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August 1997

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Hoffa calls on Carter (Sunday, 8/31/97)
James Hoffa, one of the candidates in the re-running of the Teamsters presidential election, is asking that former President Jimmy Carter supervise the vote. Also from Reuters this morning, President Clinton wants to limit federal pay raises to 2.8 percent next year, and a new study finds that long hours either on the job or on the way to the job may be hard on your heart.

Bad stories about bad management (Sunday, 8/31/97)
Sharon Walsh of the Washington Post tells some of the favorite how-not-to stories used in management classes. Also in the Post, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says tax cuts may be offset by cuts in student aid, and Steven Ginsberg tells how some are earning the big money without four-year degrees.

Benefitting from a crisis (Sunday, 8/31/97)
The Wall Street Journal's Hal Lancaster tells how you can learn and otherwise benefit from a crisis in your company. Here's the story via Newsday, in which Patricia Kitchen asks about making a wish on Labor Day. James Lileks writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about how Labor Day is hard on workaholics, among other things. Incidentally, the federal minimum wage goes up tomorrow, and, speaking of money, David Cay Johnston of the New York Times looks at how union wages stack up.

Fewer Mexican illegals in the U.S. than thought (Sunday, 8/31/97)
A new study concludes that estimates of the number of undocumented Mexicans in the United States have been far too high. In related news, in an editorial, the Los Angeles Times says the U.S. should get tougher on illegal labor.

Asian economies have gotten less miraculous (Sunday, 8/31/97)
The New York Times' Sheryl WuDunn reports on how many Asian economies have quickly gone from miraculous to muddled. Also in the Times today, Rachel Swarns reports on welfare recipients who are getting ready for work, but are the jobs ready for them? Jobs programs need more time, she says.

More on the high rate of job-related injuries (Sunday, 8/31/97)
The New York Times reports on injuries as well as illnesses in the workplace, and there are a lot of each.

Supreme Court asked to block California law (Saturday, 8/30/97)
Friday, several civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, asked the American Supreme Court to hear their challenge to the new law arising out of Proposition 209.

Colleges and the web (Saturday, 8/30/97)
The World Wide Web continues to impact on life and work, and also on higher education, and many campuses are scrambling to adapt to their new environment. For instance, here's a story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about applying for college on the Internet. Also, here's something new: campus-wide access to Lexis-Nexis via the Internet at Florida State University, according to today's New York Times. How much information is available? Well, consider a stack of CD-ROMs that may be as high as the tallest building in your town.

Election overseer to resign (Saturday, 8/30/97)
Being caught in the middle of the Teamsters presidential election conflict isn't quite enough fun, apparently, so the person who ordered that the election be held again has decided to quit, according to this report from Stephen Labaton.

Pataki decision on teacher retirement bill awaited (Saturday, 8/30/97)
The New York legislature has passed a bill that would allow large numbers of teachers in New York City to retire early. The United Federation of Teachers is urging New York Governor Pataki to sign the bill, but many are alarmed, including New York City mayor Giuliani. If it becomes law, the bill would allow teachers to retire with full pensions with as little as ten years of service, and it would also allow large numbers of teachers to retire this fall after being assigned their classes. Also, New York city officials are concerned because the action would come at the same time that they're trying to reduce class size in the city's schools.

What to do about a famine? (Saturday, 8/30/97)
Improved farming methods might help, some North Korean officials believe, so several specialists are touring United States farms to see how a small percentage of the U.S. population is able to feed America as well as much of the rest of the world. The story appears in the International Herald Tribune. A rational and humane government in North Korea might be a good start. A bit to the south, South Korean officials are expecting that country's recession to bottom out soon, according to the Korea Herald. South Korea's economy has been having problems lately, but a glance to the north shows that it's a purely relative issue. There are few areas in the world where such an enormous economic contrast exists. North Korea's economy is catastrophic, while South Korea's, despite its sluggishness recently, is the 15th in the world. Incidentally, the total land area of the Korean peninsula is slightly less than that of Minnesota and contains about 68 million people altogether, with South Korea's population roughly twice as large as North Korea's.

Other sluggish economies (Saturday, 8/30/97)
Here's a Bloomberg Business News story about the sleepy and troubled French economy, while the International Herald Tribune's Justin Keay reports on the Ukraine's efforts to get its economic motor started. Finally, here's an IHT story about stagnation in Japan. After much hand-wringing and national self-doubt several years ago, the American economy currently is the strongest in the world, although growth is modest by historical standards. Also, while growth continues and job creation is still occurring at a high rate in the United States, all is not well with everybody. Until recently, real wages were not increasing, and there is evidence of a growing "have vs. have-not" gap, although this seems to be the case over much of the world. In the new economy, much of the gap from now on will have to do with information, because, in its various forms, information is adding greater value and playing an increasingly important role in the production process, much as natural resources, including land, and capital have traditionally. For many years, those who controlled the natural resources were the "haves." From now on, it will be mostly those who possess or control "information."

Some reflections on the eve of Labor Day in the U.S. (Saturday, 8/30/97)
USA Today suggests that we ponder the "real meaning" of Labor Day.

Mitsubishi to settle harassment suit (Friday, 8/29/97)
Mitsubishi will pay 27 women $9.5 million to settle a sexual harassment suit, according to a report from the St. Paul Pioneer Press this morning.

USDA hit with discrimination lawsuit (Friday, 8/29/97)
A group of black farmers is suing the United States Department of Agriculture, alleging discrimination. Michael Fletcher reports for the Washington Post.

Pilots claim mediator bias (Friday, 8/29/97)
The National Mediation Board has decided that pilots at UPS can't strike until early next year, and the pilots feel that the board is siding with the company. Incidentally, the United Parcel Service says thousands of Teamsters members are still out of work, even though the strike against UPS ended more than a week ago.

Thousands protest implementation of Proposition 209 (Friday, 8/29/97)
The new law banning affirmative action programs in California went into effect yesterday, and thousands marched in protest. G. Pascal Zachary of the Wall Street Journal writes today that some California cities will ignore the ban until the law is clarified.

Turkey works on development of unemployment insurance (Friday, 8/29/97)
Milliyet reports that the Turkish Minister of Labor says the government plans to cancel the Mandatory Savings Fund, and that its funds could be reallocated to support unemployment insurance.

Fewer newly unemployed (Friday, 8/29/97)
The number of people applying for first-time jobless benefits dipped last week for the first time in a month, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Washington Post's John Berry reports that revised figures show that the economy was stronger during the spring than previously thought. David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor says that, despite continuing strong growth the Federal Reserve probably won't raise interest rates for a while, and he explains why. Incidentally, despite generally good economic times in the U.S., many Americans apparently still see the glass as half empty. One reason may be that, while the U.S. economy is looking good according to conventional indicators, the continuing restructuring is still causing distress and disorientation for many individuals. Daniel Wood says he has seen the future, and it is California. If the "Golden State" were a country, only seven others would have larger economies, and, after some very hard times recently, California is roaring back.

Washington politicians and others maneuver on NAFTA II issue (Friday, 8/29/97)
President Clinton is pleased with NAFTA and wants to see more of the same with the inclusion of other Western Hemispheric nations. Others are opposed, including many leaders of organized labor who are concerned about American jobs and wages. Get set for an autumn of struggle.

Construction workers' children at risk (Friday, 8/29/97)
Apparently, construction workers bring lead home from work on their clothing, and their children are showing higher blood lead levels.

Spain expects increased economic growth (Friday, 8/29/97)
Forecasters had expected the Spanish economy to grow by 3.2 percent during the fourth quarter, but now they're saying it will be more like 3.5 percent, according to Expansion this morning. Elsewhere in Europe, Het Financieele Dagblad reports that government officials expect that the Dutch economy will have grown by 3 percent during the year. Also in Holland, De Telegraaf reports that Royal Bijenkorf Beheer NV will cut 3,000 jobs when it closes a chain of unprofitable stores.

Other members of president's caste still stuck on the bottom (Friday, 8/29/97)
The new president of India, K.R. Narayanan, has come from the "untouchables," the lowest-ranked caste in Indian society. Still, John Zubrzycki reports that, despite changes in Indian society and an increasingly prominent international economic role for the country, most "untouchables" are still among the most disadvantaged in India. On the other side of the planet, hundreds of thousands of people also struggle in the economic cellar in Mexico City. Here's Howard LaFranchi's report. Also, Mexican diplomats are fearing for the safety of many Mexican immigrants. Incidentally, the U.S. has deported a record number of illegal immigrants this year.

German politics making many Europeans uneasy (Friday, 8/29/97)
The increasing integration of European economies, including the intended common currency, probably depends on German leadership, so Chancellor Kohl and other German political leaders have a lot of people watching with some anxiety.

Another reason not to hurry toward graduation (Friday, 8/29/97)
Been reading NewWork News each day for free on the campus? Worried that graduation will mean you'll have to pay for your own Internet connection? You're not alone. Beth Berselli of the Washington Post reports on the newly disconnected.

Work disincentives (Friday, 8/29/97)
Wendy Brower writes today in the Minneapolis Star Tribune in response to a New York Times story about a 60-year-old amputee who was denied disability income.

U.S. saying states shouldn't worry about money for children's health (Friday, 8/29/97)
Amy Goldstein writes that the federal government is trying to reassure the states that they will get their share of federal money for improving the health of poor children, even if their plans aren't in place. Meanwhile, Judith Havemann reports that the feds passed welfare responsibility to the states, and now the states are passing it to the counties.

Start planning on how you'll spend your raise (Friday, 8/29/97)
Federal employees are scheduled for a 2.8 percent average pay increase next year. Administration officials said yesterday that President Clinton will authorize it.

Paper blasts job-training program (Friday, 8/29/97)
The Washington Post says that Washington D. C.'s job-training program is a flop and a scandal.

Private enemy number one (Friday, 8/29/97)
Robert Kuttner says too few people are concerned with the growing trend toward privatizing the public's business. The Food and Drug Administration is a case in point, he says.

Anti-affirmative action law takes effect today (Thursday, 8/28/97)
The California law barring affirmative action programs takes effect today. Here are more details from Robert Marquand of today's Christian Science Monitor and William Claiborne of the Washington Post. Along similar lines, Sue Anne Pressley writes about the less diverse classes assembling on the University of Texas campus in Austin for the start of fall term.

Age discrimination suit at GE (Thursday, 8/28/97)
Former workers are suing General Electric for $15 million. Here's the story from Reuters this morning.

Saudis feel they're too dependent on foreign labor (Thursday, 8/28/97)
The Khaleej Times reports that the Saudi Arabian government is determined that private sector jobs go to Saudi citizens. They want to replace 190,000 foreign workers with Saudis by the year 2000.

Local perspective on globalization (Thursday, 8/28/97)
It's all local, writes Jim Hoagland. For instance, here's how globalization looks from Saudi Arabia.

UPS pilots cannot strike this year (Thursday, 8/28/97)
The National Mediation Board has decided that pilots at United Parcel Service will not be allowed to strike before early 1998. Here's the story from today's Washington Post.

Commerce Department revises its report (Thursday, 8/28/97)
The American economy has been continuing its robust growth, according the Nando Times.

More privatization in Turkey (Thursday, 8/28/97)
A state-owned cold food storage facility, Meyve ve Buzlu Muhafaza Enternasyonal Nakliyat AS, will be put up for sale, according to the Turkish Privatization Administration. Yeni Yuzyil has the story today.

How a new law is affecting American farmers (Thursday, 8/28/97)
Edward Walsh writes about a North Dakota farmer and others like him. A new law reduces the federal role, or, at least, weakens the safety net for farmers.

What to do with a state-owned electrical utility (Thursday, 8/28/97)
Considerable debate is going on in Australia about whether to privatize the NSW electrical company and what the impact of doing so would be on jobs. A report says jobs would not be saved by keeping it state-owned. Today's Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Unemployed man sets fire to unemployment office (Thursday, 8/28/97)
A man from Madrid spent his last pesetas on gasoline, which he used to set fire to a government unemployment office, according to El Mundo. He has been unemployed for five years. At 20.94 percent, Spain's unemployment rate is the highest among European Union nations.

Another slavery story (Thursday, 8/28/97)
This time from Russia, and the New York Times reports that it says something about the status of women in that country.

All seems quiet in Hong Kong (Thursday, 8/28/97)
On the surface, at least, things seem to be going on in familiar ways in Hong Kong two months after the handover. Keith Richburg writes about the former British colony's first Chinese chief executive in more than 150 years. Business as usual and no major problems, he says.

How's Minnesota's new approach to welfare working? (Thursday, 8/28/97)
The goal isn't just to get people to work, but to get them out of poverty, writes Barbara Vobejda in today's Washington Post, and it seems to be working. On the other hand, Jason DeParle reports that many other states are finding that incentives aren't helping a great deal.

Can you see across the office? (Thursday, 8/28/97)
A new smog alert. "Volatile organic compounds" are filling up your workspace.

Job creation plan for handicapped failing in Denmark (Thursday, 8/28/97)
Berlingske Tidende reports that the person in charge of a Danish government program for creating 40,000 jobs for persons who are handicapped or ill has been fired following news that the program has not been reaching its goals.

No biz as usual for hourly workers (Thursday, 8/28/97)
Today's Wall Street Journal reports on how things are changing for Americans who work for an hourly wage. Also in the Journal today, Rebecca Blumenstein writes about workers who like their impact on quality products, and Louise Lee writes about people who are proud of another quality product: themselves. Finally, John Harwood examines a welfare test that would combine work with fiscal incentives for "long-termers."

Balance work and family, says Labor Secretary (Thursday, 8/28/97)
Labor Secretary Alexis Herman needed a break after the UPS strike was settled, because she played an active and exhausting role in bringing the sides together. She's out and about again now, though, and has showed up in the Twin Cities where she spoke about work and family. Here's Jon Tevlin's report from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune

South Africans having difficulty saving, according to bank report (Thursday, 8/28/97)
South African households are saving about 1.5 percent of their income after taxes, according to today's Financial Mail. In contrast, Belgian households save 16.3 percent. Traditionally, Americans have also been reluctant savers, but a lot of American households participate in the stock market.

Steady as she goes (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
Glenn Somerville of the Washington Post reports on the latest government data indicating that more steady growth lies ahead. Here's more from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the New York Times.

California affirmative action law kicks in tomorrow, unless the Supremes step in (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
A federal appeals court has refused to delay implementation of the law that will bar affirmative action in California. The only thing that could delay it now would be a stay issued by the Supreme Court. Stay tuned.

American college freshmen more likely to get the correct answer this year (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
Tabassum Zakaria reports that the new college freshman class seems better prepared in math. William Honan of the New York Times has further details. Speaking of college, here's a Deccan Herald story about a girls' college in Punjab where there are no teachers.

Explanation for the Swiss economic slump (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
According to a Tages-Anzeiger story, Swiss university economists are saying that the economic slump in Switzerland isn't due to globalization. Instead, they say, it's because of a self-inflicted isolation of its home market from international competition.

"Labor Day checklist" on repetitive stress injuries (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
Some occupational health experts offer advice on how to help prevent those problems that can arise from doing the same thing over and over and over.

Israel may cut child benefits for some (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
According to Yediot Ahronot this morning, the Israeli Finance Ministry wants to cut child benefits for families in the middle-income range. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not enthusiastic at first, but is saying now that he will bring the proposal before the Israeli cabinet.

Hoffa wants Carey out (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
In what may qualify as news that isn't news, James Hoffa's lawyer is asking that Teamsters president Ron Carey be removed from office while an investigation into corruption in the Teamsters union goes on. A re-do of last year's presidential election has been ordered.

Fewer workers absent from duty (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
Employee absenteeism is down, says a CCH Inc. study.

Employee ownership stimulates profits, survey says (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
Denmark's Berlingske Tidende reports that a survey indicates that Danish companies in which employees hold some of the stock are doing better than firms in which employees don't own shares.

IRS under fire in Washington (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
America's Internal Revenue Service has always been about as popular as an anthrax epidemic, but now various powerful people in Washington seem to be getting serious about changing the agency, or eliminating it altogether, as Speaker of the House Gingrich and others have proposed. David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor tells this story, and also explains why tax simplification doesn't easily happen in the United States.

Out with the old, in with the new (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
The man who has been heading Russia's privatization program gets an unkind send-off from President Yeltsin, writes Stephanie Baker-Said of the St. Petersburg Times. Also, here's her story about the new head of Russia's State Property Committee.

Discrimination suits may get harder (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
A New York judge has dismissed a discrimination suit, suggesting that such suits may be harder in the future.

More on Washington's problem-plagued disability compensation program (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
Today's Washington Post says it's been one of the longest-running scandals and little has been done about it.

He's worried about fewer physicians (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
In an opinion piece in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, Barry Cytron is critical of the government's program for reducing the production of American physicians. We've reported recently on how the program resembles long-running efforts to take farm land out of production. Speaking of doctors, the New York Times' Andrea Adelson reports that one of their unions will join with ASCME. That's right--a doctor's union. It's one response to the fundamental restructuring that has been going on in the American health care delivery system.

More indictments in the immigrant slavery case (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
This time the news is from North Carolina. Ian Fisher of the New York Times reports. Also in the Times this morning, Jennifer Preston reports that some legal immigrants in New Jersey will continue to get food stamps.

Wages overdue in South Korea (Wednesday, 8/27/97)
A record number of workers aren't getting wages due them, according to this Korea Herald report.

UPS pilots to vote, but it will take awhile (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
United Parcel Service says it has made its final offer to its pilots. They will vote, and expect to be finished by the end of September.

Sears and Montgomery Ward reach agreement (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
Sears used to be America's largest retailer, and Montgomery Ward used to be their principal competition. Now, Sears has fallen considerably behind the front runners, and Montgomery Ward is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The two companies have been struggling with each other all along, though, but in some novel ways. For instance, Sears has been trying to hire Montgomery Ward's executives during a tough time for the latter company, and they've gone to court to try to stop it. A settlement has been reached. Basically, Sears agrees to stop until Montgomery Ward is back on its feet a bit.

Portugeuse pulp maker may face strike over discipline of an employee (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
Diario Economico reports that workers at the Viana do Castelo plant operated by Portucel Industrial-Empresa Produtora de Celulosa SA may strike in October if the company doesn't meet its demands realting to how the case against an employee is being handled.

How North Korea's famine looks from inside the country (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
Kevin Platt of the Christian Science Monitor has filed this report from Beijing. Also from the Monitor today, Shelley Donald Coolidge reports on what it's like to work one place while your spouse works many miles away. Money helps, she says. Also, Gary Burtless examines organized labor's future in the United States.

Parents, get your calculators out (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
Who was it who was talking about simplifying the American tax code? Nearly everyday, there appear to be stories about new complications. Jonathan Clements writes in today's Wall Street Journal what the new tax law means if you're trying to pay for somebody's college education. Also in the Journal today, Hal Lancaster tells how a crisis in your company may provide interesting career opportunities for you.

Many grads may suddenly become teachers in Egypt (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
There is a serious shortage of teachers in Egypt, and Prime Minister Kamal El Ganzouri is considering appointing as many as 94,000 university graduates, many of whom have been having difficulty finding work, to teaching posts. El Ahram reports that many grads have not been particularly attracted to teaching careers because of the low pay.

Wisconsin's welfare experiment begins in a few days (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
Barbara Vobejda reports on the nation's most radical set of new welfare rules. They kick in on September 1.

What the new Secretary may mean for an old Department (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
John Broder of the New York Times looks at how Alexis Herman might revive the U.S. Department of Labor.

Retirement age to go up in Spain and Turkey (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
According to El Mundo this morning, the Spanish government is planning to offer incentives to keep people voluntarily on the job until age 65, rather than retiring at 62. The current minimum retirement age is putting pressure on the country's social security system, according to officials. Similarly, in Turkey, Milliyet reports that government officials have decided to raise the minimum retirement age for men and women to 55 and 50, respectively, in order to reduce the cost of pensions.

Greek government to limit pay raises (Tuesday, 8/26/97)
Public utilities in Greece will be ordered to hold back on price increases as well as wage increases for its employees in their new budgets, according to Kathimerini. Also in Greece, Imerisia reports that the government is planning to sell between 25 and 49 percent of 11 state-owned companies. This would include electric power supplier DEH and state refinery DEP, according to reports.

President wants authority to negotiate new trade agreements (Monday, 8/25/97)
President Clinton wants to facilitate the process of negotiating new trade agreements. Under current conditions, new agreements can take years, he says, and that's too long in a new world economy that is developing so rapidly.

Turkey to work on new tax laws (Monday, 8/25/97)
The Turkish government would like to see taxes reduced for businesses and individuals, but strengthen enforcement in order to cut evasion. Government officials are conferring with business leaders and others about the proposals, reports Dunya.

Carey denies knowledge of money laundering scheme (Monday, 8/25/97)
Teamsters president Ron Carey denies he knew about a scheme to make use of illegal contributions in his presidential campaign last year. A court has ruled that the election must be re-held, and Carey and his opponent James Hoffa have agreed that an independent special prosecutor should be appointed to conduct an investigation. In an editorial, the Washington Post says this morning that a rerun of the election is a good idea. Meanwhile, in additional post-strike analysis, Steven Greenhouse writes about how the Teamsters victory over UPS took year-long preparation and effort. The Boston Globe's David Warsh says that Sweeney of the AFL-CIO also helped a lot behind the scenes. In other UPS-Teamsters news, United Parcel service says it has made its final offer to pilots in their negotiations.

Different march begins at the Citadel (Monday, 8/25/97)
The Christian Science Monitor's Christina Nifong reports on the difference that new leadership and a new climate may make at the Citadel as women enter as part of the freshman class. Also in the Monitor today, Warren Richey reports on a possible relationship between a tobacco trial and fraud in Florida's Medicaid system.

Swedish labor union supports income tax reduction (Monday, 8/25/97)
LO, Sweden's blue-collar labor union, says that tax cuts must be fair, however, and also calls on the government to raise child-support and health care benefits, according to Dagens Nyheter this morning.

Columnist's readers clarify pay gap issue for him (Monday, 8/25/97)
Dale Dauten had said that the male-female pay gap is less than it seems, but not all of his readers are celebrating. Incidentally, while women who work outside the home do make a larger percentage of what men make now, on the average, part of the reason is that large numbers of formerly highly-paid male middle managers were laid off and now work in other jobs for less. That is, the gap has narrowed in part because men have been doing worse, not simply because women have been doing better.

Small tenant farmers in Egypt face uncertain future (Monday, 8/25/97)
Leases on farm land have been cost-controlled by the Egyptian government for generations, but a new law will cancel these leases and allow costs to rise to market rates, perhaps putting hundreds of thousands of farmers out of business. There is also growing pressure in many parts of Europe to reduce the strong subsidies that have sustained much of European agriculture for years.

Life realities for working women (Monday, 8/25/97)
Amy Gage of the St. Paul Pioneer Press says that Minnesota has the highest percentage of working women. Here's news about the costs, risks, and benefits for themselves, their families, and their community.

Government jobs opening to non-Japanese (Monday, 8/25/97)
Today's Asahi Shimbun reports the results of a new survey that shows that most local governments are hiring foreigners.

"Dismal scientists" apprehensive, says D.C. bureau chief (Monday, 8/25/97)
Newsday's James Toedtman reports that some economists are afraid that too many Americans are deeply in debt and this may end the economic boom. Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Star Tribune's board of economists think the tax cut's a bad idea.

Drawing blood getting harder in the workplace (Monday, 8/25/97)
The American Red Cross says it's harder to conduct blood drives now that the American workplace is restructuring in so many ways. Incidentally, former presidential candidate Robert Dole is married to the head of the Red Cross, and he and others have been talking about Elizabeth as a possible Republican presidential candidate next time. At the moment, though, Texan George Bush seems in the lead. That's the younger George Bush, of course.

What's the relationship between poverty and test scores? (Monday, 8/25/97)
A University of Minnesota economist is surprised by his own research results. Here's the story from Maureen Smith in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. Also in the Strib today, Steve Cramer says that welfare-to-work success requires quick action, and Vikki Conwell and Shelia Poole of the Cox News Service writes about the downside of downsizing.

D.C.'s problems with its disability system (Monday, 8/25/97)
Yolanda Woodlee of the Washington Post writes today that the program for handling disabilities in the District of Columbia suffers from understaffing and mismanagement. Also in the Post today, the FBI wants to be taken off the federal pay scale, China doesn't seem committed to more democracy for Hong Kong after all, and Richard Harwood writes that American higher education may be flunking. It's a huge industry, he says, but few people seem to notice what it's doing, and what it isn't.

More on the new government price support system, or whatever we should call it (Monday, 8/25/97)
For at least a generation, the federal government has paid American farmers to take some acreage out of production in order to support farm product prices and help keep American farmers in business. European farmers have been subsidized even more heavily. Now, the American federal government will be paying 1,000 hospitals to cut back on their production of physicians rather than allowing market forces to bring supply and demand into balance and also determine the income of physicians out in the market. Warren Leary reports today for the New York Times.

The cost of reducing the number of doctors (Sunday, 8/24/97)
The program started in New York and has been extended throughout the country. The U.S. government will pay teaching hospitals to produce fewer doctors.

Clinton begins campaign to build new trade agreements (Sunday, 8/24/97)
President Clinton likes how NAFTA has worked so far and wants to include other countries.

Mexican students kept from crossing border by change in the law (Sunday, 8/24/97)
Sue Anne Pressley reports on a change affecting Mexican students in the American Southwest. From the same region, Sam Howe Verhovek writes about people who die trying to get into the United States.

Options for building retirement financing (Sunday, 8/24/97)
Michelle Singletary writes about how people are trying some new things with their money. Also in the Washington Post this morning, Steven Ginsberg tells about how a more frequent turnover of top executives is causing tensions and uncertainties throughout the corporate ranks.

Perspective on part-timers (Sunday, 8/24/97)
Is the American economy shifting more in the direction of part-time work? Here's an analysis from today's New York Times. Also in the Times today, a professor receives a large jury award following demotion, and Halimah Abdullah tells about the trouble many students are getting into because of easy credit. A slightly different story from academe: a former employee leaves Miami University $6.5 million.

New Teamsters election ordered (Saturday, 8/23/97)
A court official orders that last year's Teamsters presidential election has to be conducted all over again. Meanwhile, the Chicago local is the last to settle with UPS, and the company will be laying off workers in the aftermath of the strike, including persons hired off of welfare. Meanwhile, $20 million in bonuses will be paid out to Federal Express workers because of the extra work during the UPS strike. Incidentally, Anne Swardson reports that many persons in France are pleased with the Teamsters victory in the United States. Also, UPS pilots will resume their own negotiations with the company tomorrow.

Gingrich to target implementation of welfare reform (Saturday, 8/23/97)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives says that making sure welfare reform is carried out as Republicans intended will be a top Congressional concern this fall. Also, he's planning a new "contract with America" that would seek a flat tax and elimination of the IRS.

Carrying privatization too far (Saturday, 8/23/97)
Columnist Robert Reno examines the current fashion that assumes private operations are always better.

Managing your own time your own way (Saturday, 8/23/97)
The Wall Street Journal's Hal Lancaster looks at why advice from a lot of time management experts doesn't work in the real world.

The scramble to find the right people (Saturday, 8/23/97)
Columnist Patricia Kitchen tells how companies are finding new ways to attract qualified workers in a new job market. Also, she shares some of the career advice she gets from her readers.

More thoughts about mortgage refinancing (Saturday, 8/23/97)
Neal Gendler writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about falling interest rates and they difference they can make if you take advantage of them.

DOJ on affirmative action (Saturday, 8/23/97)
Here's news about the affirmative action brief filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in the aftermath of a case involving a New Jersey school district. It's intended to clarify issues relating to affirmative action in the workplace.

Best hiring climate in 19 years, Manpower says (Friday, 8/22/97)
Many businesses are hiring in the United States, according to the latest report from Manpower, Inc.

Strike possible in Portuguese health service (Friday, 8/22/97)
Diario Economico reports that Portugal's government is getting ready for a possible strike in the country's health service, which could lead to wider disruptions. One of two major trade union federations may try to encourage strikes in other sectors of the economy as well, in order to protest government policies.

Clinton postpones Amtrak strike (Friday, 8/22/97)
President Clinton invoked the Railway Labor Act to intervene and postpone a possible strike at Amtrak.

Court refuses to reconsider Proposition 209 (Friday, 8/22/97)
The California law rolling back affirmative action has been upheld by a federal court of appeals. Here's more from today's Washington Post.

Bank executive says Swedish economy vulnerable (Friday, 8/22/97)
Public spending is too high in Sweden, says the chairman of the Riksbank, and this makes the country's economy vulnerable, according to him. FinansTidningen reports that Kjell-Olof Feldt is also critical of the Social Democrat Party's plans to increase public spending and lower taxes.

Saving money on your mortgage (Friday, 8/22/97)
It may be time to refinance, according to Eric Evarts in today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Guy Stevens claims that recent legislation amounts to a retreat with respect to the well-being of American children.

Sharing the American economic boom (Friday, 8/22/97)
The new edition of Business Week contains a major cover story on the rise in real wages in the U.S. and what it means. Also, the magazine editorializes on the good news in the UPS settlement. In addition, here are stories on the leveling of workers' comp premiums, a nice new loophole for the self-employed, the continuing confusion over who's a "contractor" and who isn't, the benefits of helping employees cope with family responsibilities, an opinion about a "reverse subsidy," a commitment by Israeli labor unions to oppose further privatization, the very ambitious "Cyberjaya" project in Malaysia, and the need for a new economic model throughout Asia. Whew.

The test isn't over; it's just starting, say some (Friday, 8/22/97)
President Clinton points to the decline in the welfare rolls as evidence that welfare reform is working. But, Bill, the number of people on welfare diminished about as much the year before too, and nearly as much the year before that. Along these lines, Barbara Vobejda and Jon Jeter write that experts aren't convinced yet, and are willing to wait and see.

Is it masochism, or what? (Friday, 8/22/97)
Today's Washington Post editorializes on how thirty young women have apparently gotten what they wanted at VMI. The Virginia Military Institute is now coed, but it leaves open questions about the motivation of people, male or female, to put themselves through such an experience in the first place, and also about whether people who get through that sort of "education" really are superior in any way as a consequence. That is, does the individual and his/her society really benefit from the kinds of things that make an institution such as VMI different, and how can we tell? Every culture has its cherished mythologies, and the higher ed culture, including the military education culture, certainly doesn't seem to be an exception.

Along somewhat similar lines, U.S News has published its 1998 rankings of American colleges, so you may be able to brag about your school's being ranked higher than your friend's school now. Keep in mind, though, that it's still possible to obtain a substantive world-class education for nothing at the public library. Also, keep in mind that a major portion of history's most successful persons, including many of its most productive scholars, never went to college at all. However, during recent decades, in particular, many Americans have been more interested in the shadows than the substance, a type of inflation that the Federal Reserve can't do anything about. Exclusivity sells, at least to the gullible and to those who are nostalgic for the good old days of decadent aristocracy.

More post-mortem (Friday, 8/22/97)
E. J. Dionne Jr of the Washington Post wonders about the larger meaning of the Teamsters victory at UPS. Dionne asks if labor can deliver, but it may be a rhetorical question.

Help for the unconventional (Friday, 8/22/97)
Are you the sort of person to whom actuarial statistics don't seem to apply? Do you dance to a different fiddle? Here's a review a new career book by Carol Eikleberry which may just what you need. Also in the Twin Cities Employment Weekly this time, an article about how technology is lowering employment barriers for persons with disabilities.

No charges at the Citadel (Thursday, 8/21/97)
No criminal charges will be filed against cadets involved in the hazing of two female students last academic year. Other reports indicate that the first women students arriving at Virginia Military Institute have been greeted with thirty dead rats accompanied by a sign saying "Save the Males," but the rats may have been left by students from a rival school.

Government indicts 20 in slavery case (Thursday, 8/21/97)
If you're a daily NewWork News reader, it would be understandable if you sometimes suspect that you've been caught in some sort of time warp and transported from the late 20th century to some presumably much earlier and much darker time and place. Our species hasn't yet managed to work a strong urge to exploit, abuse, and dehumanize out of its system. Here's the latest on that slavery case involving Mexican immigrants, including details about how the slaveholders imposed their will on their victims.

A how-to manual for the bigoted (Thursday, 8/21/97)
American Airlines gets a major portion of its business from Latin America, or, at least, it has until the company's pilots' manual managed to get out where others can read it. Here's the story from Reuters, the world's largest wire service.

New career site for minorities (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Okay, finally some good news. The Black Collegian magazine, in conjunction with others, has just launched the Minorities' Job Bank on the web. The site targets all ethnic minorities and intends to help job-seeking professionals and employers get together.

Civil servants want big raise in Portugal (Thursday, 8/21/97)
According to Publico, a union representing civil servants in Portugal is asking for a 6.5 percent raise for its members, which is nearly three times the expected inflation rate for this year. Union representatives say their demands reflect a desire to bring pay for Portuguese workers nearer that of other European workers. Also, Diario Economico reports that 184 workers will be laid off at hotels and vacation centers operated by Torralta, which is owned by the Sonae Group.

On the road again (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Most UPS drivers are back behind the wheel following the end of a two-week strike that idled 185,000 people and affected millions more throughout the American economy. The drivers, plus a tremendous support staff, are working through a huge backlog that built up while the strike was underway. The Washington Post's Beth Berselli and Peter Behr report that workers have returned to a "mixed bag," and Evan Osnos of the Chicago Tribune says everybody is trying to steer around the bumps in the road. So what does it all mean? Analysts continue to think about it and share their interpretations. Here's today's Christian Science Monitor on whether the strike amounted to a "turning point" for American labor. From the International Herald Tribune, Frank Swoboda says that long-term implications still aren't clear. Douglas Blackmon and Glenn Burkins write in today's Wall Street Journal on how UPS managed to win. Early mistakes by UPS management in assessing the help that the Teamsters would get contributed to the company's defeat, they say. Finally, Skip Thurman tells about how the strike has given Secretary of Labor Herman a more visible profile in Washington and in the country.

Higher pay for postal executives urged (Thursday, 8/21/97)
A former auto executive is Postmaster General, and he thinks the people who run the postal service are underpaid.

Court steps in to block strike in Texas (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Crews at Union Pacific are staying on the job under court order. They were about to strike in protest of the use of managers to operate trains in Houston.

More on the stress reduction program in the Air Force (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Air Force pilots and crews are stressed out, and the consequences for themselves and their families have been getting increasingly destructive. The Air Force has decided to cancel some major competitions to ease things a little. For years, psychological research has clearly shown that there is an optimal level of stress that contributes to maximum quality of task performance. Just enough stress tends to make people sharp, alert, and motivated. Too much, though, and the ability to cope effectively begins to break down.

Drought aggravates conditions in North Korea (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Perhaps the principal reason that the North Korean people are experiencing famine at the moment is that they are under the subjugation of one of the most paranoid, least effective governments of this or nearly any other century. However, the drought this year isn't helping, and things are likely to get much worse. Unless...

Conscription in France may be on its way out after two centuries (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Conflict within the coalition French government seems to be building over Socialist plans to eliminate the draft and cut back the military. President Jacques Chirac isn't happy.

Here's insurance we REALLY hope you'll never need (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Joseph Treaster of the New York Times tells about kidnap insurance for global executives.

Danes not getting the sick pay they deserve, according to lawyer (Thursday, 8/21/97)
According to a Danish lawyer, local authorities use physicians that downgrade the condition of sick workers, which results in their not getting the sick pay to which they are entitled, reports Politiken this morning.

Economic woes could reduce corruption in Thailand (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Until the current financial crisis put the brakes on, Thailand's economy had been surging. Some are thinking that the country's effort to adjust could bring somewhat less corrupt politicians into power, but feelings of optimism seem to be under realistic control. Here's Yvan Cohen's report from today's Christian Science Monitor. Also, James Tyson writes that investors are getting scratched by the Asian tigers after several go-go years. However, China's economy has been brought in for a soft landing by the "Alan Greenspan" of his country, according to Steven Mufson of the Washington Post.

South African train drivers complain about the fumes (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Marijuana fumes, that is, and they're coming from the passengers. Here's the story from Johannesburg via Reuters this morning.

Getting into the education business (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Steve Stecklow reports in today's Wall Street Journal that many businesses are interested in running charter schools.

What welfare reform is really about (Thursday, 8/21/97)
The central issue is the value of work, says Sander Levin in today's Washington Post.

The big picture on American prosperity, freedom, and equality (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Former professor and current syndicated columnist George Will writes today about Chris DeMuth's view of what's really going on in America. Despite a temporary widening of the rich-poor gap, we're getting richer, freer, and more equal, he says, and it's been the trend for a long time. Nonetheless, the Wall Street Journal's Ellen Schultz writes today that there is a widening of the rich-poor gap, so far as 401(k) plans are concerned.

New jobless claims exceed expectations (Thursday, 8/21/97)
The newly unemployed increased more than economists had forecast, according to the latest weekly figures. It probably has to do with ripples, though, not waves or tides.

Rollin', rollin', rollin' (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
You'll see a lot more UPS trucks out and about starting today. Maybe about as many as before the strike, in fact. It's over, and things will quickly return to normal, everybody hopes. President Clinton also hopes that he helped a bit, and Labor Secretary Alexis Herman has gained stature in many people's eyes for her role in resolving the conflict. Today's Wall Street Journal says that UPS faces a huge increase in labor costs as a result of the new agreement. UPS' competitors are expected to hang on to some of their gains, at least for a while, although Bill McAllister of the Washington Post indicates that the U.S. Postal Service might have hoped for a somewhat longer strike, given its efforts to reclaim its position in a parcel delivery business that it once dominated. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports that UPS executives are saying that they gave in because of fears that a lot more of their business would slip away. They may have lost 5 percent of their business the way it is, and this could cost 15,000 jobs, they say. Peter Szekely thinks the Teamster victory is a boost for Labor generally, but Steven Greenhouse wonders how much difference it will really make in the long-run. Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor thinks it could result in a broad-based push for higher wages throughout much of the work world, and the Wall Street Journal's Jacob Schlesinger and Bernard Wysocki agree that power has shifted a bit back in the direction of American workers, at least for the time being. Frank Swoboda of the Washington Post thinks the shift will be brief, given larger trends in the new economy. Here's the Post's editorial on the strike this morning. Teamsters President Ron Carey is feeling encouraged, and says the next big battle for the Teamsters will have to do with efforts to extend NAFTA. Carey himself still faces inquiries into his fund-raising practices during last year's Teamsters presidential election campaign.

Guns on campus? (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
Katharine Biele reports that, along with pencils, books, calculators, software, and hardware, you'll find, well, more hardware in student backpacks at some Utah universities, and a backlash is developing.

Here's a reason why inflation isn't a problem now in many wealthy countries (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
Could "deflation" actually become a problem in the wealthy countries of the West, and, if so, why? David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor says that cheap labor in other parts of the world could make it happen. For instance, there are one hundred million unemployed persons in China's cities, he says. Also in the Monitor today, a report on corruption. It's really not good for business, but there's a lot of it anyway.

Conflict among the plaintiffs in the Smith Barney case (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
Negotiations have been going on to settle the sex discrimination suit against Smith Barney, but all is not well, it appears. Long Island's Newsday reports that one of the plaintiffs doesn't like the way the deal has been developing.

Read the fine print on your health coverage before you retire (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
Steven Garmisa of the Chicago Sun-Times that many retires haven't been getting what they thought they would get, and he tells why. Speaking of health coverage, here's what two major Washington politicians say about what American children need.

Is Europe really on the ropes? (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
True, many European economies have very high unemployment and are still struggling to extricate the state from its strong post-war role in generous welfare systems. But, are things really quite what they seem? Robert Samuelson writes that increasing strength may be giving Europe a fresh start.

Re-writing the biz law textbook (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
According to Business Law 101, "the law does not look into the adequacy of a consideration," so far as contracts are concerned. The "living wage" movement is changing that, at least in relation to employment contracts. Here's Robert Kuttner report on the new "living wage" law in Boston which breaks new ground and may set a precedent.

Why many colleges care about stock market fluctuations (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
It's not a merely academic issue at places like Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, writes Peter Applebome of the New York Times. The reason has to do with their endowments.

Stress levels too high among Air Force pilots (Wednesday, 8/20/97)
The American Air Force is changing its policies in response to a report that finds pilots are working too hard, with a variety of destructive consequences.

Settlement at UPS! (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
The two-week strike at United Parcel Service that has idled 185,000 workers and affected millions of other persons may be over, which pleases many strikers, judging from the cheering, and makes one aging boomer happy on his birthday. UPS says full service may be restored as early as tomorrow. So far as the Teamsters are concerned, today deliveries, tomorrow apples.

Fed council meets today; expected to leave interest rates alone (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
The recent dip in the stock market may have helped convince the Federal Reserve that interest rates don't need to be raised, experts say. The hot job market for many months has made Wall Street nervous about inflation, but no signs have appeared on the horizon. Nonetheless, Robert Dunn sees danger signs, and he thinks they're being ignored. Is recession looming out there in the near distance somewhere?

Women arrive at VMI (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
The last state-supported institution goes coed. Here's the story from Reuters this morning. Speaking of the military, Ann Scott Tyson reports on how some Midwestern communities are coping with cutbacks and job losses.

Portugeuse unions reject proposed wage increase (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
Diario Economico reports that the UGT and the CGTP, two of the largest trade unions in Portugal, have rejected government plans for limiting public sector wage increases to 2.6 percent in 1998.

Kohl attempts to reassure doubters (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
German Chancellor Kohl has been struggling with his country's economic difficulties for a variety of good reasons, not the least of which has been his effort to qualify for the European common currency, which probably depends on Germany's participation. Some have suspected that he's been losing enthusiasm, given the circumstances. However, top government officials are saying that he hasn't changed his mind and wants things to go ahead on schedule, but the currency's stability is his top priority. The scheduled launch of the common currency is part of a larger effort to integrate European national economies to a greater extent in order to make Europe more competitive in the revolutionary new world economy.

Microsoft denies film site shutdown report (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
Maybe film critic Leonard Maltin's Cinemania site job is secure after all. Reports that Microsoft is intending to shut down the site are being denied. However, company officials are acknowledging staff reductions, but are saying that some of these are simply part of normal rotations.

Only one black member of Berkeley's new law school class (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
Adrian Croft reports on the dramatic reduction in minority enrollments following the shutdown of affirmative action at the University of California, Berkeley.

Smith Barney negotiating settlement (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that, after being sued the old fashioned way, Smith Barney is working on a settlement with the 26 women who have sued the company for sex discrimination.

Workers injured in Boston plant fire (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
According to the Boston Globe, several workers were injured last night in a five-alarm fire at a Gillette razor blade factory.

Paid-leave programs getting a close look in Denmark (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
A report from Denmark's National Institute of Social Research indicates that educational paid-leave programs aren't doing a very good job of helping unemployed persons find work. Better, the report says, to put the unemployed in job training within private companies or governmental organizations. Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has the story this morning.

Good time for job-hopping, writer says (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
According to the Christian Science Monitor's Shelley Donald Coolidge, a hot job market is encouraging a lot of people to make voluntary changes, and she says this is a good time to do it. She also offers advice on the best way to look for a job when you already have one. Also in the Monitor today, Amy Kaslow writes about a museum exhibit on the history of public housing, Oliver Thomas and Forest Montgomery offer their views on the right way to deal with religion in work settings, and the paper editorializes today on where credit is due for declining welfare rolls.

Should you use IRAs to pay for college? (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
Not a good idea, reports Karen Damato in today's Wall Street Journal. Also in the Journal today, when you're surrounded by chaos and able to keep your head, maybe you just don't understand the situation. No, it's probably because you've learned how to manage your time effectively, according to Hal Lancaster. In news outside the U.S., Thomas Vogel writes about the fading of the Colombian economy, while Craig Torres reports on the biggest jump in the Mexican economy in 16 years. Here's that story from Julia Preston of the New York Times as well.

New York Supreme Court puts brakes on City's workfare program (Tuesday, 8/19/97)
About 5,000 people in New York City's workfare program will have to stay home until some changes are made, rules the state Supreme Court. The city must provide them with toilets, drinking water and protective clothing, among other things. Also in the Times today, Kurt Eichenwald writes about whistle-blower lawsuits against Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation.

Which president said that? (Monday, 8/18/97)
It was the President of the United States, not the president of either the Teamsters or UPS who has said that a deal is near. Negotiators have been doing a lot of talking, probably near the point of exhaustion, so they took a break until noon today. Douglas Blackmon and Glenn Burkins of today's Wall Street Journal write that the company is still considering hiring replacement workers if the strike continues. Here's more analysis from Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times on the broader meaning of this particular strike and how a changed context may be influencing negotiations. The UPS strike has gone on for two weeks now and involves 185,000 UPS workers.

Court fines Boston University (Monday, 8/18/97)
Legal experts are saying that the court ruling could stimulate more student lawsuits following the affirmation of the rights of learning disabled students.

New tax law may contain good news for homeowners (Monday, 8/18/97)
Eric Evarts of the Christian Science Monitor reports that the new tax legislation helps people who want to "downsize" their homes. In the bad news department, William Gale says that, overall, the new law doesn't amount to genuine tax reform, just new loopholes.

Are you being followed? (Monday, 8/18/97)
Sherwood Ross writes in Newsday about what you need to do in order to be sure that your health coverage follows you to your new job. It's the law, but you'll need proof.

Help for teen mothers in Massachusetts (Monday, 8/18/97)
The Massachusetts program for providing home visits to support new teen mothers has been modeled after one in Hawaii which is getting good reports. The Massachusetts program is supported by $5 million set aside for that purpose. In related news, here's a Christian Science Monitor story comparing the states on how well they're doing in getting kids out of foster care and into stable adoptive families.

More on the expanding choices for Medicare recipients (Monday, 8/18/97)
Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post says that Medicare recipients can expect a "dizzying array" of choices.

Entrepreneurs overcome disabilities (Monday, 8/18/97)
Caryn Eve Murray writes about how persons with disabilities are overcoming obstacles and starting their own businesses.

Who's responsible for your safety when you're telecommuting? (Monday, 8/18/97)
Ilana Debare of the San Francisco Chronicle says that a new trend in the work world is bringing up new issues.

Business travelers becoming frustrated with "frequent flier" programs (Monday, 8/18/97)
You can earn the miles, but can you cash them in? It's getting harder, says Michael Conlon.

Criticism of Australian youth program (Monday, 8/18/97)
Honey Webb reports in today's Sydney Morning Herald that some leaders are saying that the Australian government's Youth Allowance program will force young people into the streets. Meanwhile Paul Cleary examines the government's Green Corps program for employing youth. Finally, Luis Garcia writes about a new four-year degree program at the University of Sydney that intends to make graduates more employable.

Talks continued through the night at UPS (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Negotiators essentially pulled an "all-nighter," as generations of college students have called it. Both sides say they are a bit more encouraged, at least by the fact that talks are continuing. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports that a poll indicates the American public is leaning in the direction of the strikers, and the heads of both the Teamsters and UPS are on the major American talk shows today in an effort to win the hearts and minds of the public. Meanwhile, a lawyer says he's filing a lawsuit against UPS on behalf of various businesses charging breach of contract and negligence. Finally, this morning, here's a New York Times article suggesting that the UPS strike is really about "defining the changing face of labor" in the new economy on the threshold of a new century.

Incidentally, William F. Buckley's "Firing Squad," er, that is, "Firing Line" on American public television this week debates the question of whether labor unions are too powerful. Since fewer than 15% of the American workforce is unionized at this point--less than half of what it was forty years ago--this may seem to be an odd question at this particular time. Still, there have been recent signs of a possible resurgence in the organized labor movement as it attempts to reorient itself in a dramatically changed economy. Incidentally, about the only thing Bill Buckley likes better than conservative political ideology are vigorous debate and smart repartee. He is known to have warm personal relationships with intellectual leaders with whom he disagrees ideologically, and he has a reputation for recruiting guests on his long-running television program who are capable of arguing their positions in their strongest forms, an attribute of a good teacher.

New data on fathers vs. mothers who stay at home (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Fathers have different concerns than mothers who stay at home to care for children, according to a new study. Fathers tend to be less concerned about their careers but more worried about how they might return to the workforce.

Pregnant? Better start planning for college (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Well, maybe you don't need to start that early, but President Clinton thinks college preparation should begin during the elementary school years. Choice of major or school will not be the only concerns for most families during a time when college costs have been escalating about as fast as health care costs. David Flaum of the Scripps Howard News Service has some advice on what to do if you come up short this fall. Also, the Washington Post's Albert Crenshaw suggests a crash course in money management for students as they set off for the campuses.

More choices on the menu (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says that your Medicare choices are expanding. Peter Kilborn reports that employers are beginning to offer a wider array of health care choices too, but at a price.

Study finds bias in sales hiring (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Two economists find racial bias when it comes to hiring people for sales positions, and it's related to the likely race of the prospective customer.

Repeal of D.C's "August doldrums" may be underway (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Traditionally, there's not much work for many firms in Washington, D. C. during the heat of August, so it's when a lot of people take their vacations. However, Steven Ginsberg reports that changes may be on the horizon because of the ways in which the new economy is different.

Clinton doesn't like to say "I told you so," but he will (Sunday, 8/17/97)
They said welfare reform wouldn't work, but it's working, according to President Clinton. Tom Hamburger reports from Washington for today's Minneapolis Star Tribune on the decline in welfare roles and other indicators of success to which the President likes to point. However, critics say that he is being selective. How good it looks depends on what you look at.

Korean bank struggles to survive; makes deal with unions (Sunday, 8/17/97)
The chairman of the Kia Group refuses to resign, while unions agree to a plan for reducing manpower in order to reduce costs at the troubled financial company. Here's the story from the Korea Herald.

Park Service employees face housing crunch (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Here's John Cushman's story about the housing crisis in some of the most beautiful spots in the world.

More on one of the casualties of Clinton's first line-item veto (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Among the items that President Clinton surgically removed with the first use of the line-item veto last week was a provision affecting Medicaid financing in New York. Now, the Administration seems to be trying to find a way to restore at least part of the provision. Here's some background and explanation on how all this came about and what might be going on from Richard Stevenson of the New York Times.

On hating telecommuting (Sunday, 8/17/97)
Some people like it, but it's clear that others don't. Telecommuting isn't for everybody, Susan Wells reports, and here are some of the reasons. But, wait--Debra West writes about a professor who chose to work at home, but she hasn't been telecommuting. Instead, she's taking care of her children and other people's, and her business is growing.

Teamsters plan rallies as talks continue (Saturday, 8/16/97)
Talks continued late into the night last night at UPS, but Teamsters President Carey says no progress has occurred. Adam Nagourney of the New York Times describes the union's political tactics, and Lizette Alvarez explains the stake that the new Secretary of Labor has in this strike. Meanwhile, other services scramble to pick up the work that UPS isn't able to do. For instance the U.S. Postal Service will make Sunday deliveries again tomorrow. In other labor news, Todd Nissen reports on the tentative settlement reached at a General Motors plant, and Reuters reports that the National Labor Relations Board plans to appeal a judge's ruling that Detroit newspapers will not be forced to re-hire former strikers immediately.

Yeltsin vows a cleanup (Saturday, 8/16/97)
A recent report says that Russia has one of the highest levels of corruption in the world as the country continues its attempt to overcome decades of centralized, authoritarian communist rule and build a genuine market economy within a democratic context. Here's Alessandra Stanley's report on a current privatization scandal and what the Russian president intends to do about it.

Record bankruptcies in the U.S. (Saturday, 8/16/97)
By most conventional indicators, the American economy is as strong as it's been in a long time, but that doesn't mean that all is well for everybody. Many Americans have been allowing themselves to get too deeply in debt, according to reports. Bankruptcy filings reached a record during the second quarter of 1997.

Leonard Maltin is among the laid off (Saturday, 8/16/97)
Microsoft has shut down its film site on the web and has laid off the site's staff, including famed film critic Leonard Maltin, who no doubt continues to be in demand in other venues.

More bad news about North Korea (Saturday, 8/16/97)
Reports that North Korea has been diverting food aid to its military may not be correct, according to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. However, there is evidence that the food crisis is worsening.

Fetal growth affected by work hours (Saturday, 8/16/97)
A new study finds some adverse affects of long, hard work during pregnancy.

More arrests in the case of deaf Mexican immigrants (Saturday, 8/16/97)
The Washington Post's William Branigin reports on the arrest of two persons in Texas as well as the finding of additional persons who have been smuggled into the U.S. and forced to work under near-slavery conditions.

Big project for homeless and unemployed youth in Australia (Saturday, 8/16/97)
Richard Macey writes for today's Sydney Morning Herald about what may be the largest social welfare project in Australia's history.

General strike paralyzes Argentina (Friday, 8/15/97)
Thousands of protesters are angry about the Argentine president's labor policies, and they're conducting a general strike to make their point. Much of the country is in chaos this morning.

Sides talk for 17 hours; take a break (Friday, 8/15/97)
Negotiators in the strike at United Parcel Service held "substantive" talks for 17 hours, which must mean that they chatted about something other than the Elvis anniversary. In fact, there are signs that progress may be occurring, and the company has hinted at possibilities for compromise. Meanwhile, today's Wall Street Journal some striking UPS workers are concerned about health coverage, but, on the upside, the paper is saying that, in a hot job market, there is plenty of work for strikers when they're not on the picket lines, and this strengthens the union's position. On the other hand, Caryn Eve Murray of the Christian Science Monitor tells how many strikers are having to get creative with their $55 strike pay substituting for a paycheck. Peter Szekely examines the Teamsters president's "greatest battle," and Peter Grier writes about how the UPS strike is a test of organized labor's viability in a new information age economy. Finally, the Massachusetts Senate has voted not to use UPS services until the strike is settled, and pilots at UPS are saying that they may conduct their own strike at about Christmas time. Elsewhere in labor news, Todd Nissen reports that a another strike deadline is approaching at a General Motors plant.

It's official: eight years of formal education to be required in Turkey (Friday, 8/15/97)
Milliyet reports that the Turkish parliament has voted to increase the mandatory education requirement from five years to eight.

Latest move in eternal Detroit newspaper strike (Friday, 8/15/97)
The lengthy newspaper strike has been over for sometime, but the story goes on. A judge has refused to force the newspapers to re-employ former strikers.

No age discrimination in Denmark, report says (Friday, 8/15/97)
According to Berlingske Tidende, Denmark's National Labor Market Authority reports that Danes older than 50 are receiving the same employment opportunities through employment services as persons who are younger.

Better order quick; your restaurant may be closing (Friday, 8/15/97)
A service industries union in Switzerland says that up to a third of the country's restaurants could close and cost 70,000 jobs. The Swiss economy has not been growing for six years.

Less summertime off in Europe (Friday, 8/15/97)
Much of Europe used to essentially shut down for much of the summer, but that's changing. The New York Times' John Tagliabue that the move toward year-round operations is being led by the automobile industry in an increasingly competitive new world economy. For instance, here's what's happening in Italy. Also in the Times today, Robert Pear reports on benefit cuts affecting nearly 100,000 disabled youth in the United States.

Blair pledges to manage anti-poverty programs himself (Friday, 8/15/97)
London's Daily Telegraph reports that Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair says his government will "reintegrate the underclass into society" via an inter-departmental strategy which he will personally oversee.

More Kansas pioneers (Friday, 8/15/97)
This time, it's a pioneering experiment to help abused and neglected children. Here's the story from Ann Scott Tyson of the Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, more on President Clinton's efforts to protect religious expression in the federal workplace. Here's still more on the latter story from today's Washington Post, which says some critics remain unconverted.

Stagnation easing in Africa (Friday, 8/15/97)
Lynne Duke writes from Johannesburg in today's Washington Post on how privatization is fueling South Africa's economy and also its viability as a role model for much of the rest of the continent.

Another military sex story, this time involving a civilian (Friday, 8/15/97)
Here's the latest "sex and the military" news. A civilian employee at a Marine Corps base has been fired for carrying on an affair with the wife of an officer. Here's the story from Bradley Graham of the Washington Post.

Smuggling ring uncovered in Japan (Friday, 8/15/97)
Children born to illegal immigrants are being smuggled back into China, according to today's Asahi Shimbun.

Silence broken at UPS (Thursday, 8/14/97)
The opposing sides are talking again in the strike at United Parcel Service, but don't expect a quick settlement. Economists are saying that effects of the strike are radiating in all directions, but aren't cutting at a deep level yet. Still, there are lots of individual stories. For example, here are two companies that are laying off workers, and they say it's because of the UPS strike. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times examines the tight spot Ron Carey is in over the pension issue. Incidentally, UPS executives might be cheered a bit by the fact that Carey also has a problem with government investigators who are still looking at his fund-raising techniques in the recent Teamsters presidential campaign. Newsday's Andrew Rice reports that the strike is testing the new Labor Secretary too, and Beth Berselli of the Washinbgton Post reports on life on the picket line. Finally, since the strike is at least partly about the part-time work issue, Christina Nifong of the Christian Science Monitor examines how part-timers are doing in America.

How to backtrack from a line-item veto (Thursday, 8/14/97)
In the first use of the line-item veto by an American president, President Clinton cut a health care provision affecting New York. Now, the Administration is trying to find a way to restore at least part of it. Confused yet?.

Increased religious freedom on the job advocated by Clinton (Thursday, 8/14/97)
President Clinton is scheduled to speak on the topic today and is issuing a memo encouraging government agencies to try hard to accommodate the religious needs of federal workers.

The latest on an Army sex case (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Stories about sexual misconduct in military work settings were appearing almost daily for a while. While the frequency of such stories has declined, the overall issues are still very much on the minds of many. Jim Wolf reports that a lawyer representing the top enlisted man in the Army is threatening to make disclosures that could influence top brass. Here's the story from Reuters this morning.

Prospective college students doing better (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Entrance exam scores are up again. Students heading for American colleges appear to be better prepared than in previous years.

The feds seem to be gaining on health care fraud (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Joanne Kenen reports that health care fraud in various forms appears to be costing tens of billions of dollars per year, but prosecutions are picking up.

Job cuts at ABC (Thursday, 8/14/97)
ABC Television has been employing about 5,000 people, but this total will be reduced by about 200 jobs, most, but not all, through various incentive plans and attrition. Overall, the media scene appears to be restructuring in rather fundamental ways. The major networks have been losing audience for years, but the dips have been particularly severe lately. Also, on cable, CNN's ratings are down. Newspapers have been struggling to maintain circulation for years, without stunning success, and the book industry is also suffering at the moment. The Internet seems to be part of the reason.

Overall, you now have far more choices, as a tremendous array of sources compete to provide you with information and entertainment specifically tailored to your tastes. Media offerings have been getting much more specialized, using a "narrowcasting" model to a greater extent at the expense of the old "broadcasting" approach. Very large shares of a "mass audience" may be a thing of the past. For instance, BNWW & NWN are not intended for a general audience, and may be about as specialized as media have gotten so far. Nonetheless, with global reach, there are a lot of you out there. Would we rather be here than on network television in the United States? Well, maybe. Ask again soon once greater web penetration has been achieved in Europe, Asia, South America, and other regions.

Meet "Chainsaw Al" (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Al Dunlap has a reputation as a corporate turnaround artist. He also has a reputation for cutting jobs in prodigious numbers, and for not feeling bad about it at all. For one thing, as Janet Moore writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, he believes that corporations exist to earn money for their stockholders, period. Also, he has said that he's called in when a company is already on life-support. Major cuts are necessary to save these operations. Without drastic cuts, these companies would soon support no jobs at all, he has emphasized. He's running Sunbeam at the moment. Has Apple been trying to call him? We don't know either.

"Advisor Jobs" issues orders at Apple (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Steve Jobs doesn't have a fancy title at Apple Computer Corporation, but, from all indications, he's running the company, and probably can continue to do so as long as he likes. He's tightening up a number of programs that will affect Apple employees in order to reduce costs at the troubled computer company.

Conflict escalates at TAP (Thursday, 8/14/97)
The government-owned Portuguese airline, TAP Air Portugal, has temporarily suspended restrictions on the number of hours pilots can work, but striking pilots are defying the move. It's a "partial strike," in that an increasing number of pilots are calling in sick, which is resulting in an increase in the number of canceled flights, reports Diario Economico. Also in Portugal, Publico reports that, even though the International Monetary Fund has been urging Portugal to keep a lid on public sector wage increases, the government seems ready to grant increases that exceed the rate of inflation.

More complaints about work conditions in Japan (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Government officials in Japan are reporting that complaints by workers have a hit a record. Most common are complaints about unpaid wages and unfair dismissals, according to Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

Settlement in racial discrimination case (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Joanne Kenen reports that a New York banking institution has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on discrimination allegations.

Rising reaction to illegal immigration in Italy (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Persons from troubled areas of Eastern Europe are still trying to get into Italy in large numbers. Mayors of cities that are being most affected are banding together to urge more drastic action to curtail illegal immigration. Some are even suggesting that the immigrants be isolated in work camps, according to Corriere della Sera and other papers today.

Record fine in illegal worker case (Thursday, 8/14/97)
A Texas company will pay a $1.75 million fine for employing illegal workers.

Activist organization cuts staff (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Membership in Greenpeace has been declining. Now, the job cuts are coming, and they're significant.

Further decline in unemployment in the UK (Thursday, 8/14/97)
The Independent reports that unemployment has a hit a 17-year low in the Britain. Average earnings have also increased. As in the United States, job growth does not appear to be setting off inflation.

Family and Medical Leave Act examined (Thursday, 8/14/97)
The Family and Medical Leave Act has been in effect now for four years. How good is it, and how much good does it do? Here's a look at the law from the perspective of today's Christian Science Monitor.

On the move to extend NAFTA (Thursday, 8/14/97)
The Clinton administration still wants to develop something similar to NAFTA that includes far more countries over a larger region. Paul Blustein reports on how things are going and on how many people really seem interested. Also in the Washington Post today, Judith Havemann writes about the planned downsizing of HUD.

Old-time revival coming? (Thursday, 8/14/97)
Vanessa O'Connell writes in today's Wall Street Journal that the new tax law may encourage a revival of traditional "defined benefit" pensions.

President pleased with welfare changes (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
There has been a decline of nearly 1.5 million persons on welfare in a year, and, while President Clinton would like to take credit for this shrinkage of the welfare rolls, it reminds scientists of the difference between "correlation" and "causation," and why the one doesn't necessarily imply the other. Here's more on the drop, though, from John Harris and Judith Havemann of the Washington Post.

Defense cuts in France intended to help unemployed youth (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
Le Figaro and other French newspapers are reporting this morning that the government intends to cut defense spending and use the money to finance programs to help unemployed youth. France has been experiencing unemployment levels at or near post-war highs.

Productivity down, labor costs unaffected (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
Data are in on the second quarter in the U.S., and while productivity declined, labor costs remained steady. Still no worrisome threat from inflation, experts say.

Food aid diverted in North Korea? (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
If you're in charge of an authoritarian government, you'll probably want to keep your military happy and be sure they have a stake in the status quo. Millions of people are facing imminent starvation in North Korea and some food aid has found its way to the country, but not necessarily to the starving population, says a U.S. congressmen. Is there hope for North Korea? Here's one major American newspaper's answer to that question.

Ten days and counting (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
United Parcel Service is still mostly shut down by one of the largest strikes in modern American economic history, and the toll mounts. Both sides appear to be digging in for the long haul. The company has a lot of money, but the Teamsters are now getting help from the AFL-CIO, which has deep pockets. The Labor Secretary is going to talk to both sides again, as the Clinton administration attempts to push for a settlement without getting too actively involved. Jerry Knight reports that many managers are making deliveries now, but they know how to do it, because UPS is mostly run by people who started at the bottom and on the routes. Syndicated columnist Robert Reno thinks both sides deserve some credit.

SBA program to expand help for white women (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
The Small Business Administration intends to extend more help to businesses owned by white women in a program set up to aid minority businesses.

Will your professor's initials be "CD?" (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
Jim Dawson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on a project at the University of Minnesota to use CD-ROM technology in university teaching. Also in higher education, good news about teaching hospitals, but bad news about cheating on the Graduate Record Examination.

More job cuts at Siemens in Belgium (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
According to De Financieel Economische Tijd, Siemens AG plans to cut an additional 77 jobs at its plant in Oostkamp, Belgium. Siemens is the largest electronics company in Germany.

Who benefits most from the new tax cuts? (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor thinks you'll be most pleased if you're rich. Also, he reports that some experts are expecting a balanced budget much earlier than indicated in the official time-table. Meanwhile, Robert Samuelson says we tend to distinguish between the deserving and the undeserving, both poor and rich.

Italian politicians want tough immigration policies (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
La Stampa reports today that politicians in some regions of Italy want tougher laws governing both legal and illegal immigration. Large numbers of persons have been trying to get into Italy in the Adriatic region.

Is India on your mind? (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
Here's a Christian Science Monitor story about India and why this huge, fascinating, ancient country matters on the world stage. For one thing, it's one of the world's emerging economies and is expected to play a major role during the next century. Despite enormous numbers of people living in poverty, India also is a modern industrial power with a middle class as large as the combined populations of Germany and France.

Bank faces age discrimination suit (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
A class action suit has been filed against First Union Corporation by former employees of First American Bank. Here's the story from Toni Locy in today's Washington Post.

Progress report on workfare in New York City (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
Judith Havemann reports on a glimpse of welfare's future.

Special legislative session in Minnesota (Wednesday, 8/13/97)
Legislators are returning to Minnesota's capital in order to consider a pay package for public employees and a bill that would raise the minimum wage, according to today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Clinton decides to set Constitutional test in motion (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
Presidents have wanted the line-item veto for a long time because it gives the Executive some control over what is supposed to be a Legislative prerogative: spending. The White House has decided to use the line-item veto for the first time on the big budget balancer legislation, and court challenges are about as certain as, well, taxes. Here's some background from today's Christian Science Monitor. One of the items cut out at the stroke of Clinton's scalpel was a provision that would have helped New York finance health care for the poor, and, as James Dao reports, folks in New York are mystified.

White House urges sides to settle their dispute (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
The strike at UPS is in its ninth day with no settlement on the horizon, and the Clinton administration is applying whatever pressure it can without getting directly involved. For instance, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman has met with representatives of both sides. The president could step in under the Taft-Hartley Act, but this sort of intervention requires that a strike be a threat to the "national health or safety," and Administration officials are saying that this one doesn't qualify yet, although some are beginning to disagree. For instance, who's delivering all those medicines that sick people throughout the country need? Around the periphery, here's a story by Knut Engelmann on why the strike may cause the Fed to sit tight for a while, and as well as a story by Steven Greenhouse who takes another look at the situation faced by the growing number of part-time workers in the U.S.

Big award in sexual harassment case (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
An ex-federal worker in Virginia has been awarded $672,000. Also in the federal workplace, an unusual case involving a person who is claiming medical leave retroactively.

What do Peru and Mexico have in common, other than a shared language? (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
Underdeveloped countries have always been characterized in part by a big gap between a few wealthy and a huge number of poor, with little middle-class in between. However, some countries are now experiencing robust growth and development that, among other things, is enlarging the middle-class. But, for the most part, the have-nots still have not, and the gap seems to be growing in many regions. It's a phenomenon that seems to be occurring in many of the industrial economies as well. At any rate, here are stories about what is happening in Peru and in Mexico, just as examples.

Welfare reform bill signed into law in California (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
It's restrictive, but not as draconian as many had feared. Here's the story from today's Washington Post.

Remember the "domino theory" in relation to Southeast Asia? (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
This time, there is worry that the financial crisis in Thailand could spread and slow down development throughout the entire region. The International Monetary Fund has stepped in along with a number of nations led by Japan to help get things back on track. Thailand had been doing well until the its currency crisis.

Why a disabled physician doesn't qualify for Social Security disability benefits (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
He worked too long, it seems. Here's the story from Esther Fein of the New York Times.

Early retirement offered by J. C. Penney (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
Profits have been soft, so the well-known retailer is encouraging about five percent of its management staff to retire in order to thin the ranks and reduce costs.

Portugeuse government turns up the heat on pilots (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
Pilots at TAP Air Portugal are continuing a partial strike that is causing the cancellation of an increasing number of flights. Some pilots have been calling in sick, and the government has sent doctors out to take a look. Diario Economico has the story this morning.

More on the changing division of labor in health care (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
Once upon a time, there was a shortage of physicians in the United States, so "physician's assistants" were created. When performed under the supervision of doctors, some services do not require persons with full medical training, it was found. Recently, the role of physician's assistant and the similar role of "nurse practitioner" have become prominent as a way of moving services as low in the cost hierarchy as possible to help control costs. The people with the really expensive training can be saved for functions that really require the training. Not smart to pay a surgeon to take your blood pressure, for instance. Similar things have been happening in other parts of the health care system. Highly trained RNs have been partially displaced by lesser trained RNs or LPNs, for example, and pharmacists have been partially displaced by less expensive technicians. So, in response, senior RNs and pharmacists have been attempting to develop a higher degree of professional autonomy, as opposed to their traditional ancillary roles that recognized the physician as "captain of the team" in all things. Here's David Hilzenrath's story about pharmacists who want you to consult them directly.

Getting the most out of a hot job market (Tuesday, 8/12/97)
Many employers can't find all the people they need. Here's a US News article telling how you can make the most of this happy situation if you're a worker or want to be. Also, the magazine provides some career advice and a retirement guide this time. Finally, here's a look at why some "dead-end" jobs may not be so dead-end after all during this era of workfare and welfare reform.

Merry Christmas (Monday, 8/11/97)
It's like Christimas in August, at least to the people who are delivering packages for the U.S. Postal Service. Labor Secretary Alexis Herman thinks it would be counterproductive for UPS to begin hiring replacement drivers at this point, and is trying to discourage it. Meanwhile, UPS management is still urging President Clinton to intervene, which doesn't seem likely at the moment. Also, UPS is saying that Teamsters rank and file should have an opportunity to vote on what the company has offered, but union leaders aren't enthusiastic. Dan Burns says many experts don't expect the UPS strike to become a bellwether on the part-time vs. full-time issue, although it's stirring much discussion. Finally, the New York Times looks at the strike as an example of labor action in the hi-tech era and how much of a difference this difference makes.

Conflict continues at TAP in Portugal (Monday, 8/11/97)
The Diario Economico reports that the pilots union is contesting Portuguese government plans to keep pilots on the job. Apparently, the pilots strike is continuing at TAP Air Portugal, and some flights were canceled yesterday.

Cubicles winning in the space race (Monday, 8/11/97)
Steve Lohr reports for the New York Times that cubicles are in, while closed offices seem on their way out in the new workplace. Also, of course, many workers no longer have offices at all. For many, their cars or the corner of the kitchen table have become "the office." Incidentally, the growing emphasis on cubicles and other more flexible ways of using space isn't arising simply from a concern over costs. Work is undergoing restructuring in most ways, including the ways in which it is organized, and this affects how people need to interact in order to get it done.

A little good news and bad news for GM (Monday, 8/11/97)
There won't be a strike after all at that Cadillac assembly plant, but now General Motors faces the possibility of a strike at another location. The United Auto Workers have conducted five strikes against GM so far this year.

Huge response to job openings in South Africa (Monday, 8/11/97)
There are 1,200 job openings in the South African Police Service, and 600,000 people have applied, according to The Star today.

INS under fire from politicians who are strange bedfellows indeed (Monday, 8/11/97)
Democratic Rep. Charles Schumer and Pat Buchanan are finding themselves on the same side of at least one issue: they think the Immigration and Naturalization Service should be getting tougher on illegal aliens. Here's some additional perspective from the Christian Science Monitor on why the INS has been under fire so much lately.

More unemployment benefit cuts coming in Switzerland (Monday, 8/11/97)
The Swiss finance minister intends to cut unemployment benefits by another 500 million Swiss francs in the next four years as part of overall spending cuts intending to reduce the federal deficit, according to Tages-Anzeiger.

The mountains aren't the only things sky-high in Montana (Monday, 8/11/97)
Todd Wilkinson reports that college tuition costs are worrying a lot of families throughout the United States, and those in beautiful Montana are no exception. Expect further restructuring in higher education, including greater emphasis on on-line programs for credit, as economic and political pressures build over the years immediately ahead.

Agricultural subsidies evaporating in Europe (Monday, 8/11/97)
Farmers have enjoyed significant government support for years in many European countries, but the restructuring of the world economy is reaching them now too, as an increasing number of countries try to reduce deficits and move toward an economically integrated Europe. Here's William Echikson's report in today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Christy Heady says that IRAs have gotten more complicated. Here's a primer that can help you decide if they're for you. Also, Kirsten Conover reports on how more people are trying to buy themselves some extra time.

Reducing vacation anxiety (Monday, 8/11/97)
Newsday's Randi Feigenbaum reports on psychologist Ronald Murphy's advice for making a vacation a genuinely relaxing time, which it often isn't. Also, the Boston Globe's Diane Lewis says that vacations often get left out as Americans get busier.

Clinton to use line-item veto (Monday, 8/11/97)
Some of President Clinton's advisors have been urging him to wait before testing his new line-item veto power, but he's apparently decided to surgically remove some specific items in the new budget legislation which he signed into law last week. If he's going to do it this time, he has to do it today. Legal challenges are nearly inevitable once he acts, and, if the line-item veto survives all challenges, it will amount to a significant increase in the power of the presidency relative to the legislative branch of the government. Several presidents in addition to Clinton, including Ronald Reagan, have worked to secure this additional presidential power. A principal reason is that Congress routinely attaches spending provisions and other often irrelevant items to bills, leaving the president with a choice between accepting these unattractive items or having to veto the entire bill.

Talks break off at UPS (Sunday, 8/10/97)
Both sides seem to be digging in. David Lawsky reports for Reuters, and here's the story from Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times, who also provides an analysis of organized labor's shift of attention to low-wage workers. Allen Myerson writes that UPS has been constructed for labor harmony, but a major strike has happened, nonetheless, and it may leave permanent changes in the way the company operates. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service is picking up a major part of the load during the strike.

How technology can decrease productivity (Sunday, 8/10/97)
Computers make it possible to waste time more efficiently than ever before, and many employers are getting very suspicious of the impact of the Internet on worker productivity. Here are two stories on what companies are doing to discourage "surfing" on the job: Maggie Jackson reports in the Washington Post, and Cox News Service's Cara Anna reports via today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The big crash in Thailand (Sunday, 8/10/97)
Here's Keith Richburg analysis of what has happened to the Thai economy which, so recently, was surging.

College students seek marketable skills in Korea (Sunday, 8/10/97)
The job market is tight in South Korea for college graduates, and many are trying to get practical training to improve their chances, according to the Korea Herald. The Korean economy has been struggling a bit lately, but here's a story about the remarkable wage growth in that country over the past five years. In fact, they've led the world in the rate of increase.

More talking, little agreeing (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Who was it who said that, in a civilized world, when there's no news, there won't be any newspapers? Nonetheless, here's the latest on continuing but apparently unproductive talks at UPS. The New York Times' Steven Greenhouse reports that both sides are saying that it could be a long strike, but what would we expect them to say? Judith Evans and John Harris report that President Clinton is under pressure to intervene. The governors of Iowa and Virginia, in particular, would like the White House to step in. Meanwhile, many UPS managers, instead of managing, are delivering, and Business Week discusses the contest between UPS' money and the Teamsters' determination. Also, here's Mike Hughlett and Amy Gage's St. Paul Pioneer Press article on the strike's relationship to the more general issue of part-time work in the new economy, and Dirk Johnson of the New York Times tells why the strike is so much of a problem for small business.

Tentative deal at Cadillac plant (Saturday, 8/9/97)
The United Auto Workers and General Motors have reached a tentative agreement. Here's the story from David Lawder of Reuters.

No unionization at Wisconsin Wal-Mart (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Many people have been watching the union vote at a Wisconsin Wal-Mart store, because it could have set a precedent. Result: workers say no. Here's more from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Job growth slowing in Microsoft media unit (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Microsoft Corporation is the world's largest software company, possibly the most influential corporation for the years immediately ahead, and they have billions to spend. The big news this week has been that they have agreed to help Apple Computer Corporation survive, but not simply out of the goodness of their heart. The man whom some think looks like Mad magazine's Alfred E. Newman and apparently aspires to run the world is not a medical missionary. Nonetheless, not everything Microsoft touches turns to gold, or, at least, not immediately. The company's interactive media group is still losing money, but they expect that it will help Microsoft dominate the new media universe during the next century. They're still hiring, but at a slower rate.

Firings recommended in Japan (Saturday, 8/9/97)
A reform panel has suggested that two-thirds of the workers in Japan's state-owned forestry operations be fired and that these operations be privatized. Here's that report from today's Japan Times.

The evolving role of secretary (Saturday, 8/9/97)
As the work world changes, so does a secretary's job. Lisa Doll explains in her "Job Hunt" column today. Also in Newsday, Carrie Mason-Draffen advises a corespondent to tell her boss that he's violating the law, and Patricia Kitchen explains what golf is for: networking, and women are making more use of the opportunity, she says.

Employment picking up in commercial banks (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Banks are hiring again, says Business Week.

Did you hear the one about... (Saturday, 8/9/97)
"Consultant" means never having to say you're unemployed. A consultant is somebody who borrows your watch in order to tell you the time. When you tire of telling lawyer jokes, you can always tell jokes about consultants. However, some people don't think they're so funny. Here's a review of James O'Shea and Charles Madigan's new book, Dangerous Company: The Consulting Powerhouses and the Businesses They Save and Ruin.

More on the wrenching situation in North Korea (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Unicef sees the imminent possibility of tens of thousands of children dying in North Korea, as one of the greatest human catastrophes in recent years continues to develop. Barbara Crossette reports for today's New York Times. Also in the Times today, Tim Golden reports that California's new welfare system won't be so radical after all.

Clarification, maybe, on the changing distribution of American wealth (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Who's really been getting richer? Here's a story about the "thin slice" at the top from Business Week. Also, here's a Business Week commentary on the "mystery" of the productivity boom, as well as an article on the real value of a second income in your household.

Is your attitude showing too much? (Saturday, 8/9/97)
Employers usually aren't interested in importing dissatisfaction; they feel they can produce all they need on the premises. Check your attitude before you apply for a job, says Amy Lindgren of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Also, here's the Chicago Tribune's Carol Kleiman column on how women are finding ways to transfer their skills to the skilled trades.

Tech help in selecting a college (Saturday, 8/9/97)
There's quite a lot of help on the Internet if you're looking for just the right college. Here's information about some of that, as well as about a new CD-ROM that may be helpful as well. Also, if you'd like to take a course on the Internet itself, here's a "consumer's guide" that, among other things, suggests that the buyer beware. Actually, that's good advice when dealing with fully accredited higher educational institutions as well, but possibly for somewhat different reasons. For one thing, many college faculty and administrators seem to think it's still about 1965 or so out there in the work world.

The news is that there isn't much news at UPS (Friday, 8/8/97)
They're talking again, but that's about all there is to report, which is what David Lawsky of Reuters and Judith Evans of the Washington Post do this morning. Newsday's Kenneth Crowe says there's little optimism on either side for an early settlement. Glenn Burkins of the Wall Street Journal says the whole thing may be decided by the "financial health" of the Teamsters, while Christina Duff says that a tight labor market works in favor of the strikers. Nikhil Deogun, Martha Brannigan, and Anna Wilde Mathews write that UPS' competitors could make lasting gains because of the strike. Robert Kuttner writes in today's Washington Post about how the strike draws attention to a major problem in the new economy: the decline of good career path jobs. Along similar lines, Louis Uchitelle of the New York Times writes about the widening gap between full-time and part-time workers, and, in her nationally syndicated column this time, Molly Ivins explains why so many people think that the term "booming economy" has a strange ring to it. Incidentally, one company that needs to deliver a lot of product every day says the strike isn't hurting too much so far, and the Houston police union decided to do its part to support the strikers by urging officers to target UPS drivers for ticketing--the "scabs," that is--and this has caused an outcry. And, of yes, the latest Labor Department data show an increase in first-time jobless claims in the U.S. last week, but, then, the week before hit a 23-year low.

Unemployment jumps back up in Australia (Friday, 8/8/97)
The U.S. economy is creating jobs at a furious rate, but, as indicated, many observers are concerned about the quality of many of those jobs and about overall wage levels. In many other countries, the concern is with the number of jobs available. Paul Cleary of the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Australian unemployment rate returned to 8.7 percent in July. Here's Mr. Cleary's analysis of the situation, in which he says the government has "run out of ideas." In another opinion piece, Leonie LaMont tells the Minister for Workplace Relations that wage cuts don't create jobs. Finally, Nadia Jamal reports on a career fair that focused on one of the hottest sectors in Australia as well as throughout much of the revolutionary new world economy.

Job cuts at Fruit of the Loom (Friday, 8/8/97)
Nearly 1,500 jobs will disappear from a Kentucky textile facility. Vigorous competition in the apparel industry is blamed.

Clinton still thinking about line-item veto (Friday, 8/8/97)
President Clinton has already signed the new budget bill into law, but he may still get his blue pencil out. He has until midnight Monday to decide whether he'll cut some items or let the new law stand as is. Some of his advisors want him to wait for a later opportunity to use this new presidential power, expecting that its first use will be followed by legal challenges.

Confusing reports from Portugal (Friday, 8/8/97)
Several days ago, some Portuguese papers were reporting that pilots and officials of TAP Air Portugal had reached tentative agreement on the work hours dispute, then that pilots were going to vote on the deal. Now, Publico says that pilots have decided to reserve the right to resume their strike, even though management seems willing to back down. Negotiations are back in session. What's really going on? We don't know either. Also from Portugal, Semanario Economico reports today that a European Commission study predicts that Portugal's gross domestic product per head will rise from 56.6 percent of the EU average to 74 percent by the year 2000.

Salary increases beating inflation in Spain (Friday, 8/8/97)
Cinco Dias reports that negotiated salary increases for 5.6 million workers for the first seven months of the year were 50 percent above the expected inflation rate for 1997.

Sex discrimination in eastern Europe (Friday, 8/8/97)
Kristin von Kreisler of the Christian Science Monitor reports on what women in many eastern European countries face in the workplace. Also, she reports on calls for the full participation of women in political and economic life in the region, as well as on how one entrepreneur has been succeeding in a man's game.

What to do if you think you can't afford college (Friday, 8/8/97)
Suzanne Tregarthen has a report on some recent developments that may be of interest to you.

Economics and global warming (Friday, 8/8/97)
Stephen Schneider reports on Yale economist William Nordhaus' survey of leading economists on the economic impact of environmental degradation. Again, as one leading chemist has pointed out, the economy is a "wholly-owned subsidiary" of the environment. The notion that economic and environmental concerns are incompatible represents a false dichotomy.

Home care fraud charged in Miami (Friday, 8/8/97)
Today's Washington Post reports that a dozen people are charged with false billings totaling $15 million. In a slightly related story, Barry Meier of the New York Times reports on the human cost of for-profit care.

Workplace deaths down last year (Friday, 8/8/97)
Fewer people were killed on the job last year, according to a government report released yesterday.

Many military-connected jobs threatened in France (Friday, 8/8/97)
Things don't look good for a huge naval shipyard in France, Craig Whitney reports. Many jobs are likely to go before long.

Harder times coming for some brokers (Friday, 8/8/97)
If you're a broker who has worked for a firm that has been shut down because of securities law violations, you're going to have a harder time getting another job. Here's the story from today's New York Times.

Talks to begin again at UPS (Thursday, 8/7/97)
David Morgan reports for Reuters and Judith Evans reports for today's Washington Post. Newsday's Kenneth Crowe writes that the UPS chief says that, even though they're willing to talk again, a better offer isn't going to come from the company. The Clinton administration has been under pressure to step in and stop the strike, but, so far, the White House is resisting. The president says that criteria have not yet been reached that would justify his intervention under the Taft-Hartley Act. Many business leaders and others are worried that the strike will do major harm to the American economy, but Christina Duff writes in today's Wall Street Journal that the impact has been mild so far. Susan Pulliam at the Journal says that the strike is helping UPS competitors, but may soon hurt catalog companies. Albert Crenshaw provides a bit of background on the strike's high stakes in relation to pensions, while Peter Behr and Judith Evans tell about the growing trend in the direction of part-time jobs and how this issue is related to the UPS strike. In fact, the Christian Science Monitor editorializes today that part-time work is the key issue. Incidentally, this isn't the only strike that the Teamsters have going on right now. Meanwhile, John Berry reports that, despite widespread belief, the current economic boom in the United States has not left workers behind, and also reports on the Federal Reserve's survey finding moderate growth and low inflation. The Fed's report was released yesterday..

Turkey abandons wage indexing plan (Thursday, 8/7/97)
According to Milliyet, Turkish government officials have decided not to link the wages of public employees to inflation next year. Instead, the government intends to get much more aggressive in its program to bring the country's high rate of inflation down.

Changing attitudes in the American South (Thursday, 8/7/97)
Traditionally, the southern states have had an anti-union attitude, but that's changing as economic conditions change, reports Christina Nifong in today's Christian Science Monitor.

Pilots meet to vote on work hours agreement (Thursday, 8/7/97)
Pilots at TAP Air Portugal will decide today whether they will accept a new agreement with their airline, which, according to Diario de Noticias, has decided to back down. Recent strikes have called into doubt plans for developing alliances with other European airlines.

Reality check on African economics (Thursday, 8/7/97)
Overall, Africa is a poor continent with great potential, but that's not the whole story. Judith Matloff reports that economies in the southern part of Africa are already humming.

Spanish company sells discounted shares to employees (Thursday, 8/7/97)
Expansion reports this morning that Banco Bilbao Vizcaya SA has sold 700,000 shares to 12,000 employees at a discount of about 39 percent as part of a plan to motivate their workers.

Forest service restructures (Thursday, 8/7/97)
Workers are being moved around as the U.S. Forest Service as part of a plan to change the agency's emphasis. Here's the story from Scott Sonner of the Washington Post.

Disappointment for Chancellor Kohl and many others in Germany (Thursday, 8/7/97)
Despite efforts, German unemployment remained high last month, according to this London Times report from Roger Boyes in Bonn. Germany has been trying to get its deficit under control in order to qualify for the European common currency. Most of the rest of Europe cares more than they might otherwise, because without German participation, there probably won't be any European common currency. Incidentally, unemployment is also at record highs in neighboring France, and Helene Cooper writes in the Wall Street Journal today on why the English economy is working right now and the French economy isn't.

Paying with plastic (Thursday, 8/7/97)
You'll be able to pay the American Internal Revenue Service by credit card from now on, says Stephen Frank of the Wall Street Journal.

Bad job news in Korea and New Zealand (Thursday, 8/7/97)
The major industrial complexes in South Korea faced the worst-ever job situation in June, according to the Korea Herald. Also, far to the south, Vivian Hutchinson reports in The Jobs Letter that new government statistics show the worst unemployment in New Zealand in three years. The Jobs Letter is published by The Jobs Research Trust, a non-profit organization that deals with employment issues. Here's their web site.

Waiting to see who can stand the most pain (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
War and strikes may both represent the failure of human rationality and self-interest, because both usually seem to be "lose-lose" games. For the moment, talks are stalled in the big game of "chicken" that is the UPS strike. However, when a major company is shut down by a strike, some of the greatest pain is felt by those outside the company. Many would like to see the two sides get back to the bargaining table. The company has been trying to get the government to step in--an idea that's opposed by at least one major newspaper this morning--while union leaders have been trying to build support as well, in order to exert greater pressure on the opposition. Meanwhile, suffering intensifies in several quarters. Dirk Johnson of the New York Times tells about what it's like to be a part-timer on the picket line, since part-time workers is some of what this strike is about. The Washington Post's Judith Evans tells about the suffering of small businesses, and Steven Radwell of Reuters reports that the delivery of lobsters, among other things, has slowed to a crawl, suggesting that they may as well just let the creatures walk to their destinations. Incidentally, Teamsters president Ron Carey goes back a long time in his conflict with UPS. In the small world department, he beat the elder James Hoffa's son last year in a contested presidential election. The senior Hoffa, among other things, was responsible for employing Teamsters pension funds in the financing of many businesses over the years, including, well, United Parcel Service. Ironic that this strike is partly about pensions.

Will the work week be shortened in France? (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
The French government plans to shorten the official work week from 39 hours to 35 without a loss in pay as a measure to combat the country's record unemployment. Executives are skeptical, according to La Tribune this morning.

When you thought things couldn't get worse (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
North Korea may be a finalist in the "worst place on earth" sweepstakes. Aid workers are saying that the famine is getting worse in that country, but why should anyone expect that it would have gotten better? The collapsing economy in one of the last Stalinist states on earth may have something to do with an apparently serious interest in ending the Korean War. What? You thought that war ended nearly a half century ago? No, it's just been a truce. Interested bystanders, such as the U.S. and China are involved in the talks.

Agreement at TAP Air Portugal (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
Diario Economico reports that pilots have signed an agreement on work hours at the Portuguese airline. Additional strikes will be averted.

Clinton press conference today follows budget bill signing (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
President Clinton is happy with the new budget balancing law that he signed yesterday, but it is it all historic, or merely hysteric? Not everybody is delighted, impressed, or even interested, it seems. Terry Neal writes that enthusiasm seems to diminish rapidly as one crosses the D. C. Beltway into what some refer to as the "real world." For the benefit of our friends in other part of the world, the "Beltway" is simply the highway that circles the Washington, D. C. region. For years, many have suggested that there may be something in the air within the confines of that region that makes people think their concerns are more important than the rest of the country thinks they are. Also, David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor wonders if a loophole by any other name smells as sweet. The new law contains lots of tax breaks for special interests, he says. But, in yet another story, he reports that working Americans are finally getting a raise, as real wages have started to rise. Incidentally, "tax reform" is all the rage in a number of countries as government attempts to step back a bit in the restructuring new world economy. For instance, here's a story about what's happening in Australia.

Thousands of health care workers walk out for a day (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
Talks break down in Ohio. Reuters has the story about a one-day strike.

Big auction scheduled in Russia (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
Another major step is being taken in privatizing the Russian economy, according to this report from Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times. Also in the Times today, a fairly radical program that would allow teachers to retire early in New York has passed the legislature there, and Susan Gilbert reports on a new study that says a lot of people would prefer not to live in nursing homes. No kidding.

Teachers strike in South Africa (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
According to The Star, almost half of the teachers in South Africa begin a two-day strike today over the size of salary increases. There are about 360,000 teachers in the country.

Overworked Japanese would like more sleep (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
How would you like to spend an extra hour per day? According to a poll, many Japanese workers would like more sleep. Here's the story from the Japan Times.

SBA to change policies to help minorities (Wednesday, 8/6/97)
Carrie Mason-Draffen of Newsday writes about plans to fix the Small Business Administration's contracting program to give minority-owned businesses a better chance to do business with the government.

U.S. attempts to cope with UPS strike (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
One of the consequences of the success of United Parcel Service and its commanding market share is that it is has contributed to the vulnerability of the American economy. American business, as well as many individuals, depend on UPS daily. Package delivery has slowed considerably all over the country, and many businesses are expecting major disruptions if the strike lasts long. While UPS' competitors are trying to take up the slack, they're reluctant to risk degrading service to their own loyal customers. UPS would like government intervention, but the White House is signaling that this is unlikely to happen. So far, a few striking workers have been arrested for disorderly conduct. What's the strike about? Pensions, for one thing, and, as Steven Greenhouse reports, part-time workers. Incidentally, while the strike continues, federal investigators are continuing to look into charges of illegal financing of the UPS president's campaign against James Hoffa last year.

Pilots at Continental threaten strike (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
James Pierpoint of Reuters reports that pilots at Continental Airlines could strike during the holiday travel season this year if they are unable to reach agreement with the company.

What Iran needs to revive its economy (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
After years of isolation from the West, Ashraf Fouad reports that Iran needs to re-establish ties if it is to revive its economy. The political winds have changed direction in that country, so additional changes may be coming.

Pattern of loan rejections largely unchanged (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
A new report shows that black Americans are turned down for housing loans at twice the rate as whites.

Generals say Russian army ready to collapse (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
There have been serious problems with the Russian army for a long time, including the fact that many personnel are having difficulty remembering when they were last paid. Now, some generals are saying that collapse of the entire system could be imminent.

Book publisher to cut jobs (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
Rupert Murdoch's HarperCollins book publishing company is restructuring and expects to cut several hundred jobs. The company divested itself of its college textbook operations some time ago. Book publishing in general is having problems, in part because of the encroachment of the new media, compounded by the fact that it is mostly a "hit driven" industry, in that a few books make money, but most lose money.

Budget bill becomes law today (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
President Clinton signs the bill into law today, according to plans. There is some chance that he will use the new line-item veto power, but it isn't likely. He doesn't have to decide right away.

BA strike was costly (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
Cabin crews at British Airways were on strike for three days, and costs to the airline will exceed expectations, coming in at around 125 million pounds, according to papers in the UK today.

Unemployment down in Spain (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
Cinco Dias reports that unemployment went down by 80,000 people last month, according the Spanish labor minister.

Greek government continues working on an overhaul of their payroll system (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
The Greek Finance Ministry intends to link next year's wage increases to employee performance, according to Kathimerini, but will examine government payrolls first. Affected groups would include court employees, doctors at state-run hospitals, and employees at universities.

Sweden leads the world in bankruptcies (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
According to Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden has the highest rate of bankruptcies in the world, but it's because businesses would rather declare bankruptcy than restructure. The Swedish bankruptcy law has remained the same since the beginning of the century.

Update on the aftermath of Proposition 209 (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
What's been happening in California higher education since Proposition 209? Here's an update by Daniel Sneider. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, James Tyson says it may be a good time to hit the boss up for a raise, and he tells how to do it. Mr. Tyson also writes today about how even the white collar jobs have been recovering from "downsizing" in the strong American economy. Finally, Joseph Dionne tells about how small the world has gotten, and what it means for privacy.

Progress report on training program in D. C.'s inner city (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
Peter Behr says making network administrators out of inner-city high school seniors has been harder than anyone has expected, including the students. Still, there is cause to celebrate.

How the uninsured get health care (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
The New York Times' Peter Kilborn writes about how those without health care coverage try to cope in whatever way they can. Meanwhile, Robert Pear examines the broadened options for Medicare beneficiaries that will come from the new budget bill. However, higher costs will be coming too.

One way to fix the INS (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
Get rid of it, says a federal advisory panel. Its functions would be given over to other government agencies, according to Eric Schmitt's report.

Careful what you say when you call the Social Security office (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
Somebody may be listening in, because the Social Security Administration monitors its employees. Fairly standard procedure, so long as callers are told. Stephen Barr reports that some are wondering if the agency has the legal authority to monitor calls.

Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs are everywhere (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
The famed hi-tech California corridor is a hot bed of entrepreneurism where you'll find many people who want to work for themselves. Meanwhile, a ringing call for more black entrepreneurs from the founder of Black Enterprise.

More on the historic disaster that looms in North Korea (Tuesday, 8/5/97)
More grim reports on what seems to be brewing up in North Korea. It's the imminent possibility of famine on a scale unequaled since Ethiopia and Somalia.

UPS trucks roll to a halt (Monday, 8/4/97)
The Teamsters struck United Parcel Service at midnight. UPS pilots have indicated that they will support the strike. John Crawley writes about how this strike will affect millions of people and impact the entire American economy. In other labor news, here's more on the steel strike settlement in Pennsylvania.

Will it be a kindly cut for you? (Monday, 8/4/97)
Peter Grier examines the impact of the big tax reduction package that is expected to be signed into law by President Clinton tomorrow. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, a look at what's missing from the tax package, and Guy Halverson talks about a favor from an unlikely source: the IRS. Also, Jon Jeter of the Washington Post says state governments are scrambling to use the new funds to provide health care for uninsured children.

The great potential on the African continent (Monday, 8/4/97)
Africa is the world's poorest continent, but former Vice-Presidential candidate Jack Kemp says that doesn't have to be. Under the right conditions, Africa has vast potential, according to Kemp.

Another article about us (Monday, 8/4/97)
Here's Julio Ojeda-Zapata's article from today's St. Paul Pioneer Press offering some insight into the strange history of BNWW & NWN, as well as the strange person behind it.

The workplace energizer (Monday, 8/4/97)
Newsday's Randi Feigenbaum tells about Bob Nelson and his books for improving workplace morale. Also, the Boston Globe's Diane Lewis reports on efforts to help people find their way through a workplace ethical jungle.

Fundamental social changes in Japan (Monday, 8/4/97)
Nicholas Kristof writes in today's New York Times on how traditional inter-generational relations are shifting in Japan in response to pressures from the new world economy, as well as other processes. Also in the Times today, Steven Greenhouse tells why some major New York churches will not hire workfare participants, and Somini Sengupta reports that many New York teachers are intending to continue with administrative duties that will not be required under their new contract.

Business travelers favoring major airlines (Monday, 8/4/97)
The Valujet crash in the Florida Everglades didn't do a whole lot to encourage confidence in "bargain" air travel. More than a year later, corporate travelers are still wary of trying to save too much money.

Australian jobs program scaled back (Monday, 8/4/97)
Paul Cleary of the Sydney Morning Herald reports on how the concept of "real job" is being redefined. Also, Luis Garcia reports that some officials are worried that privatization and deregulation can be carried too far, particularly in higher education. Meanwhile, David Lague reports from Beijing that the Chinese government is about to get on the privatization bandwagon as well.

Clock reset at UPS (Sunday, 8/3/97)
The Teamsters have reset the strike deadline for midnight tonight at United Parcel Service, and it's looking more like a strike will really happen. If so, Americans will awake tomorrow to a considerable degree of chaos. Given its size and the market share enjoyed by UPS, it isn't likely that its competitors will be able to take up the slack. To a significant extent, American business depends on UPS, so many observers are worried about a strike's effect on a hot economy. Will the great American economic engine be slowed by a strike, and will it be able to recoup once a strike ends? We don't know either. Stay tuned.

Budget legislation to become law Tuesday (Sunday, 8/3/97)
President Clinton calls the new budget deal "historic," but others aren't so enthusiastic. Eric Black, Sharon Schmickle, and Tom Hamburger of the Minneapolis Star Tribune say the hard choices were avoided, and lawmakers are gambling too much on a continuation of the American expansion. Newsday's Robert Reno says the new tax bill is "junk," and its developers should know better. David Cay Johnston of the New York Times says the new law will make tax preparation more complicated, and many people may miss breaks they're entitled to as a consequence. And, oh, yes, one break you shouldn't overlook: you may save money by dying in 1998.

The new bounty hunters (Sunday, 8/3/97)
Employees are being sent out in search of good job candidates, and, for many companies, it's working, according to this New York Times feature.

Preserving a family-friendly workplace at New England hospital (Sunday, 8/3/97)
Maggie Jackson writes there is much nervousness about work-family benefits at Boston Medical Center because of the financial turbulence in health care. Meanwhile, Robert Reno asks whether Hillary Clinton was right after all about things coming apart in the American health care system. Medicare fraud, which has been on the front pages a lot lately, may be only one indication.

How's the Arab world doing economically? (Sunday, 8/3/97)
John Lancaster reports in today's Washington Post that Arab economies are mostly still stalled, although there are efforts to move ahead and form viable free-market systems. Egypt's efforts along these lines, including privatization, are of some interest. Mr. Lancaster looks at a particular Egyptian company that is trying to break from the past, and how workers feel about it.

Saving money on disability insurance (Sunday, 8/3/97)
Barbara Whitaker tells how some workers are finding less expensive ways to secure their future.

Trusting your "inner smile meter" (Sunday, 8/3/97)
Patricia Kitchen writes in her "Fast Track" column this time about allowing your career to be guided by what you love. If you think you'd love being a forensic accountant, here's some information about that occupation from Lisa Doll's "Job Hunt" column.

The growing number of minority women who are entrepreneurs (Sunday, 8/3/97)
Newsday's Carrie Mason-Draffen reports that a growing number of minority women are taking their futures in their own hands and deciding to hire themselves.

Wall Street's argument with Main Street over wages (Sunday, 8/3/97)
The New York Times' Alan Krueger thinks we should be worrying more about wages and living standards than inflation at the moment.

What our cold war victory really means (Sunday, 8/3/97)
Here's another review of The Judas Economy: The Triumph of Capital and the Betrayal of Work, this time from Deborah Stead of the New York Times. We told you about the book yesterday, and the fact that one of the authors is an economist from Business Week.

Talks suspended, but trucks keep rolling (Saturday, 8/2/97)
Negotiators at UPS report no progress, but they intend to resume talks soon, according to Reuters and the Washington Post. In other labor news, a long steel strike ends in West Virginia, and General Motors may be facing its sixth strike so far this year.

U.S. unemployment lowest in nearly a quarter century (Saturday, 8/2/97)
U.S. unemployment declined to 4.8 percent in July, while wages hold steady. President Clinton takes credit. But wait--are we experiencing wage stability or stagnation, asks today's Washington Post.

Japanese court rules in favor of woman in housework case (Saturday, 8/2/97)
A man had claimed damages from his former wife because she hadn't done all the housework, he said. A court has ruled against him, according to today's Japan Times.

Elderly moving to HMOs because of costs (Saturday, 8/2/97)
Milt Freudenheim of the New York Times reports that the budget agreement may further spur the movement of older Americans to HMOs.

President may fine-tune the new tax package (Saturday, 8/2/97)
President Clinton now has a tool at his disposal that no other president has had available before him: the line-item veto. Will he use it to pare some provisions from the big tax package that awaits his signature?

Women gaining in Australian job market (Saturday, 8/2/97)
Paul Cleary of the Sydney Morning Herald writes about a new report showing that women are catching up with men in the Australian work world.

Newly arrived workers in Hong Kong to be given anti-corruption training (Saturday, 8/2/97)
Workers are being brought into Hong Kong from mainland China. Their training and orientation program will include anti-corruption lectures, according to the Hong Kong Standard.

So far, so good at UPS (Friday, 8/1/97)
Midnight was the strike deadline, but negotiators let it pass. They're still talking. United Parcel Service delivers as many packages of all types as all their competitors put together, so American business is greatly dependent on the company's ability to move things from point A to point B, which, incidentally, includes every address in the United States. As a consequence, many people are watching this particular labor conflict with great interest, because a strike could have an immediate effect on the entire American economy, which has been humming at such a high pitch for many months. However, the latest figures from the Commerce Department show that the U.S. economy hummed in a lower key during the second quarter than in the first, suggesting even greater vulnerability to a UPS strike. Here's more on the latest growth figures from John Berry of the Washington Post.

French unemployment hits record (Friday, 8/1/97)
France's unemployment rate has hit its highest level since World War II at 12.6 percent. Government officials don't see improvement before the end of the year, according to La Tribune and all other major French newspapers today.

Why social workers don't want to be INS agents (Friday, 8/1/97)
Alexandra Marks writes for today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Ron Scherer reports that, even though a rising tide is supposed to lift all boats, many people are struggling to stay afloat. In addition, Kevin Rafter writes about growing anti-immigrant feelings in Ireland, and Judith Matloff tells about the hard times for South African gold miners . Finally, here's a story about a lot of furious college students in the United Kingdom. For the first time, they're facing tuition costs, and they don't like it. In the United States, higher education costs have continued to rise at twice the overall inflation rate without much discernible increase in quality or relevance, and large numbers of students go heavily into debt in order to pay the major portion of their education costs themselves. One consequence is that, as in health care, which has had similar cost increases in recent years, large numbers of people are losing access to higher educational services. Also, as in health care, we can expect a good deal of political conflict and fundamental structural changes during the years ahead. In a slightly related story having to do with who's becoming educated in the United States and who isn't, here's news about dropout rates.

Pension fund kickbacks? (Friday, 8/1/97)
A federal investigation is underway. The feds are also stepping up their probe of where Medicare money is going. Here's a look at that issue from the current edition of Business Week.

How to make $15,000 a year and give millions (Friday, 8/1/97)
A secretary made a bundle in the stock market and a children's hospital benefits greatly upon her death.

Danish unions want a say on budget bill (Friday, 8/1/97)
Berlingske Tidende reports that trade unions in Denmark want representatives involved in negotiations on the 1998 budget bill. In particular, they want to talk about the government's stance on pensions and welfare. Also in Denmark today, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten reports on a new survey from the Organization of Executive and Managerial Staff indicating that about a third of young managers in Denmark are women.

Wages are up, consumers are well-off. Well, some are (Friday, 8/1/97)
Here's a Business Week story about the real increases in wages that have finally started to catch up in a strong U.S. job market. On the average, American workers and consumers are doing very well. And, of course, with your head in the refrigerator and your feet in the oven, on the average, you're comfortable, right? On the average.

No tax reform for now in Germany (Friday, 8/1/97)
Alan Cowell of the New York Times reports that German Socialists stopped tax reform in its tracks yesterday, at least for now. Also in the Times today, Peter Kilborn tells about people who live without health coverage in a booming economy, Robert Pear says that Congress has put special tax breaks out where President Clinton can see them, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll use his veto power. Also, in relation to the new budget bill that's heading for the White House, Peter Kilborn says the deal allows the president to keep a welfare promise, and Celia Dugger writes about an attitudinal swing on issues relating to immigrants.

More on the East-West value conflict (Friday, 8/1/97)
Societies throughout history have managed to muddle through with a great variety of very different belief and value systems, even though some sort of internal consensus on at least some issues seems necessary in order to maintain social order and continuity. When the world was still a big place, different societies, even whole civilizations, could go their own directions without the awareness, let along the resistance, of peoples on other patches of the globe. Now, though, things are different. With jet travel and the Internet, geography is becoming increasingly irrelevant, and cultures are coming into more immediate conflict. Here's the latest on the U.S. Secretary of State's fuss with Asian leaders over individual rights.

Biz ed for teens (Friday, 8/1/97)
Hannah Allam writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about how teenagers are learning about business. Also, the Strib editorializes today about the good news and bad news for students in the new budget deal.

Capital can easily travel anywhere now, labor can't (Friday, 8/1/97)
Here's news about a new book called The Judas Economy that says workers should be scared. One of its authors is a Business Week economist.

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