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May 1996

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Harassment suit at pharmaceutical company (Friday, 5/31/96)
Widespread sexual harassment and cover up at Astra alleged.

Latest economic data (Friday, 5/31/96)
Reuters reports that jobless claims have risen slightly, while the New York Times says the economy is growing stronger, but the Chicago Sun Times says the growth is missing consumers.

Raytheon offers workers incentives to leave to avoid firing (Friday, 5/31/96)
Bloomberg and the Boston Herald report 4,400 hourly workers have been offered buyouts, as the company tries to avoid layoffs.

German president says don't cut aid to youth (Friday, 5/31/96)
Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that German President Herzog wants job creation and competitiveness to remain a priority, but advises against cutting aid to young people as part of austerity measures.

Dutch steel maker to cut jobs (Friday, 5/31/96)
According to Het Haarlems Dagblad, Hoogovens NV will cut 2,000 jobs during the next five years in an effort to control costs.

Flex work in Austria (Friday, 5/31/96)
Corporate, governmental, and union representatives have agreed on a "flexible work" arrangement that will help construction workers receive pay during slack periods. Overtime earned during the busy construction months would be put in escrow for use during the idle winter months. Negotiations on this issue have continued for 12 years.

Gifford attracts more criticism (Friday, 5/31/96)
TV celebrity Kathie Lee Gifford is trying to achieve an identity as an anti-sweatshop crusader, but not everyone is buying it, according to the New York Times.

North Koreans told to eat grass and roots (Friday, 5/31/96)
The Irish Times reports that starving North Koreans are being advised by their government to try meals of grass and roots.

European Union should ensure social security for women who work for their husbands, group says (Friday, 5/31/96)
The Committee on Women's Rights presented its views at a hearing Wednesday of the European Parliament. They want an amendment insuring the legal status of spouses, according to a European Parliament press release.

American young people aren't what many people think (Friday, 5/31/96)
A new study conducted by Jamie Cooper and Heather McLeod say that the popular view that young adults are cynical and negative isn't consistent with the facts as they've uncovered them. The study was a joint project of the Center for Policy Alternatives and Who Cares magazine. It finds that the young are concerned, realistic, risk-oriented, and visionary. Most have jobs, some are starting families. Most are looking to the future.

Last international UN conference of the century scheduled (Friday, 5/31/96)
The United Nations will hold an international conference on human settlements next week in Istanbul. As many as 25,000 delegates from 185 countries will be in attendance. One of the biggest arguments will be over whether housing should be declared a human right. A recent UN report says that about 100 million people are homeless, most of them women and children.

The Boris manifesto (Friday, 5/31/96)
Reuters reports that Russian president and presidential candidate Boris Yeltsin has issued a 127-page document outlining his plans for the country, if he is re-elected. Among other things, he calls for fair wages, secure jobs, and pension plans by the year 2000. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov is challenging Yelsin in the June 16 election, and it appears very close. The Russian election, plus the recent ones in Israel and India have been among the more closely watched and may have greater implications than the American presidential election scheduled for November. The American candidates, Clinton and Dole, appear quite similar on many issues, despite efforts to contrast themselves with the opponent.

Walesa gets pension (Thursday, 5/30/96)
The Polish parliament approves lifetime pension for ex-presidents, including Lech Walesa. It's not as much as hoped, though.

G7 scheduled for Denver (Thursday, 5/30/96)
The 1997 G7 summit will be held in Denver, Colorado USA, the Clinton Administration has announced. The G7 is an organization of the world's largest economies, including United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan.

Affirmative action becoming forgotten issue in California (Thursday, 5/30/96)
The affirmative action issue isn't as hot as many had expected as the campaign heats up in California. Politicians seem to be deciding against emphasizing it, even though a California proposition could end preferences, according to Reuters.

More on the minimum wage issue in Germany (Thursday, 5/30/96)
German construction unions want a minimum wage for construction workers in order to protect German workers from less expensive foreigner workers from other parts of the European Union. Now, the Social Democratic party supports the move, reports Sueddeutsche Zeitung this morning.

Help in breaking the news (Thursday, 5/30/96)
Some employers haven't been all that sensitive or discrete in telling people their jobs have vaporized, so some are looking for outside help. The Minneapolis Star Tribune tells about "firing squads" for hire.

New version of haves and have-nots (Thursday, 5/30/96)
Guest columnist Lyle Wray writes about the "silicon curtain" that can shut the poor out of the new economy. You can read his column on the web, if you're a St. Paul Pioneer Press web site subscriber. Rory J. O'Connor, writing in the San Jose Mercury News writes about Africa's growing isolation from the information highway and problems associated with trying to get the continent connected. An underdeveloped telecommunications system is only part of the problem.

Workers strike in Belgrade (Thursday, 5/30/96)
Reuters reports that about 1,000 court employees and health workers demonstrated Tuesday in Belgrade in an effort to pay and working condition improvements.

Local business tries to take up slack (Thursday, 5/30/96)
Jim Carnal, in the Bakersfield Californian, reports that local businesses in Bakersfield are trying to help after a 25% reduction in funding for the federal summer jobs program for disadvantaged young people. The federal program has been popular for thirty years, but budget balancing efforts in Washington nearly eliminated it altogether.

Police march in Paris (Thursday, 5/30/96)
Thousands of police officers marched in Paris yesterday to protest feared job losses, decline in financial support, and a rapidly increasing suicide rate that they say stems from stress and frustration. Traditionally, police have been unpopular with the general public in France. Reuters and other services are reporting the story.

Wellesley College loses harassment suit (Thursday, 5/30/96)
The Boston Globe reports that Hillary Rodham Clinton's alma mater has lost a sexual harassment suit and has settled a sexual discrimination suit out of court. Wellesley has been a leader on feminist and gender-related issues.

Clinton retreats a bit (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
In a sign that the Clinton Administration may finally get its left and right hands connected to the same nervous system, Attorney Robert Bennett, who is representing the President in the sexual harassment suit brought against him by a former worker in Arkansas, has filed a new brief with the Supreme Court. This time, they won't invoke the 1940 Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act to prevent the President from having to defend himself in a civil suit while on "active duty" as Commander in Chief of the American armed forces. Republicans have grabbed this "gift" to re-energize Robert Dole's campaign and to point out that, while Dole was gravely injured on active duty during the Second World War, Clinton did not serve in Vietnam. In the "small world" department, attorney Robert Bennett, who was critical of the Republicans in a statement, is the brother of Republican William Bennett, former official and author of The Book of Virtues and other critiques of what he regards as the moral decline presided over by liberal Democrats and symbolized by Clinton. Got all that? If it all makes sense, please explain it to us. We suspect they may still be using lead water pipes in Washington, at least in the government buildings.

Reinterpretation of academic symbols accelerates (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
The New York Times reports that some who qualify for Phi Beta Kappa recognition are declining because they're not interested or even because they don't feel that it's worth the $30-$50 membership fee. We've been saying for some time that higher education institutions are beginning to decompose so rapidly in part because they see themselves as largely in the business of "selling degrees," and the degree is a social construction. The value depends on people's perceptions, and we are in a transformational period when perceptions of most things are altering rapidly. This process is rapidly influencing the perceived value of the Ph.D. degree as well, which has been a major fad in American society for several decades. The first American Ph.D. was awarded at Yale in 1861, so the country managed to get through most of its first 100 years without a single one.

High-level skills may be the key (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press says that the ability of the Twin Cities area to attract new jobs may depend on one of the same things important in other areas.

More evidence of food crisis in North Korea (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Representative Bill Richardson has returned from North Korea with more on the prospect of famine in parts of the country. The fighter pilot of defected to the south several days ago says North Korea is ready to attack South Korea. The UN reports on major food problems in Africa as well.

Bankruptcies may set record (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Reuters reports that both personal and business bankruptcies are way up.

Vienna health care benefits cut (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Wiener Zeitung reports today that Vienna will cut long-term health-care benefits from 78 weeks to 26 weeks in order to cope with a mounting deficit. Der Standard reports that Austria's state railway, Oesterreichische Bundesbahn, will force as many as 2,000 workers to retire early in order to cope with its deficit. Finally, according to Kurier, Austrian Civil Servant Secretary Kark Schloegl wants to double the number of workers in the Austrian Central Statistics Office in order to help in the changeover to international standards. There has been considerable criticism of the office recently for inaccuracy and slow response, as well as some calls to reduce the number of workers.

Bank employees want shorter work week (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
An organization of Swiss bank employees want the work week reduced to 36 hours. This and similar movements in European countries are mostly intended as a way of coping with high unemployment by encouraging "job sharing." Tages Anzeiger has the story this morning.

Italian transport minister wants new strike regulation (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Claudio Burlando, Italy's new Transport Minister, wants to restrict train and air travel workers' right to strike, according to Corriere della Sera.

German government says no to minimum wage (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Frankfurter Allgemeine reports that Germany's government has reject a union demand for a minimum wage for the country's construction workers in order to block the flow of less expensive foreign labor from other European Union countries.

More Japanese pensions money to go into stocks (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
According to Nihon Keizai, Japanese trust banks will put more of the pension funds they manage into stocks, because they expect the recovering Japanese economy will lead to rising stock prices. In the United States, pension funds are heavily invested in stocks, and, as a consequence, provide a major portion of the financing for American public corporations. Traditionally, in Japan, more business financing has come from large bank loans.

More on minimum wage issues (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Julie Appleby, in the Contra Costa Times, outlines some of the economic arguments for and against the minimum wage increase. A study conducted by the Employment Policies Institute predicts the loss of more than 63,000 low-wage jobs in California if the increase becomes law. However, last year 101 economists, including several Nobel Prize winners, signed a statement supporting the increase. It reminds of Harry Truman's remark that he would like to have a "one-handed economist" who would not keeping saying, "but on the other hand..." One thing seems relatively clear: according to polls, the overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of it, so, in a democracy, this should mean passage without difficulty, right? This is an election year, and nothing is easy in an election year.

Big struggle for aerospace jobs (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
In the The Sacramento Bee, Les Blumenthal writes about the worldwide struggle for control of the aerospace industry. He tells about the Boeing plant in Nagoya, Japan where the new 777 is being built with only a handful of workers, at least human workers. Robots are doing most of the assembly. Japan would like to make its own planes for the big international airline market, but so would South Korea, Taiwan, China and Indonesia, and others. It all makes U.S. aerospace workers very nervous. Jobs are being shipped overseas, critics say, but Boeing says they're simply trying to survive. Also, if robots are doing most of the work, the actual job loss to human workers elsewhere is less than it might be otherwise. The loss would be nearly as great if robots were building the planes in Seattle.

Jobs problem is worldwide (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
In a new report, the International Labour Organisation says that population in the world's cities is exploding and will result in social disaster next century if governments are unable to find ways to create far more new jobs. According to the UN agency, the problem is most desperate in developing countries, but is also looming over advanced economies including the United States and the European Union. The report is titled "The Future of Urban Employment." It reports that around 1950, there were only two metropolitan areas in the world with populations over 10 million. Now there are 14; by 2015, there will be 27. Reuters distributed this story worldwide. See our May 16 story on the population explosion.

An income of her own (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Columnist Susana Barciela of the Miami Herald writes about a nonprofit program called "An Income of Her Own," which teaches teen girls about economic survival and how to dream big dreams. Entrepreneurial skills and attitudes are taught, as well as an understanding of the realities and risks of taking responsibility and following one's own dreams. The Miami Herald is on the web.

Top jobs mostly male, but with exceptions (Wednesday, 5/29/96)
Nancy Millman, in the Chicago Tribune, says that the chief executives of all Fortune 500 companies are still male, but there are women near the top in some companies, and Working Woman magazine has an article this time that speculates about who is most likely to break the sex barrier and become head of one of the nation's largest companies. Women have made heavy inroads as entrepreneurs, particularly in small business. Also, in the Tribune, Carol Kleiman writes that regulation of most labor-related issues of interest, including family issues, child labor, worker privacy, and so forth, is done at the state level, not the federal, and policies are highly variable. Kleiman also writes about Karen Swanson Murphy, who helped establish Flex Execs Management Solutions, a company that helps find suitable temporary replacements for people who are out under the Family and Medical Leave Act. You can find the Chicago Tribune's web site right here.

Not big news, but worth remembering (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
L. M. Sixel, career writer for the Houston Chronicle, says one should examine interests and values when thinking about a career. For instance, if you've got big student loans to pay off, don't choose journalism, because starting salaries are the lowest in that field. How important are regular hours, security, and so on? Occupations vary tremendously in what they offer, and everybody has different priorities. Tom Baxter, of Houston Community College, says trying out different jobs for a year or so can be instructive. Colleges "inculcate a subtle disdain for work," he says.

Incidentally, the low starting pay of journalists doesn't mean that all journalists are paid poorly. The mass media, including radio, television, print, and also the movies, tend to be tremendously competitive and "star-driven," to a significant extent. A small percentage of the talent makes a large percentage of the money, and no one enters these fields expecting to stay at the bottom. Of course, supply-demand relationships keep entry salaries low, because there is not a shortage of people who would like to become "stars." There might be plenty of applicants, even if they had to work for nothing. For example, some of the actors working feature films this year will earn $3,000 or less; others will get $20 million or more per appearance. Other occupations, on the other hand, offer far less income variability. The Houston Chronicle is on the web, and you can find many of L. M. Sixel's career articles by doing a search on the paper's web site.

Teachers stop teaching in Mexico City (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
Reforma reports that teachers have staged a 72-hour work strike after failing to each an agreement over salaries with the government. Further protests are planned.

Jackson joins Yale protest (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
Yale's commencement has been disrupted by union protesters. Jesse Jackson joins in.

Bill on illegal aliens jeopardized (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
Provisions on legal immigration could sink the bill, according to the New York Times.

Latest economic data summarized (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
Here's USA Today's latest summary of economic statistics of all kinds. CNN Financial discusses new data and the picture of the U.S. economy that emerges.

Major section on minimum wage issues (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press has a major section containing various related articles that look at the minimum wage controversy from most directions. Incidentally, according to public opinion polls, most Americans want the increase, but it continues to be controversial, not only among politicians, but also economists. The Pioneer Press is on the web, but you'll have to subscribe in order to read the whole series on your screen.

School-biz symbiosis (Tuesday, 5/28/96)
Check today's Minneapolis Star Tribune for a discussion of the relationship between business and the schools.

Australian strike expected Thursday (Monday, 5/27/96)
Jock McCardell reports from Australia that a national strike of students and university staff members is expected on May 30 to protest deep cuts in Australian higher education budgets and a shifting of the financial burden to undergraduates. McCardell says that there is widespread opinion that if the situation is not resolved satisfactorily soon, the scale of protest could broaden considerably. Jock McCardell provides background on Australian higher education in the new economy in his Guest Commentary that is accessible through out Archives page.

UN study says 100 million homeless (Monday, 5/27/96)
Most of the world's homeless are women and children, according to the United Nations, and there are about 100 million of them. Many more live in inadequate shelters.

Increasing violence against women migrants (Monday, 5/27/96)
Female migrant workers in Asia are often abused by their employers, and the problem seems to be increasing, according to Reuters.

Italy will need to make more cuts to qualify (Monday, 5/27/96)
European Union Commissioner Mario Monti says more pension cuts will be necessary in Italy if the country is to qualify to be part of the single European currency.

Importance of friendships at work (Monday, 5/27/96)
The New York Times has a major story today about friendships on the job. One of the more interesting issues requiring more research is how the tendency toward isolating workers from one another will affect morale. For instance, an increasing number of people are "telecommuting" or working out of their cars, rather than office space. Sales people, in particular, have been losing office space during recent years, now that technology makes it possible for them to do nearly everything they need to do with laptop computers, fax/modems and cellular phones, and so forth.

Unlikely coalition in tenure debate (Monday, 5/27/96)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports and the development of strange alliances in the ongoing debate over proposed changes in the University of Minnesota's tenure system. People who might not agree on anything else are finding it in their interest to cluster together on the tenure issue. Faculty voting on proposed changes will begin Thursday. The university wants to make it easier to lay off faculty when programs are eliminated, among other things. We expect similar debates to spread across much of academe during the next few years, as the restructuring process accelerates in higher education.

Guest columnist contrasts American, Japanese work relationships (Sunday, 5/26/96)
Kitty Eisele, guest columnist in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today, says that American employers will have to earn back trust. Eisele was among about forty professionals laid off by Minnesota Public Radio a year ago. Our Associate Editor, Teresa Callies, was one of her colleagues. See Teresa's opinion piece on our Guest Commentary page. Eisele's column is available on the Pioneer Press web site, if you're a subscriber. Dave Beal's column this time tells of Robert Kuttner's speech to the annual meeting of the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility. Kuttner sees a contradiction in business. On the one hand, a more entrepreneurial economy is supposed to be enriching to workers, but "the drive for shareholder enhancement means millions of Americans no longer have the benefit they cherish most: job security." Beal's column is also available on the web, if you're s subscriber.

Tightened employment practices in Hungary (Sunday, 5/26/96)
According to the Hungary Report, Budapest Week reports that the Hungarian government has issued a decree calling for tighter control over the content of employment contracts which applies to employers and employees, as well as foreign workers in the country. The decree also authorizes the National Labor Security and Labor Affairs Directorate to investigate discrimination complaints. The Hungary Report also says that International American Products (IAP) has denied that a woman has been sexually harassed at dining facilities in Taszar, but agreed that supervisors have not used good judgment when dealing with Hungarian employees. Finally, the publication reports that Hungary's high school graduates face a radically different job market now than only a few years ago. Today, employers want people who not only have university degrees, but also language and computer skills and skills readily applicable to the jobs they're applying for. A reluctance to invest heavily in training has caused companies in many countries to compete for persons who already have the specific skills necessary. The problem is compounded by the fact that many employers don't entirely trust educational institutions to prepare people adequately for their jobs.

Michigan Governor Engler attacks Clinton on welfare issue (Sunday, 5/26/96)
Governor John Engler says Clinton is "pandering" on welfare. Engler is on a list of Republican vice-presidential possibilities, as Senator Robert Dole thinks about a running mate.

Vets run from Buffalo to San Francisco for jobs (Sunday, 5/26/96)
Thirty veterans and activists have conducted a 3,100-mile, 12-day relay run across the country to call attention to veteran needs. About 1.5 million veterans are unemployed, according to leaders. The San Francisco Examiner has the story on the web. San Francisco's other major paper, the San Francisco Chronicle, reports on a tentative contract agreement between union employees and Kaiser Permanente. We reported Friday that health care workers were planning a one-day strike.

Hawaii's unemployment exceeds national rate (Sunday, 5/26/96)
The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports that Hawaii's unemployment rate hit 5.8 percent last month. The failure of a tour bus company and the bankruptcy of a restaurant chain contributed.

Minimum wage will pass Senate in early June, Dole says (Saturday, 5/25/96)
Senate Majority Leader and presidential candidate Senator Robert Dole predicts that there will be an increase in the minimum wage, and it will pass the Senate in early June before he leaves office. Maneuvering is likely to continue, however.

Clinton Administration supports affirmative action in colleges (Saturday, 5/25/96)
The U.S. Justice Department would like the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that removes race from consideration in college admissions.

GM wants to soothe UAW (Saturday, 5/25/96)
Reuters and the New York Times report that General Motors is trying to turn down the tough talk in order to improve relations with the United Auto Workers on the eve of negotiations. Reuters also has a story this morning about a Fed economist predicting steady economic growth.

Business people like Dole best, but are beginning to like Clinton more (Saturday, 5/25/96)
Business Week's new poll of business leaders finds that most prefer the presumed Republican candidate, but that Clinton is getting more attractive than he was. Maybe it's because they think they're going to have to live with him. Polls show Clinton enjoying a significant lead over Dole among voters in general, although there may be something in the air in Washington that has made the Administration give the Republicans a campaign gift during recent days. Clinton's lawyers are claiming that the sexual harassment suit against him should be delayed because of a 1940 law delaying suits against people who are on active military duty. Clinton is Commander in Chief of the American armed forces. Sometimes things make no sense at all. Perhaps Clinton's campaign people think things are more interesting if they're harder.

Mentally retarded workers fired; EEOC sues (Saturday, 5/25/96)
The Detroit News reports on the first suit of its kind brought on behalf of workers with mental disabilities.

Thousands strike in France (Saturday, 5/25/96)
The Irish Times reports that thousands of workers across France are demonstrating for shorter work hours to cut unemployment.

Australian miners fight labor reforms (Saturday, 5/25/96)
According to the Singapore Business Times, miners throughout Australia are protesting sweeping labor changes announced by the new conservative Australian government Thursday. Jock McCardell reports from Australia that university budgets may be cut as much as 15% as well. See McCardell's opinion article on our Archives page.

Democrats win on minimum wage in the House (Friday, 5/24/96)
Democrats in the American House of Representatives sustained a narrow victory on increasing the minimum wage without the qualifications or exclusions that some House Republicans wanted. Everybody has the story this morning, but here's the Reuters version on the web. Also, job growth seems to be continuing, as weekly jobless claims fall, and Americans seem optimistic about the economy, which should help the Clinton Administration in the election campaign.

Reich says shut down sweatshops (Friday, 5/24/96)
U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, appearing on CBS-TV's This Morning program, says there are about 11,000 garment sweatshops in the United States and he wants them shut down. In a somewhat related story, American television personality Kathie Lee Gifford has been stung by criticism about some of the people she's been willing to do business with, namely sweatshop operators in central and South America. A line of clothing carrying her label is marketed through the Wal-Mart discount chain. Gifford's husband visited one of the factories yesterday and handed out envelopes filled with cash to workers, many of whom have not been paid for weeks. It is not known whether this is the beginning of a larger effort to solve the underlying problem, as opposed to a public relations move to repair the image of the TV personality.

Thousands defy strike ban in Germany (Friday, 5/24/96)
Striking public employees are defying a strike ban to protest the German government's austerity plan, according to Reuters. The German press, including Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is reporting that talks have broken down. German Chancellor Kohl is in the United States meeting with President Clinton.

Widespread food shortages predicted (Friday, 5/24/96)
The International Red Cross says 1995 crop failures and a drying up of international aid will result in grave food shortages throughout North Korea this summer. The North Korean economy is thought to be near collapse.

French employers may be offered incentives (Friday, 5/24/96)
France's Financial Times reports that the French Prime Minister is suggesting that employers might be charged less for social welfare if they will reduce working hours. The plan is part of a "job sharing" move in various regions of Europe intended to create jobs and reduce high unemployment levels.

Business association leader calls for reforms (Friday, 5/24/96)
La Repubblica reports that the new head of Confindustria, Italy's largest trade association, is asking politicians to reform the pension system and allow more flexibility with regard to labor.

Sexual harassment claims escalate on Wall Street (Friday, 5/24/96)
Today's Wall Street Journal reports that Wall Street is having difficulty coping with increasing sexual harassment claims.

Korean government warns labor activists (Friday, 5/24/96)
The Korea Herald reports today that the South Korean government is warning against illegal labor activities in the country. The Herald also reports that the government is considering raising the wages of some foreign workers in an effort to slow the rate of desertion. We reported previously on a story indicating that 10,000 workers have apparently walked away from their work sites, causing various social problems, including remaining in the country longer than their visas allow.

Affordable health coverage can be provided without hurting jobs, according to report (Friday, 5/24/96)
Studies compiled by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill indicate that jobs do not suffer in those states with laws mandating parity in coverage for physical and mental illnesses. Between 1994 and 1995, about 66,000 new jobs were created in states where insurance discrimination laws were in effect, according to the report.

Florida bank and super market chains announce program to support education (Friday, 5/24/96)
Barnett Banks and Publix Super Markets are contributing to Take Stock in Children, a program providing scholarships and individual mentoring to at-risk children, according to announcements from the CEOs of the two companies. The two companies are committing $3 million in seed money.

Will white women fight to save affirmative action in California? (Friday, 5/24/96)
In an opinion piece distributed by Knight-Ridder Financial, Elizabeth Larson writes that a study conducted by Catalyst, an organization of working women, found that 44 percent of high-income female executives report that affirmative action programs have had "no effect" on their careers. Larson says that the National Organization for Woman meeting in San Francisco recently seemed to try to foster the idea that white women will be among the biggest allies in fighting the California move to abolish affirmative action programs. In a separate announcement, Women in Technology International (WITI) is proposing a model intended to be an alternative to traditional equity programs. The WITI model is business-oriented and emphasizes programs that benefit both employers and employees. The Glass Ceiling Commission has released a report indicating that promoting diversity in the workplace contributes to bottom line profitability.

Ohio survey of women business owners (Friday, 5/24/96)
A survey has been distributed to 5,000 women business owners in Ohio in order to learn more about the 37% of state businesses that are owned by women. The survey is intended to gather information that can be helpful to other women who operate or are thinking of starting their own businesses. It is being conducted by the Small Business Development Center for the Ohio Department of Development.

Clinton bill intended to strengthen pensions (Friday, 5/24/96)
Reuters reports that President Clinton's bill is intended to increase the security and availability of private pensions plan. Democratic leaders introduced the bill in Congress yesterday. Labor Secretary Reich says that, despite a strong economy by many conventional measures, half of all American workers have no private pension plans. Two-thirds of all working women lack such plans.

California health care workers to strike (Friday, 5/24/96)
Yvonne Chiu reports in the Sacramento Bee that more than 12,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers plan a one-day strike at clinics across the state. Negotiations over wages and job security issues have been underway for several months.

Time between job interviews like water accidentally spilled in the desert (Friday, 5/24/96)
Michael Starobin, in a guest column published in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press, uses his skills as a writer to tell about his experiences seeking employment. Unfortunately, you will have to be a subscriber in order to read the whole thing on the web. A story about the latest survey showing the dismal state of scientific knowledge in American society is also available on the same basis. Fortunately, the Minneapolis Star Tribune has the whole story. Incidentally, Americans know about as much about economics as they do about science, and both explain quite a lot of politician behavior.

New twist in the knot on the minimum wage increase (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, wants to exempt small businesses from a minimum wage altogether. Clinton says he would veto a bill with exceptions or conditions, according to Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and most other news services this morning. Also, here are Reuters stories this morning on presidential candidate Dole's economic and tax plans, Republican welfare and Medicaid bills, and the Clinton Administration's proposals for limiting Affirmative Action programs.

Ford offering early retirement (Thursday, 5/23/96)
The Wall Street Journal reports that Ford Motor Company will offer early retirement incentives to hundreds of upper and middle management personnel as part of its restructuring plan. Today's Journal also contains a special report on small business which, among other things, tells about younger and younger "entrepreneurial wannabes" leaving the large corporations. Also, check the stories on the resistance of Bolivian miners to foreign mining investment and on the future of Germany's social welfare system, given the government's effort to make cuts and union resistance. Incidentally, all major German newspapers this morning are reporting that German unions are stepping up the warning strikes across the country, as negotiations resume with the government. Check Frankfurter Rundschau or Sueddeutsche Zeitung for local stories.

Jury rules against Stone & Webster Inc. in discrimination case (Thursday, 5/23/96)
The Boston Globe reports that Stone and Webster is liable for punitive damages in an age discrimination case arising from the firing of an engineer three years ago.

Pension revisions proposed in the Netherlands (Thursday, 5/23/96)
The Dutch government's principal economic advisor says that the cabinet will have to make a decision soon on the age at which people will be able to begin taking their state pensions. They say that changes are needed because people begin working later and are living longer. Het Financieele Dagblad and most other papers in the country have the story this morning.

Italian government makes pledges (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Corriere della Sera reports this morning that the new Italian Prime Minister's government will target Italy's deficit, unemployment, and inflation, as well as efforts to improve conditions for the poor in the southern regions of the country.

Unions plan demonstrations in France (Thursday, 5/23/96)
La Tribune Desfosses reports that French labor unions plan to demonstrate across the country in favor of a shorter work week. In part, it is intended as a form of "job sharing" in an effort to get French unemployment down from near record highs, which, according to Reuters, is running at 11.9 percent. French employers are urging the government to cut public spending, but are resisting union pressures to reduce the work week. Reuters also reports that Giat Industries is denying that there will be forced layoffs as part of its restructuring plan. The arms company has been losing money and intends to reduce its workforce by 2,569 over the next three years.

Quinn offers advice on how to prepare (Thursday, 5/23/96)
In her nationally syndicated column, Jane Bryant Quinn tells how you can prepare financially just in case you're laid off. First, remember that most people do not lose their jobs, so don't over do it. That is, you won't want to be so safety conscious that you pass by business or investment opportunities. Much of her advice involving your home, your insurance, consumer debt, etc., is relatively obvious, but worth reading anyway. Check your local newspaper.

Despite layoffs, much hiring is occurring (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Sherwood Ross, writing for Reuters, says the total number of working Americans continues to rise, despite widely publicized layoffs by major companies. Much of the growth is in smaller companies, but large companies usually are hiring at the same time they're laying off, and many layoffs involve reassignment. Eric Greenberg, research director of the American Management Association, says that "downsizing and job elimination are no longer synonymous." The American economy is expected to create 12 million to 13 million new jobs during the decade. Of course, another issue is what the new jobs will pay, compared to the old jobs.

Power company woes traced to cost-cutting (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Melody Petersen, writing in the San Jose Mercury News, says that maintenance problems arising from staff cutbacks played a role in Pacific Gas & Electric Company's troubles when 5 million Californians lost power during last December's storms. The paper has a web site, but charges a fee for most full stories.

Indian opposition to "economic colonialism" (Thursday, 5/23/96)
According to Jennifer Lin, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Bharatya Janata ultranationalist party that received the most votes in the recent election favors Indian self-sufficiency and is opposed to investment by global corporations, which they believe are taking much wealth out of the country. The previous Rao government had encouraged foreign investment and has taken credit for an economic boom in the country, including dramatic development of its high-technology sector. The newly formed government seems precarious, so the political turbulence is not over in India. Many are watching for what may happen in the Indian economy. The Inquirer also has a story by Henry Holcomb on how the downsized U.S. Navy is making use of experienced top business executives who are also reserve officers in order to learn how to do more with less. The paper also ran a story recently about "Work/Life Balance." an organization of Philadelphia-area employers. Researcher Lotte Bailyn reports that a Xerox Corporation engineering team was able to meet a deadline for the first time while also reducing work hours. The program urges people to think about their lives as a whole, and how this can benefit work as well as the rest of worker lives. The Philadelphia Inquirer is on the web.

Life after retirement (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Emily Narvaes, in the Denver Post, tells about a retired music teacher who became an airline flight attendant at age 58. Analysts are reporting that a growing number of seniors who can keep working after retirement will do so. Many have the financial need; many simply desire to do so. The Post is on the web.

European change of attitude toward developing countries (Thursday, 5/23/96)
David Fox, in a Reuters story, reports that Europeans are "hardening their hearts" against aid to developing nations, according to a European Union report. European public opinion has gotten less enthusiastic about foreign aid during every year since 1990, according to polls. This is interpreted, in part, as a consequence of growing feelings of economic insecurity in Europe itself. Reuters also reports that two-thirds of Serbia's health and social workers went on strike Monday for higher salaries, regular payment of salaries, and better working conditions.

Gas company lockout continues in Boston (Thursday, 5/23/96)
The Boston Globe reports that U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy has told union members that he will ask the Commonwealth Gas Company to allow 372 employees to return to work. The lockout has continued for nearly seven weeks. The lockout began when the United Steel Workers Union of America local voted against a contract that would have allowed outside contractors to service main gas lines, work traditionally done by full-time employees. The Globe has a web site.

New industrial frontier (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Jobs are not so much being sucked into Mexico, as Ross Perot predicted, as being sucked to the 2,000-mile long U.S.-Mexican border, according to Gordon Hanson, a University of Texas economics professor. It's the hot new industrial belt, and many of the jobs are being created on the U.S. side. The Chicago Tribune ran the story, and, in today's edition, you'll find an analysis of the sexual harassment issue.

New book to help women manage time (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Roberta Roesch, in her book, The Working Woman's Guide to Managing Time, says women can gain two more hours of personal time each day by tuning into gender differences and six particular strengths of women. The book is published by Prentice-Hall.

Greece and Albania sign agreement (Thursday, 5/23/96)
Athens and Tirana signed an agreement last Friday that will legalize the status of Albanian immigrant workers in Greece. Approximately 350,000 Albanians are in Greece illegally. It was not reported how many of them would be covered by the new agreement.

Finally, a vote on minimum wage increase (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
Although economists aren't universally in favor of it, there has been some bipartisan support for an increase in the minimum wage, but, it's an election year. Nothing is easy in an election year. Today may be the day for a break in the deadlock, though, according to Reuters and nearly everybody else in the news business. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle says that a break in the gas tax deadlock may be coming this week too. Reuters also has stories on the web about welfare reform as an increasing focus of the presidential campaign. Candidate Dole is trying to use the issue to give life to his campaign, and Republicans in the Congress will present their welfare bill today. All this during a time when welfare dependency has already been declining in the United States; but, then, politicians got a lot of mileage out of "getting tough on crime" awhile back after crime had already been declining in the U.S. too. Apparently, timing isn't everything. Also, check Reuters for a story about a strike keeping people's feet on the ground in Paris.

GM expects to do battle with electrical union (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal report that General Motors is extending its hard line to the International Union of Electrical Workers and that the union is gearing up to respond the GM's plan to provide lower wages to new IUE members and move some operations to Mexico.

Swiss paper producer to cut a quarter of its jobs (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
Sihl-Zuercher Papierfabrik an der Sihl will cut up to 500 of its jobs during the next year following big losses, according to Neue Zuercher Zeitung. The paper also reports this morning that the number of long-term unemployed rose in Switzerland in April and the number of available jobs continues to fall.

Still no agreement in Belgium (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
L'Echo reports that employers and unions talked yesterday but didn't agree on how to make sure that wages in the country don't make Belgian exports uncompetitive. The Belgian government wants a law preventing wages from rising faster than the average of those in Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

What to do about health fund deficit? (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
Austria's Salzburger Nachrichten reports that employers and union representatives have been talking about how to eliminate a US$367 million deficit in the country's public health insurance fund. Talks have stalled. The government, as part of an austerity program, has cut its funding, shifting more of the burden to employers and employees.

Joint auto venture in Netherlands to add jobs (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
NedCar is a joint venture of Volvo AB, Mitsubishi, and the Dutch government. Production will increase at its plant in Born, and 900 jobs will be added. Algemeen Dagblad reports the story this morning.

Spain's new government wants to make it easier to hire, fire (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
Spain's new conservative government is moving ahead on several fronts relating to the economy, including a plan to reduce the regulation of hiring and firing. Among other things, severance pay would be reduced to 25 days per year from the current 45 days, according to La Expansion.

Growing teacher shortage in some fields, areas (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports today that school enrollments are expanding across the United States and more teachers are needed in some areas and in special fields.

Ivins thinks GOP strategists may be having flashbacks (Wednesday, 5/22/96)
In her nationally syndicated column today, Molly Ivins is puzzled by the Republican effort to tie President Clinton to "Big Labor" to the Mob. For one thing, she says, there isn't any "Big Labor" anymore. She quotes economist Lester Thurow who says that 80% of the workforce has seen a decline in wages during the time that gross domestic product has climbed by a third. Big CEO salaries are bigger problem than "Big Labor," according to her. Ivins writes for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and is syndicated throughout the United States. She also appears on CBS-TV's "60 Minutes."

Japanese labor minister says to stop harassment (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
In an apparent response to the big sexual harassment suit at Mitsubishi's plant in Illinois, Japan's labor minister urges that companies prevent offensive behavior in their overseas operations. Reuters has more this morning. Also, here's the Reuters story on Senator Dole's plan to try another vote on the balanced budget amendment before he leaves the Senate. Senator Dole plans to present his plan for reforming welfare in a speech in Wisconsin today, and governors are urging President Clinton to sign waivers necessary to allow various state welfare plans to go ahead, including Wisconsin's radical reform program.

More shipyard workers than expected to be fired (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
Bloomberg and the Boston Globe report today that General Dynamics' Electric Boat submarine division will fire 2,000 workers at Groton, Connecticut, 500 more than expected. The division plans to reduce its workforce by 6,000 to 7,000 by 1998 in response to rapidly declining submarine orders.

Labour plan to charge for higher ed (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
The London Times reports that the UK's Labour party is developing a plan whereby university graduates would pay back the cost of their education. This would constitute the end of the party's commitment to free higher education in the United Kingdom.

Austrian tourist industry expects to be hurt (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
A new law in Austria limiting the number of foreigners who can work in the country may hurt the tourist industry by reducing the number of available seasonal workers needed during the summer tourist season. Salzburger Nachrichten has the story this morning.

Another try at wage caps (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
The Belgian government has a plan for limiting wage increases to the average of Belgium's three biggest trade partners. L'Echo reports that unions rejected the plan last month, but representatives are meeting with employers today to try to work out differences.

Hong Kong unemployment up (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
Hong Kong's Economic Times reports that unemployment in the British colony has risen to 3.3 percent during the three months ending April 30. Hong Kong's workforce has expended by 5.5 percent.

Convenience store chain loses racial discrimination suit (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
Four Vietnamese convenience store managers will get $18.2 million after a jury agreed that they were fired because of their race.

Analysis of government downsizing (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
Today's Wall Street Journal examines the Clinton Administration's claims about reducing the size of government. Staff writer Bruce Ingersoll says the nature of the cutbacks requires a close look.

Foreign workers missing (Tuesday, 5/21/96)
The Korea Herald says that the Korean government can't find 10,000 foreign workers whose contracts are expiring this year. Also, the paper contains a story about a pledge to support women entrepreneurs in South Korea.

German strikes bigger than expected, spreading (Monday, 5/20/96)
About 100,000 German workers are involved in warning strikes across the country, about twice as many as expected, and the German Chancellor is holding firm. Unions are seeking a pay increase, and the government is trying to cut public spending. All major papers in Germany are featuring the story, and Reuters has it internationally. At the same time, Handelsblatt reports that unions representing retail workers continue their opposition to an extension of shopping hours. Laws from the 1950's originally intending to protect retail workers continue to restrict the hours during which retail establishments can be open for business. The German government and employers want to bring current policies more into line with those of most other countries in order to stimulate economic activity and strengthen the German economy.

Passage of gasoline and minimum wage bills may be imminent (Monday, 5/20/96)
Senate leaders from both parties are predicting that the long-deadlocked bills to cut gas taxes and raise the minimum wage seem to be ready for passage. Senate Majority Leader Dole, soon to resign, is saying that he'll try to push them through. Both are politically popular measures, even though the parties have been in dispute over how to handle them, and economists are not in agreement as to whether passage makes economic sense. Reuters and nearly all other news organizations have this story this morning, and Reuters also reports that Goodyear's CEO is saying that worker flexibility will be the key from now on.

U.S. retailers bought sweatshop goods, according to U.S. Labor Department (Monday, 5/20/96)
Bloomberg and the New York Times are reporting this morning that the U.S. Department of Labor will announce that J.C. Penney and Talbots purchased merchandise made under sweatshop conditions. The official announcement is supposed to come later today.

Sluggish government office to be downsized (Monday, 5/20/96)
Der Standard reports that Austria's government statistics office employs 1,200 people and will be streamlined. It has been criticized for being slow to adopt to the European Union's accounting procedures.

AFL-CIO and Yale in conflict (Monday, 5/20/96)
An ongoing labor conflict at Yale University may have national implications, and the AFL-CIO is attending graduation. Here's the story from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Also in the Strib, Peter Rachleff asks if the workplace will become more democratic. Also in the paper, but not on the web, columnist Marjorie Kelly says good business ethics doesn't cost, but pays. She feels that capitalism has gotten increasingly ethical, despite common beliefs to the contrary, and it's because ethical behavior pays, so it's good business. Kelly publishes Business Ethics magazine. The paper also has a story today about companies that are encouraging employees to learn self-defense skills, not only to increase personal security, but also to boost self-esteem on the job.

"Devolution" means never having to say "downsizing" (Monday, 5/20/96)
Check out the St. Paul Pioneer Press story on "devolution" which is nonprofitese for "downsizing." More belt-tightening is coming to most non-profit organizations, no matter who wins the election. To read the whole story, you'll have to subscribe.

Frontline program on work (Monday, 5/20/96)
"Frontline" on PBS this week presents a program entitled "Does America still work? Among other things it examines the impact of economic anxiety on this year's presidential campaign in the United States. The program is scheduled for Tuesday in most markets, but check your local listing.

Tomlin keynotes in biz seminar (Monday, 5/20/96)
Lily Tomlin will be the keynote speaker in Thursday's "Women in Business Seminar" in the Twin Cities. The seminar will be held at the Radisson Hotel South in Bloomington, Minnesota from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. For information, call (612) 854-0109 in the U.S.

Untouchable issue in the campaign? (Monday, 5/20/96)
Otis Pike, writing for the Newhouse News Service, discusses an article in the May 11 edition of the Economist examining the question of why black immigrants into the United States are doing better economically by nearly every measure than native-born American blacks.

Secretaries take on more management responsibilities (Monday, 5/20/96)
Rick Stroud of Professional Secretaries International says that 99% of the secretaries in the United States are women, and while her responsibilities have increased, status and pay have not kept up. Despite the stereotypes, secretaries have taken on more and more management functions. The story was written by Michele Weldon and appeared in the Chicago Tribune.

One-third of men 55-64 out of work force (Monday, 5/20/96)
Marilyn Geewax, writing for the Atlanta Constitution, reports that 83 percent of men in the 55 to 64 age group were still working in 1970, but about a third are out of the work force now, testimony to the impact of "restructuring," "downsizing," and generally just getting the older folks out the door. There has been a consistent effort to encourage early retirement during recent years, often through the use of attractive incentives. However, this will screech to a halt for the baby boomers, according to Geewax. A lot of older boomers will be pushed out of good jobs, but they won't be offered early retirement packages providing anywhere near financial stability. Many will have to keep working on through their sixties and even into their seventies, because corporations will cut back dramatically on health care and pension payouts. Social Security and Medicare will be less generous in the next century as well. Geewax' column is distributed nationally by the New York Times News Service.

Training programs at Harmon International keep skills current (Monday, 5/20/96)
Knight-Ridder reports that President Clinton recently singled out Harmon International's Northbridge plant in Los Angeles as an example of a company doing well by "doing right by its people." Harmon and other companies are finding highly skilled workers hard to find, and, rather than bidding up the price of ones out in the market by competing with other companies, they invest in ongoing training programs for their own people. Harmon is a manufacturer of audio equipment for automobiles.

Downsizing the big, not the small (Monday, 5/20/96)
America's second largest lender to small business, KeyCorp, in "Survey of Small Business Sentiment," reports that 70 percent of the 400 small business owners surveyed say that downsizing has had little or no effect on their businesses. Fifty-eight percent say that downsizing has increased the talent pool for small businesses, and 53 percent say that small business opportunities have been expanding. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents report that they would be willing to take a 32 percent salary cut to ensure the success of their businesses. This seems to be additional evidence that bigness is no longer an advantage in the new economy.

Alitalia to split (Monday, 5/20/96)
Reuters reports that Alitalia, Italy's troubled airline, will split into two and cut its workforce by 10 percent, as part of a rescue effort.

Demonstration at Alcoa's annual meeting (Monday, 5/20/96)
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette one of Alcoa's shareholders, a Catholic nun questioned Chairman Paul O'Neill about the $28-per-week pay of the company's workers in Mexico, as well as unsafe working conditions. O'Neill denied that the Mexican plants are unsafe. The Mexican plants are operated jointly with a Japanese company.

American South targeted for union membership (Monday, 5/20/96)
The Columbus, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer reports that Jay Mazur, head of UNITE, an international union organization, urged members to remain politically active and step up recruiting efforts in the South, which he regards as fertile ground for gaining new members, despite its being one of labor's weakest regions traditionally. Global competition and dwindling membership have meant hard times for unions. In 1954, 34.7 percent of non-farm workers were unionized in the United States, compared to 15 percent now.

Jordan's queen reports on rural poverty (Monday, 5/20/96)
According to Reuters, Queen Noor of Jordan told a global meeting on rural women in Amman last week that the number of rural women living below the poverty line has increased dramatically during the past twenty years. The meeting was attended by queens and wives of presidents from a number of countries with the purpose of finding ways to improve the lives of poor women in developing countries. Queen Noor was born in the United States.

Finance ministers will "stay the course," of course (Sunday, 5/19/96)
Reuters reports that Finance ministers from the Americas have been meeting and have pledged policies that will fight inflation and spur real economic growth. Reuters also reports today that 50,000 workers may be affected in the warning strikes this week in Germany.

Scario scenario for Clinton Administration (Sunday, 5/19/96)
The New York Times has an analysis of what will happen if the Communists win back power in Russia and how little the American Administration is saying about it at the moment. Also, in the Times today, stories about working on the railroad in Eritrea, thoughts about linking welfare to education in Wisconsin, and a possible tax break for education. Finally, here is a story about how what your employer knows about you can hurt you, even if it isn't true. Incidentally, President Clinton has signed on to Wisconsin's welfare plan, and this is not expected to help candidate Dole.

Korean government to hire the handicapped (Sunday, 5/19/96)
Today's Korea Herald reports that the South Korean government has announced that 2% of lower-level public service positions will go to handicapped workers.

Tired of frantic "work and spend?" (Sunday, 5/19/96)
The St. Paul Pioneer Press today contains a story about Betsy Taylor's organization offering Americans an alternative to the materialism that makes an obsession with work necessary. Are people ready to simplify their lives? The story is on the paper's web sight, but, to read the whole thing, you must be a subscriber.

Give us your poor, your tired, your laid off (Saturday, 5/18/96)
Laid-off American aerospace engineers are finding work in China, as China works to modernize its air force. China is preparing to be a major world economic power during the 21st century, and perhaps a major military power as well. Given the country's political system, this is not greatly comforting to democrats or republicans in any country, including Democrats and Republicans in the United States. China is already flexing its muscles, as one can see from its reluctance to be too accommodating in its dispute with the United States over copyright issues. After centuries of what it regards as mistreatment by Western countries, it seems to welcome any opportunity to thumb its nose at the West. It is expected that China will have the world's largest economy within twenty-five years. See our review of the Hamish McRae book on our NewWork Reviews page.

Germany prepares for strikes next week (Saturday, 5/18/96)
The conflict over the German government's austerity plan continues, and Reuters reports that a wave of warning work stoppages will sweep across the country next week. Germany's once powerhouse economy has slowed, in part as a consequence of the costs of reunification, but also because major sectors of its economy are still solidly rooted in the industrial, as opposed to the information era. There is growing pressure to reduce the traditionally high cost of maintaining an elaborate social welfare system in a number of European countries, as all attempt to adjust to the unfamiliar demands of the new era. Several countries in Europe are trying to carry out austerity plans in order to quality for European monetary and economic union by 1999.

What's next? Mickey won't get his bonus? (Saturday, 5/18/96)
The Walt Disney Company is refusing to pay Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former studio head, millions of dollars in bonuses. Katzenberg has filed suit against Disney. Reuters reports this story, as well as a story about Gateway, the South Dakota computer maker, hiring big in Ireland, and a story about finance ministers from the Americas beginning two days of talks about how to stimulate economies and job creation.

Workplace teams walk for AIDS (Saturday, 5/18/96)
More than 200 workplace teams are participating in the Minnesota AIDS Walk. The St. Paul Pioneer Press tells about the effort to tap business community's resources for help. However, for the full story on the paper's web site, you'll have to be a subscriber. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that controversy surrounds the walk with respect to how the money will be divided up. The Strib also has a story today about a race discrimination case involving Hubbard Broadcasting. Hubbard owns and operates radio stations and a major television station in the Twin Cities market and also is the founder of United States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB), a company formed to work with Hughes to launch a "direct broadcast" satellite and provide program services to persons who purchase small (18") satellite dishes. You'll also find a story about a new way of attracting hourly workers: a chance for a free trip to Las Vegas.

Politics of economic insecurity not clear (Friday, 5/17/96)
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reports that a new poll shows widespread economy insecurity, but it isn't clear which party will be able to capitalize on it during the presidential campaign. Both parties will try, though, and, as part of his effort, the President met with corporate leaders yesterday to talk "corporate responsibility." Candidate Dole recognizes that the economy usually decides elections, so he's trying to build a bold economic strategy for his sluggish campaign now that he has decided to leave the Senate.

Private property safe, but state should play a role, says candidate (Friday, 5/17/96)
Communist presidential candidate Zyuganov tries to reassure voters, but says there is a key role for the state in the Russian economy. Meanwhile, Zhirinovsky warns of possible civil war.

Westinghouse Electric found guilty in age discrimination suit (Friday, 5/17/96)
A federal jury rules in favor of laid off accountant in the Westinghouse case, according to Reuters, which also reports on a threatened pilots' strike at American Airlines. They also have a story about impoverished Mexican peasants taking over a farm belonging to disgraced former President Salinas, as well as a story about another Democratic failure to force a vote in the House of Representatives on the minimum wage issue.

Corporate shareholders begin to take a close look at executive compensation (Friday, 5/17/96)
Mark Basch, writing in the Florida Times-Union, says that criticism from shareholders and public interest groups about the growing gap between the pay of CEOs and lower-level employees. According to the Institute for Policy Studies, the average ratio between CEO compensation and the average salary of the firm's employees was 143-to-1 in 1992 but went up to 185-to 1 in 1995. Also, there appears to be growing anger that top executives are benefiting personally from the destruction of jobs, and, in fact, are rewarded for cutting jobs. Incidentally, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal are reporting today that AT&T has been able to eliminate only a small portion of the 30,000 jobs it intends to cut, because new hiring and reassignments are almost keeping pace with layoffs.

Finding a job on the Internet takes patience (Friday, 5/17/96)
There are approximately 650,000 job openings listed at various locations on the Internet, but finding the right one can take months, according to a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Also, about 50% of the jobs listed are computer or technology-related.

Too few minority physicians, says study (Friday, 5/17/96)
Dr. Miriam Komaromy of the University of California reports that Black and Hispanic doctors are doing a good job treating the poor in California, but there aren't enough of them. The study is published in the current New England Journal of Medicine and comes at a time of growing pressures to eliminate affirmative action programs.

Alienated underclass could threaten Australian political stability, according to report (Friday, 5/17/96)
The growing rich-pool gap, both among and within nations, has potentially explosive social and political implications, and a report on poverty in Australia released by the Wesley Mission says that about 11 percent of Australian population lives in poverty, and the numbers are growing. Reuters has distributed this story throughout much of the world. Along these lines, another Reuters story reports that an official of the United Nations Development Program says that market forces and globalization cannot stop a "world slide into increasingly explosive division between rich and poor." Also, the Australian Financial Review reports that the new Australian government will allow employment agreements negotiated under state laws to override federal agreements.

Spanish unions not optimistic about broad pact (Friday, 5/17/96)
Union officials are saying that policies of the new Spanish government will rule out a "broad pact" between business, labor, and government to create jobs. Union and government officials have been meeting in recent days, according to El Pais. Also, La Expansion reports that the European Commission says that Spain won't qualify for monetary and economic union by 1999 unless the country reduces public sector deficit and restructures the Spanish economy.

French unions reject reorganization plan (Friday, 5/17/96)
La Tribune Desfosses reports that Air Inter Europe unions have rejected a plan to help the money losing airline to break even within two years. Also, from France, Les Echos reports that Giat Industries intends to cut 2,500 jobs during the next three years, which is about a quarter of its workforce. Giat Industries is a former state-owned defense company.

German pension fund premiums will rise (Friday, 5/17/96)
Germany's association of pension insurers, wants the German government to re-think its plans for cutting social security premiums as part of its savings package, according to Frankfurter Rundschau.

US-China trade war could cost jobs in Hong Kong (Friday, 5/17/96)
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post says that officials feel confident that China and U.S. will avoid a full-scale trade war, but, if it comes, it will hurt Hong Kong's economy and cost jobs.

Population clock continues to tick, deafeningly (Thursday, 5/16/96)
Scot Lehigh, writing for the Boston Globe, reports that world population has reached approximately 5.7 billion now, and we think this should be the lead story in all of the world's newspapers. Before roughly 1840 (Lehigh says 1800), there were always fewer than 1 billion persons on the earth. In only a couple of centuries or so since, we have accumulated 5 times as many, and world population will reach 8 billion in only 30 years. This is a genuine explosion, in that the mathematics describing it are the mathematics of any explosion, including dynamite, which suggests a similar emergency.

All efforts to solve the world's economic problems, whether they be attempted by corporations, governments, non-profit agencies, or individuals, will fail completely if we are unable to check world population growth within the few years immediately ahead. Moreover, it is a fantasy to assume that the entire world's population can achieve a consumption level equivalent to that of the United States (where 5% of the planet's people live) and a few other islands of prosperity, without bringing the world ecological system to a crashing conclusion.

There have been stories in recent weeks about dramatically increasing grain prices because reserves have suddenly dwindled, in part because of weather conditions in the United States and, in part, because of dramatically increased demand for foodstuffs among increasingly prosperous portions of China's population. This is only one example of the increasing vulnerability of supporting conditions. Homo sapiens sapiens should not be smug about their success and invincibility, given that we've been around for only about 40,000 years. Dinosaurs dominated the earth for 100 million years, but not a single one has drawn breath for 165 million years. Similarly, our close cousins, the Neanderthals, thrived for about 60,000 years, and they are all gone. Lehigh's important article has been distributed to other papers throughout North America, and, fortunately, is available on the web. There's a lot more NewWork News today, but we've decided to make this our only story, in order to call attention to it. We'll catch up tomorrow.

Dole to leave Senate (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
In order to give full attention to his presidential campaign, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole has announced that he will leave the United States Senate after 27 years. The Wall Street Journal reports today that the Clinton Administration has been pressuring Dole on the minimum wage bill, and USA Today reports that both the minimum wage and gasoline tax cut measures have stalled in the Senate. Dole's resignation from the Senate will mean a new leader and additional factors thrown into the equation with the outcome still uncertain. In the meantime, the House Ways and Means Committee has voted to offer $7 billion in tax breaks for business in order to soften the impact of a minimum wage increase, according to CNN Financial.

Mitsubishi hires former Labor Secretary (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Former Labor Secretary Lynn Martin has been hired by Mitsubishi to help with the huge sexual harassment suit brought against the company.

Spanish employers want further reforms (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
The head of a Spanish employers' association, CEOE, wants the new Spanish government to make the country's labor laws more flexible in order to make it cheaper and easier to fire workers, among other things. Cinco Dias and other Spanish newspapers are reporting on government talks with employer and labor representatives.

South African unions want to double some steel workers' pay (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
South Africa's Star Business Report says that the country's National Union of Metalworkers is proposing that wages for the steel industry's lowest-paid workers be doubled. Management has offered a 6 percent pay rise.

Swiss labor costs topped only by Germany (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Tages Anzeiger reports that Switzerland's labor costs are the second-highest in the world. According to a German study, average Swiss industry labor costs last year were equivalent to US$28.17 per hour.

Kohl sticks to savings plan; unions plan work stoppages (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
The conflict between the German government and German labor unions over the plan to cut social benefits continues, and work is expected to stop in some areas in protest. Chancellor Helmut Kohl says cuts are necessary to make German products competitive and fight unemployment. Unions object most to proposed cuts in sick pay and a relaxation of rules protecting workers from layoff. This continues to be one of the biggest stories in the country, so all news organizations are covering it. Frankfurter Rundschau and Handelsblatt are examples.

Want a more efficient workplace? (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Sue Shellenbarger writes in today's Wall Street Journal that family-friendly jobs are a first step.

Communist candidate for prime minister dropped in India (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
The New York Times reports that an alliance trying to block Hindus from power in India has decided against the top Communist leader as its candidate. The recent election, following corruption scandals in the country, has turned the political scene upside down, and many are wondering what it will mean for India's "rising star" economy. The Times also has stories today about a German court decision to limit foreign refugees, the closing of a Maine shirt factory, despite successful efforts, an agreement between New York's teachers union and the mayor, and how private "intranets" are transforming the workplace.

UK teachers declare victory over disruptive 12-year-old (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Teachers insist they won't teach a disruptive pupil, and they feel they have prevailed in their effort to maintain standards of school discipline. It's a controversial issue, though, according the Electronic Telegraph. The Telegraph also has a story today about a British policewoman who says that sexual harassment made her life hell. Budapest Week contains a story about sexual harassment charges in Hungary. Employees of a U.S. army subcontractor have claimed that they were harassed and fondled at Taszar Air Base.

Widening gap in Florida corporations (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Suzy Hagstrom, writing in the Orlando Sentinel, reports on the Central Florida Business 12th annual survey of executive salaries, bonuses and benefits. Differences in income and financial security have widened into a gulf separating average workers from corporate officers, according to the report.

Mobile Tool International completes first year of employee ownership (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Robert Schwab writes in the Denver Post about the Denver company's first anniversary under employee ownership. Had employees not taken a second vote that decided on the buyout, the factory would probably be vacant by now. The company has 476 workers, er, owners.

Successful handyman not always a handyman (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
According to Lisa Black in the Chicago Tribune, former music industry executive Ron Kehr made a career change for which he prepared with a college English degree. The market for handypersons has increased substantially, and a growing number don't fit the stereotype.

Japanese college graduates face unfamiliar situation (Wednesday, 5/15/96)
Japan's 6-year economic slump has greatly softened the market for new college graduates, and women are at a particular disadvantage, because many available jobs are open only to men. Knight-Ridder and the Los Angeles Times have been reporting this story during recent days.

Mitsubishi wants quick settlement (Tuesday, 5/14/96)
Mitsubishi Motors wants to push ahead with a quick settlement of the largest sexual harassment suit in history. Talks are underway now.

Employees group wants social security age lowered to 62 (Tuesday, 5/14/96)
Switzerland's Tages Anzeiger reports that a commercial industry employees group is proposing that the government lower the age of eligibility for social security to age 62 for men and women. A government plan would raise the retirement age for women from 62 to 64.

Few Dutch women at the top (Tuesday, 5/14/96)
A recent study shows far fewer women in top management in small and medium-sized companies in the Netherlands than in the U.K. or Spain. The top echelon in Dutch as well as Scandinavian countries is kept small, so there are fewer top management opportunities overall. The study is reported in Trouw. The paper also reports that the pension fund for Fokker NV might have to come up with 160 million guilders if it is to become part of the pension fund for the metal industry. Fokker NV is a defunct jet manufacturer.

Austrians to reduce foreign worker permits (Tuesday, 5/14/96)
Domestic unemployment has been on the increase in Austria, and the Austrian government has announced that it will dramatically reduce the number of work permits for foreigners during the next year in response. In another story, Semperit Reifen AG, German-owned tiremaker, will cut 548 jobs in its Vienna-area factory to keep it from closing. Der Standard has both stories today.

New Spanish government won't increase pensions to match inflation (Tuesday, 5/14/96)
Spanish government spokespersons say that pensions won't be able to keep up with price increases under new strict budgetary policies. La Expansion has the story today. Also from Spain, El Pais reports that Spain's new Prime Minister Jose Aznar, is opening talks for an "employment pact" between government, labor, and business, as promised during this campaign.

No progress in German talks (Tuesday, 5/14/96)
The third round of wage negotiations between the German government and representatives of the country's 3.2 million public workers have ended without progress. Warning strikes have been occurring throughout Germany. The next meeting is scheduled for May 22. Most Germany newspapers have the story today, including Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Columnist renews old argument about property rights (Monday, 5/13/96)
Marjorie Kelly, writing in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, says that the people who create wealth aren't able to keep it. Her column is on the paper's web site. This seems to relate to a very old argument that subsided for awhile, but has been brought back to the surface by tensions and uncertainties in the new work world. Marx' "labor theory of value" denied the role of capital and capitalists in the productive process, a view that many felt to be untenable in modern economies. However, the question of whether or not the rights of property are unlimited and whether labor has an equity stake has been renewed, and we should hear more on these issues during the months ahead. The Strib also contains a story today about a family of police officers.

Senate debate this week on gas tax and minimum wage (Monday, 5/13/96)
The week opens with debate in the Senate on two hot issues.

Strike fails in Switzerland (Monday, 5/13/96)
Profoot, a Swiss soccer players organization, wasn't able to get enough votes to stage a strike Saturday, and the organizations appears to be near collapse, according to Tages Anzeiger. The paper also reports today that there may be fewer apprenticeship vacancies in a number of technical and commercial sectors in German-speaking Switzerland over the next several years.

Strike called off in the Netherlands (Monday, 5/13/96)
A strike scheduled for today at several Philips Electronics plants in the Netherlands has been called off. Unions will decide by the end of the week whether to accept a company proposal.

Union leader predicts "hot summer" for German government and employers (Monday, 5/13/96)
Dieter Schulte, head of the DGB, Germany's union association, is threatening to mobilize 15 member unions to oppose a proposed package of social cuts, according to Frankfurter Rundschau. A general strike has not been ruled out.

Mitsubishi settlement not near (Monday, 5/13/96)
Today's Wall Street Journal reports that settlement is not imminent in the largest sexual harassment suit so far. See the paper's second section.

Assaultive 12-year-old may lead to teacher strike in UK (Monday, 5/13/96)
Teachers are refusing to teach a 12-year-old that has had been suspended from school, then reinstated. A strike is under consideration, according to London's Electronic Telegraph. The Telegraph also reports today that one of the principal supporters of "downsizing" in the U.S. has changed his mind.

Professional jobs exported now too (Monday, 5/13/96)
The Irish Times reports today on how professionals in other parts of the world are competing for jobs in the software industry. In the revolutionary new world economy, geography can be nearly irrelevant.

Kawasaki changes policy on foreign workers (Monday, 5/13/96)
The Japan Times reports that Kawasaki City will become one of the first cities in Japan to open civil service jobs to non-Japanese.

Bucks for bricks in Madison (Monday, 5/13/96)
A variety of factors have led to a shortage of skilled construction workers in the Madison, Wisconsin community, home of the internationally recognized University of Wisconsin. A recent ad in the Wisconsin State Journal offers $25 per hour to start, plus "excellent benefits," for bricklayers. Among the factors contributing to the shortage has been a reluctance on the part of young people to enter apprenticeships. We're wondering how many people with post-graduate degrees are working as waiters near the university, or, for that matter, how many Harvard Ph.D.s are delivering mail in Cambridge. We don't know; we're just wondering. Incidentally, for an ordinary 2000-hour work year, $25 per hour works out to $50,000 per year, in case your calculator isn't handy.

Unusual effort to save jobs in Massachusetts (Monday, 5/13/96)
Knight-Ridder reports that the New Bedford, Massachusetts city council voted to seize JC Rhodes, Inc. by eminent domain in order to try to save the 120 jobs at the shoelace eyelet manufacturing plant. The company has been sold to Scovill Fasteners Inc., which is intending to close the New Bedford plant and move operations to Georgia.

United Steelworkers and AFL-CIO heads to explain "black flag" (Monday, 5/13/96)
George Becker, president of the United Steelworkers of America, and John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, are holding a press conference in Washington tomorrow in order to clarify their call for a boycott of the Bridgestone-Firestone tire company. The conference will also be available by satellite beginning at 9 AM Washington time. The boycott began last year after Bridgestone-Firestone refused a return-to-work offer by 4,000 striking rubber workers following a year-long unfair labor practice strike. Seven-hundred strikers still haven't been returned to their jobs. The U.S. National Labor Relations Board is seeking back pay on behalf of the workers and their families.

NLRB complaint issued against Beverly Enterprises (Monday, 5/13/96)
According to PRNewswire, the National Labor Relations Board has issued a 108-page complaint against Beverly Enterprises alleging hundreds of federal labor law violations. Beverly operates nursing homes throughout the United States.

Argentine priest blasts government policies (Monday, 5/13/96)
Reuters reports that the Rev. Jesus Olmedo has called the economic plan of Argentina's President Carlos Menem ``satanic'' because it is forcing children to go hungry. Recent television pictures showing people eating cats have caused widespread outrage in the country.

Labor Ready from Tacoma going national (Monday, 5/13/96)
Tacoma, Washington's Labor Ready corporation provides temp workers to light industrial and construction businesses, and is planning a national expansion, according to Knight-Ridder. It is additional evidence of the hot market for temporary workers in the American economy. Reuters also reports that the Pope has called for a "general mobilization" from all sectors of Italian society to help immigrants and the jobless in Italy's poorer southern regions. Some estimates indicate that there may be as many as 500,000 illegal immigrants in Italy, and that the number is rising rapidly.

Times article on women's movement in Islamic countries (Sunday, 5/12/96)
The women's movement is gaining strength in Islamic countries, according to an article in the New York Times. Another article in the Times reports that a growing number of economists are concluding that the emphasis on productivity, layoffs, and technology has not been working to produce an improved standard of living. The Times also has articles on how a minimum wage increase would affect the New York area and how organized labor has shown signs of renewed life during the six months since John Sweeney took over as head of the AFL-CIO.

More on economic implications of Indian election (Sunday, 5/12/96)
CNN Financial has a story today about the economic uncertainties arising from the political upheaval in India following a corruption scandal and an historic election outcome.

Irish nurses to strike in July (Sunday, 5/12/96)
Chaos in hospital expected as nurses get ready to strike in July. The Irish Times reports the story. The Times also has a story on a tremendous response to incentives for early retirement from the Defense Forces.

Relate wages to job value, Council says (Sunday, 5/12/96)
Singapore's National Wages Council is urging employers to bring about a greater relationship between wages and the value of jobs, according to the Singapore Business Times.

Midwestern cities good for working mothers, according to magazine (Sunday, 5/12/96)
Redbook magazine identifies the communities most favorable for working mothers, in terms of schools, health care, family friendly employers, and so on. Among the cities singled out are Rochester and Moorhead, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Broder calls for campaign debate about "crunch" (Sunday, 5/12/96)
In his nationally syndicated column this time, David Broder says that economic conditions favor the incumbent in a presidential election, and the economy is strong by some indicators. However, many American families are in an economic squeeze that should be addressed in the campaign. Broder's column is distributed throughout the United States by the Washington Post Writers Group. He writes for the Washington Post.

Economic uncertainty follows political uncertainty in India (Saturday, 5/11/96)
India is the second largest country in the world and the largest democracy, and, while large portions of its population remain greatly disadvantaged economically, the country has also become a rising star in the new world economy with a large middle-class and a leading hi-tech industry. However, the current political upheaval may mean historic changes in a number of areas. The ruling Congress party has been defeated and Prime Minister Rao has resigned, as the struggle for power heats up. In addition to Reuters, here's a look at the story from the perspective of the Los Angeles Times.

Vietnamese riot in Hong Kong (Saturday, 5/11/96)
The Los Angeles Times and Reuters report on the continuing turmoil in Hong Kong as authorities prepare to deport Vietnamese refugees.

Clinton Administration appeal denied (Saturday, 5/11/96)
The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia has let stand a ruling that overturned President Clinton's order prohibiting the federal government from contracting with companies that hire replacement workers during a lawful strike, according to Reuters and the Los Angeles Times. Reuters also reports that House Speaker Newt Gingrich will allow a vote on the minimum wage increase within the next two weeks.

Independent truckers try to organize in California (Saturday, 5/11/96)
The Los Angeles Times reports on a high-risk organization strategy among California truckers, and also has a story about the growing middle-class in Russia.

Volunary job reduction on schedule at 3M (Saturday, 5/11/96)
3M Corporation announced a major restructuring and downsizing plan in November, but has intended to accomplish most of it by offering incentives rather than laying off workers. So far, it seems to be working, and the company's chairman says they're three-quarters finished.

Washington conference focuses on developing "pockets of prosperity" (Saturday, 5/11/96)
The Fannie Mae Foundation 1996 Housing Conference at the Washington Hilton and Towers yesterday was called "The Future of American Cities: Shaping a New Urban Diversity" and was co-sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Research was presented suggesting that increased diversity in the core cities can help save them. According to Wendy R. Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fannie Mae Foundation, "Our cities work best when they reflect the full breadth of American life." Strategies for attracting middle-income households back to the urban core were discussed.

Midwest workforce conference scheduled (Saturday, 5/11/96)
Academics and policy makers will meet Wednesday at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to examine "Work Force Developments/Issues for the Midwest Economy." Discussion will focus on new roles for the public and private sectors in enhancing worker productivity. Interested members of the media can obtain additional information by calling (312) 322-5108.

Cray and Silicon Graphics expect more staff cuts (Saturday, 5/11/96)
Cray Research, once the leading maker of supercomputers, was bought recently by Silicon Graphics Inc. According to Knight-Ridder, 118 jobs were cut last week and more are expected, but they should not be "Draconian."

New index testifies to California's recovery (Saturday, 5/11/96)
Business Wire reports that the new Market Watch Index (MWI) shows strength in the market for new housing in many major California communities, which should be followed by job growth in the construction industry. During recent years, several California communities lost large numbers of manufacturing jobs. A strong housing market is encouraging, because, generally, manufacturing jobs pay better than service jobs, and better support housing purchases.

Bank governor supports Serbian strike (Saturday, 5/11/96)
According to Reuters, Yugoslav central bank governor Dragoslav Avramovic supports the thousands of striking workers in southern Serbia who are protesting taxes and unpaid wages. He predicts widespread unrest unless the government meets their demands.

Hotel workers must reapply for their jobs (Saturday, 5/11/96)
Cathleen Ferraro, writing in the Sacramento Bee, reports that the new owners of the Beverly Garland Hotel are requiring hotel workers to reapply if they are interested in retaining their jobs at reduced wages under the new management.

Achievements by women in science and technology recognized (Saturday, 5/11/96)
Women in Technology International has announced that it is sponsoring a month of activities recognizing women in science and technology and inspiring women to their best. WITI has declared June to be Women in Science and Technology Month. A variety of activities and programs are scheduled, including the first inductees into the WITI Hall of Fame. The organization has 5,000 members worldwide. Further information can be obtained at the WITI web site.

Study says school kids lack necessary computer skills (Saturday, 5/11/96)
Elisa Williams and Katie Hickox report in the Orange County Register that a study commissioned by the Children's Partnership, of Santa Monica, California, says that the majority of American schoolchildren won't be prepared for modern careers because of insufficient computer skills. Fewer than one in 10 of American classrooms are connected to the Internet, according to the study, and, given current trends, only a fifth of new workers will have the computer skills required by 60 percent of the news jobs.

Study says finding mentor is getting harder (Friday, 5/10/96)
The Chivas Regal Report on Working Americans reports that, of 1000 full-time workers surveyed, only 17% indicated that they have an older, more experienced colleague who is taking a special interest in their careers. This contrasts with 43% who said they had a mentor earlier in their careers. Fifty-five percent of the respondents said that senior managers are less interested in helping younger persons than previously. The study was released along with the beginning of Career Toolbox, a free career guidance service on the web. We've had difficulty accessing the site, but it may be a temporary problem.

California transportation workers suing to speed up payment (Friday, 5/10/96)
According to PRNewswire, hundreds of California Department of Transportation workers have filed suit against CALTRANS in order to recover damages associated with habitually late payment of wages and benefits. California law requires that the workers be paid on time.

Personal bankruptcies on the increase (Friday, 5/10/96)
John Dunbar, writing in the The Florida Times-Union, says the economy's "cooking," but Americans going broke at an unprecedented rate. Filings for personal bankruptcies reached a record high during the early months of 1996. High debt levels, corporate downsizing, and a lack of health insurance are blamed. Simon Barker-Benfield, also writing in the Times-Union, says that BellSouth will cut 181 jobs in Jacksonville, Florida by the end of June. Most will be operators who answer "dial 0" calls. Automated systems will take over the work, according to the Communications workers of America.

Textile plant to close (Friday, 5/10/96)
Champion Products in Fitzgerald, Georgia will close, according to the Macon Telegraph. The plant employs 230 people. It is the latest of several textile plants in the region to close during the past few months.

Police blast students and teachers with water cannon (Friday, 5/10/96)
Students and teachers march in protest of cuts to education in Brussels. The march turned violent, and riot police responded.

New laws needed to control economic espionage (Friday, 5/10/96)
According to Reuters, FBI Director Louis Freeh told Congress Thursday that critical technological and other economic information is being stolen by foreign governments and new laws are needed.

"Worker backlash" expected (Friday, 5/10/96)
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal report that Morgan Stanley economist Stephen Roach expects a "worker backlash" against retail and fast food industries. Investment strategies are being developed to benefit from it.

Swiss employers resist social charter (Friday, 5/10/96)
Tages Anzeiger reports that Switzerland's main employers group is challenging the government's plan to ratify the European social charter which gives employees the right to strike. It also entitles foreign workers to equal social benefits. The paper also reports that Swiss truckers are protesting the Swiss Federal Railways plan to sell its interest in Cargo Domizil AG, in which the truckers own a minority interest. Railway workers are demonstrating against the sale to Cargo Domizil's chief competitors.

Austrian court rules that Turkish workers will receive residency rights (Friday, 5/10/96)
Salzburger Nachrichten reports that Turkish citizens living in Austria are entitled to unlimited residency in the country after four years. The decision will affect more than 51,000 Turkish immigrant workers.

Social security reform wanted before summer (Friday, 5/10/96)
Belgium Premier Dehaene is urging lawmakers to give the government additional powers to push ahead with social security reform before summer. He also wants to move ahead with the 1997 budget in order to cut the country's deficit in time for European monetary union. Le Soir reports the story this morning.

German labor law change proposed (Friday, 5/10/96)
Germany's Labor Minister Bluem will propose legislation intended to save companies more than 3 billion marks by reducing sick pay and vacation pay, according to Handelsblatt.

Business organizations get ready to oppose AFL-CIO in election (Friday, 5/10/96)
Today's Wall Street Journal reports that business groups are concerned about the AFL-CIO's plan for election spending and intend to do some spending of their own. The Journal also has stories today about employees given the burden of downsizing, about the decrease in jobless claims last week, and about Senator Dole's proposal that unions "loath."

More work for secretaries forecast (Friday, 5/10/96)
The expansion of Russian employment improves outlook for secretaries, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Barnard College to withhold diplomas (Friday, 5/10/96)
Six Barnard College seniors won't get their diplomas right away because of their participation in a campus strike, according to the New York Times. The Times also reports today on how a former Democrat has become a Republican, and why. Hint: it has to do with the minimum wage issue.

Getting back to work faster (Friday, 5/10/96)
Dave Beal's column in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today tells about a company that is making Minnesota's workers' compensation system work better.

Politicians trade accusations about "logjam" (Thursday, 5/9/96)
President Clinton says he would sign bills to increase the minimum wage and to cut the gasoline tax, but only if they are presented "clean," rather than combined with Senate majority leader Robert Dole's proposal to ease rules barring company unions. While Clinton and Dole spar over this issue, recently almost invisible House Speaker Newt Gingrich accuses Clinton of political "posturing". It's not even easy to pass legislation that enjoys bipartisan popularity during an election year.

Generally good news from the Fed Wednesday (Thursday, 5/9/96)
According to latest report, the economy picked up a little speed in March and April through most areas of the United States, and indications of feared inflation are not strong. Also, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that new unemployment claims dipped last week, which is not what Wall Street expected.

Aw, go ahead, take a week off (Thursday, 5/9/96)
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal report that demand has been slack for AMP, Inc.'s electrical connectors, so they're asking their entire U.S. workforce to take a week off without pay to help out. The company has 18,000 employees in the U.S. The proposal is an effort to save jobs, spokespersons say.

Government downsizing in Spain (Thursday, 5/9/96)
The new conservative Spanish government has announced that it intends to eliminate 80 government departments and make the deepest cuts in the Finance Ministry, among the survivors. The conservatives recently displaced the previous Socialist government. Cinco Dias and other Spanish papers report the story this morning.

Temps up in Belgium (Thursday, 5/9/96)
La Libre Belgique reports that temporary employment increased 17% in 1995. About 200,000 people found temporary jobs in the country last year, as companies strive for workforce flexibility during a period of sluggish economic growth.

Concern about pension funds in the Netherlands (Thursday, 5/9/96)
The Dutch insurance industry regulator is worried about the financial health of a number of smaller Dutch pension funds and is taking a look at their investment policies. A number of the smaller funds had problems last year.

French population not optimistic (Thursday, 5/9/96)
A new survey indicates that nearly two-thirds of those responding say they don't expect a significant decrease in unemployment in France during the next twenty years. Eight percent they favor reduction of hours and early retirement to help save jobs and stimulate employment of young people, respectively. La Tribune Desfosses has this story today, as well as one about the French Finance Ministry's plan to cut spending by 60-100 billion francs with a lowering of taxes in mind. Most of the cuts will come from subsidies intended to create jobs as well as from housing benefits.

More flexibility in business dress (Thursday, 5/9/96)
Jane Turnis, writing in the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, says that an increasing acceptance of women in the workplace has led to greater options, so far as acceptable business dress is concerned. However, John T. Molloy, in his The Woman's Dress for Success Book, published in 1977, said that most women dress for failure, an