. Unfortunately, while the paper has a web site, this article isn't on it.

Social Security recipients may be able to earn more money soon (Thursday, 3/28/96)
A proposal in Congress, supported by President Clinton, would allow recipients, 65 and older, to earn up to $14,000 per year without a cut in their Social Security benefits. This would affect about 10 percent of current recipients, according to Jane Bryant Quinn in her latest nationally syndicated column.

Senate worker told to stop "babying" customers (Thursday, 3/28/96)
Reuters today reports that a Senate coffee shop cashier has been told to stop calling customers "baby" or "honey". Customer complained, she was transferred, she quit, Senators complained, and she's back. Reuters also has stories today on Hillary Clinton's Istanbul speech in support of women's rights, an increase in the weekly jobless rate, and employer use of online technologies to recruit students. Incidentally, Hillary told them that those countries in which women have higher economic status do better overall.

Goldwater says right-wing fanatics trying to wreck the Republican revolution (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
In a pro-con opinion piece distributed by the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post New Service, former Senator Barry Goldwater says that HIV-positive troops should not be discharged from the military. Rep. Robert Dornan, in a contrasting piece, says they should be. Goldwater has been critical of some of the more conservative Republican members of the House of Representatives. Thirty years ago, Goldwater himself was regarded as representing the extreme right wing of his party. The two columns are available on the St. Paul Pioneer Press web page.

Greenspan optimistic (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan expects the American economy to continue expanding and believes that inflation is not an immediate threat. Also, the Fed has decided to leave interest rates where they are for the time being, given that additional stimulus does not seem to be needed. A couple of weeks ago, expectations that interest rates would not be lowered led to a drop in the stock market following reports of larger than expected job growth.

Democrats hit obstacle on minimum wage (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
Senate Democrats have made increasing the minimum wage a high election year priority, but Senate Majority leader Bob Dole, fresh from securing the Republican presidential nomination, has blocked Democratic demands for an immediate vote on the measure.

Is pension money looking for you? (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
Settlement of a class action suit brought against the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has resulted in a search for approximately 40,000 workers who may be eligible for a portion of $100 million from pension plans terminated between 1976 and 1981. Information is available at (800) 316-8857.

Jesuits wonder about affirmative action (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
The March 16 edition of America contains an article called "Can affirmative action be saved?" It says that if California still leads the way for the rest of the nation, we can look forward to fewer opportunities from now on, not more. Of particular concern are Proposition 187, passed in 1994, which would deny public schooling to the children of illegal immigrants, and next fall's referendum that would abolish all state-sponsored affirmative action. A federal judge has issued an injunction blocking the implementation of Proposition 187, but the issue may end up in the Supreme Court and could go into effect later. Should some sort of government-sponsored programs exist to provide opportunities for society's disadvantaged, and can such programs be provided in the present political climate, the authors ask? Yes and yes, are their answers. Both Biblical tradition and the political tradition begun with the Declaration of Independence require the existence of opportunities, and the sort of pragmatic experimentation proposed by Jack Kemp can be done. Kemp has referred to himself as a "bleeding heart conservative." America is published by the Jesuits in the United States and Canada. The publication does not appear to be on the web.

South African prosperity no time soon (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
The March-April edition of Foreign Affairs contains a major article by R. Stephen Brent, called "Tough road to prosperity." He says that the political miracle that has occurred in that country may not be followed by a similarly impressive economic miracle. Black unemployment is staggeringly high, and citizens must be convinced to support structural changes in the economy, a strengthening of education, heavy investment in infrastructure, and affirmative action.

Self-employment on rise in the U.S. (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
The January-February edition of the Monthly Labor Review, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, contains articles on measuring self-employment in the U.S., as well as overviews of bargaining in 1996 and state labor, worker's comp, and unemployment insurance changes during 1995. One in 11 American workers were self-employed in 1994. The Department of Labor is on the web.

Some details on the gender gap (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
A special edition of Ms magazine (Vol. 6, No. 5), contains an article on the wage gap with considerable statistics comparing women's earnings with men's earnings across races, nationalities, education levels, and other variable. MS magazine has a web site, but it does not duplicate the magazine's content.

Are you among the newly privileged? (Wednesday, 3/27/96)
The March edition of the Reader's Digest tells about the new privileged class in America: people on public pensions. Public sector pensions are contrasted with those in the private sector. The general conclusion is that public pensions are better, and that we need to do something about it. Weaken the public pensions, that is.

Clinton gets AFL-CIO endorsement, despite NAFTA (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
Reuters and nearly everyone else this morning is reporting that President Clinton has received the earliest endorsement ever offered a presidential candidate by the AFL-CIO. The Teamsters union holds back. The AFL-CIO has also approved its plan to raise funds from members to launch the most aggressive and costly attempt in a half century to elect politicians friendly to labor. The union expects to spend $35 million during the campaign. Reuters also has stories this morning on an international survey showing people would like to see more women in government while preferring men as bosses at work, the British Foreign Minister's effort to gain more access to Polish markets, and U.S. Labor Secretary Reich's campaign to shut down "slave-like" sweatshops.

Mixed interpretations of German election outcomes (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
Frankfurter Allgemeine reports today that German Chancellor Helmut Kohl believes that Sunday's elections provide a mandate for the policies of the Christian Democrat and Free Democrat coalition. However, labor leaders are less enthusiastic, saying that the elections were a setback for the "Alliance for Jobs," an attempt to build a labor-industry consensus on unemployment and competitiveness. This story is reported in the Frankfurter Rundschau.

Fewer manufacturing jobs now, and education is the key (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
Mike Meyers and Jill Hodges, writing for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune this morning, say that, while more than a million fewer people work in manufacturing in the U.S. now, compared to a quarter century ago, Minnesota has gained manufacturing jobs. A highly educated work force that keeps its skills current seems to make the difference. Necessary skill levels have escalated considerably during recent years, and more sophisticated workers need more sophisticated preparation. Technical institutes have shed their "trade school" image as places where people who aren't college material go. Instead of a "consolation prize," technical training is hot now, and technical school student populations include many persons who already have college degrees. While all are critical to America's future, we believe that education for work and education for living/citizenship will become increasingly separate during the years ahead. Minneapolis' largest newspaper is on the web, but this story isn't. The paper, but not the web site, also contains an opinion piece by Marjorie Kelly this morning saying that workers should matter as much as stockholders. The economy is doing well for the latter but not so good for the former, she says. The primacy of property rights has a long history, but the rights of property should not be unlimited. It isn't only the welfare of property owners that matters. Even in the 1700s, that attitude proved intolerable, according to Kelly.

France's forecasts less optimistic (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
Le Figaro reports that the French government now expects only half as much economic growth during the year as originally forecast, but expects 1997 to be better. Observers now doubt that they will be able to cut deficits.

Times editorial sees more conflict ahead over "outsourcing" (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
The GM strike is over, but it was only a warm up, according to a New York Times editorial. This particular strike was about buying component parts from outside contractors, a practice regarded as highly threatening to union workers. Of course, the same issues apply in relation to other work needed in the manufacture of products. The Dayton settlement was not a clear-cut victory for either side, according to the Times. The issues have not been settled. Stay tuned.

Quinn says best to "tinker" with Social Security (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
Jane Bryant Quinn, in her nationally syndicated column, describes the alternative proposals for fixing Social Security offered by the Advisory Council on Social Security. The Committee will offer rescue proposals to President Clinton this spring. These range from rebuilding the whole system to "tinkering" with it to fix it. Quinn favors the latter. She says, contrary to the widespread expectations of young people, Social Security will be around and paying them when they retire, but it will be different.

Are wages really declining? (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
Economist Timothy Taylor says that, in general, wages, including benefits, have not been going down, despite press reports and political rhetoric. Author David Morris says, maybe so, but lower-wage workers are being left in the dust. You'll find the contrasting views on the St. Paul Pioneer Press' opinion page as well as on their web site, if you're a subscriber.

American blacks debate Farrakhan's support of Sudan's government (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
The New York Times reports that Louis Farrakhan's claim that "40 million American Muslims stand with Sudan" is causing angry debate in the U.S. because of Sudan's apparent acquiescence to a black slave trade. Slavery was legal in parts of the United States until it was outlawed 130 years ago by the 13th Amendment to the American Constitution. Several other Western nations outlawed slavery earlier than the U.S.

Toyota workers return to work in South Africa (Tuesday, 3/26/96)
South Africa's Business Day reports that 6,000 National Union of Metalworkers members will return to work after striking because of a profit sharing plan. The plan will be scrapped as part of the agreement with Toyota.

Dole challenges Clinton on affirmative action (Monday, 3/25/96)
Presidential candidate Bob Dole has announced his support for the California Civil Rights Initiative that would ban race and gender preferences in "state hiring, contracting, and college admissions," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Proponents of the measure claim that selections should be based only on merit, and that affirmative action amounts to reverse discrimination, particularly at this late date. Many critics, on the other hand, claim that the traditional system isn't really merit-based at all, and that the real reason the initiative's supporters are opposed to affirmative action is that they want to perpetuate traditional Caucasian male economic and social dominance in what is in reality an increasingly diverse society.

Along these lines, in his nationally syndicated column this time, New York Times writer Anthony Lewis says that a recent court ruling saying that the University of Texas law school "may not use race as a factor" in admissions sanctions inequality at our universities. We do have "affirmative action for the privileged," he says. Lewis' column is distributed by the New York Times New Service and is available on the St. Paul Pioneer Press web site. The same edition contains contrasting views on the growing controversy over faculty tenure at universities. University of Minnesota professor John Adams says that job security is needed in order to insure academic freedom. Minnesota State Representative Becky Kelso says that tenure and academic freedom are not synonymous, and there is no alternative but to downsize the current university system. Most full stories on the Pioneer Press' web site now require the payment of a subscription fee.

Russian meteorologists strike (Monday, 3/25/96)
According to USA Today, meteorologists in the far eastern portion of Russia near Vladivostok have gone on strike for three days to protest their not having been paid since December. Much of Russia has been in economic gridlock. The Russian government has been slow to pay government workers because tax collections have been equally sluggish.

Labor shortage at sea (Monday, 3/25/96)
The recent effort by China to intimidate Taiwanese voters and influence the presidential election in that country by carrying on military exercises in the Taiwan strait has not handicapped the Hong Kong fishing industry, according to spokesmen. However, a shortage of young people willing to adopt the hard life of a fisherman has been dampening the fishing industry for a long time. The Hong Kong Standard has reported the story. Hong Kong will live under Chinese rule after Britain returns the colony to China in less than a year and a half. China's strong opposition to growing democracy in Taiwan, as well as Taiwan's increasing efforts to assert its sovereignty diplomatically, has led many Hong Kong residents to expect the worst after July 1997. Sunday, the Preparatory Committee decided to discontinue the elected Legislative Council next year. Governor Patten calls it "a black day for democracy in Hong Kong."

Irish nurses will vote on productivity deal (Monday, 3/25/96)
The Irish Times reports that 26,000 nurses will vote on a plan that would significantly increase incomes over the next 15 months. The Times also reports that Korean-owned Daewoo will add 330 new jobs at its Antrim plant.

Information about a career in laser technology (Monday, 3/25/96)
The Detroit News reports on what you can expect. Also, check Doreen Benson's column in the News for some specifics on how delaying your retirement can affect your Social Security benefits.

U.K.'s Labour Party would offer tax incentives to encourage investment in training (Monday, 3/25/96)
Individuals and companies would receive tax breaks to help with the cost of job training in a future Labour government. The Electronic Telegraph has the story. In the United States, Secretary of Labor Reich has proposed tax breaks for corporations to encourage job security and training. The Telegraph also has a story today about Barclay Bank's plan to eliminate 1,000 branch managerial and clerical jobs. Another cut of 500 jobs was announced a week ago.

Worker concerns gain momentum as campaign issue (Sunday, 3/24/96)
President Clinton has urged corporate leaders to adopt an attitude of responsibility toward workers, in particular health and pension plans that are "portable;' i.e., that can be taken along when workers change jobs. Traditionally, business leaders have felt that their responsibility is to make money for company stockholders, not take over the role of other societal institutions. Pat Buchanan has been behaving as though he has either discovered or invented the worker anxiety issue, and Bob Dole has said that he's surprised it has become such a hot concern in the campaign.

In part, this is because public perceptions aren't fully consistent with the measured realities, but this is nothing new. Ask people about nearly any issue, including those about which the facts are solid and clear, and you will find great diversity of beliefs and opinions, often with majorities believing the opposite of the facts. For instance, polls during recent years have shown that many Americans have been perceiving these years as the period of most rapid crime growth in the United States, but the facts are quite different. It did help explain why crime suddenly became a major issue among politicians, though. In a democracy, particularly, politicians, in effect, try to determine which way the crowd is already moving, and, then, run out in front shouting, "Follow me, I'm your leader."

Flash! Republicans and Democrats disagree on economy during campaign year (Sunday, 3/24/96)
Differing interpretations of the American economy's current state are presented at forum.

World's largest free trade zone by 2005? (Sunday, 3/24/96)
According to Reuters, a meeting of U.S. and Latin American trade reps in Columbia ends with a commitment to form the Free Trade Area of the Americas within less than ten years. It would be the world's largest, dwarfing NAFTA and free trade arrangements in Europe. It was not reported whether Pat Buchanan is experiencing indigestion. Reuters also reports that while the AFL-CIO expects to spend $35 million on the election campaign, it's not clear how much support it will offer Clinton, given his position on NAFTA. Also, while the union has announced that it will support Democratic candidates for Congress, many of its members have voted Republican in recent elections. Guess where the $35 million will have to be raised. Neither party can take union members for granted anymore, it seems.

Spanish bank moves executives around to increase efficiency and competitiveness (Sunday, 3/24/96)
Three-hundred senior executives in Caja de Madrid, Spain's second-largest savings bank, will be moved to different jobs within the company in order to shake up the status quo and improve operations, according to Cinco Dias.

Continued austerity in Greece (Sunday, 3/24/96)
Greece's new Prime Minister Costas Simitis has announced that the government's hard-line economic policy will continue for two years, despite public opposition, in order to make the country competitive in global markets, according to the Athens News.

Korean students selected for travel overseas (Sunday, 3/24/96)
The LG Group will select 200 South Korean university students for fully paid two-week trips to the overseas destination of their choice in order to "open the eyes of the younger generation to the newly emerging world in every aspect of society." The students will travel in groups of four. The same sort of program was conducted last year. South Korea's economy has grown enormously during recent years, and, with it, the country's international role. The country has a large and growing middle-class and a highly educated workforce. The Korean Times reports the story.

Massachusetts unemployment down (Saturday, 3/23/96)
Not so many years ago, it appeared that the Northeast was in permanent decline with all the economic activity that mattered heading for the "sun belt." However, February's unemployment rate in Massachusetts has dipped to a six year low. Employment numbers have been similarly encouraging in Michigan and other areas of what used to be called "the rust belt." However, long-term structural issues are still of primary importance.

Not just men's work anymore (Saturday, 3/23/96)
USA Today and most other news sources in the United States today are reporting that Sgt. Heather Johnsen has become the first woman to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

It's for sure: GM and UAW settle (Friday, 3/22/96)
Seventeen days ago, two brake plants in Dayton put the brakes on all of General Motors, but things will be rolling again soon. UAW members will have to vote on the settlement, but approval is expected. It may still be a week or so before factories are humming again, though. Unlike some of its cars, the GM colossus cannot go from a standing start to top speed in only seconds. This morning's Wall Street Journal contains an article saying that folks in Dayton, where it all started, are saying that the strike wasn't really all that painful there, while yesterday's Journal tells about how GM's benefit package gives competitors the edge. Lornet Turnbull, in an insightful analysis this morning for the Knight-Ridder News Service, says that the GM walkout is just one battle in a much larger war which is about protecting jobs. General Motors still lags behind other auto makers in productivity and technology, he says.

Health bill gains momentum (Friday, 3/22/96)
A bipartisan bill that would make it easier for workers to keep health insurance when they change jobs or obtain it, despite "preexisting conditions," when they lose jobs, is gaining strength, according to yesterday's Wall Street Journal and most news services this morning. President Clinton is pushing it as an alternative to his ambitious plan of two years ago which would have essentially rebuilt the American health care delivery system from scratch. However, many observers have felt that, while the present system needs patching, it doesn't need rebuilding. It is not so much a health care crisis as a health care cost crisis, and society is scrambling to find ways to contain costs. Among these efforts are HMOs and the adjustments being made by insurance companies. These are not the problem, but, instead, efforts to respond to the problem, and we can expect both victims and beneficiaries of the sorting-out process. It seems to us that the community has an obligation to regulate the system in a way that can contribute to the common good, and this is another example of the inextricable relationship between a society's politics and its economics. Millions of Americans are without health coverage, but the majority of Americans do have health insurance, and most of those who have it report that they like what they have.

Job loss fears in Austria as well (Friday, 3/22/96)
Austria's Salzburger Nachrichten reports that labor unions are resisting government attempts to loosen restrictive labor laws in order to reduce inefficiency and overstaffing. Unions favor reducing the work week to layoffs.

Seven-day work week in mines (Friday, 3/22/96)
South Africa's Business Day reports that some of the country's largest gold mining companies will move to full operations in order to increase output and profits. The paper also reports that Toyota and the National Union of Metalworkers are arguing about a profit sharing plan. A strike has closed the Durban Toyota factory for about three weeks. Mediators have been called in.

German economy may still be shrinking (Friday, 3/22/96)
German Finance Minister Theo Waigel says that there may be more bad news during the first quarter, following a .4 percent reduction in the size of the German economy during the fourth quarter last year. He's announced a plan to shrink the budget deficit, according to the Frankfurter Rundschau.

New York company hit with INS fine (Friday, 3/22/96)
We reported Wednesday on the San Francisco Chronicle's series on the apparent widespread employment of illegal aliens with impunity in California. However, the Immigration and Naturalization Service yesterday fined Colin Cares Inc. $1.5 million. The company was cited for many instances of knowingly hiring illegal aliens, as well as for not keep employment records required by law. The Administration has announced stepped up efforts to control illegal immigration, and the House passed an immigrant control bill yesterday.. The issue has become a major one in the presidential campaign. Candidate Pat Buchanan has been particularly outspoken on this issue.

Hawaii offers help to laid off bus workers (Friday, 3/22/96)
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports that workers laid off by the shutdown of Gray Line Hawaii will have their unemployment claims processed faster if they attend a job assistance meeting today.

Californians feeling better (Friday, 3/22/96)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a slight majority of voters in California approach the election season with more optimism about the economy. The California economy has had hard times for several years, but appears to be rebounding, and forecasters are saying that it will surge during the years ahead and help lead the world into the 21st century.

Parent group lobbies Congress on behalf of gays in the workplace (Friday, 3/22/96)
Demonstrators seek a federal law making it illegal to discriminate against homosexuals in the workplace. "When your child is gay or lesbian, their fundamental right to earn a living can be denied," says Mitzi Henderson, president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Job hunting online (Friday, 3/22/96)
Susan Jackson of Money Daily offers tips on how to search for a job with your computer.

Japan's trade balance slips into the red (Friday, 3/22/96)
For the first time in five years, Japan's balance of trade in goods and services fell, according the nation's Finance Ministry. The story is in the Japan Times, and a tiny bit is on the web.

Good news and bad news in the Michigan economy (Friday, 3/22/96)
The Detroit News reports that Michigan's unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent last month, the lowest since records started more than twenty-five years ago. However, the state continues to lose manufacturing jobs. Michigan is one of America's largest industrial states and contains the core of the American automobile industry.

British army faces manpower shortage (Friday, 3/22/96)
Growing pay gap between officers and other ranks seems to be discouraging choice of military service for many.

Here are 50 hot little towns (Friday, 3/22/96)
Money Magazine lists 50 smaller towns where jobs are booming. Comparative data are presented, and the whole thing's on the web.

Fortune offers help on living with layoffs (Friday, 3/22/96)
The April 1 edition of Fortune magazine contains a major cover story on "living with layoffs," and asks how secure your job is.

Economists discretely silent, until now (Friday, 3/22/96)
Steven Pearlstein, writing in the Washington Post, says that while talk of downsizing has been nearly everywhere, economists have not done much of it until lately. Reason: economic data reflecting rates at which workers lose or change jobs have been relatively constant for sometime, when controlled for confounding variables. However, it appears that the cuts we've read about on the front page are beginning to influence the fundamental economic statistics, suggesting that all this may not simply be business as usual after all. Of course, the new economy isn't just about corporate restructuring. It's also about the nature of work, the kinds of new jobs that are replacing old, worker buying power, and many other issues. Also, the past is guide to the future only to the extent that we can expect the future to resemble the past. If we are entering a qualitatively new economic period, indicators and measures fashioned in the old economy should be less relevant, as may actuarial approaches to prediction, which are based on past experience and the assumption of stable underlying conditions. A classic example is the traditional way of measuring unemployment in the United States. If you've given up and stop looking for work, you're not "unemployed" anymore and you're no longer counted. Instead, you're "not in the labor force."

Insurance for mean bosses? (Friday, 3/22/96)
Bloomberg Business News reports that companies can now insure themselves for up to $100 million to cover legal costs or settlements arising from job discrimination, sexual harassment, or wrongful firing suits. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., are offering the policies.

New Frost book appears to be available (Friday, 3/22/96)
Professor Carl Frost's newest book, Changing Forever, has been published by Michigan State University Press, and here's a brief description. Fortunately, the publisher has taken advantage of the occasion to release Frost's classic The Scanlon Plan for Organization Development in paperback as well. See our story on the GM strike below for more information.

Layoff notices go out to 1/4 of Minnesota's technical college teachers (Thursday, 3/21/96)
More than 550 technical college faculty will receive layoff notices, according to both the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Twenty-four technical programs are being eliminated. This is a shocker to all except those who have seen a revolution in higher education on the horizon for years. In this case, severe budget problems, combined with declining enrollments, have conspired to make significant reductions in an over-built system necessary. Minnesota recently combined its technical colleges, community colleges, and state universities into a single enormous system crying out for additional reorganization and simplification, even under the best of circumstances. Among other things, there have been far too many campuses, given the state's relatively modest population, which is smaller than several American cities. Many of the faculty receiving layoff notices will end up keeping their jobs for the time being, but administrators are legally required to give notice in order to provide flexibility, should additional major layoffs become necessary when the budgetary dust settles. Some observers expect layoffs on the community college and state university campuses as well. Of the two papers, the Pioneer Press has the more highly developed web site, but they've begun charging a fee for full access to stories. Some are still available for free, however.

"Woe is me generation" puts downsizing on the front page (Thursday, 3/21/96)
Unemployment has gone down, but there is an uproar about job security. The reason? According to Washington Post writer James Glassman, it's because the baby boomers are turning fifty. This is the generation that has believed itself to be the first to "suffer pangs of moral conscience, fall in love, or work long hours," he says. The press and government have discovered job insecurity, in large part, because boomers occupy high positions in the press and in government. Glassman's column is syndicated throughout the United States by the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service. Glassman also hosts public television's "Technopolitics."

Too much Internet play at work (Thursday, 3/21/96)
Marc Gunther, writing for the Knight-Ridder News Service this morning, says that the use of company computers and Internet connections for personal purposes has reached epidemic proportions, and employers are striking back. High-tech has made it possible to waste time on the job more efficiently than ever before.

Better pay needed for women around the world (Thursday, 3/21/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press's Susan Barbieri writes that women who attended the big women's conference in Beijing last year are saying that, in addition to worldwide violence against women and other forms of victimization, a key need is decent pay for work performed. The story's on the paper's web site.

Gap widens during the '90's (Thursday, 3/21/96)
The Los Angeles Times reports on a major study indicating that the gap between rich and poor in the United States has continued to widen during the decade so far, despite continued economic expansion. Labor economist Lynn Karoly of the Rand Corporation authored the report. To our knowledge the Times is not yet on the web.

Sweeny heads new approach (Thursday, 3/21/96)
The Economist reports that John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, occasionally talking like Pat Buchanan about the income gap, job insecurity, executive pay, and stock prices, says that the unions' 13 million members may no longer be enough to launch influential strikes, but can be enough to swing votes. He notes that the Christian Coalition, with only about a million members, has moved the Republican Party in the direction of its views on abortion and school prayer. As a consequence, the union will emphasize political action.

Appeals court rejects Texas law school admissions policy (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
The University of Texas law school can no longer tilt its admissions in favor of blacks and Hispanics. Officials fear it may be the beginning of the end of affirmative action.

Oakland teachers returning to classrooms (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
The five-week strike of teachers in Oakland, California is over. New contract is approved. Teachers pleased to be rejoining students in the classrooms.

Unemployment drop in Hong Kong may be misleading, according to official (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
An Executive Councillor is quoted by the Hong Kong Standard as saying that short-term fluctuations, such as the recent drop in unemployment, may not show the whole picture. Hong Kong faces an historic transition as it prepares to return to Chinese sovereignty in about sixteen months.

Major series on illegal immigration and employment begins (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
The San Francisco Chronicle publishes a three-part series on the Immigration and Naturalization Service and employers. Illegals are widely employed in California, according to the stories, and most employers seem to have little to fear, given lax enforcement.

Young people don't have it easy in the UK, according to report (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
The British Youth Council has released a report showing that unemployment and falling pay levels are taking their toll on Britain's young people, despite better educational standards. The story is in the Electronic Telegraph, and it is on the web. The Telegraph also reports that, while the Japanese economy is recovering, it will be "jobless and joyless" for most ordinary Japanese people. The revolutionary new world economy simply requires less raw materials, less energy, and less labor in the production of many products, and many industrialized countries are finding the adjustments to be unnerving.

Any job you like, kid, so long as it's auto worker (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
"School-to-work" programs in Detroit are under attack because they steer children toward work in the auto industry by an early age, no matter where their hearts may be, according to critics. The Detroit News has the story. The News also has stories today on uncertainties about unemployment benefits for workers furloughed by the GM strike and the demise of McLouth Steel Products Corporation, leaving 1,300 jobless.

The web as an employment resource (Wednesday, 3/20/96)
The New York Times has stories in its Job Market section on the use of the web in preparing for retirement, on-line career mentors, and job hunting. Also, their important seven-part series, "The Downsizing of America," is still available on their web site. You'll have to register in order to read the Times stories, but they aren't charging yet.

Clinton defends trade agreements (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
President Clinton, in an apparent response to Pat Buchanan, says that trade agreements signed by his administration have created jobs. Reuters has the story. Reuters also reports that the European Union may join Canada in a transatlantic free-trade zone. The Financial Times reports on progress toward the creation of the world's largest free trade zone, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), as the world continues to reorganize economically at all levels. The Financial Times also has a story about U.S. industrial production exceeding forecasts, as the American economy seems to pick up steam.

U.S.- China relations get frostier, and it could affect trade (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
There have been various issues on which the U.S. and China have been in conflict recently, but the most serious at the moment seems to involve China's threatening behavior toward Taiwan. Reuters reports that the two countries are exchanging warnings as China objects to U.S. displays of military power in the region and continues its own displays. Reuters also reports that the U.S. might revoke China's favored trade status. China is going ahead with a big wheat purchase, though.

Chrysler Chairman Eaton defends corporations (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
Speaking to the Economic Club of Detroit, Chrysler's Chairman claims that business has been unfairly criticized for emphasizing profits at the expense of jobs. In other stories, most manufacturers expect to maintain employment near current levels, and top executives receive huge pay boosts following $10 billion merger. Last week, AT&T announced that it would lay off fewer workers than originally announced at the beginning of the year.

Summer job can lead to career (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram contains a story on careers that began with summer jobs. You'll have to register to read it, and the paper eventually intends to charge a fee, but they'll provide warning ahead of time. The Star-Telegram also has stories on asking the right questions in a termination interview, student internships, and research into reasons for the rise in absenteeism. Also, check out Carol Kleiman's Q&A formatted column on the job market. You don't need to register to read this one.

Agreement in defense of migrants (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
Reuters reports on a meeting of the U.S., Canada, and eight Latin American nations. Reuters also has a story about Zimbabwe's president shaking up white-owned business in that country as well as a story about how slowing growth of the U.S. workforce may prevent further spectacular job gains. Last week, it was announced that far more new jobs had been created than had been forecast, which led to a drop in the stock market. Reason: it was expected that this would mean no imminent decrease in interest rates. The interests of workers and stockholders have been in apparent conflict frequently lately. For instance, corporate layoffs have often resulted in increased stock prices.

Government is outsourcing too (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
The New York Times reports that while the federal payroll has diminished, as claimed by politicians, costs for outside contract workers have been rising. The private sector has been relying more on contract workers and less on permanent employees too.

Union workers more likely to collect unemployment benefits (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports today on University of Minnesota business professor John Budd's research indicating that blue collar union members are 23% more likely to collect unemployment benefits for which they are eligible than laid off non-union members. The difference seems to be that unions help members navigate the system. The paper also contains an opinion piece by University of Minnesota economics professor John Brandl in which he credits Pat Buchanan for calling public attention to the current economic dilemma in which the fruits of economic growth are not appropriately shared. Also, check today's Star-Tribune for a story by Warren Wolfe on the anxiety that baby boomers are experiencing about retirement. The federal government is developing a program to provide information and advice. You can read this story on the St. Paul Pioneer Press web site, but they've recently started charging. The Star-Tribuine is on the web, but this story isn't.

Loyalty not rewarded in the new economy (Tuesday, 3/19/96)
Marilyn Geewax, writing for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, says in her opinion piece today that, while corporations used to feel that worker loyalty was in their best interest, the contemporary corporation discourages it. She says workers need to prepare for the next downsizing, and business is simply being realistic, not cruel. Geewax's column is syndicated throughout the United States by the New York Times News Service.

More strike news (Thursday, 3/7/96)
General Motors says that the United Auto Workers walkout in Dayton has not affected its other plants yet. Also, demonstrators are arrested in front of the Detroit News building in the long Detroit newspaper strike. Not all labor news is about conflict, however. Disney settles with the Writer's Guild.

Ford expands layoff plans (Thursday, 3/7/96)
Michigan may be preparing for major hiring in the automotive industry over the next seven years, but Reuters reports that Ford is planning to eliminate 3,000 contract positions as part of a total reduction of 6,000 engineering jobs, as reported by the New York Times the other day. A reduction of 28 percent of personnel-related product development costs are planned. Reuters also has stories about Chairman Greenspan's advice for small banks during the information age and the Senate Labor Committee's approval of workplace safety changes.

A "nut" needed to bring fairness issue out (Thursday, 3/7/96)
Robert Reno, in his Newsday column today says issues of economic fairness and job insecurity aren't new; they've been developing for years. Liberals have been reluctant to talk too much about these things in the present climate for fear of being dismissed as, well, "too liberal." However, Patrick Buchanan need not fear that label, and has put the issues on the political agenda by pretending he's just invented them. Reno's column is syndicated throughout the United States.

University tenure systems under pressure (Thursday, 3/7/96)
Achieving tenure on a university faculty used to mean employment for life, even if the earth leaves its orbit, but changes are in the wind. Several universities have altered their tenure systems to allow tenured professors to be laid off if their departments or programs are abolished. The issue is a hot one right now at the University of Minnesota.

German unemployment at new high (Thursday, 3/7/96)
A number of factors have come together to boost German unemployment, according to the Financial Times. The German government had forecast 1.5 percent growth in the economy this year, but that's becoming doubtful.

Famed MIT economist says democratic institutions threatened (Thursday, 3/7/96)
Lester Thurow says that the American economic and political systems are in peril because of encroaching unfairness and inequality. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has the story on the web as reported by Mike Meyers, their national economics correspondent.

Government agrees not to peek while employers put money back (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
Unlike bank accounts, there is no government insurance protecting employee 401(k) retirement savings, and it appears that employers have been dipping into these funds at a rather dramatic rate. The U.S. Department of Labor, in order to save the cost of suing or prosecuting a large number of cases, has granted amnesty to employers who have been raiding the cookie jar, if they put the money back by the end of the summer. Reuters will tell you more. The world's largest wire service also has stories on the web this morning on continuing human rights abuses in China, despite dramatic economic growth and improvement in many persons' living standards, a commitment by Senators from both parties to fight amendments to the proposed Kassebaum-Kennedy health bill, Senate Labor Committee approval of changes in the enforcement of worker safety rules, and healthy improvement in the U.S. manufacturing sector during January.

Senator Kerry under fire from the Irish National Caucus (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
The Boston Globe reports that a Washington-based lobbying group is critical of Senator Kerry as it attempts to protect the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland by influencing U.S. companies doing business there through the so-called MacBride Principles. Kerry says he supports the principles. Also, the Globe's On the Job section this time contains several stories, including one about asking the right questions in an interview in order to get the job you want, another about seniority in the Teamsters not necessarily being a guarantee, and another about nurses reducing their hours in order to keep their jobs.

Zyuganov vows to end poverty if he wins Russian presidency (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
Russian Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov appears to be the front-runner, according to polls, and may defeat Boris Yeltsin in the Russian presidential election. The Irish Times reports the details.

Restructuring impacts on entire communities (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
The New York Times continues its 7-part series, "The Downsizing of America" today, with Dayton, Ohio's story as an example of how communities are being affected by the historic economic transformation. Here's an overview of the entire series, including access to previous days' stories.

Help in how to avoid behaving like a predator (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
The London Times reports on guidelines drawn up to help solicitors (one kind of lawyer in the UK) learn how to avoid being accused of sexual harassment. There were many allegations of sexual harassment last year in the Law Society's headquarters.

Greenspan says growth is underestimated (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
Bloomberg reports that Federal Research Board Chairman Alan Greenspan feels that inflation is under control and government reports may be understating real growth. Increases in productivity arising from increased use of computer equipment and reductions in the workforce should keep prices from rising.

Downsizing isn't new, but there's fallout just the same (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
Susan Dentzer, writing in the March 11 edition of U.S. News, quotes economists as saying that the American economy has always created more jobs than it has destroyed over time, but, while the economy "thrives on turbulence, humans don't." Current job losses are more visible because it is older, better educated workers that are affected now rather than blue collar people whose situations may have been given less attention by the media in times past. The whole story's on the web.

Rifkin says political re-thinking necessary (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
Writing in the current edition of The Nation, Jeremy Rifkin discusses civil society in the information age. He says technology is bringing about a fundamental transformation in the nature of work, workerless factories, and virtual companies. A reconsideration of the nature of citizenship is necessary, he thinks. We look at Rifkin's latest book on our Reviews page.

Intimate relationships in the new economy (Wednesday, 3/6/96)
The March edition of Ebony magazine contains an article called "What happens when the woman makes more than the man?" A number of interesting case studies are presented.

Reconsider downsizing, Prez sez (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
President Clinton, speaking in Michigan, one of America's principal industrial states, asked corporate leaders to think again about the long-term consequences of cutting jobs for short-term gain. Deserved or not, American business has had a reputation for having a short attention span; for instance, wanting to invest only in those things which can influence profits within the few quarters just ahead. It may be the American emphasis on immediate gratification. Also, deserved or not, Japanese corporations, on the other hand, have been seen as planning for the long haul, even to the point of developing plans for the 21st century many years ago. Clinton will also insist on more money for education and the environment, threatening to allow another governmental shutdown if Congress doesn't go along.

Study says most Central Americans live in poverty (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
Reuters reports that research conducted by a Costa Rican organization finds that 7 of 10 persons in Central America, most of them women, live in poverty, and that poverty in the region is growing faster than the population. Reuters also reports this morning that the new Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, intends major economic and labor changes. The Australian financial markets surge in response.

A legal right to life, liberty, and cappuccino (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
An Italian court agrees that workers are entitled to a morning coffee break.

Politician wants to slow imports in order to protect domestic industries (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
Russia's President Yeltsin complains that Western countries are flooding Russian markets, while maintaining barriers to the inportation of Russian textiles.

Free markets make a beginning in North Korea (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
A disastrous harvest in North Korea has caused widespread hunger, possibly even famine in some areas. The North Korean government is now allowing limited free market activity for the first time, letting people "fend for themselves," which may simply be another indicator of growing chaos in the country. Some experts believe that North Korea is beginning the sort of collapse that occurred in formerly communist parts of Eastern Europe several years ago. Concern is that it could happen too quickly and destabilize the region. The economic contrast between North Korea and South Korea is stunning. North Korea's economy is catastrophic, while South Korea is a modern industrial power with the 15th largest economy in the world and a large, prosperous middle class.

New York Times series continues (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
The New York Times continues its important series on the "downsizing of America" today, with articles about the impact of corporate restructuring on white collar and blue collar families. Here's an overview of the entire Times series, including access to the previous days' articles.

Reports from Iran (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
The Iran Business Digest contains stories on increases in salaries and the overall economic outlook in the country.

Doubts and suspicions removed, according to Malaysian PM (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
The Star reports that the Malay Prime Minister has responded to a book claiming a Chinese conspiracy to control Southeast Asian trade. The same edition contains a story about a government plan to provide financial assistance to injured workers.

Internet used by union organizers (Tuesday, 3/5/96)
The tenure system at the University of Minnesota is threatened as part of the impending revolution in academe, and union organizers are trying to recruit faculty through use of e-mail and the Internet. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has the story on the web.

Times reports on the "downsizing of America" (Monday, 3/4/96)
In their Sunday edition yesterday, the New York Times began a major new series on the transformation of the American economy, including the dramatically altered job scene. Several stories are included in the initial installments of the 7-part series. Not to be missed, and you won't have to miss it, because it's all on the web. Here's today's story about how the corporation is more a dysfunctional family than a big happy one now. Here's an overview of the entire series, including access to yesterday's stories.

Doing what needs to be done (Monday, 3/4/96)
A "skills gap" is threatening the American economy, according to many experts, including Fed head, Alan Greenspan. Many employers are having increasing difficulty finding people who have the necessary skills, and this is holding down earnings of many middle-class workers. A description of the growing problem can be found in a CNN Financial story on the web. Too many persons, including highly educated persons, are well-prepared to work in the old economy, rather than the new, we think, and the higher education establishment won't be much help unless or until many institutions bring themselves up to at least the 18th or 19th century in the way they conduct their own affairs. We're betting that the higher ed establishment will adjust only in part, and be partly replaced by a variety of more effective and more cost-efficient alternatives. Too much residual medieval culture and bureaucratic paralysis of thought and action. We'll have much more on these issues during the months ahead.

More on the Senate health bill (Monday, 3/4/96)
The Arizona Daily Star reports that debate is heating up on the bipartisan Senate bill that would help workers keep health insurance when changing jobs or to obtain it when becoming self-employed. The paper's on the web, and the story was too a short time ago, but now doesn't seem to be. You can check out either of two versions of the bill itself, though.

Clinton unhappy with American economy; Republicans even unhappier, they say (Monday, 3/4/96)
President Clinton wants the American economy to grow faster. A lukewarm pace is not good for job creation, which, in turn, is not good for an incumbent president during a campaign. The Administration wants more debate about how much the economy can be stimulated without setting off a round of inflation. Clinton thinks a little more would be okay and is sensitive to Republican efforts to pin the current sluggishness on his administration.

China has Clinton Administration in tough spot (Monday, 3/4/96)
Reuters reports on the tough choices Clinton faces on trade with China. China has been thumbing its nose at the U.S. in relation to intellectual property rights, arms sales, and Taiwan's security, in which it is not ruling out force to bring about reunification of the island with the mainland. Observers see China's increasingly belligerent stance toward Taiwan as being coordinated with the return of Hong Kong a year from July. Macao may be on their agenda as well. See Gary Johnson's review of the Hamish McRae book on our Reviews page for some perspective on China's growing economic power and its political implications for the next century. Incidentally, as China attempts to censor the net, we expect that our site will be on their banned list, but we haven't heard.

Entertainment an insecure profession (Monday, 3/4/96)
Doug Grow writes in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today about Terry Perkins, a popular 39-year-old actress who is suffering from breast cancer. Despite success while she was able to work, her case typifies that of entertainers who almost never have a safety net, including health coverage. Most entertainers are not full-time employees, and, in fact, nearly all of Hollywood's workers go from one project to another on a contract basis without benefits. Perhaps the best known example of this problem is actor Christopher Reeve, who, despite stardom for many years, has already depleted his resources because of the huge medical costs associated with his recent paralysis. There is a rumor in Hollywood that Reeve's longtime friend, Robin Williams, has promised to pay Reeve's medical bills, which almost surely will amount to many millions of dollars over the years ahead.

Only a few performers reach the "superstar" level that can generate enormous wealth, and, of course, a vast number of non-performers work in the entertainment industry for modest incomes. However, as the American economy becomes increasingly dominated by temp and contract workers without benefits, millions of workers in most other industries will be faced with a similar problem. You can look for Mr. Grow's column on the paper's web site if you want, but you won't find it. Incidentally, the same edition of the Strib contains an opinion piece by struggling writer Kathryn Hume, who has been supporting herself by doing temp work, and who tells about Minnesota's chilly temp climate as well as the draconian work climate generally. She describes the tremendous pressures being felt by workers who have survived cuts but are expected to take the up the slack, often working 70 to 80 hours per week, while some executives seem to be coasting.

Babies welcome (Sunday, 3/3/96)
The February edition of Working Mother magazine contains an article describing companies where working mothers can bring their infants and make use of child care facilities on site. There have been many such experiments over the years. Some see corporate day care centers as a necessary solution to the problems of working parents generally, while also providing productivity benefits to employers. The magazine has a site on the web, but it does not duplicate the magazine's content.

Futurists look at the work revolution (Sunday, 3/3/96)
The March/April edition of The Futurist, published by the huge non-profit World Future Society, contains a major section on work, including an explanation of where the jobs are going and what can be done to "reinvent" ourselves and the workplace. Futurists also give themselves credit for having anticipated the current transformation years ago, and references to those earlier forecasts are provided. Here's a starting point for information on the World Future Society. Also, there are hundreds of references to World Future Society reports, publications, meetings, and so on, on the web. We suggest doing an Alta Vista search in order to explore part of what is available.

Most disk jockeys to sign off (Sunday, 3/3/96)
The Delphi Forecast Study commissioned by the National Association of Broadcasters predicts that radio disk jockeys will soon be mostly in our memories, as forty years of disk jockey programs continue to radiate into outer space for the entertainment of neighboring extraterrestrials. Most radio stations in both small and large markets will be essentially automated, according to the study, but listeners won't be able to tell the difference. A few radio personalities will be able to service many markets, while still maintaining a local flavor. The study also predicts that radio will become increasingly integrated into other technologies and services.

Technology began to reduce the relative number of entertainment jobs many years ago with the invention of recording devices which made it possible for a few musicians to serve vast audiences and made the invention of modern popular music possible. It also made music more a spectator activity than a participative one for most Americans, while also making entertainment one of the world's largest industries, vastly increasing overall employment. Musicians have complained about lost jobs in more recent years because of the widespread use of synthesizers and other digital technologies. We see parallels between the current job situations of disk jockeys and college lecturers, folks usually not referred to in the same sentence. See the March 6 edition of Radio World magazine for a report on the Delphi Forecast Study. The magazine does not appear to be on the web.

Buchanan stocks up (Sunday, 3/3/96)
The Washington Post this morning reports that presidential candidate Pat Buchanan holds stock in many of the companies he has criticized for layoffs or for exporting jobs to other countries. According to his financial disclosure statement, Buchanan's net work is at least $3 million, including an extensive stock portfolio. Overall, stocks have increased in value when companies have reduced their American work forces. The Washington Post is not yet on the web.

Looks count in hiring and promotion (Sunday, 3/3/96)
According to the Kansas City Star, you're more likely to get the job and more likely to advance if you have the "right" looks. Discrimination based on some attributes-e.g., age, race, gender-is illegal, but you'll be at a disadvantage if somebody doesn't like your looks, including things over which you have no control. Conclusions are based on a survey conducted by Personnel Journal. The Kansas City Star doesn't appear to be on the web, but some of Personnel Journal's content is.

Women work for gender balance in banking (Sunday, 3/3/96)
Women who are making it as banking executives work to help others. Here are some examples.

Boston increases municipal work force (Saturday, 3/2/96)
No cuts here. Most of the increase was last year. Check the Boston Globe for the story.

S.F. mayor supports increase in minimum wage (Saturday, 3/2/96)
San Francisco's mayor Brown says the current minimum wage "guarantees poverty" and supports a statewide move to raise the minimum wage to $5.00 per hour, affecting more than a million workers in California.

University Online seeks more alliances (Saturday, 3/2/96)
University Online, an Internet publisher, already licenses 200 high school and college courses and wants more. According to the Wall Street Journal, it makes deals with both conventional publishers and higher education institutions. A variety of alternatives to the campus lecture model are developing very rapidly at a time when there is strong pressure to broaden access to higher educational services and also dramatically reduce costs. Since most of the budget of the typical college or university goes for salaries, the new situation suggests an eventually dramatic decline in demand for faculty and administrative people. We'll be tracking these developments on our Ed Watch page. University Online is on the web.

Senator accuses Japan of industrial espionage (Saturday, 3/2/96)
Just after the FBI director warned about industrial spying as a threat to national security, Republican Seantor Arlen Specter has accused the Japanese of stealing American economic secrets, but declined to offer specific information to support his charges. Fifty-one countries have industrial spies in the United States, according to the Senator.

Kiss your teller goodbye (Saturday, 3/2/96)
Bank teller jobs seem in jeopardy, according to a recent survey of small banks and reported by Reuters. On-line banking, as well as ATM machines and other technologies, may make tellers extinct within five years . You can bank on it, according to survey respondents. Reuters also has stories today about the U.S.Chamber of Commerce forecast of an economic slowdown and President Clinton's support of Secretary Reich's proposal for tax breaks for companies that are nice to employees.

Some advantages to loss of income (Saturday, 3/2/96)
The Detroit Journal reports that a loss of income may help you save money on taxes by qualifying for additional deductions or tax breaks.

Sagan sees ignorance as a threat to national security (Saturday, 3/2/96)
Astronomer Carl Sagan has a new book, entitled The Demon-haunted World, in which he sounds an alarm at what appears to be a rising tide of ignorance and intolerance for genuine knowledge throughout American society. The story is in this morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune and is on the web . We reported Thursday on similar concerns in relation to the public's perceptions of economics and how these provide opportunities for political demogagues. It all points to a growing crisis in higher education. People need high-level competencies in order to do well economically, but many conventional higher educational institutions are not well positioned to provide many of these. At the same time, there is growing pressure from students, legislators, and employers to reduce the cost of higher educational services. However, despite these issues, the single most important reason for higher education probably has nothing directly to do with job preparation or economic security. We'll be tracking these issues on our Ed Watch page during the coming months.

New book about gays in the workplace (Friday, 3/1/96)
Rosalind Bentley, writing for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, describes the new book by Liz Winfeld, Straight Talk about Gays in the Workplace. The workplace should be safe, inclusive for everybody, Winfeld says. The Strib has a limited web site, but this article is not on it.

Raspberry sees parallels between Buchanan and Jackson (Friday, 3/1/96)
Syndicated columnist William Raspberry today writes that, despite his distaste for Pat Buchanan, the presidential candidate has been scoring big because he's articulating voter feelings of economic insecurity, which will be at the heart of American politics for the rest of the '90's. Jesse Jackson's own presidential campaign in the late '80's struck similar chords. Raspberry tells about a recent conversation with Jackson about the similarities. Other candidates seem to have missed this issue until recently. Bob Dole recently expressed surprise that it has suddenly become a major issue. Professionals and others who have been working with displaced workers or struggling new graduates for years are not as astonished. William Raspberry's column is syndicated throughout the United States.

Hitting the brick ceiling (Friday, 3/1/96)
The January/February edition of Ms. magazine includes a story on women in traditionally male-dominated blue collar occupations. Some contractors have a policy of hiring at least two women for a job, so that they can look out for each other. The Boston Globe has a story about women in construction today. MS. magazine maintains a limited site on the web, but this story is not included.

Association for part-timers has web site (Friday, 3/1/96)
If you work part-time or on a temporary basis, there is an organization for you. The National Association of Part-Time and Temporary Employees maintains a useful, but somewhat confusing web site. Click on the clock on their home page.

Chamber of Commerce reports labor is coming alive (Friday, 3/1/96)
The United States Chamber of Commerce, in the February edition of Nation's Business, reports on organized labor's plan to recover lost membership and bargaining power. The same edition contains an article on emotions in the workplace, as well as an article claiming that there is an increase in complaints of religious bias in work settings. They also report that the cost of employee benefits declined in 1994 after increasing for years. The Chamber's on the web.

New jobless claims down last week (Friday, 3/1/96)
The U. S. Department of Labor reports that new claims for state unemployment benefits declined last week, but there has been no major improvement in the labor market overall.. Here's the story.

Many transportation workers test positive in drug tests (Friday, 3/1/96)
A Bay area transit agency report says that nearly 5 percent of randomly selected employees in "sensitive" positions tested positive for illegal drug use last year. The San Francisco Examiner reports.

Reader's Digest becomes more abbreviated (Friday, 3/1/96)
The Reader's Digest in Canada will cut nearly 25% of its workforce by the end of the summer, according to the Montreal Gazette. Outside suppliers will be used more heavily. So-called "outsourcing" has become an increasingly prominent trend in the restructuring of corporations. There are financial advantages to employers of relying more heavily on outside contractors instead of full-time employees.

California economy to come back strong, think tanks think (Friday, 3/1/96)
The California economy, which has had rocky going in recent years, is on the threshold of a major renaissance, according to two private research reports. It will be a "leader of world commerce in the 21st century," which should mean an increasing role as an opportunity and employment center.

Home

Copyright © 1995-2007 Gary Johnson Communications. All rights reserved. BraveNewWorkWorld, NewWork, NewWork News, Careers in the NewWork World, WITNE, and WITNE: Women in the New Economy are trademarks of Gary Johnson Communications.