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May 1997

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Confidence on the left in France (Saturday, 5/31/97)
France holds its runoff elections tomorrow, and French Socialist and Communist leaders seem confident that they will head a new coalition government. Roger Cohen of the New York Times reports that the far right may back the left on this one. In other election news, Canada goes to the polls on Monday with employment a key issue, and a landslide victory has already occurred in Indonesia, with the rich-poor gap a major concern.

GM takes 500 workers out of gear (Saturday, 5/31/97)
General Motors is laying off 500 transmission workers in Michigan, while Boeing settles with its machinists' union.

American economy strong, but not so hot as earlier (Saturday, 5/31/97)
The American economy seems to be slowing a bit, according to Reuters and the Washington Post. In fact, according to this Chicago Tribune story, the economy grew even faster during the first quarter than originally thought.

Women benefiting from hi-tech at work (Saturday, 5/31/97)
If you think women fear technology, think again. A new study finds that hi-tech is leveling the playing field for working women, and they're taking advantage of it. One place where there is a problem with technology, though, is at school. Pamela Mendels reports in today's New York Times on the serious gap between tech haves and tech have nots.

New harassment investigations in the military (Saturday, 5/31/97)
Keeping up? An admiral and a top military-connected lawyer are under investigation for sexual harassment, according to the Washington Post. Meanwhile, Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says that employment law experts are trying to decide what the broader implications of the Paula Jones case may be. For one thing, the fact that the President of the United States is connected with a case like this can draw enormous attention to the issues. Yes, this is not a misprint, and you are not having a crazy dream. We are actually talking about the President of the United States in connection with something like this.

New Labor Secretary calls on business to step up anti-sweatshop efforts (Saturday, 5/31/97)
Business should do more, says U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman.

Fuss involving Harvard and Russia (Saturday, 5/31/97)
Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times reports that Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Chubais says he will stop working with Harvard on rebuilding Russia's economy. There's quite a lot more to this story, and here is is.

New Jersey governor makes welfare reform deal with Kmart (Saturday, 5/31/97)
According to the new agreement, Kmart will hire 400 people off welfare each year for the next couple of years. Meanwhile, Speaker Gingrich says that President Clinton's opposition to the Texas plan to privatize its welfare system might be a sign that the Administration is trying to undermine welfare reform. Also, the Clinton Administration is proposing a freeze of Medicare payments to hospitals next year. It's all part of the effort to balance the federal budget.

Clinton and Blair get together on job creation (Friday, 5/30/97)
The American president and the UK's new Prime Minister have been meeting, and have agreed on a plan to boost job creation, according to Britain's Financial Times this morning. John Harris and Fred Barbash of the Washington Post seem to think that the two are kindred spirits, "liberals" who are in some ways "conservative," and both seem to benefit from being in touch with one another.

French Socialist leader says jobs will be top priority (Friday, 5/30/97)
Lionel Jospin is a Socialist, and may become the next French prime minister. France has an unemployment problem, and he says his government would get busy dealing with it. The runoff elections will be held Sunday in France. Canada has an election on Monday, and, as we reported yesterday, jobs are a top priority there too. Also, elections are coming up in Ireland, and James Clarity says many are beginning to wonder if the surging Irish economy has much real underlying strength.

Wellstone on poverty tour (Friday, 5/30/97)
There are "new liberals" and "new conservatives," but Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota seems to regard himself as an old-style liberal of the sort that has been out of favor recently in American politics. Still, he understands that political winds don't blow in the same directions terribly long, and there are still a few years before the next presidential election. In addition to his concern with the income gap in American society, one might expect that his current "poverty tour" will put him on the front page throughout the country. Wellstone is in his second term as a U.S. Senator, and he has said from the beginning that two terms will be his limit. Before winning his Senate seat, he was a political science professor at a Northfield, Minnesota college. Speaking of economic hard times, Michael Millett reports in the Sydney Morning Herald on a new study showing the extent to which children are dependent on welfare in Australia. Also in the Herald, Leonie Lamont tells about people who want to work, but who are stuck on welfare.

Victory in strawberry fields? (Friday, 5/30/97)
The United Farm Workers union's organizing efforts seem to have paid off, according to today's Chicago Tribune. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports that a thinning of union ranks in the New York region over recent years has led to increased recruitment efforts.

Job cuts at Scholastic (Friday, 5/30/97)
The big children's publisher has been struggling, and 400 jobs will go as part of an effort to regain its balance. Here's the story from Reuters and the New York Times. Speaking of job cuts, a big supermarket chain loses $78 million last quarter and will make job cuts as a consequence.

Smith says GM's market goals threatened by strikes (Friday, 5/30/97)
Strikes have been taking their toll at General Motors, according the company's chairman.

Steady as she goes (Friday, 5/30/97)
No change in jobless claims or help wanted activity, according to the latest figures in the United States.

Big health costs draw response from Swiss government (Friday, 5/30/97)
Neue Zuercher Zeitung reports that the Swiss Health Minister has presented a plan to get soaring health costs under control in the country. For one thing, people would pay a larger proportion of the costs themselves.

Illiteracy in a "knowledge society" (Friday, 5/30/97)
Edward Fiske of the Christian Science Monitor reports on adult illiteracy in the new world economy. In the U.S., for instance, millions of adults are unable to read or write sufficiently well to get along in contemporary work settings, even though the American economy as a whole is the strongest in the world at the moment, and is likely to continue in the lead, at least during the next several years.

Canadian election Monday, and it's about jobs (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Anthony DePalma of the New York Times reports that unemployment and job security seem to be on the minds of most people as election day approaches in Canada. Also, France holds its runoff elections on Sunday, and Craig Whitney says that, whoever wins, don't expect further austerity to be popular. Thus, if belt-tightening is what's needed to qualify for the common European currency, will France go its own way...again?

You do more, no, you do more (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Imerisia reports that leaders in the Greek government and in business are claiming that the other should do more to improve the country's economy. Meetings are being held to work on reducing the budget deficit and changing Greek labor regulations.

GM to add jobs in Oklahoma (Thursday, 5/29/97)
For General Motors, the cost of settling a seven-week strike in Oklahoma will be 300 new jobs. In other labor news, a federal mediator enters the picture at Continental Airlines, Novell cuts a thousand jobs, 60 truck drivers drive off the, er, walk off the job on a big tunnel project in Boston, and mediation is rejected by four Japan Railway companies.

Pay raises questioned at UK's lottery (Thursday, 5/29/97)
London's Daily Telegraph reports today that the U.K.'s National Heritage Secretary, Chris Smith, is wondering why the directors of the national lottery have received pay raises of up to 90%, even though lottery ticket sales are down.

Pension fund divests tobacco shares (Thursday, 5/29/97)
The retirement fund covering state workers in Florida will dump its tobacco stocks. Here's the story from Reuters this morning.

Coed training to continue, official says (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Given all the problems recently, some have been calling for an end to coed training in the American military, but an official at the Pentagon rejects those demands.

Disagreement in Italy (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Corriere della Sera reports that leaders of Italy's largest labor unions object to the prime minister's plans for the 1998 budget which is intended to reduce the nation's deficit. Union leaders want to see more emphasis on new taxes and less on cuts.

American unemployment lower in some regions than in others (Thursday, 5/29/97)
The overall unemployment rate in the United States is lower than it's been for a long time, but it's even lower in some regions. In 57 areas, it's below 3 percent, according to a report by Christina Duff today in the Wall Street Journal.

Companies scrambling to meet health law deadline (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Chuck Hutchcraft writes in today's Chicago Tribune that some companies are struggling to meet the requirements of the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

Leaving the farm for jobs in Massachusetts (Thursday, 5/29/97)
In today's Boston Globe, Diane Lewis and Tatiana Ribadeneira report that construction jobs in Massachusetts are attracting farm workers from the South, but it doesn't always work out. Also in the Globe today, Ronald Rosenberg reports on a whistleblower who just wanted to "do the right thing."

Swallowing pride in North Korea (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Nicholas Kristof writes that famine continues to spread in North Korea, and pride seems to be the principal obstacle in doing something about it. Meanwhile, the North Korean government has been selling off its gold reserves in order to raise hard currency to finance a big birthday party for its late "great leader."

Welfare reform's impact at the other end of the line (Thursday, 5/29/97)
Joe Sexton reports in today's New York Times that it isn't just the lives of welfare recipients that are being changed by welfare reform. The impact on government workers is also significant.

Chirac warns of consequences of a leftist government (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
France's President Jacques Chirac is warning his country of what he regards as the risks of changing direction with a socialist government. He appealed to voters in a television appearance in advance of Sunday's runoff elections. The socialists are confident, but the Wall Street Journal's Thomas Kamm says that a victory would not mean much change for the French economy.

American consumers confident (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Data indicate the highest degree of consumer confidence in the United States since 1969. Here's the story from Reuters and the Washington Post.

Tech occupations hot in Sweden too (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Dagens Nyheter reports that salaries in information technology industries have grown faster during the 1990s than in other fields.

More evidence that there may be something in the water in North Korea (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
If you've been waiting for the North Korean government to get rational, you'll have to wait a little longer. They're selling off their gold reserves, but not in order to feed their people.

American first lady speaks about women's roles (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke yesterday at the University of Amsterdam, calling for greater recognition of the role of women in promoting prosperity and democracy in the world.

Swiss building industry continues sluggishness (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
According to Neue Zuercher Zeitung, the Swiss Building Association doesn't expect the construction industry to improve this year. Employment in building construction fell by 9.3 percent in 1996 and further decline is expected this year, as the six-year Swiss recession continues.

Italian PM calls for meeting with unions (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Italian Prime Minister Prodi wants to talk with labor union leaders about spending cuts and increased taxes he thinks are needed to lessen the budget deficit. Social security and health spending will be among the items to undergo cuts in the intended three-year economic plan.

Talks begin again at Continental (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Representatives of Continental Airlines and their pilots' union are starting to talk again today.

Making housework a "real job" (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Ruth Walker reports on a plan for reducing unemployment in Germany. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, James Tyson shares some success stories on welfare-to-work partnerships, and also reports that former welfare recipients do not make high-risk employees. Also, Marilyn Gardner tells about an exhibit honoring garment workers in L.A., David Segal says that a Supreme Court ruling may lead to more bias suits, and Peter Behr reports on a program intended to help people qualify for thousands of unfilled technology jobs in the Washington, D. C. region.

Agenda set for labor market reform talks (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Representatives of the Greek government and trade unions met yesterday and agreed on an agenda. Their talks are intended to lead to major changes in Greek labor regulations. Other talks are being held to work on reforming Greece's social insurance and pension system, according to Naftemboriki.

More on work-family issues (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Sue Shellenbarger offers some perspective and insights on work and family in today's Wall Street Journal.

New laws in Japan could affect officials' retirement pay (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
The retirement pay of officials suspected of crimes can be suspended under changes passed by the Japan Diet's Upper House. Here's the story from Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

"Primary purpose" rule to be dropped in the UK (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
The Guardian reports that the British government intends to drop the rule that says a person wanting to marry a British citizen can be denied entry into the country if it appears that the primary purpose of the marriage is to enable the immigrant to live in the United Kingdom.

A rich-poor gap grows in Belgium (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
In this case, it is the growing gap between rich and poor municipalities in Brussels. De Financieel Economische Tijd reports that about 40 percent of the population of Brussels lives in the five poorest communities.

An alternative point of view on a churning economy (Wednesday, 5/28/97)
Jerry Useem writes in Inc. magazine that the turmoil of the new economy is really good for us. He offers both argument and evidence.

More on the left turn in France (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
French voters expressed their unhappiness with clarity in Sunday's election, and the country's unpopular prime minister says he will quit, no matter what the results of next Sunday's runoff elections. Alain Juppe has been widely blamed for France's high unemployment and other ills. He says he's quitting to help his party. However, in an analysis, Roger Cohen of the New York Times says it may be too late to provide much help, while Alan Cowell says that European socialists are somewhat cheered by the events in France. Few are expecting a massive turn to the left over the continent, however, at least as traditionally understood.

While Britain has backed off from the Conservatives and the luster has worn off the 1994 "Republican revolution" in the United States, some sort of Heglian synthesis seems to be going on just in time for the beginning of the new millennium. In some ways, the new "liberals" are looking a lot like some of the new "conservatives."

Incidentally, in the U.S., Senator Wellstone from Minnesota is conducting a highly publicized "poverty tour" similar to efforts made many years ago by Robert Kennedy, the murdered president's brother, to call attention to poverty in the United States. Wellstone is regarded as the most "liberal" member of the United States Senate, representing a point of view that has been greatly out of fashion recently. However, he may be thinking that the political winds will have changed direction sufficiently by the 2000 presidential campaign to thrust him into national prominence. Stay tuned. Politics is like the weather, and a week can be an eternity.

Lots of hiring planned for the third quarter (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Many employers have been having difficulty finding the workers they need, so they'll be recruiting very aggressively during the months immediately ahead. In related news, Business Week reports that freshly minted MBAs are having a good time of it, and the U.S. Secretary of State tells young women to persevere.

Normalization under way at GM plant (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Workers are beginning to return to their jobs at a General Motors car plant. James Siepman of the Chicago Tribune says one down, one to go for GM.

Turkish textile company for sale (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Turkey's Finansal Forum reports that privatization continues in Turkey as the government makes plans to sell the state-owned Sumer Holding AS.

Big OECD meeting in Paris (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
As the French political scene is turned upside down, representatives from 29 countries concluded their big Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development meeting in Paris yesterday. They had been talking about many things, including jobs and how to discourage bribes as a means of doing business. Spain's Gaceta de Los Negocios reports this morning that the OECD is urging Spain to conduct more labor market reform. In particular, they would like to see a reduction in the cost to employers of dismissing workers in order to increase flexibility and bring Spain's unemployment rate down. The OECD is also urging further privatization in Spain.

Merrill Lynch looks to cash in on retirement savings (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Here's the Business Week story on why Wall Street likes 401(k)s so much and Merrill Lynch's new Employee Access Accounts.

Pensioners get a raise in Greece (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
According to Kathimerini, the Greek government intends to raise pension payments to 140,000 former public employees by about 8 percent. The move is intended to improve feelings during the talks going on about reforming the country's labor and pension systems.

Growth in American economy not evenly distributed (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Some regions are in "hyperdrive," according to the Christian Science Monitor's Ron Scherer. Also in the Monitor today, Jonathan Landay has some additional thoughts about the Kelly Flinn case, Shelley Donald Coolidge reports on the continuing gender gap in hi-tech, and academician John Byrne expresses some cautionary thoughts about what it might mean to graduate from a "distance learning" institution.

Helping young workers complain (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
The British government may encourage young participants in the country's welfare-to-work program to use confidential phone numbers to complain about employers who may be exploiting the young people or giving them pointless tasks at the waste of taxpayer money. Employers are expected to provide useful training as their part of the bargain, according to London's Daily Telegraph.

Some thoughts on workplace conflict resolution (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Hal Lancaster writes in today's Wall Street Journal about how to settle conflicts without making losers, and enemies.

Many credit card causalities among the young in Japan (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Asahi Shimbun reports that many young people are being led astray by plastic in Japan. Bankruptcies among the young have skyrocketed.

Immigrants need language skills to find good jobs in Denmark (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
A report from the Danish Labor Ministry says that many immigrants and refugees are having difficulty finding work because they aren't sufficiently proficient in the Danish language. More aggressive action is planned by the government in order to help with the language problem, according to Berlingske Tidende. Also in Denmark, Borsen reports the Union of Danish Journalists is challenging a report from the Danish pension fund PFA, in which the union is a major participant, about the production of herbicides in a Thai factory in which the PFA is an investor. The union wants to be sure that investments are in line with the PFA's ethical investment policy.

A summit for working women (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Juliet Brudney reports for today's Boston Globe. Also, Diane Lewis reports on the additional burden put on victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Academic credit for community service (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Go ahead, volunteer. It will help your GPA. Here's a story about a Harvard course in which community service is a requirement. Also from the New York Times today, Republicans are wary of plans to use sampling in the next census, and some of the same people, as well as different ones, are getting ready for the upcoming Medicare battle. Finally, Matthew Wald reports that the air traffic controller union is skeptical that staff shortages have not led to errors in the busy New York air travel region.

Belgian workers will continue until their plant shuts down (Tuesday, 5/27/97)
Renault SA's Vilvoorde car plant is scheduled to shut down in July, which will cost 3,200 jobs, according to De Standaard. Workers have voted to continue working until the shut down, rather than renewing their strike.

Left surges in France (Monday, 5/26/97)
France's stock market dips abruptly as the prospect of a left-wing government looms. There will be a run-off election next week. Here's the story from the Washington Post, as well as the New York Times, which also provides an analysis.

GM and UAW settle in Oklahoma (Monday, 5/26/97)
The seven-week old strike at a General Motors plant in Oklahoma will end as agreement is reached.

North and South get together on food assistance in Korea (Monday, 5/26/97)
South Korea has agreed to provide food aid to North Korea.

Official says government should support unions (Monday, 5/26/97)
Diario Economico reports in Portugal today that an advisor to the prime minister says the government should provide financial support to fund trade unions.

Denmark to cut support for refugees (Monday, 5/26/97)
The parliament in Denmark is expected to pass a law that would reduce support for 500 refugees who have been denied political asylum, according to Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten.

Bankruptcies up in Switzerland (Monday, 5/26/97)
Neue Zuercher Zeitung reports that there was a 5.6 percent increase in bankruptcies in the country during 1996, reflecting a sluggish Swiss economy.

Workers and employers try each other out (Monday, 5/26/97)
Temp work is not only a trend, but also a tryout that "works both ways," according to Cheryl Fields. Also in the Washington Post today, John Burgess writes about how hi-tech may make meetings more productive, and Stephen Barr tells how public employees have been battered about. He also reports on a new book by public policy expert Paul Light.

Prosperity ahead for Africa? (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times says that Africa can thrive as Asia has done. He examines the vast continent's resources, both natural and human. Speaking of Asia, with the handover of Hong Kong to China only slightly more than a month away, Floyd Norris wonders whether China will choose wealth or power.

Career change and the professional (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Some doctors are sick of being doctors, and many lawyers are finding their work to be a trial. Many professionals are trying to imagine themselves on a different career path.

Lingering traces of the New Deal (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Blaine Harden writes in today's New York Times about the still fairly "long arm of social aid."

Welfare reform uncertainty rising in Wisconsin (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Judith Havemann writes about how the Clinton Administration's insistence that workfare jobs pay minimum wage is affecting Wisconsin's plans. Also, in an editorial, the Washington Post says that the president is right on the minimum wage issue.

Settlement at Publix Super Markets (Sunday, 5/25/97)
A bias suit is settled for $85 million. Women and black employees had brought suits against the company claiming discrimination.

More on the redefinition of the concept of marriage (Sunday, 5/25/97)
What does it mean to be married? No complete mingling of finances, necessarily. Here's Albert Crenshaw's Washington Post story.

Editorial on sexuality and the military (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Today's Washington Post editorializes on sex and the military, following a steady stream of news stories from military work settings over the past several months.

Don't trust the trusts (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Quite a lot of pitch artists are trying to sell "secrets" that the rich presumably use to avoid taxes. Don't believe them, says the IRS.

Long-term employment not totally a thing of the past (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Some people still spend their entire careers with one employer. Julia Lawlor reports for the New York Times. Also in the Times today, a project to put all of the schools in America on the web.

NFL players finishing school (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Most players in American big-time commercial athletics won't be set for life, so will need work beyond their playing days. Here's a story from today's Kansas City Star about a program to encourage National Football League players to complete their college degrees.

Siemens creating more jobs in the UK (Sunday, 5/25/97)
Oliver August reports that Siemens will produce another 1,000 jobs as the chip market recovers. Here's his story in today's London Times.

Europe watches the election tomorrow in France (Saturday, 5/24/97)
The French want to qualify for the European common currency, but they aren't enthusiastic about more economic suffering in order to do it. The French welfare state is probably on the line in tomorrow's election, but, as Craig Whitney reports in the New York Times this morning, there's not a whole lot of talk about suffering on the campaign trail, although Edmund Andrews reports that the overall mood is gloomy. Joseph Fitchett writes in the International Herald Tribune that France is choosing its future. Incidentally, speaking of the European Union, the UK's new Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has been getting a lot of attention at the EU meeting in the Netherlands. Blair wants to improve the UK's relations with the continent. The EU is much on the mind of the Germans too, and this Irish Times story reports that the pace of privatization may pick up in that country.

American citizenship to be revoked (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Thousands of immigrants were wrongly granted U.S. citizenship, according to the U.S. government, and now the Clinton Administration intends to seek revocation. Thousands will be affected.

Progress at Continental (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Pilots and Continental Airlines appear to be making progress in their talks.

Employees to own part of Newton (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Apple Computer Corporation is spinning off its handheld Newton technology into a separate company, which, among other things, will enable investors to invest in the Newton separately without having to invest in all of Apple's troubles. After a very rocky start, Newton technology has developed quietly and has been showing great promise for niche markets. It could conceivably become a major profit center, much as Apple's Claris software division has been. Incidentally, through Claris, Apple sells a lot of software for the Windows 95 platform. In other troubled tech news, Informix cuts jobs in the U.S. and Novell cuts jobs in Europe.

North American universities expand to Asia (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Today's Japan Times reports that Canada's McGill University and America's Syracuse University are establishing a presence in Asia as globalization continues. McGill has developed an alliance with Tokyo's English-language Sophia University. Incidentally, the University of Maryland has been offering courses in Europe since shortly after World War II and in Asia since the end of the Korean War, but mostly to Americans at U.S. military and State Department installations. At times, the Maryland overseas program has enrolled about as many students as have been enrolled on Maryland's home campus at College Park, near Washington, D. C. The University of Maryland is also moving ahead very rapidly on "distance learning," and can be expected to play a key role in the further development of for-credit higher education programs distributed by a rapidly evolving Internet. One way or another, we can expect that higher education will become globalized much as other sectors in the new world economy.

Good market for grads in Massachusetts (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Diane Lewis writes in today's Boston Globe about the good fortunes of the Class of 1997 in New England.

More on the work/life strategies report (Saturday, 5/24/97)
H.J. Cummins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports in Newsday on the report released by the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility. Happy employees are good workers, it says.

Can you see yourself as an optometrist? (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Lisa Doll describes optometry in her Job Hunt column. Also in Newsday, Carrie Mason-Draffen answers a correspondent's questions about illegal questions from prospective employers, and Patricia Kitchen tells about "shadow days" and teens in their career explorations.

GM chairman touches on strikes in talk to shareholders (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Brian Akre writes in the St. Paul Pioneer Press about GM's continuing conflict with the UAW and what it's costing the company. Also, the Pioneer Press today, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Karen West tells about the approaching showdown between Seattle's Boeing and one of its largest unions over a planned deal with a flight training company.

Southern small towns beckon retirees (Saturday, 5/24/97)
Kevin Sack writes that an increasing number of retirees are heading for the small towns of the South. Also in the New York Times today, Kirk Johnson analyzes the New York City job market, Steven Greenhouse reports on a lawsuit that claims workfare is cutting into union jobs, Keith Bradsher tells about a town that resents federal poverty aid, and Maggie Jackson says that executives don't use the Internet very much.

Keeping an eye on you (Friday, 5/23/97)
Odds are that you're being watched at work. Here are some results from a new survey via today's Chicago Tribune.

Jobless claims up a bit last week (Friday, 5/23/97)
Here's a story about the latest data from the U. S. Department of Labor.

Talks break down at UPS (Friday, 5/23/97)
Representatives of the Teamsters union and United Parcel Service have discontinued talks for now.

The Citadel and the government reach deal on enrolling more women (Friday, 5/23/97)
The troubled military academy is trying to move beyond their period of sexual harassment allegations and other troubles. They've agreed with the government on a plan to recruit more women.

Danish prosecutors understaffed (Friday, 5/23/97)
Berlingske Tidende reports that the prosecutors office in Denmark is seriously understaffed. In some cases, accused persons have been released because prosecutors haven't been able to show up in court .

Liquor importer sued for harassment (Friday, 5/23/97)
The EEOC is suing Sidney Frank Importing Co. and Allstate Promotions Co., importers of the German-made Jagermeister products.

Danish minister wants fathers to be more active in child leave (Friday, 5/23/97)
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten reports that the Danish Minister of Labor would like to see a new law that provides incentives for fathers to become more active in the care of their children. Families would be able to claim the full child leave entitlement only if fathers participate.

Kennedy loses a battle, but not necessarily the war with Lott (Friday, 5/23/97)
Helen Dewar writes in today's Washington Post on how the recent failed effort to extend health coverage for children is part of a struggle between two Senators to set the Senate's agenda. Incidentally, speaking of children and health, the New York Times' Mireya Navarro reports on what some outside the federal government are doing.

French election is about unemployment, paper says (Friday, 5/23/97)
Douglas Lavin and Thomas Kamm write in today's Wall Street Journal about Sunday's election in France and what voters apparently think it's really about. Also, Jonathan Friedland provides more background on the job riots in Argentina. An increasing number of people there are objecting, not only to joblessness, but also to privatization and the concentration of wealth.

Bills to cover nursing care for the elderly moving through Japanese Diet (Friday, 5/23/97)
Japan's Lower House has approved a couple of bills that would finance nursing care for the elderly, but experts aren't in agreement over what the effects will be. Nonetheless, these developments are indicators of a changing Japan. Traditionally, the Japanese family has accepted responsibility for supporting its elderly, but now the government is beginning to become involved in ways more similar to Western "welfare state" societies. Also in Japan, another sign of Westernization: Sony is downsizing its executive force and reorganizing its corporate board more along American lines. On a few years ago, American corporations were trying to find ways of doing things more like the Japanese, but now the American economy is booming and the Japanese economy is struggling. Stay tuned.

Big job cuts at Spanish company (Friday, 5/23/97)
Gaceta de los Negocios reports that Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA will push for net cuts of about 20 percent of its workforce during the next four years. About 3,500 jobs will be eliminated, mostly through early retirements.

A managed care precedent in Texas? (Friday, 5/23/97)
Carlos Sanchez and Jim Fuquay report in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Texas Governor Bush will allow a bill to become law without his signature that will enable patients to sue their managed care companies over treatment decisions. Health care costs have been skyrocketing in the United States during recent years, creating a cost crisis that has left tens of millions of Americans without access to health care. Managed care organizations have been increasingly prominent as part of the American effort to get costs under control, but some fear that the quality of service is being affected.

Sweden's savings rates are down (Friday, 5/23/97)
According to FinansTidningen, Swedes are spending more, saving less. The decline in savings is the first in five years.

American high schoolers need financial training, according to survey (Friday, 5/23/97)
High school seniors lack knowledge of basic personal finance, according to a new study.

The growth of non-compete clauses (Friday, 5/23/97)
A growing number of workers are being asked to sign non-compete agreements, as companies attempt to protect their intellectual property.

Military sex codes need reconsidering, according to editorial (Friday, 5/23/97)
Here's the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial arising from the Lt. Kelly Flinn case which has been resolved in a compromise, of sorts. No court martial, but no honorable discharge either. The Air Force's first female B-52 pilot has been granted a general discharge which will not deny her benefits, but won't look good on her resume. Only those Americans living on Mars the past few weeks will be unfamiliar with the circumstances, though.

Big illegal immigrant problem (Friday, 5/23/97)
Only a bit more than a month before Hong Kong returns to Chinese control, illegal immigrants are flooding into the still British colony from the mainland. Also in the New York Times today, new efforts to increase minority enrollment at the University of California, an increase in pay for low-wage workers, and tech execs are told to do their part to help improve technology education in the schools if they want a qualified workforce in the future.

Welfare reform discussed in Italy (Friday, 5/23/97)
La Repubblica reports that the Italian cabinet met for four hours yesterday to discuss plans to reform the country's social security system. A three-year economic program will be announced next week. The government is attempting to reduce deficits, in part in order to qualify for the European common currency.

Job riots in Argentina (Thursday, 5/22/97)
Violence has broken out across Argentina as many vent their anger and frustration with high unemployment and a declining standard of living. Here's the story from Calvin Sims of the New York Times.

Big election Sunday in France (Thursday, 5/22/97)
Charles Trueheart of the Washington Post reports that the upcoming election in France may determine the country's role in Europe. The French welfare state is at stake, he says.

Plan to expand health care coverage for children goes down in the Senate (Thursday, 5/22/97)
First, an amendment that could have threatened the budget balance agreement was defeated in the House. Now, Eric Pianin of the Washington Post reports that a bipartisan plan to use an increase in cigarette taxes to support an expansion of health care coverage for American children was defeated. Members of both parties, including President Clinton, were concerned that it could also derail the budget balancer. Speaking of children, Stephen Barr of the Christian Science Monitor says that the child-care system for government employees needs more money.

Policy organization focuses on welfare-to-work issue (Thursday, 5/22/97)
The Policy Community On-line draws on various organizations and institutions from academe, business, government, and the non-profit sector and provides a forum on policy issues. This week, they're focusing on welfare-to-work.

Danish pension fund sells shares (Thursday, 5/22/97)
According to Borsen, the Danish pension fund PFA has decided that a dozen foreign companies have policies that are not in line with the PFA's ethical policy, so the fund has divested its holdings in the companies. PFA would not identify the companies.

More somber rumblings from North Korea (Thursday, 5/22/97)
From now on, the term "boat people" won't exclusively refer to people trying to get out of Southeast Asia many years ago. A similar stream of refugees from North Korea is beginning, and some are telling unsettling stories about how things are going in that greatly troubled country. Starvation is one thing, possible imminent attack on South Korea is another. The political and economic situation in North Korea is known to be highly unstable and has been since the death a few years ago of Kim Jong-il's father, who ruled the North with an iron hand for decades. Of particular concern are rumors that North Korea may have a nuclear capability. This, despite aging and largely obsolete conventional weapons, creates a highly anxious situation.

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a huge, modern, but highly congested city that lies close to the border with the North, within range of moderately capable missiles. If a second Korean war were to break out, there is little doubt about the ultimate result, but it could be a mess, nonetheless. Also, while Kim Jong-il, North Korea's leader, seems genuinely unstable and probably isn't trusted by the Chinese, no one is sure that China would not try to exploit the situation, given their growing economic and political influence in Asia. Here are stories from Reuters and the Korea Herald.

Portugeuse students upset about college finances (Thursday, 5/22/97)
Diario de Noticias reports that 2,000 students demonstrated at the parliament building in Portugal yesterday and clashed with police. They're protesting a bill to reorganize the way higher education is financed in the country.

Major report on small business in today's Wall Street Journal (Thursday, 5/22/97)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains an important section on workplace issues and focuses on small business. Many articles relevant to the new work world. Recommended.

Turkish unions oppose PM (Thursday, 5/22/97)
The leaders of several of Turkey's largest unions want the country's Prime Minister Erbakan removed from office. They say they will stage a large demonstration next month to express their disapproval of the PM's Islamic-leaning policies, according to Hurriyet.

Japan works to keep kids in school (Thursday, 5/22/97)
Kazunori Shibuya reports in today's Asahi Shimbun on efforts to prevent high school dropouts. Meanwhile, Abraham McLaughlin reports in today's Christian Science Monitor on how mentors are going on-line to help kids with their school work in the United States. Incidentally, we hear from lots of students ourselves, particularly university grads and undergrads from North America and abroad, and we try to help when we can.

Getting the hands in touch with one another (Thursday, 5/22/97)
With respect to immigration, does the right hand know what the left hand is doing? Howard Kleinberg of the Cox News Service asks the question and suggests some answers. Here's his commentary via this morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Spanish company denies reports of major staff reductions (Thursday, 5/22/97)
Expansion reported yesterday that Repsol intends to cut 4,000 jobs over the next four years. However, El Pais says this morning that the company is claiming that it will retire 2,000 employees between now and 2001, but also hire an additional 1,000.

House passes budget balancer (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the budget balancing agreement by a wide margin, but only after narrowly defeating an amendment that might have killed the deal. Speaking of budgets, the Russian government is moving ahead with plans to make across-the-board spending cuts.

Air Force seeks face-saving way out of mess involving its first female B-52 pilot (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Lt. Kelly Flinn's court martial has been delayed. Senate Majority Leader Lott gets involved, and Lt. Flinn's classmate is also being charged with adultery. Adultery is not a crime in civilian society in the United States.

Pilots strike forces Air France cutbacks (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Air France has had to reduce its schedule because of a strike by its pilots.

Agreement signed at Portuguese airline (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Unions representing TAP-Air Portugal's ground staff have reached agreement with management on a labor agreement extending through the year 2000. Among other things the new agreement will eliminate differences in the working conditions of two-thirds of the workforce. Meetings with pilots will be held today. Publico has the story.

Many Americans aren't saving (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
The company that produces Quicken, the popular financial management software, says a survey indicates that a third of Americans don't save. Overall, Americans save less than people in many other industrial democracies, which, among other things, has produced a different pattern of available capital for business investment in the U.S. For example, during the post-War period in Japan, where savings rates have been fairly high, much of business activity has been financed through bank loans.

Greek economists say the government must freeze wages and prices (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
A report from consulting economists employed by the Greek government says that Greece must limit public employee wages and government payroll costs while also bringing inflation down to 2.5 percent by the end of next year in order to qualify for membership in the European economic and monetary union, according to Kathimerini.

Mediator to settle Mitsubishi lawsuit (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Mitsubishi in the U.S. and women who have sued the company for sexual harassment have agreed to bring in a mediator, according to Reuters this morning. Here's the story from today's Washington Post as well.

The difference in math standards and the difference they may make (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Scott Baldauf writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about the dramatically different expectations different countries have for their math students, suggesting that, if you expect more, you may get it. U.S. students lag behind those in several others countries. Also in the Monitor today, major success stories in Native American higher education, and some reasons for immigrants to breath easier, for the moment. Finally, David Francis describes the new report on the economic impact of immigration in the U.S.

Want to know how much Danish judges make on the side? Forget it (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten reports that the Danish government has decided not to release information on how much judges earn from other work to the public. It will pass it on to a court committee, however.

What's next after Hong Kong? (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
After nearly a century and a half, Hong Kong will be returned by the British to China on July 1. Nearby Macao is administered by Portugal, and major changes are afoot there too, according to Todd Crowell's report. Also, the first freely elected president of the Republic of China has some thoughts about the changes in Asia. China does not regard Taiwan as an independent country and expects to reintegrate the island under mainland Chinese control before terribly long. China has been getting more assertive recently, in part because of its growing economic power. The country is expected to have the world's largest economy within a few years.

Italian government's left wing split (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Corriere della Sera says that the left wing of Italy's governing coalition isn't in agreement on pension reform.

What are Africa's prospects? (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Here's a look back at a report from the Club of Rome which predicted a prosperous Africa. Where do things stand now?

Businesses say they'll do their part (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Many major business leaders met at the White House to join the president's campaign to get people off welfare. One executive says, "it's up to us."

A look at productivity gains (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Jacob Mschlesinger writes in today's Wall Street Journal about why inflation has remained under control, despite pay increases. Also in the Journal today, Timothy Schellhardt says M.B.A.s are frightened because of canceled job offers, and Sue Shellenbarger and readers look at the pros and cons for working parents.

Who's indispensable? (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
No one, perhaps, but a look at pay levels provides some hints about what a free market economy thinks. Kathy Bergen writes for the Chicago Tribune.

Work life after AIDS (Wednesday, 5/21/97)
Here's Lynda Richardson's story about people who were planning their funerals but who are making career plans again. Also in the New York Times today, Louis Uchitelle says that the American economy is going to slow down without any additional help from the Fed, but it's not bad news.

New economic program approved in Russia (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Yeltsin supports the new round of economic reforms intending to fix the Russian economy. Many warn that the new program will be hard on most ordinary Russians.

Strike called off at Blaupunkt in Portugal (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Diario de Noticias reports this morning that workers at the Blaupunkt plant in Braga have suspended their strike after the local town promised to find jobs for many of the workers who are being fired by the company. The strike at the Grundig plant continues.

Continnental pilots not satisfied with offer (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
The company's offer wouldn't bring pilot pay up to industry standard, union says.

Senate to vote on child health provision (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Senators Kennedy and Hatch have been working from opposite sides of aisle in an attempt to broaden health care coverage for children. The provision will be offered as an amendment to the budget balancer and will come up for a vote in the Senate.

New conditions for trade agreements proposed (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Some members of Congress want to make labor standards a condition of renewal for some international trade agreements.

Barclays head gets new job (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
The CEO of Barclays Bank in the United Kingdom will head the new Labour government's task force on welfare benefits, according to today's Financial Times.

Wash your hands! Big brother knows (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Jon Auerbach writes in today's Wall Street Journal about a new device intended to prevent the spread of disease by restaurant employees. Here's the story from Newsday as well.

Effort to reduce work-related car accidents (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Lisa Miller reports in today's Wall Street Journal on "crash courses" for workers who drive. Also in the Journal today, Hal Lancaster tells about the mix of skills you'll need for a career in health care, and Hilary Stout shares some thoughts about President Clinton's welfare-to-work plan and how well it's working so far.

Jobs, not money offered by Nissan (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Nissan is in the car business and also in the insurance business. The latter isn't doing well, according to the Japan Times. Nissan Motors is offering jobs, not money, in an effort to help. Also in Japan, Asahi Shimbun reports on a settlement in a case of a man who became ill from overwork.

Spanish unions stick with pay demands (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
The leadership of Spain's largest unions say that the government's lower inflation goal of 2.2 percent won't change their minds on expected pay increases. The unions intend to continue pushing for a 2.6 percent raise, which is equivalent to the government's previous inflation goal. Expansion has the story today.

Here's real news: economist vindicated by facts (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Charles Stein writes in today's Boston Globe about how Harvard economist James Medoff's ideas don't seem so crazy now. He told the Fed that the U.S. economy could have both low unemployment and low inflation, which they apparently found amusing at first.

The advantages of dying old can be overestimated, particularly if you're unprepared (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
A new study says about half are saving for retirement. Also in Newsday this morning, Nordstrom is hiring on Long Island.

Arbitration more popular in workplace disputes (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
Francine Knowles reports in the Chicago Sun-Times on remarks by the National Academy of Arbitrators on aribitration as an alternative to lawsuits when workers and employers are in conflict.

Work life not the same as life (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
The Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility has a report on work-life strategies and their benefits for employers. Balance can pay off for everybody, according to this Minneapolis Star Tribune article. Also in the Strib today, Leonard Inskip tells about an apartment project and what it means for the homeless.

Uneducated doing better in Denmark (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
According to Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten today, increased employment in Denmark is helping those without high school diplomas. Faced with a tighter labor market, employers are more willing to hire non-graduates or those who have been unemployed for years.

Working families spending less in Korea (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
The South Korean economy has been slumping. Here's evidence from the expenditures of working families in urban areas, which are at a 12-year low, as well as an editorial on the change of spending habits and how some businesses have been affected. Both stories are from today's Korea Herald. Finally, the paper editorializes that Koreans have been spending more and more on private tutoring for their children. It may be time to reconsider, they say. In general, South Koreans have valued education greatly. One of the reasons the country has been able to move from being a very poor underdeveloped nation to one of the world's industrial leaders in only a few years is that it had a reservoir of well-educated people to fuel rapid development.

Bank hit with sex bias damages (Tuesday, 5/20/97)
A jury has awarded a woman $1.57 million in damages. She had sued the New York branch of Sweden's largest bank.

Defense Secretary says gender policy review might be a good idea (Monday, 5/19/97)
America's principal institutions tend to mirror trends and cross-currents in American society overall. The U.S. military culture, with respect to both formal policies and informal traditions and mores, seems to be a microcosm or even caricature of America in the 90s, so far as its attitudes toward sexuality are concerned. In recent years, a high degree of vulgarity, exploitation, and abuse have coexisted in the U.S. with a new puritanism coming from both the political right and left. The U.S. military has been in the news a great deal during recent months in ways that seem to reflect both of these larger societal trends, with new stories pushing old ones off the front page almost weekly. For months, the principal stories have been about sexual misconduct in the military, apparently reflecting a predatory attitude toward women. At the moment, the top story seems to be about the nation's first female B-52 pilot and her effort to avoid court-martial on adultery charges, something that is not illegal in civilian society. Here's the story about the Defense Secretary's comments from Reuters this morning.

Several labor contract settlements this spring (Monday, 5/19/97)
It's turning out to be a better spring on the labor scene than many had expected, according to James Tyson of the Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Scott Baldauf reports on a shift in student aid, while Claire Gaudiani says some of the changes are in the wrong direction. Also, Lawrence Goodrich looks at the dollars & cents implications of the balanced budget agreement. What's it going to mean to individuals and families? Finally, an editorial on the need to move ahead on welfare reform. Also, the Washington Post feels that President Clinton is right in tying the minimum wage to workfare.

U.S. slipping behind on "distance learning," prof says (Monday, 5/19/97)
Jack Gregg says that many Americans may soon be getting a lot of their higher education from other parts of the world.

Hong Kong schools get ready for July 1 (Monday, 5/19/97)
Hong Kong returns to Chinese control on July 1. How will the schools be affected? Here's a Washington Post story about education on the eve of an historic transition. Also, Rene Sanchez and Sue Anne Pressley have more on the decline in minority admissions at American colleges. Karen Arenson has the same story for the New York Times.

Help in getting organized (Monday, 5/19/97)
An entrepreneur will help you reduce the clutter.

Employment in nonprofit organizations (Monday, 5/19/97)
A lot of people for in the nonprofit sector. For instance, here's the employment breakdown in Long Island.

Taking a close look at a buyout offer (Monday, 5/19/97)
If an employer makes you an offer, be sure it's one you can't refuse, or, at least, look at it closely, according to experts.

Good spring for college grads (Monday, 5/19/97)
New graduates are finding a good job market out there. Remember, student loan payments begin a few months after you start that new job. For many people, they'll end after you're in a new stage of life.

Uproar at Harvard (Monday, 5/19/97)
A young female professor has not been granted tenure at Harvard, which, in itself, may not be news. However, the controversy is. Incidentally, among those denied tenure at Harvard was astronomer Carl Sagan who went on to Cornell and a brilliant career.

President emphasizes education in budget deal (Sunday, 5/18/97)
President Clinton wants Congress to pass the balanced budget agreement into law. Says it means the biggest boost for education in decades.

Hiding out at work (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley writes in today's Washington Post about Arlie Russell Hochschild's new book, in which she tells why many parents put work ahead of parenting. Here's a look at the same book by Victoria Griffith via Newsday.

Immigrants benefit American economy (Sunday, 5/18/97)
A new study finds that immigration is good for the American economy overall. Here's the story from the Washington Post and the New York Times. Moreover, immigrants move to home ownership quickly.

Kidpreneurs Konference not all child's play (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Children learn about the realities of business with the help of Black Enterprise magazine..

Governors respond to Administration's workfare minimum wage rules (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Both Republican and Democratic governors from several states are agreeing that having to pay workfare workers minimum wage will make it harder for them to implement welfare reform.

Helping people have good hair days (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Here's a look at the work of a hair stylist from Lisa Doll. Also, Carrie Mason-Draffen advises a correspondent on how to find information about careers, and Patricia Kitchen tells how Barbara Sher helps people make their career dreams into realities.

Making networking work, painlessly (Sunday, 5/18/97)
In their "Job Talk" column, Dale Dauten and Mark Nelson chat about networking, and we can "listen" in. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, nationally syndicated columnist George Will discusses conservatives and the inheritance tax. Some are re-thinking it.

Labour's new plans for the Post Office (Sunday, 5/18/97)
The previous Conservative government in Britain had been considering selling the postal system, but Tony Blair's Labour government has decided that "privatizing" can go too far. However, as an alternative, they plan to give the Post Office more freedom to compete. Here's the story from today's London Times.

Russia's "bread index" (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Bread can tell about what's happening in the new Russia. Michael Gordon writes in today's New York Times about Russia's underground economy.

Happy graduation. Here's your bill (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Starting life as a grad with nearly $110,000 in student loans can make life, well, interesting. Roy Furchgott tells one's grad's story. Given the enormous debts some students are building up, the student loan payment might have to replace the house payment for years to come. It all seems a little unstable, given that one can still obtain an excellent education for nothing at the public library, and also that a major portion of history's most influential intellectual leaders have not attended college at all. Reality may begin to set in soon. If it does, we'll let you know.

What on earth is "negative election?" (Sunday, 5/18/97)
Sana Siwolop writes about companies that are automatically enrolling employees in 401(k) plans. Also, Fred Brock tells about Marlys Harris article in Money which offers advice to boomers who don't want to be bust at retirement. Finally, David Cay Johnston tells about how pensions can disappear and what can be done to prevent it.

Strikes costly at GM (Saturday, 5/17/97)
General Motors says that strikes in Oklahoma and Michigan have cost the company about $225 million.

Federal mediator wanted at Continental (Saturday, 5/17/97)
Continental Airlines and its pilots need help to reach a deal.

U.S. House approves job training legislation (Saturday, 5/17/97)
A new bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives would combine many job-training programs into block grants for states to handle. Here's the story from Reuters, the Washington Post, and Newsday.

More on the minimum wage for workfare (Saturday, 5/17/97)
Barbara Vobejda reports on the Clinton Administration's insistence that workfare be covered by the federal minimum wage. States are saying that this would make it difficult to get some people off welfare. For instance, here's the New York Times story about Governor Pataki's criticisms. New York has the largest welfare program in the United States.

Congressional pensions too generous? (Saturday, 5/17/97)
Stephen Barr reports on a move to scale back pensions for Members of Congress.

Medicare payments may go up more than originally thought (Saturday, 5/17/97)
The balanced budget agreement reached by the White House and Congress will result in higher Medicare payments than estimated a couple of weeks ago. Judith Havemann has the story this morning.

Reports of corruption in the Ukraine draw recommendations from Clinton (Saturday, 5/17/97)
President Clinton is urging the Ukraine to accelerate the process of economic reform in that country. Reports of corruption have made outside investors feel insecure.

Doubts about structural reforms in Japan (Saturday, 5/17/97)
The once mighty Japanese economy has been struggling lately, and the Japanese government is trying to do something about it. However, some are skeptical about the likelihood that plans for structural reforms will have the effects intended. Here's the story from today's Japan Times.

Clinton up against high odds in getting new NAFTA authority (Friday, 5/16/97)
President Clinton would like to expand NAFTA, but he needs new trade authority to do it. The odds seem against his getting it. The President and Congressional Republicans have finalized a budget balancing agreement, though.

Health risk tied to low income jobs (Friday, 5/16/97)
Working in demanding, low-pay jobs may increase a man's risk of heart attack, according to a new study.

Transportation hit by strikes in France (Friday, 5/16/97)
Les Echos reports that the strike by national train ticket inspectors continues, and Air France pilots intend to strike next week to protest working conditions and salaries.

Talks continue in German construction industry (Friday, 5/16/97)
Construction workers and German construction companies are talking in an effort to head off strikes. The main sticking points now seem to be sick pay and wages in eastern Germany. The last time there was a strike in the German construction industry was 1950.

Minority admissions down in American colleges (Friday, 5/16/97)
Daniel Sneider writes in today's Christian Science Monitor that minority college admissions have dropped sharply after a curtailment of affirmative action programs.

The latest news from Estonia, where things have changed dramatically (Friday, 5/16/97)
The end of the cold war and the collapse of the Soviet Union has provided a different climate for economic development, and Estonia has been benefiting.

Janitors' strike ends (Friday, 5/16/97)
Frank Swoboda and Maryann Haggerty report on the end of a strike in Washington, D. C.. Also in the Washington Post this morning, Barbara Vobejda tells about a General Accounting Office report on cuts to state welfare rolls, and columnist William Raspberry writes about concerns with the census and new racial categories.

Getting by in Iowa (Friday, 5/16/97)
Christopher Georges writes in today's Wall Street Journal about how people are getting by after leaving welfare in Iowa, and John Harwood reports that lawmakers in several large states still disagree about the best ways to implement welfare reform.

Billionaires fewer in number (Friday, 5/16/97)
The number of billionaires in Japan decreased last year. A reason: the Japanese real estate market isn't booming anymore.

Concern with nursing staffing in Boston (Friday, 5/16/97)
Alex Pham reports in today's Boston Globe that some are concerned with the quality of care because of nursing staffing levels. Also in the Globe, Diane E. Lewis writes about retiement fund fraud in Massachusetts, while Greg Gordon and Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on a pension fraud indictment in the Twin Cities. A nationwide investigation is going on.

Republican bill held up (Friday, 5/16/97)
Congressional Republicans would like to see a bill passed that would give workers a choice of time off rather than overtime pay. Democrats have blocked the bill in Congress.

State money in exchange for jobs (Friday, 5/16/97)
Price Waterhouse will receive New York state grants in exchange for a promise of jobs in Manhattan.

Administration wants workfare covered by minimum wage laws (Friday, 5/16/97)
Jason DeParle reports in today's New York Times on what is likely to be a continuing controversy for a while.

Adjusting attitudes for success (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Shelley Donald Coolidge writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about what new graduates will need for success in the new work world. Meanwhile, in K-12 education, poor and minority students lack a key element of what they will need to succeed--access to computers. Here's Rene Sanchez' report in the Washington Post on the Educational Testing Service's new study.

Consumer spending slows, unemployment declines in Portugal (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Diario Economico reports that consumer spending seems to be declining, even though the Portuguese economy is expanding. Joblessness was down in the last quarter of last year.

Australia's state of Victoria improving its economic condition (Thursday, 5/15/97)
The Australian state in which the city of Melbourne is located is having better times. Employment is growing. New policies, including widespread budget cuts and "privatizing," are credited by many with the improvement, but unions aren't necessarily happy. Here's the story from today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in Australia, today's Sydney Morning Herald reports that budget cuts will result in fee increases at child care facilities, producing many more "latchkey kids," according to critics. The Morning Herald also reports on a possible revolt of unemployed workers in China.

British PM presents plan to overhaul the UK welfare state (Thursday, 5/15/97)
The new Labour government in Britain is studying ways to modernize the social security system and reduce costs, according to all major British papers today.

New head of Swiss Employers' Federation (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Fritz Blaser becomes the new president of a major Swiss organization influencing employment policy in the country.

Greek PM urges union cooperation (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Greek Prime Minister Simitis urges labor unions to cooperate more in the development of labor market reforms that could increase flexibility and encourage economic expansion by making Greek industries more competitive. He thinks unions have been defending their current privileges too much at the expense of the country as a whole, according to Naftmeboriki and other Greek papers today.

Police in labor conflict with Danish government (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Politiken reports today that a number of Danish police officers apparently called in sick as a protest against policies involving a lot of overtime work. Public servants are legally prohibited from engaging in work stoppages, so the government says it will prosecute officers who call in sick when they're not.

Unemployment up in Israel (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Israeli unemployment increased by 3.3. percent in April, according to Ma'ariv. Joblessness in the country is now at the highest level since early 1994.

Sleeping on the job good for business? (Thursday, 5/15/97)
Newsday's Maggie Jackson reports that scholars are saying that a nap can make you more productive.

Settlement at GM in Ohio (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
A 24-hour strike seems to be over in Ohio. Also, Chrysler says its earnings have been hurt by the strike there.

Compaq will be hiring (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
The Wall Street Journal reports that Compaq Computer Corporation plans to hire 2,000 sales people. Here's the story via Reuters this morning, which also reports on job cuts at a big supermarket company.

Record deportations during first quarter of this year (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
A record number of illegal immigrants have been sent out of the country so far this year.

How's the "don't ask, don't tell" policy working? Don't ask (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Some are alleging that the military is asking anyway. An investigation is underway.

Strike in Portugal (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Publico reports that 2,000 workers are protesting layoffs at Grundig/Blaupunkt. Five-hundred workers have already been laid off. Another hundred or so are planned, according to company announcements. Workers are threatening a hunger strike.

Turkish workers lock themselves in petroleum refinery (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Workers at Atas Rafinerileri are protesting an unresolved contract dispute. Atas Rafinerileri is Turkey's only private sector refinery, according to Hurriyet.

Swedish parties want Riksbank to fight unemployment (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Dagens Industri reports that the Social Democratic Party and the Center Party are holding talks that could lead to the Riksbank's lowering interest rates in order to encourage growth and employment in Sweden.

Talks on employment policy open in Greece (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Representatives of the Greek government will begin talks with labor unions and business organizations today on changing Greek employment regulations, according to Naftmeboriki.

Texaco stockholders interested in diversity (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Sharon Walsh reports that diversity is much discussed at the first annual meeting since the big discrimination lawsuit was settled.

Lawsuits over defectors (Wednesday, 5/14/97)
Michelle Singletary writes in today's Washington Post about lawsuits over employee loyalty.

South Korea fears exodus from the north (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
This time the large number of "boat people" could be coming from North Korea, according to Reuters this morning. Defection of families could be a signal, according to Seoul's Korea Herald. Also in South Korea today, pay for foreign workers is on an upswing.

Talks at Continental Airlines to shift in the direction of money (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
Pilots and Continental have been talking about lesser issues, but are now expected to get around to pay and benefits. Also, pilots at Delta Airlines want a raise, and that company's CEO suddenly retires. In other labor news. General Motors is hit with a third strike.

Entrepreneurship less popular among displaced executives (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
Challenger, Gray & Christmas says more former executives are looking for a job rather than trying to start their own businesses. One reason may be that entrepreneurs and managers tend to be made out of somewhat different stuff. Many entrepreneurs who are good at starting businesses turn out not to be too good at managing them once they're going. Likewise, most managers probably don't have the necessary attributes for successful entrepreneurship.

Supremes turn down another appeal on "don't ask, don't tell" policy (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to get involved in an appeal involving gays in the military.

Most young Danes not covered by accident insurance (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
Politiken reports that many Danish family misunderstand what their household insurance covers and what it doesn't. Two-thirds of children under 18 aren't insured against accidents, according to a Danish insurance association.

Hours shortened in Portugal (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
A new law has gone into effect in Portugal that limits the work week to 40 hours. As a consequence, 600,000 workers have had their work week reduced, according to the leader of a major trade union federation. Diario de Noticias has the story today.

Labor Department wants states to change eligibility for unemployment insurance (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. Department of Labor wants the states to expand unemployment insurance coverage to part-time workers and those who quit their jobs. Business tends not to like the idea because it would cost employers additional unemployment taxes.

Talks on labor market reform in Greece (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
According to Imerisia, talks are about to begin between labor representatives and the Greek government on making the Greek labor market more flexible. However, labor unions are split on what issues should be included in the talks.

Affirmative action may not be rolling back so much as thought in California (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
Linda Feldmann reports in today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, David Francis reports on Congressional committee hearings on possibly reducing estate taxes.

Black entrepreneurs facing more resistance? (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
The growth of black-owned businesses in the United States has slowed, according to the Washington Post.

Professor offers work survival advice (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
In her Chicago Tribune column this time, Carol Kleiman tells about a professor who knows the real world of work, and is guiding students who will have to spend their lives in that world.

More on the concept of "living wage" (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
Robert Jordan writes in today's Boston Globe about the evolving concept of "living wage". Also, Juliet Brudney writes about the Program for Women in Politics and Government, and Diane Lewis says that a wholesale grocer in Vermont has lost a big age bias suit.

Russian population continues to shrink (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
Bronwyn McLaren writes for the St. Petersburg Times about what could become a demographic crisis in Russia. However, experts disagree on how serious it is at this point.

Workfare recipients to get a raise (Tuesday, 5/13/97)
A New York judge has ruled in their favor, according to the New York Times. The city's math has been off, she says.

Booming tech job market (Monday, 5/12/97)
Strongest in a decade, according to Investor's Business Daily. Hi-tech added 240,000 jobs to the American economy last year, says the American Electronics Association. About 60% of those were in software and computer-related services. About 30% were in manufacturing. There are 4.3 million hi-tech jobs in the United States now, according to the report.

Finalist for most unpopular place in the world (Monday, 5/12/97)
North Korea has been one of the most regimented societies on earth for decades, and now has a catastrophic economy as well, including famine. People are trying to get out when they can. There aren't too many easy possibilities, but many continue to make the attempt. Here's the latest from Reuters this morning.

Danes extend unemployment program (Monday, 5/12/97)
Berlingske Tidende reports that the Danish government will widen the qualifying age for young people who have been unemployed and collecting welfare payments for 13 weeks. The program requires affected young people to accept jobs or training. The extension still has to be passed by the Danish parliament.

Labour government plans big welfare changes (Monday, 5/12/97)
The new Labour government in the United Kingdom plans the "biggest welfare changes in 50 years," according to London's Financial Times this morning. Here's the story from the Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile, as the parliamentary campaign continues in France, Alain Juppe says the RPR would lower social security contributions. The story is reported in Les Echos and other French papers today.

One-day strike scheduled at Renault in Belgium (Monday, 5/12/97)
According to La Libre Belgique, workers at Renault intend to hold a one-day strike to protest plans to close the company's plant at Vilvoorde.

Austrian evangelist critical of asylum law (Monday, 5/12/97)
Gertraud Knoll says that a new law making it harder for immigrants to seek asylum in Austria is "cowardly." He was also critical of efforts by the far-right Freedom Party to align itself more closely with Christian groups. Knoll feels that all church groups and political parties should keep their distance from one another.

Good pay, but hard work (Monday, 5/12/97)
Here's Kirstin Downey Grimsley's story in the Washington Post this morning about UPS drivers, who have to stay in shape. Meanwhile, Newsday's Patricia Kitchen tells how to do just that.

Be careful in the new Russia (Monday, 5/12/97)
Life in the new Russia can be dangerous. Incidentally, what are all those tough guys who used to work for the Soviet government doing for a living now? Also in the Washington Post today, Kasparov sings the deep blues, as hi-tech makes him feel a little less needed in his line of work. However, Bart Ziegler writes in today's Wall Street Journal and attempts to reassure: IBM's computer playing champion is still the product of primates, he says. Does it mean the end of chess, and what's next? How about your job?

Mrs. Vice-President comments on removing workplace barriers (Monday, 5/12/97)
Here are Tipper Gore's thoughts about the EEOC's new guidelines on workers with psychiatric illnesses.

Organization helps would-be interns and employers get together (Monday, 5/12/97)
Newsday's Claudia Gryvatz Copquin writes about Real World Internships. You can also get more information at the company's own web site.

Summit about women at the summit (Monday, 5/12/97)
Katti Gray of Newsday reports on the New York governor's two-day meeting .

Using the phone to communicate over a few feet at 35,000 feet (Monday, 5/12/97)
On board telephone service is growing for business travelers, and a fellow passenger may be calling. Given the rates, though, it's not for long, friendly chats. Speaking of technology, Max Frankel thinks the medium really is the message.

Community service as a route to a job (Monday, 5/12/97)
Peter Kilborn of the New York Times tells how volunteer work helps some people position themselves for paying jobs while getting the necessary support to make the transition.

Some thoughts on mothers (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post writes about mothers who are working to hold their families together.

Flex time bill moving through Congress (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Congressional Republicans favor the bill. It's passed the House.

Organizing in the strawberry fields (Sunday, 5/11/97)
The Washington Post's William Claiborne reports on how immigrant farm workers are trying to walk in the footsteps of Cesar Chavez.

Another type of job to consider (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Newsday's Lisa Doll describes the work life and job prospects of employee benefits managers.

You're fired, Honey (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Mark Nelson, in his "Job Talk" column, advises a correspondent who is in an unusual situation, or, at least, we think it's unusual.

An analysis of Mayor Giuliani's approach to helping immigrants (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Celia Dugger of the New York Times asks if the mayor's approach is the best way. He wants the city of New York to spend $12 million on a program to help immigrants become citizens.

White House rejects Texas plan to privatize social services (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Sam Howe Verhovek reports that the Clinton Administration agrees with unions and others that the administration of many social services should not be contracted out to corporations. However, Republican George Bush says Texas will go ahead with part of the plan anyway. Incidentally, this is not the former president, but he may be a future president. George is Texas governor at the moment, and, so far as we know, has no plans to jump out of an airplane. His father did jump; he wasn't pushed.

Vacation time shrinking (Sunday, 5/11/97)
The paid vacation is under siege in the new economy, according to Leah Beth Ward's New York Times report.

Gender styles in the job search process (Sunday, 5/11/97)
Men and women go about the process of finding a job in different ways, and they could learn from each other, according to this New York Times report.

Ratification at Chrysler (Saturday, 5/10/97)
A month-long strike at Chrysler ends. In other auto industry labor news, Ford is accused of unfair hiring practices.

Flowers for Mother's Day called into question (Saturday, 5/10/97)
The flower industry has become international too, and labor leaders are saying that some flowers are produced under conditions hazardous to workers.

Big drop in welfare caseloads (Saturday, 5/10/97)
The welfare rolls have been declining significantly, and a booming economy is part of the reason. However, state policies also play a role, says Reuters. Here's the story from the Washington Post as well. Incidentally, a commentator in the Minneapolis Star Tribune calls for people to use welfare reform as an opportunity to be creative and "reinvent" themselves.

Outsourcing in the military (Saturday, 5/10/97)
Some of the military's traditional jobs are being contracted out.

Still the land of opportunity? (Saturday, 5/10/97)
There are an awfully lot of immigrants in the United States, and some are finding it harder to get ahead, or even keep up.

Administration puts the brakes on privatization (Saturday, 5/10/97)
Barbara Vobejda reports in today's Washington Post that the Clinton Administration tells the states to cool it on contracting out many social services. Also in the Post today, the story of Bulgaria's disastrous effort to avoid the discomforts of economic "shock therapy" in the post-Communist era.

Look who's still collecting pensions in Germany (Saturday, 5/10/97)
The German government says, yes, checks are still being sent out to SS veterans and war criminals. Also in the New York Times today, Joe Sexton says immigrants are unsure what to believe about benefits. What? The government has people confused? How can that be?

Clinton delivers message to Central American leaders (Friday, 5/9/97)
No mass deportations, Clinton says, but no amnesty either.

Pension fund shortfall in Portugal (Friday, 5/9/97)
Publico reports that Electricidade de Portugal SA, which is in the process of being privatized, has a 15 billion escudos shortfall in the its pension fund. There have been a number of recent tribunal rulings in favor of retired workers. The workers had objected to the company's decision to change the way payments are calculated. They wanted to be consulted.

Slow grow or Fed action, Greenspan says (Friday, 5/9/97)
Fed Head Greenspan expects the American economy to slow down a bit, but, if it doesn't, the Fed is ready to take more action.

The cost of student loans in Denmark (Friday, 5/9/97)
Danish taxpayers are still paying about 200 million kroner per year to cover interest and unpaid student loans from a program that ended in 1989, according to Politiken this morning.

R&D people most likely to be laid off? (Friday, 5/9/97)
The current edition of Business Week reports on a study of nervous managers. Among the findings: managers in corporate research and development are most vulnerable to layoff. Also, Biz Week's cover story this time asks how long the super strong American economy can last. Extensive analysis with lots of data on employment, whose earnings are increasing, and so on. Incidentally, Alexandra Marks of the Christian Science Monitor reports that the booming American economy is helping American cities come back.

No change in jobless rate last week (Friday, 5/9/97)
Here's a story on the latest employment data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Gore speaks to CEOs at Gates' summit (Friday, 5/9/97)
The American Vice-President tells CEOs they should emphasize the identification and development of talent, which probably hasn't occurred to them (!!). Bill Gates called the meeting, and when Bill calls, even the Vice-President shows up. As head of the most influential company in the most important industry in the world, Gates may be regarded as sort of the "CEO of the CEOs." About a hundred top corporate executives have joined the meeting in the Seattle area where Bill grew up and from which Microsoft runs the world, er, conducts its business. We think it's interesting that Bill thought it was important that they get together face-to-face, rather than using technology to communicate. Apparently, he thinks that, despite the tech wonders, there's nothing quite like eye contact and pressing the flesh.

Defense says it will examine racism charges thoroughly (Friday, 5/9/97)
Allegations of racism have arisen in connection with a sexual harassment scandal in the military.

Shut up, Sir! (Friday, 5/9/97)
La Repubblica reports that the head of the Cgil union in Italy says that the Italian Prime Minister shouldn't talk so much about plans to change the country's pension system.

Some reflections on the eve of Mother's Day (Friday, 5/9/97)
The Christian Science Monitor's James Tyson writes about the large movement of American women into the workforce and why a woman's work still is never done. Also, Shelley Donald Coolidge suggests a contract with the boss on kids and work.

Contrasting stories from the Korean peninsula (Friday, 5/9/97)
Here are stories from Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan about North Koreans fleeing to Russia to find work, and misery, as conditions worsen in their own country. Meanwhile, in South Korea, one politician says the economic outlook for his country is "poor," but it's all relative. North Korea's economy is catastrophic, while South Korea's is one of the largest in the world.

Hong Kong leaders say thanks, but no thanks to American Republicans (Friday, 5/9/97)
Hong Kong's leaders believe that a plan by Congressional Republicans in the United States could backfire.

Investment fund for minorities (Friday, 5/9/97)
Maggie Jackson reports in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that the company that owns Black Enterprise magazine is putting up $11 million to get things started.

Clinton says NAFTA is nifty, should be expanded (Thursday, 5/8/97)
President Clinton would like to see free trade expanded throughout the Americas. However, Allen Myerson of the New York Times says low-wage American workers have been losing jobs to Mexico, while Molly Moore and Peter Baker of the Washington Post say Clinton is finding two Mexicos on his trip. Of course, there are two Americas back home too.

Chrysler deal not a done deal, instead a bad deal, according to some in the UAW (Thursday, 5/8/97)
Some in the United Auto Workers are campaigning for workers to reject the tentative agreement.

CEOs make pilgrimage to Seattle (Thursday, 5/8/97)
What do you take as an offering if you're a CEO and have been called to the mountaintop to talk to Bill Gates? Incidentally, entrepreneurs are nervous about Microsoft, and Borland is angry about its hiring practices. They've filed suit.

Survey sez...layoffs down (Thursday, 5/8/97)
American corporations have been laying off workers at the lowest rate in years, according to a new study. Incidentally, U.S. productivity was also up during the first quarter of 1997.

AFL-CIO's Sweeney doesn't like the budget deal (Thursday, 5/8/97)
It's unfair to American workers, Sweeney says. Also, nationally syndicated columnist George Will has had some time to think about it, and George doesn't like it much either. Indecisive, he says.

Medicare budget battle looms, health care people get ready (Thursday, 5/8/97)
Many in the American health care industry are not happy about what will happen to Medicare because of the new budget deal, and they're not intending to be quiet about it.

Italian Communists dislike prime minister's reform plans (Thursday, 5/8/97)
La Repubblica reports this morning that Italy's Communist party opposes Prime Minister Prodi's plans for reforming the country's social security system. The party supports the prime minister's coalition and he depends on them for a majority in Italy's lower house, so what the Communists think is important to him.

Companies to hire fewer workers this year in Korea (Thursday, 5/8/97)
According to the Korea Economic Daily, South Korean corporations expect to hire 30 percent fewer new workers this year, compared to 1996. The once hot South Korean economy has been struggling a bit lately. Incidentally, Kevin Platt of the Christian Science Monitor writes that deep concern about instability in North Korea is influencing thinking about food aid and possible unity. Also, Michael Baker writes about South Korea's increasing democratization.

A major success story (Thursday, 5/8/97)
Christina Nifong of the Christian Science Monitor writes about Elaine Chao's road to success and what has made a difference. Also, Cynthia La Ferle looks back at when a woman's place was in the home. In a recent speech, columnist Ellen Goodman said that welfare reform apparently means that there is now bipartisan agreement that a woman's place in the workplace. Also, here's a story about women as equals, as well as a story about minority opposition to having a medical-waste incinerator put in their neighborhood, as well as one about how some in Congress don't like the Census Bureau's plans to use sampling procedures next time around.

Slavery in South Carolina (Thursday, 5/8/97)
Labor contractors plead guilty.

One ending, another beginning (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
Chrysler and the UAW apparently settle, while UPS pilots vote to strike. Also, US Airways lays off more than 100 pilots plus other crew, while Bell Atlantic and Nynex deny reports that they intend to lay off 10,000 workers.

States struggle with welfare reform, with varying results (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
Daniel Sneider reports on how things are going in California, while Jason DeParle presents a New York Times report on Wisconsin's experience.

Aid has strings attached (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
The U.S. and South Korea will provide large scale food assistance to North Korea if they agree to begin peace talks.

Changes in federal affirmative action programs (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
The Justice Department changes the rules. Also, in a Washington Post commentary, Owen Fiss says that even affirmative action's friends are divided.

Downsizing at the Fed (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
The American Federal Reserve thinks it can get along with fewer workers. Some will be offered early retirement.

Layoffs main campaign issue in France (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
La Tribune reports that employee layoffs has become a key issue in the legislative campaign now underway in the country.

Italian prime minister wants reforms (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
According to Corriere della Sera today, Italian Prime Minister Prodi is calling for a revision of the welfare system and also of pensions in order to make it "inconvenient" to take earlier retirement.

Deal rejected at Forges de Clabecq (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
Bankrupt Belgian steelmaker Forges de Clabecq SA reached an agreement with some workers representatives and representatives of the Belgian government, but workers have rejected it in a secret ballot. A majority of 55.7 percent voted against the deal, according to Le Soir.

The view from former Secretary Reich (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
David Francis writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about how things look now to Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor in the first Clinton Administration. Also, Marshall Ingwerson reviews David Remnick's book on the new Russia's struggle to find itself, John Hughes reports that democracy is a growth industry, but not yet a monopoly, James McGovern thinks Pell Grants should be raised to $5,000, and here's a story on the hard part--the sequel to the budget deal reached last week by President Clinton and Congressional leaders.

Business people have advice for the German economy (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
Germany rose from the ashes of World War II to build one of the world's most powerful and influential economies. It's still the largest in Europe, so many things, probably including the common currency, can't happen without Germany's participation. However, the country has been struggling too, first with the enormous costs of reunification, and also in its effort--not yet very far along--to move from an old industrial age economy to a member of the new global information economy. William Drozdiak reports for the Washington Post. Also in the Post today, the AFT chooses a new leader.

Togetherness at work (Wednesday, 5/7/97)
Ann Carrns writes in today's Wall Street Journal that information isn't the only thing that fits into smaller spaces now. Workers are finding that their spaces are getting smaller too.

Clinton to chat with Mexican leaders (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
President Clinton is visiting Mexico. On his mind: illegal immigration, NAFTA, and various other things.

Labour government more receptive to EU (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
The former Conservative government in the UK had a stormy relationship with the European Union. Tony Blair's Labour government is fixing to change the atmosphere over the channel.

Pilots agree to contract at American (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
American Airlines pilots have ratified a new five-year agreement. Also, Frank Swoboda and Don Phillips of the Washington Post report that US Airways wants to cut labor costs and is promising "operational changes." In other labor news, Bell Atlantic and NYNEX plan more layoffs, Davidson Aluminum & Metal Corporation begins hiring permanent replacements at their Deer Park plant, and Carol Kleiman writes in today's Chicago Tribune that women now make up a far larger proportion of union membership than previously.

He wants to reduce the capital gains tax quite a Lott (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
The Senate Majority Leader says the new budget balancing deal with the White House isn't specific about how what will happen to capital gains taxes. Senator Lott would like to see the rate set at less than 20 percent. He would also like to see a major overhaul of the American tax system generally within the next few years. Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes this morning that this would be a good time to fix the Consumer Price Index. It would help make the budget balancing deal really work, they say.

Americans haphazard about savings (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
A new survey says most Americans lack a strategy for savings. Overall, Americans tend to save less than people in most other industrial countries.

New agency to help immigrants in New York (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
New York City's mayor wants to set up a mechanism to help immigrants become citizens. Also in the New York Times today, John Broder reports on the Clinton Administration's change of tactics on race-based preferences.

End-of-life care not quite what many believe (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
Older Americans aren't as likely to get expensive care at the end of their lives as is commonly believed, according to a new study.

German unemployment may be down more than thought previously (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
Boersen-Zeitung is reporting that "sources in Bonn" are saying that German unemployment is likely to have fallen to 4.29 million in April. Previous reports had said that 4.34 million remain jobless in the country.

Belgian steelmaker to distribute shares to workers (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
According to L'Echo, Cockerill Sambre SA will distribute 100 special share to each of its workers. The shares will entitle the workers to dividends from earnings in 1996 and 1997, but won't have voting rights. Workers won't have access to shareholders meetings either.

No fun being a domestic worker in the Middle East (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
Edward Yeranian of the Christian Science Monitor reports on the exploitation and abuse of servants in the Middle East.

More on reported gender bias at L.A.P.D. (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
Lou Cannon reports for the Washington Post, which also has a story today on a retirement plan for hard-working dogs.

Coming up short on retirement funding? (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
Jonathan Clements writes in today's Wall Street Journal about some ways to supplement your retirement income when your savings run low. Also, Christopher Georges and Laurie McGinley report that many health care organizations are accepting the inevitability of Medicare cuts.

Made in the USA, sort of (Tuesday, 5/6/97)
Donna Abu-Nasr writes in the Boston Globe about union dissatisfaction with proposed rules for the use of the "Made in USA" label.

Wheels could still come off budget balance deal (Monday, 5/5/97)
President Clinton and Congressional leaders have reached agreement on a plan intended to wipe out the federal deficit by 2002, but it's all based on unrealistic assumptions about the economy, some experts say. Speaker Gingrich expects Conservatives in the House to support the deal, and one reason may be Clinton's apparent willingness to accept a cut in capital gains taxes by up to a fifth. Incidentally, both Republicans and Democrats are concerned about the major entitlements.

If you're a CEO, you may have gotten a raise last year (Monday, 5/5/97)
Forbes magazine reports that pay for corporate chiefs was up almost a quarter last year.

Greenspan: economy okay, despite personal bankruptcies (Monday, 5/5/97)
Personal bankruptcies are up in the United States, but Fed Head Greenspan thinks the economy is doing pretty nicely. James Toedtman of Newsday has some thoughts about the cryptic but enormously influential Greenspan and what may really be on his mind at the moment.

Police want commissioner to resign (Monday, 5/5/97)
The Star reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union in South Africa wants the National Police Commissioner to resign because they feel that he has not implemented affirmative action in the police force. Also, Business Day reports that the South African Agricultural Union says the employment bill will reduce job opportunities in agriculture because it will increase labor costs at a time when agriculture's profit margins are under pressure.

Vote `too close to call'' at bankrupt Belgium steel company (Monday, 5/5/97)
Workers at Forges de Clabecq SA will vote tomorrow on an agreement negotiated by the steel company, government, and trade unions. The company is bankrupt and intends to close. The agreement would offer 355 early retirements out of 1,700 workers, who would be given priority among the steel maker's creditors, according to La Libre Belgique.

Unemployment decreasing in Germany, but not as fast as before (Monday, 5/5/97)
Welt am Sonntag reports that German unemployment declined in April, but not by as much as in March. Germany's economy is the largest in Europe, and it has been suffering near-record unemployment levels, with 4.34 million still jobless.

Impact of Labour victory reverberates through an increasingly global political and economic system (Monday, 5/5/97)
According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Germany's Social Democrats are trying to learn from Tony Blair's victory in the United Kingdom what it might take for a traditionally left-of-center party to win a major election in Europe now. Gail Russell Chaddock of the Christian Science Monitor reports that some French politicians are also studying the Labour victory in the UK. Also, Alexander MacLeod says that, while major change from patterns established by the Tories should not be expected in some areas, real change in others is on the horizon as Tony Blair moves into, er, No 11 Downing (?) and attempts to build his own special role. Here's today's Washington Post editorial on the ascendancy of Britain's youngest Prime Minister since 1812. Finally, Japan doesn't expect major changes in its relations with Britain, according to today's Japan Times. Incidentally, Osaka is releasing guidelines for hiring non-Japanese.

Top American university for the 21st century? (Monday, 5/5/97)
California's Stanford University has been gaining on Harvard and others in the stature sweepstakes. For instance, for a number of years, Stanford has had what has been widely regarded as the best psychology department in the world. Incidentally, while things like this are important in the research and post-graduate education areas, they are far less important for undergraduate education. You still have access to the majority of history's best teachers at the public library for nothing, and, if you choose to emphasize genuine education at the expense of so-called "credentials," you'll have a lot of distinguished company. For instance, one of the most influential intellectual figures of the 19th century was Herbert Spencer, whose books were used as textbooks in a variety of disciplines at Oxford, Harvard, and many other major universities. There is no record of Spencer's ever having attended school, and, before becoming a major intellectual leader, he was also a self-taught civil engineer. After all, if it weren't for degrees and grade-point-averages and such, how would we be able to tell if Shakespeare's stuff is any good or not?

L.A.P.D in the news, again (Monday, 5/5/97)
Daniel B. Wood and Christina Nifong report on a controversy brewing in the Los Angeles police department over gender bias. Also, here's a story about harassment in more or less the same place.

How to get teens to join Colin's army of volunteers (Monday, 5/5/97)
Try asking, says this Christian Science Monitor story.

Are you a Mr. Gray and insecure in the new work world? (Monday, 5/5/97)
Jonathan Kaufman writes in today's Wall Street Journal about middle managers who are trying to adapt to the changing times. Also, David Wessel and Jacob Schlesinger write about why the American economy doesn't have a perfect report card, and the distribution of wealth is one of the reasons.

More good news for new grads, especially in tech areas (Monday, 5/5/97)
Hillary Chura writes for Newsday.

Are time money and money time? (Monday, 5/5/97)
You can have your choice of overtime pay or time off at some locations, and many workers are facing a dilemma, according to Jon Tevlin in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Also in the Strib today, lying your way to success, and the futile effort to get work done on a plane, unless you're a member of the crew, that is.

Steel strike expected next week in Australia (Monday, 5/5/97)
Brad Norington reports for the Sydney Morning Herald. Also, unions at Qantas are expecting mass firings.

Longest workers' comp case still unresolved (Monday, 5/5/97)
Thirty-five years and counting. Here's the story from today's New York Times.

Blair's government will sign EU workplace chapter (Sunday, 5/4/97)
Blair's Labour government in the UK is promising quick action on several fronts. The Washington Post's Fred Barbash says Blair will have a highly diverse cabinet, but Craig Whitney of the New York Times reports that the Labour victory in Britain doesn't mean an endorsement of socialism, and is not likely to encourage the Left on the European continent.

Big changes in HMO policies, according to new study (Sunday, 5/4/97)
HMOs have become far more prominent on the American landscape during recent years, but they've changed a lot too. A new study finds a dramatic increase in co-payments, for instance. Also, HMOs are marketing to retirees very aggressively, according to Stan Hinden of the Washington Post. Speaking of healthcare, Christine Spolar says it's on the critical list in Poland.

Agreement at Goodyear (Sunday, 5/4/97)
Goodyear and the United Steelworkers of America have reached agreement on a new six-year contract.

Earl Graves answers questions about succeeding in America (Sunday, 5/4/97)
Graves is a publisher and businessman with a new book: How to Succeed in Business Without Being White. Also in the Washington Post today, Albert Crenshaw reports on the high-stakes of low-income housing, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn writes about a grievance procedure if you have problems with a CFP, and a new study tells about the widening pay gap in the U.S. In addition, Kevin Sullivan says that some critics in Japan are saying that equality is something Japan can't afford, and Stephen Barr reports that the new budget deal would require government employees to contribute more toward their own retirement.

Foster care an entrepreneurial opportunity? (Sunday, 5/4/97)
Nina Bernstein of the New York Times says a tiny change may not be so tiny. Also, another loss by immigrants who missed an amnesty deadline during the 1980s, and a new kind of coach may be just what you need. A career coach.

Budget deal! (Saturday, 5/3/97)
President Clinton and Congressional leaders have reached agreement on a plan that would balance the federal budget by 2002. Most details still have to be worked out, and, though it appears there are enough votes to pass the agreement into law at the moment, much could still go wrong. The booming American economy has been shrinking the deficit, which will make the task easier, and Dan Balz of the Washington Post says that the last-minute "discovery" of an extra $225 billion made a deal easier. Part of the plan is a restoration of some assistance for legal immigrants. Here's that story from Reuters and the Washington Post. Incidentally, even if the budget is balanced by 2002, some experts are saying it won't necessarily be easy to keep it balanced, once the huge boomer generation starts collecting entitlements. For the moment, as Judith Havemann reports in the Post, the impact on Medicare will be fairly minimal.

Yes, Prime Minister (Saturday, 5/3/97)
The world is still thinking through implications of the huge defeat handed to the Conservatives by the Labour Party in Britain, just one more fundamental realignment seemingly symbolizing the imminent beginning of the new millennium. Fred Barbash of the Washington Post tells the story of Labour's huge victory which, among other things, has installed the youngest PM at No 10 Downing Street since the War of 1812 with America. Prime Minister Tony Blair says it's "time for action", and has already named senior ministers in his Labour government. Blair has worked tirelessly to change the Labour Party during recent years, and the irony is that, despite the huge victory, Labour apparently intends to continue many of the Conservative government's policies that transformed the British economy over the past 18 years of Tory government. Among other things Blair will preside in the handover of Hong Kong to China on July 1, an event that will symbolize the end of the British Empire, although a few tiny remnants will remain. Here's a Washington Post story that provides a little perspective on how things were at the beginning of the 20th century and how they are now as Britain prepares to begin the 21st.

American jobless rate lowest in nearly a quarter century (Saturday, 5/3/97)
The unemployment rate in the United States fell to 4.9 percent last month, the lowest since December 1973. Economist Allen Sinai says it's "worker heaven." Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post says that the American economy has been transformed and continues to surprise.

Electronics restructuring fueling job competition (Saturday, 5/3/97)
The American economy has been generating jobs at a furious rate, although the "haves vs. have nots" gap remains. Among the "haves" are certainly people with technical expertise who have their choice of many attractive employment situations at the moment, as the information economy accelerates and undergoes further transformation. At about the time that the Washington politicians intend to have the federal budget balanced in 2002, we should also see the almost complete merger of media and electronics industries following years of convergence. Among other things, we will have genuine multimedia: the complete marriage of television and other media with all that is computing. Everything will be digital, very wide-band, and accessible virtually everywhere. Among the elements in this new mix will be DVDs, HDTV, fiber optics, and the Iridium and Teledesic satellite projects. People who have the technical expertise and vision to help make all this happen in the few years directly ahead will continue to be in great demand. David Kalish reports in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune on the competition for talent that is already underway.

Talks to start again at Caterpillar (Saturday, 5/3/97)
Formerly striking workers have been back on the job for nearly a year and a half, and talks will begin again with the help of a mediator.

Tailhook ruling upheld (Saturday, 5/3/97)
A federal appeals court has upheld a judgment against a Las Vegas hotel arising out of the Navy scandal of six years ago. There have been many instances of sexual misconduct in U.S. military settings more recently.

What to do about child labor (Saturday, 5/3/97)
An opinion piece in the current edition of Business Week discusses the very different situations faced by children and their families in rich vs. underdeveloped countries.

Huge Labour victory in Britain (Friday, 5/2/97)
The Labour Party has won the election in Britain in a landslide. Tony Blair will be the new Prime Minister. John Major concedes defeat and quits as Conservative Party chief. It's not clear from Labour's campaign what the new government will be like, but many are betting no major change in direction.

May Day violence in several areas (Friday, 5/2/97)
Both violence and nostalgia in several countries yesterday as many mark May Day or Labor Day.

Joblessness down, consumer spending and incomes up (Friday, 5/2/97)
The jobless rate went down in April in the United States, while consumer spending and incomes were up in March. The American economy has been booming, and one consequence has been a shrinking deficit. There are slight signs now that the economy may be starting to slow a bit, though.

No job guarantees with base closings (Friday, 5/2/97)
Here's the story from Reuters this morning. Also, the U. S. Senate passes a bill that would protect volunteers from lawsuits.

Italian president urges efforts to create more jobs (Friday, 5/2/97)
Retequattro reports that Italian President Scalfaro has called for the government to resume government projects to build infrastructure and create more jobs to lower unemployment. He is also critical of a EU report saying that Italy will not qualify for the European monetary union.

French Socialist Party wants 35-hour week (Friday, 5/2/97)
According to La Tribune, the Socialists in France want reduce the work week to 35 hours over three years.

Rightist party opposes immigration and the European union (Friday, 5/2/97)
Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front has called for France to reject President Chirac's call for a mandate at the polls in support of France's joining the European Monetary Union.

Study shows different male and female role models in the media (Friday, 5/2/97)
It's not really news, but a recent study finds that boys are more likely to be presented with work-related role models in the American media.

New push for on-the-job hazard standard (Friday, 5/2/97)
Cindy Skrzycki of the Washington Post reports on a new round in a familiar battle of the lobbyists.

Power battle in medicine (Friday, 5/2/97)
Today's Wall Street Journal on a Fort Worth physician's refusal to shut down an independent practice, as demanded by a hospital.

A band of workers (Friday, 5/2/97)
Workers make music together.

Many CEOs still benefit from layoffs (Friday, 5/2/97)
Many corporate CEOs are still rewarded handsomely for cutting jobs, according to a new study. Here's the story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune

Budget deal likely to affect major entitlements (Friday, 5/2/97)
Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are likely to be affected by the budget deal that is brewing up in negotiations between President Clinton and the Congress, according to Robert Pear of the New York Times.

Herman finally in (Thursday, 5/1/97)
The United States Senate has confirned Alexis Herman as U.S. Secretary of Labor. It took a concession from the president to make it happen. Here's the story from today's New York Times as well.

Britain decides today (Thursday, 5/1/97)
The current and likely-to-be-future British Prime Minister cast their ballots, along with millions of other British subjects. According to the polls, Labour should win and Tony Blair will be the next PM. From all indications, we should not expect major economic changes from a Labour government, but Blair hasn't had to make promises in order to enjoy a commanding lead, given the apparent feeling on the part of the British public that the Tories are tired and need a rest after eighteen years.

Labour Day violence in Seoul (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Workers clash with South Korean police.

INS head testifies in Congress (Thursday, 5/1/97)
The Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Doris Meissner, promises to improve the fingerprinting system as part of the immigration process.

Washington meeting on homeless vets (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Hundreds of thousands of men and women who have served in the American military are seriously down and out. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans wants to put itself out of business.

Democratic presidential hopefuls seek union support (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Gore and Gephardt speak to union activists.

UPS sued for discrimination (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Sixteen employees are suing United Parcel Service.

Heineken to crank up productivity (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Holland's Het Algemeen Dagblad reports that the second largest brewer in the world is introducing additional automated processes that are intended to increase output by half. No job cuts will result, according to the company, and 2,000 employees will be tested to determine if they can shift to other tasks.

Figuring out the American economy (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Ron Scherer of the Christian Science Monitor reports that the American economy seems to be surprising everybody with its growth rate. The New York Times' Robert Hershey also says many experts seem puzzled.

Will the message get through? (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Warren Richey says the Aberdeen rape conviction sends a message, but will the Army listen? Also, here's a commentary on women in the military from today's Washington Post.

More workplace lawsuits may be coming (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Shelley Donald Coolidge says that the Texaco case could set a new wave in motion.

On the CIA's peculiar hiring practices (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Apparently, the CIA's been hiring some people you might not want working for you. Here's the story from Pat Holt of the Christian Science Monitor.

Hi, neighbor. Can we help? (Thursday, 5/1/97)
The Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg tells about "good neighbor" businesses that give employees time off for volunteer work in their communities, and more.

Reaction to the new rules on the mentally ill (Thursday, 5/1/97)
Ellen Joan Pollock and Joann Lublin report in today's Wall Street Journal that employers are uneasy about the new rules prohibiting discrimination against qualified workers with psychiatric problems plus the requirement to accommodate to some of their special needs.

Northwest pilots get 3% more (Thursday, 5/1/97)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Tony Kennedy reports on an arbitrator's award and what it means.

RSI verdict thrown out (Thursday, 5/1/97)
A New York secretary had been awarded $5.3 million because of repetitive stress injuries, but a federal judge has thrown out the award and granted Digital Equipment Corporation a new trial.

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