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October 1997

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Boo! Happy Halloween. Got any scary IRS stories? (Friday, 10/31/97)
House Republicans would like you to tell your spooky tales to them via their new web site at http://hillsource.house.gov.

New claims for jobless benefits down last week in the U.S. (Friday, 10/31/97)
Here's news on the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Strike possible next month in Portugal (Friday, 10/31/97)
Unions representing workers in the public sector are threatening to strike over wages next month, according to Portugal's Publico. Also in that country, Jornal de Noticias reports that the Portuguese are saving less, although they're still above the average for the European Union. During recent years, the Portuguese have been saving between 13 and 14 percent of their disposable income.

Efforts continue to avoid French truckers strike (Friday, 10/31/97)
Truckers in France are scheduled to go on strike and to begin blockading roads throughout France on Sunday if agreement isn't reached. They want to be paid by the hour, rather than according to a monthly salary. Employers don't like the idea, because they don't want to pay for the time between loading and unloading of trucks. Talks are continuing with hope of reaching a compromise.

New report on employment in Belgium (Friday, 10/31/97)
According to L'Echo a report from Belgium's Central Planning Bureau recommends cutting social security costs in order to promote job creation.

Clinton wants to get on fast track faster (Friday, 10/31/97)
Donna Smith reports that the Clinton administration is turning up the heat on efforts to obtain broader presidential authority to negotiate trade agreements. Votes are coming in Congress next week.

Amtrak is offering higher pay, according to report (Friday, 10/31/97)
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Amtrak is trying to move things along in its negotiations with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees by offering a wage increase.

Record deportations, but still more illegal immigrants (Friday, 10/31/97)
The U.S. Department of Justice says it has stepped up efforts but has still been losing ground. The population of illegal immigrants continues to increase in the United States despite record deportations during the past 12 months.

What does "reform" mean to you? (Friday, 10/31/97)
Meanings differ, apparently. Here's Sander Thoenes reporting from Jakarta on a meeting, but not necessarily a meeting of minds, between East and West.

Asian markets still slumping; American market stabilizing (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Marguerite Nugent reports that Asia's underlying economic problems apparently continue to express themselves in some stock market weakness, such as in Hong Kong, for example. Jennifer Westhoven reports that the U.S. stock market seems to be taking a breather after a few days of nail biting. Knut Engelmann reports on Fed Head Greenspan's remarks about how the stock drop may turn out to be good medicine for American investors in the long run. However, Svea Herbst-Bayliss writes that the American dollar didn't like his comments about how the financial crisis in Asia might slow growth in the United States.

More fallout from Silicon Graphics' restructuring (Thursday, 10/30/97)
We reported yesterday that a lot of jobs are going at Silicon Graphics. The latest news is that the company's CEO is going too.

Some wage cuts coming to Switzerland (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Neue Zuercher Zeitung reports that the Swiss government intends to slice 70 million francs from its budget. This means no increase in pay for many civil servants and government officials. Others face cuts of up to 3 percent.

Tentative deal at GM (Thursday, 10/30/97)
There have been several strikes at General Motors plants this year, but negotiators seem to have headed off what could have been the latest. A tentative agreement has been reached at GM's Romulus engine plant.

Last minute meeting today to avoid French truckers strike (Thursday, 10/30/97)
French truckers want higher pay, and have set a Sunday strike deadline which would involve roadblocks throughout the country. Negotiations have resumed in an effort to head it off, reports La Tribune this morning.

More on the continuing child labor story (Thursday, 10/30/97)
John Zubrzycki of the Christian Science Monitor writes about carpets from India and who is making them. Also in the Monitor today, some reflections on the irony involved in Ron Carey's troubles. He's been a reformer, and, now, may be brought down in a union that has had a long history of corruption. Also, Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times tells about how Citizen Action has been affected by alleged connections to the Teamsters.

House approves immigration provision (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Illegal immigrants would be able to stay in the U.S. by paying a fine. Otherwise, they would have to leave the country while the applications for permanent legal status are processed.

Rollerblade to reorganize, shift jobs around (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Some Minnesota-based employees of Rollerblade could be offered transfers, but others are likely to be laid off in the company's consolidation measure.

Federal Reserve report says American economy still growing (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Workers are getting harder to find, but there's still little indication of wage or price pressures that would fire up inflation. Speaking of competition for workers, employers are finding that choosing the right retirement plan can give them an edge.

AFL-CIO convention in Massachusetts (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Worker's compensation and "living wage" issues will be high on the agenda.

The real cost of a strike, according to employers (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Clarke Kermond writes in Melbourne's The Age about a strike at WorkCover. Employers are saying that it cost more than money.

Giving welfare recipients the right skills (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Marjorie Valbrun writes in today's Philadelphia Inquirer about a training program that seems to be working well for everybody involved.

What to do after loyalty and job security have died (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Worker loyalty and job security used to go together in the old economy, but both seem to be casualties of the fundamental workplace changes that are going on across many regions of the world. Here are some thoughts from The Hindu on how employers can obtain a new kind of commitment from their workers.

Want to share your "bad boss" stories with others? (Thursday, 10/30/97)
Workers from throughout the new global economy are sharing their stories on-line, according to this report from PR Newswire. Want to participate? More than a hundred thousand people per week visit the "My Boss" web site at http://www.myboss.com. Add your voice, if you like.

Flash! Sky doesn't fall (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
Hi-tech makes it easy for people around the world to communicate instantly and also for capital to move around the world at the speed of light. These conditions greatly amplify the consequences of the well-known tendency for people to move in herds, bumping into and greatly influencing each other, and conspiring to produce and maintain a world of social construction, which is the world in which people spend most of their lives. Perceptions ARE reality to most people, and these perceptions don't have to have much to do with underlying facts.

Fundamental economic conditions throughout most of the world have not changed significantly during the past week or two, but one would never know it by looking at the financial markets. What a roller coaster ride! Reach for the nausea pills, and think about keeping some of your money hidden under the mattress from now on.

Reality adjustments in some Asian markets triggered stunning losses in the huge American market Monday, which set off losses in most other markets around the world. Similarly, a dramatic comeback in the American market yesterday led to recoveries in most other places.

Again, nearly all of the world's press is preoccupied with this story this morning. Here are a few examples: David Holmes reports on the American-led global rebound, and Caren Bohan explains why underlying strength in the American economy brought the market back. Here's how things look to South Africa's Financial Mail, and Richard Jacobsen reports and the big surge of the Hong Kong market. Marguerite Nugent provides a bit more perspective on the Asian markets generally, and Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports on the rally in Japan. The Christian Science Monitor's Steven Mufson tells about the tremendous stake China has in how the Asian economic crisis comes out in the long-run, and the Monitor editorializes today on "Irrational Exuberance II." Stan Hinden discusses the need for retirees to grit their teeth and accept the risks inherent in the market if they need supplementary retirement income from investments. Finally, Peter Passell of the New York Times says that it's possible to exaggerate how much difference globalization makes in all this.

Truckers' strike getting closer in France (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
It may become very difficult to get from point A to point B in France quite soon. Talks are scheduled to resume tomorrow, but both sides are glum. London's BBC News provides more details and says that talks could continue up to the Sunday night strike deadline, at which time all the negotiators will have to try to find some way to get home through snarled traffic, we suppose.

Computer company struggling, and we don't mean Apple (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
Hollywood and other media and design communities have relied mostly on Silicon Graphics workstations at the high end and on Apple Macintosh computers at the lower end. Now, both companies are struggling. Apple is a considerably smaller company than it was a year or two ago and many question its ability to survive. The survival of Silicon Graphics doesn't seem to be in question...yet, but they plan to cut about 5 percent of their workforce in order to reduce costs, just the same. Samuel Perry reports that some expect that these events will cost the company's head his job, at a time when there seems to be disagreement as to whether Apple co-founder Steve Jobs wants to become his old company's permanent CEO. He's apparently said "no," but Apple is saying that he doesn't mean it.

How will South Africa's employment bill affect jobs? (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
Depends on your perspective. Business Report says that representatives of South African business and labor argued before a parliamentary committee yesterday about the likely effects of the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill. We'll leave to your imagination who took which side of the argument. Oh, well, okay, here's a hint: the bill would increase worker pay.

Labor costs up a bit in the U.S. (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
The latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor says average compensation increased a bit during the third quarter. The Federal Reserve is watching. Actually, the various federal agencies always watch each other, and, when things go wrong, they point at each other. Here's a bit more information on the wage increase from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Report optimistic about German growth, employment (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
Stern interviewed Peter Stihl, president of the DIHT trade and industry association, who expects the German economy to grow by more than 3 percent next year, which should reduce unemployment, he thinks. Like neighboring France, Germany has been suffering its highest unemployment levels since the Second World War. Speaking of France, La Tribune reports that that country's communist party is saying that it will abstain from the ratification vote on Employment Minister Aubry's Social Security plan. The French Assembly has approved an increase in the overall income tax, which has affected the communist party's decision.

The "civilizing" of Russian capitalism (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
Things aren't quite as wild and woolly anymore, writes Peter Ford of the Christian Science Monitor. Russian capitalism is starting to look a bit more like what we've learned to expect in the West, as the Russian market economy matures a little.

More on the tech skills shortage (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
The overall job market has changed a lot, in case you haven't noticed. Jon Bigness reports in today's Chicago Tribune on the shortage of people with hi-tech expertise. Also in the Trib today, Stephen Franklin discusses the priorities of Chicago-area employers when it comes to choosing health care plans, and these may not be what you think.

Is Wal-Mart unionized? Yes and no (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
One store is, and it's located in Windsor, Ontario. Negotiators have reached a tentative agreement on a contract.

EEOC urged to take on cases of "combined discrimination" (Wednesday, 10/29/97)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission doesn't deal with cases involving both age and sex discrimination? Apparently not, and some people think they should. Here's the story from Juliet Brudney of the Boston Globe.

Worldwide stock slide (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Value is in the eye of the beholder, and beholders all over the globe have decided that stocks are worth less now than they were a few days ago, even though no fundamental economic changes have occurred. True, there seems to be some consensus that stocks have been a bit overpriced in many regions, so a venting of steam has been expected. However, the fact that so many investors throughout the world have been crowding the exits is a measure of how integrated the new economy has become. A sneeze in one part of the world leads to pneumonia in another.

Virtually every news service in the world has been leading with this story this morning, so here are some examples: Marguerite Nugent reports on another bad day so far in Asia. For instance, the Hong Kong market has taken the biggest point loss in its history, but so did the Dow Jones Index in New York yesterday. However, it's more meaningful to think in terms of percentages, and, in those terms, the drop yesterday wasn't nearly so bad as the crash in 1987. Glenn Somerville reports that the White House is trying to reassure investors and prevent a general panic, while Americans in general seem fairly calm about the whole affair.

One reason is that underling economic fundamentals in the U.S. are very strong, unlike those in Southeast Asia where the mess started several weeks ago. One stock that gained yesterday in the midst of the carnage was Apple Computer. Honest.

Malcolm Davidson reports that the sell off has hit Europe as well. For instance, Diario de Noticias reports that a drop in Portuguese stock prices is expected today, and FinansTidningen reports that the Swedish market dropped its greatest amount in five years.

Stock and currency markets are a somewhat different thing from the economic basics in a country, but it's all related, and eventually can have a significant influence on employment. For instance, expect less consumer spending in many Asian countries, which will mean fewer imports, which will mean less demand for some country's products, which will mean fewer workers for producing those products. Japan will be affected more by slowed consumer spending in Southeast Asia than will the United States, though.

The North Korean people might wish they had other people's problems (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
In the "let's put things into perspective" department, Justin Jin says that a U.S. report expects the famine in North Korea to worsen in the new year. No evidence of cannibalism, however, despite rumors.

Maybe the pound won't be shipped off to the British Museum after all (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Britain has decided not to join the European common currency, at least not for a while. Will it still happen on the continent? Stay tuned.

Progress at Amtrak (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Talks seem to be back on track at Amtrak. The strike deadline has been extended and the sides intend to keep negotiating. Here's a strike that hasn't been put off, though. Ontario has the largest teachers' strike in North American history.

The "living wage" movement in New York (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Marlene Kennedy isn't enthusiastic about a proposal that New York's Albany County demand that any company doing business with the county pay a "living wage" to its workers. Similar movements have developed in other parts of the country and are being watched closely. Ms. Kennedy writes for the Capital District Business Review.

Mandated community service that isn't a sentence (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
The Star of South Africa reports that a plan is in development that would require students to spend one to three years in paid community service before entering the regular work force. Much debate lies ahead, though, so it's not a done deal.

Louisiana-Pacific to cut jobs (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation makes and sells building products, but they haven't been selling enough of them, so they intend to sell off part of the company instead, and this will result in the loss of 3,500 jobs over two years. Speaking of job cuts, Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. plan to lay off about 450 research and development personnel in Sweden, according to a report in Svenska Dagbladet. Unions are protesting.

What Issue 2 means in Ohio (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Daniel Radford offers an opinion in the Cincinnati Business Journal about the potential impact of Issue 2 on workers who have job-related illnesses or injuries. It's coming up for a vote.

Social security reform plan gets resistance from French communists (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
La Tribune reports that most French communist party representatives plan to sit out a vote to ratify the French employment minister's social security reform plan. He seeks to reduce the deficit by 12 billion francs by next year. Incidentally, here's how the European Union's unemployment problems look from South Asia. Batuk Gathani reports for The Hndu. Actually, the reporter is writing from Brussels.

The "good old days" of military training (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
It's harder now, writes Dave Moniz. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, David Francis reports that government in the U.S. is operating in the black, sort of. The good news comes from averaging the remaining federal deficit with state surpluses.

Labor's image in the U.S. (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
The New York Times' Steven Greenhouse examines the impact of new corruption cases on organized labor's image overall. In particular, Mr. Greenhouse reports that the president of the Laborers' International Union has said that charges will be brought against him, but that he's entirely innocent.

Book examines impact of computers and the Internet on life and work (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
Michiko Kakutani reviews Esther Dyson's Release 2.0: Golden Rules of Order in Cyberspace. Dyson has been a well-known hi-tech consultant for years.

The benefits of outsourcing, from the employer's point of view (Tuesday, 10/28/97)
One of the principal trends of recent years has been for companies to contract outside for many operations that used to be done in-house. This means that more of the people who do the work are outside contractors or are working for outside contractors. Peta Penson tells in Louisville Business First why this can make sense for a company.

The other kind of typhoon continues to swirl around Asia (Monday, 10/27/97)
Hong Kong stocks take another hit, as reported by Reuters and the New York Times, and, as Sarah Davison reports, the former British colony is having to face its worst economic fears. Michael Switow explains why all this means new problems for Hong Kong's new proprietor. Sara Webb of the Wall Street Journal tells about the pessimism that seems to be pervading Hong Kong. As some of the air leaks out of the overheated Asian economies, here's a Washington Post story about why Thailand, where much of it started, was due for a reality check. Huw Jones reports on the nervousness among U.S. investors, but Ruth Morris says that IPOs have continued to generate enthusiasm, despite the turmoil in Asia.

Saving family farms (Monday, 10/27/97)
When most Americans think about the impact of technology on work, they're usually not thinking of agriculture. However, the mechanization of this key industry during earlier decades is one of America's great success stories, in a sense. Also, hi-tech is hitting the farm now too. However, many farms and farmers are vulnerable to these changes, and Christina Nifong reports on the various ideas for saving family farms. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, a teachers strike in Ontario, and several articles by Shelley Donald Coolidge relating to fathers who are balancing work and family. For instance, she explains why it's not just a women's issue anymore, and here's a story about a father who has gone on a flexible work schedule in order to accommodate his family responsibilities. Also, here's a father who works out of his home now as well as another who is telecommuting as a solution. Finally, an opinion piece on reformist zeal in Washington, at least as it concerns the IRS.

Remember the French truckers' blockade last year? Get ready for another (Monday, 10/27/97)
French truckers are ready to stike again next Sunday over wages.

Debate focuses on child care payments in France (Monday, 10/27/97)
Les Echos reports that on the beginning of a three-day debate on social security reform in the French parliament, where child care payments will be a principal focus. Also in France today, the heads of France and Germany are opening a new joint-venture "smart" factory that will produce a new automobile with a high degree of automation. The plant will still employ 2,000 workers, though. Speaking of Germany, forecasters are expecting both unemployment and economic growth to increase for the year, according to a report in Der Spiegel. Also, Handelsblatt reports that the German postal union expects that the postal service may have to lay off as many as 80,000 workers if postal delivery is opened to outside competitors.

Food shortages may be worse than expected (Monday, 10/27/97)
A new report paints a grim picture of food shortfalls over the next quarter century in the most vulnerable parts of the world. Here's that story from Reuters and the Washington Post.

More on appearances vs. reality at Nike (Monday, 10/27/97)
Fifteen women's groups are protesting Nike's latest TV ads.

Swiss Finance Minister wants agreement on spending cuts (Monday, 10/27/97)
The Minister would like to reach agreement with unions, employers, and political parties so that a single plan can be presented, rather than asking Swiss voters to vote on each spending cut individually. Finance Minister Villiger was interviewed by Sonntags-Zeitung.

Class conflicts in the new global economy (Monday, 10/27/97)
David Friedman writes in today's Los Angeles Times about how globalization is renewing the conflict between "haves and have nots" in America and around the world. Wealth and income gaps have been on the increase in many regions, incidentally.

Employment bill amended in South Africa (Monday, 10/27/97)
Agreement has been reached between the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African government on an amendment to the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill that would guarantee a 45-hour work week. Also, it outlines a plan for reducing the work week to 40 hours later, according to Business Day.

Broader implications of the First Union settlement (Monday, 10/27/97)
Rudolph Pyatt Jr. offers broader perspective on the settlement of a major discrimination suit. Also in today's Washington Post, the growing industry helping students to cover increasing tuition costs...and also to build up major debt. However, "sticker prices" on college are similar to published airline fares. In a highly competitive higher ed market, opportunities for "deals" abound, if you ask. Finally, some opinions about the increasing difficulty of becoming an immigrant.

Increased minimal wage's impact not great in tight labor market (Monday, 10/27/97)
Bernard Wysocki writes in today's Wall Street Journal about life in a fast-food chain following the minimum wage increase. Finding and retaining workers are continuing problems.

Career sports (Monday, 10/27/97)
No, we're not referring to "professional sports," but, instead, sports to help advance careers. Sherwood Ross explains in this Newsday article. Also, Craig Gordon reports that many workers are stressed out, at least on Long Island.

Courts not accepting of mental disability claims (Monday, 10/27/97)
Seena Simon of Bloomberg News reports that mental disability claims under ADA typically don't get far in court. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist George Will has some thoughts about freeing immigrant children from a "linguistic ghetto."

Union protesters give Gore the silent treatment (Sunday, 10/26/97)
Protesters made themselves heard silently about the Administration's "fast track" trade plans during a speech by the vice-president in Iowa.

What will changes in the IRS mean to you? (Sunday, 10/26/97)
Albert Crenshaw of the Washington Post says reforms may or may not affect you directly, depending on a variety of factors. Here's Crenshaw's explanation. Also in the Post today, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn reports on the new Medicare scene that will begin in just over a year and why HMOs probably won't be very aggressive in providing complete and unbiased information about options. Also, Steven Ginsberg tells about some additional ways in which workers are making their work lives more flexible so that they can meet family responsibilities. Thomas Edsall and Frank Swoboda write about how the advocacy group Citizen Action is stumbling because of a link with the Teamsters. Speaking of the Teamsters--and we almost always seem to be speaking of them--Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times says the feds are broadening their inquiry into the troubled union's financial arrangements surrounding the election of President Ron Carey.

How are you acting in the workplace...literally? (Sunday, 10/26/97)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Dick Youngblood describes a theatrical approach to training. Also in the Strib today, Kalpana Srinivasan reports on the hard lessons about easily available credit that are being learned by many college students.

Should the feds get involved with child care? (Sunday, 10/26/97)
Cindy Richards writes in today's Chicago Sun-Times about the controversy over what the White House conference on child care really means. Does it mean that that the Clintons once again want the government to poke around in things that it should stay out of? Depends on your perspective. Also, R.A. Zaldivar of the Philadelphia Inquirer discusses how the president (and perhaps his wife as well) are wading back into the health care debate, but with more modest goals and more political savvy this time. Speaking of health care, here's news from the San Francisco Chronicle about the ongoing battle between Kaiser Permanente and its service union. They've agreed not to seek wage cuts in the upcoming negotiations. The HMO has agreed to that, we mean.

Hong Kong not expected to settle down for a while (Sunday, 10/26/97)
Hong Kong isn't insulated from the financial turmoil that has been spreading through Asia after all, and more rough waters are likely to be ahead, according to this Nando Times story. Also, the Chinese president is asking people to remain calm. Matthew Kidman of the Sydney Morning Herald says more financial chaos lies ahead over much of the region, and John Larkin reports from Seoul on how the mess is affecting South Korea.

Finally, the New York Times' Louis Uchitelle writes that many Asian economies will need to increase their exports to the United States in order to get things under control. Stocks and currencies have been losing value over much of Asia in recent weeks. In part, it is because there was considerable speculation driving prices out ahead of their genuine underlying values in what appeared to be the fastest growing economies in the world. Reality has been setting in, and the pain has been spreading in all directions. Many are wondering how events in Asia may affect the world economy, including the very good times the U.S.is experiencing.

Planning to decrease infrastructure vulnerability (Sunday, 10/26/97)
Has hi-tech made the American infrastructure more integrated and more vulnerable to labor shutdowns? Here's news on some planning for the new kinds of crises that may lie ahead. Also in the New York Times today, critics claim that Nike isn't supporting women in the factories, despite what the ads are saying, news about what happens to your 401(k) if you become disabled, companies that have unwritten "fraternization policies," and the care and feeding of overachievers.

"Dolly" she isn't, but she's matching people up, just the same (Sunday, 10/26/97)
Denise Lavoie of the Akron Beacon Journal tells about a woman who has found the right person for the right job two million times.

Amtrak strike won't affect commuters (Saturday, 10/25/97)
If there is an Amtrak strike, it will affect only long-distance lines, according to an agreement reached yesterday.

Clinton may lack Democratic support on fast track plan (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Representative David Bonior says few Democrats are behind President Clinton's efforts to expand presidential powers in make quick trade agreements.

What is the top teen concern? (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Jobs top the list, according to a survey in a Virginia high school. Also in Newsday this time, columnist Patricia Kitchen looks at how one might combine travel and work.

What to do about corrupt public officials (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Business Week comments this time on how to reduce the temptation for public officials to become corrupt. Also, a new National Bureau of Economic Research study finds that computer skills pay off for college grads in the workplace.

Training center opens in Detroit (Saturday, 10/25/97)
The American Society of Employers is setting it up. Also, here are more job-related news briefs from today's Detroit News.

Now, USA Today reports on telecommuting (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Telecommuting seems to be the story of the week for many publications. Here's a look at the trend from USA Today.

A shift in the nature of shifts (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Melbourne's The Age asks whether the eight-hour work day is disappearing in Australia.

Turning volunteer work into a career (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Dennie Briggs of the San Francisco Examiner looks at the potential broad impact of volunteerism and charities on the nature of work in the new century.

How to go out on your own (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Want to be an independent contractor? Here is some advice and some cautions from Computer Currents.

More puzzling over how good the American economy seems to be (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Will wages eventually ignite inflation? This is one of several issues examined in the current U.S. News. Also, here's an article about why some are worried about placing welfare moms in child care jobs.

Guidance on Internet use at work (Saturday, 10/25/97)
CIO Magazine provides alternative perspectives on the use of the Internet in the workplace and examines the question of whether genuinely new rules are needed.

Politics and economic reform in Argentina (Saturday, 10/25/97)
Interesting things have been happening in the Argentine economy. Here's an article from MSNBC on how these are likely to impact on tomorrow's election.

Downsizing in L.A.'s transport system (Saturday, 10/25/97)
The Los Angeles Times reports that some transportation jobs are likely to be lost in the city. Also, Josh Meyer reports that some L.A. County offices have been nearly closed down because of large numbers of employees calling in sick, and it doesn't seem to be because of a spreading virus.

Aministration plan to strengthen child care (Friday, 10/24/97)
Child care is not in good shape in the United States, according to President and Mrs. Clinton, and the Administration wants to do something about it. Here's news on what has come out of the White House conference on child care, first from Reuters, then from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. Meanwhile in the House of Representatives, there is a plan for privatizing education to some extent. President Clinton doesn't like it, and has said that he will veto the Republican-backed bill. If the American economy remains strong and the country stays out of wars, educational issues could determine the next presidential election, given growing public concern with quality in the worst K-12 districts and also with the cost of higher education.

"The customer is always right" may be going a bit far, but... (Friday, 10/24/97)
The man that President Clinton would like to head the Internal Revenue Service would like to see the IRS operate like a quality private business, he says. Here's more from Reuters and today's Christian Science Monitor.

Big settlement in L. A. sweatshop case (Friday, 10/24/97)
More than $2 million has been awarded to victims in the highly publicized case involving virtual slavery. In a different case, $58 Million is awarded in an age bias suit.

Strike ties things up in Greece (Friday, 10/24/97)
Thousands of workers striking and marching in protest have introduced a snag into the daily life routine in Athens. They marched on the Greek parliament demanding higher wages.

Fast track push is on at the White House (Friday, 10/24/97)
President Clinton wants expanded presidential powers for making broad NAFTA-life trade deals, and his team seems to be organizing for a "full-court press" in an effort to get what he wants.

Turmoil at Danish machine maker (Friday, 10/24/97)
Borsen reports that employees at Blucher Metal A/S's went on strike yesterday following the replacement of the company's chief executive with the head of a company that has been take over the remaining assets of Blucher. Also in Denmark, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten reports that some companies are willing to pay students now with the hope that they will become employees later. Finally, according to Berlingske Tidende, a major Danish supermarket chain, FDB, has announced that it will not sell products produced through the use of child labor.

Things looking up in Hong Kong (Friday, 10/24/97)
The Hong Kong stock market recovered from major losses the day before, fueling concern that the widening financial crisis in Southeast Asia is spilling over into Hong Kong with the possibility of Japan next on the list, which, in turn, could influence the United States. High rates of growth in Southeast Asian economies have encouraged inflated values and a currency crisis that has rocked several countries, including Thailand and Malaysia.

EDS to offer benefits to partners of gay employees (Friday, 10/24/97)
Here's news about a significant culture change at Electronic Data Systems Corporation, the company that Ross Perot started but sold years ago. Meanwhile, this San Francisco Examiner article looks at how the jobs bias bill is doing in the U.S. Senate.

Home ownership hits record in the U.S. (Friday, 10/24/97)
A larger proportion of Americans own their own homes now than ever before. Speaking of records, the entire American economy may set a few, including enjoying the longest post-war recovery. Can the longest recovery in American history be far behind?

Shorter work week sought in Belgium (Friday, 10/24/97)
L'Echo reports that Belgium may be the next country to reduce the work week to 35 hours, following similar movements in France and Italy. At least some union leaders and academics think it would be a good idea.

Benefits for disabled children cut (Friday, 10/24/97)
Linda Feldmann reports for the Christian Science Monitor on a little noticed aspect of welfare reform.

More on the mess at Laborers International Union of North America (Friday, 10/24/97)
The union's president is accused of having connections with organized crime. Also from Newsday, the Teamsters sue King Kullen.

Utilities expected to cut jobs in Austria (Friday, 10/24/97)
The EU's electrical market will open up in 1999, and this means that Austrian electrical producers will have to increase their efficiency and reduce costs. As many as 600 jobs could go as a consequence, according to Salzburger Nachrichten.

Support found for workfare unionization (Friday, 10/24/97)
The New York Times reports on a non-binding vote as part of a movement to unionize workfare participants in New York City. The mayor is refusing to negotiate with the organization heading the drive.

Gender gap shrinking (Friday, 10/24/97)
A Monthly Labor Review finds a decrease in the gap between "men's work and women's work." However, at the same time, it appears that the wage gap has increased a bit again.

Low job growth in Victoria (Friday, 10/24/97)
Ewin Hannan writes from Australia for The Age about disappointing job growth.

More about the old stay-at-homes (Friday, 10/24/97)
Doug Durfee reports on the increase in the number of telecommuters in today's Detroit News.

Jobless figures increase a bit last week (Friday, 10/24/97)
Here's news about the latest joblessness data from the U.S. Department of Labor. It's the highest level in seven weeks. Also from MSNBC, concern with Internet pornography in the workplace.

Are you a hidden asset? (Friday, 10/24/97)
Kim Clark of Fortune writes about how temp workers are making American manufacturing more efficient and flexible.

Becoming too dependent on technology (Friday, 10/24/97)
We're all more dependent on technology in practical ways, but what about psychological dependency? Do you go into withdrawal when you haven't touched your keyboard for a few hours? Do you feel rejected and isolated if you haven't received any e-mail messages during the past half hour? Psychologists Michelle Weil and Larry Rosen look at the relationship between individuals and their hi-tech machines in their new book, TechnoStress.

Hong Kong stocks sink (Thursday, 10/23/97)
The stock market in Hong Kong has taken a major hit, reflecting the growing economic crisis throughout the region. At least one suicide may have occurred because of the fall in stock prices. The economic problems are beginning to reach into Asian politics. For example, the Thai government has been under fire from many persons who disapprove of the way it has handled the crisis in that country, and long-time Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is facing growing criticism. The New York Times' Thomas Friedman writes this morning about the potential implications of all this for China. In Australia, a dip in the number of college students is expected as a consequence of struggling regional economies. Incidentally, Australia's Treasurer thinks his country is a "haven" in the middle of the economic storm, but Paul Cleary of the Sydney Morning Herald isn't convinced that the facts support this notion.

IRS reform bill gets past House committee (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Changes in the Internal Revenue Service may be coming, now that that the Clinton administration has changed direction on the reform bill. In other House action, a program has been extended that will allow a large number of immigrants to stay in the U.S. while their residence applications are being processed.

Retirement age may be raised in Turkey (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Yeni Yuzyil reports that talks are going on in Turkey over the possibility of raising the retirement age by five years for both men and women in order to try to reduce that country's social security deficit.

Farmers in favor of fast tractor, er, fast track (Thursday, 10/23/97)
A number of American farm leaders would like to see President Clinton get the new authority to make trade deals that he wants. They think new deals will expand the American economy.

Labor shortages in Maryland (Thursday, 10/23/97)
There aren't enough skilled workers to meet the demand in Maryland, but, of course, that's not the only place one can find this problem.

One-day strike slows things in Greece (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Thousands of Greek workers want better pay and are expressing themselves by staying home for 24 hours. Along similar lines, a strike deadline has been set at a General Motors plant in the United States. In South Africa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions has called off a planned two-day strike that was to have occurred next week. Reason: tentative agreement has been reached with the government and other groups on the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill, according to Business Report.

Greater economic flexibility needed, say Austrian experts (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Salzburger Nachrichten reports that a Austrian Institute for Economic Research report says that the Austrian economy will have to be more flexible and efficient if the country is to be competitive in the new world economy during the 21st century. Among other things, this will mean more employment flexibility and more movement into hi-tech areas, they say.

Bill to improve worker safety (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Supporters of a OSHA reform bill in the Senate claim that it would improve health and safety in the American workplace.

American first lady regains visibility (Thursday, 10/23/97)
About three years ago, Hillary Rodham Clinton occupied front and center stage as the Clinton administration tried to rebuild the American health care system. When that failed, Mrs. Clinton receded from view quite a bit. Now, she's back, this time pushing major changes in child care. Here's the story from Reuters and the New York Times. In related news, the Christian Science Monitor's Skip Thurman discusses the widespread need for "night care," and Marilyn Gardner wonders if there will ever be gender equality when it comes to caring for the family's children.

Not all workers are human (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Here's news about dogs that have to work for a living. Incidentally, not all bosses are quite human either, but this is a different kind of story.

Teamsters brew up penalty for former official (Thursday, 10/23/97)
The Teamsters' former political director isn't out of hot water yet. Also, the president of a different union has his own troubles because of alleged connections to organized crime.

Are there cost savings in specialization? (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post tells how some are looking to other industries for hints on how to bring down the cost of health care. Also in the Post today, a proposed "bill of rights" for health care consumers. Want still more news about health care? Today's Wall Street Journal has a special report with many articles.

Too few minority women in management, study says (Thursday, 10/23/97)
It may not come as a major surprise, but minority women are greatly underrepresented in top management ranks. Moreover, the ones who have achieved that status are paid less than their colleagues, says a new report. Also, Carrie Mason-Draffen of Newsday reports that a Wayne State University study has found that many women are being used as "fronts" by white men who are after federal contracts.

Sears sued by retiree (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Restoration of life insurance benefits is sought for thousands of former employees.

On the benefits of telecommuting (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Lis Napoli of the New York Times says one advantage is the absence of typical office distractions. But aren't there different ones in many homes? Also in the Times today, Jeri Clausing tells how the Internet is being made more accessible to persons with disabilities. Speaking of the Internet, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports that suddenly a third of American college courses are using e-mail. More than 14% of higher ed institutions are putting course materials on the Internet too.

Downsizing down (Thursday, 10/23/97)
Today's Los Angeles Times reports that companies are cutting jobs at a lower rate than at any time during the past ten years. Meanwhile, a American Management Association study finds that companies have been creating twice as many jobs as they have been cutting.

IRS reform heating up in D. C. (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Changes in how the Internal Revenue Service conducts its business seem to be coming. Jacob Chlesinger of the Wall Street Journal reports that the Clinton administration has changed its position, which gives new legislation a better chance of happening. Here's more on that from Richard Stevenson of the New York Times.

You can relax; women not harming U.S. defense (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Here are the results of a RAND Corporation study on how the presence of women in the military is affecting readiness. However, Dana Priest of the Washington Post reports that gender problems continue in the armed forces.

Big Swiss engineering company to make big job cuts (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
ABB Asea Brown Boveri is cutting 10,000 jobs and intends to move more heavily into Asia.

What will happen if there's an Amtrak strike? (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Roger Fillion writes that any Congressional response may be determined by regional politics.

Turkish social security system open for bids (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Yeni Yuzyil reports that the Turkish government has received bids from international companies which want to be involved in the restructuring of that country's social security system.

"Asian miracle" getting harder to remember in Asia (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
The fortunes of national economies can change quickly, as many Asian countries are finding. Seth Mydans of the New York Times looks at the increasingly painful situation many are facing in Malaysia, but it's only an example of a much broader problem. For instance, he also reports on discontent in Thailand with the way the Thai government has handled the economic crisis there. Also in the New York Times today, top politicians argue over job creation in New York City, and a look at why customers tend to prefer to talk to real live people when there are questions, and why businesses are less enthusiastic about using humans for that purpose.

The job scene in California (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Unemployment holds steady while salaried hires increase, according to the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, employment weakens a bit in some of Michigan's major population areas. Meanwhile, William Gruber of the Chicago Tribune says job security has improved a bit, but it's all relative. He examines the likely effect on the Chicago region of Citicorp's plan to eliminate 7,500 jobs. The Wall Street Journal has that story today too, as does Saul Hansell of the New York Times.

Getting on a career path when you're a temp (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Louise Lief of U.S. News that the growing number of part-time and temporary workers in the American economy are beginning to find their way in the new work world.

Are things better in eastern Germany now? Maybe not for everybody (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
The Boston Globe reports that many women in that region of Germany that used to be called East Germany say that life has gotten harder following unification.

Two new career sites for women (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Two new sites on the web are intended to help women and employers get in touch with one another. Check out Advanced Women Career Center and WITI Jobs Online.

New hiring incentives in the UK (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
The Guardian reports that employers in Britain are planning to offer a special remuneration package for newly hired graduates to help offset the planned introduction of tuition fees for university students.

Maybe you'll have a place to stand after all (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
The global population explosion may be leveling off, according to various data sources. That's good news for many reasons, not the least of which is that population growth has been aggravating the "have vs. have not" gap and has also been putting tremendous pressure on the global environment.

Growing concerns with day care and its quality (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Barbara Vobejda of the Washington Post says that the booming American economy is contributing to a quality problem in day care. Sue Shellenbarger of the Wall Street Journal says the back-to-work movement is aggravating the problem, and Business Week has some thoughts on the topic on the eve of the White House conference on child care.

Some thoughts on the corporate takeover of health care in the U.S. (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Gary Rainwater writes in today's Washington Post.

Paying for help for large families (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
The Austrian chancellor thinks that people with large families need some assistance, and a general tax increase could cover it. Salzburger Nachrichten has that story today.

Samuelson wonders if we can stop worrying about inflation. Is it a rhetorical question? Is this? (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
Here's some perspective on the new economy and how new it really is from Robert Samuelson of the Washington Post. Also, Sarah Mendelson says its time for Russian reform to reach its military. The once-proud "Red Army" is in terrible shape in a variety of ways. Many are finding that it isn't offering their dream career path, to say the very least.

The next step in automation at Goodyear (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
The "tire plant of the future" will reduce labor costs, among other things. Also from the Chicago Tribune today, Stephen Franklin says some Chicago-area Teamsters leaders aren't really struggling to get along.

Big discrimination suit settled (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
It will cost First Union $58.5 million, says the Nando Times. Also, the French government wants Air France to let employees have a piece of the action.

What laid off executives do in Australia (Wednesday, 10/22/97)
To put it mildly, many don't find new jobs like the ones they've lost, writes Helen Trinca of the Sydney Morning Herald. Alan Ramsey has some harsh words for Australian politicians now that 3.3 million jobs have disappeared in a dozen years. Paul Cleary has some details on how it happened, and also reports that manufacturing has been hit the hardest. Finally, an Australian union threatens to shut down a whole city.

New Johnson article published in Europe (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
An edited French-language abridgment and adaptation of Gary Johnson's article, "The Ideology of Competition," appears as an "invited editorial" in the October edition of Le Temps Strategique, a general interest magazine and journal of ideas published in Geneva and distributed throughout Europe. Johnson is Managing Editor of NewWork News and has written for Le Temps Strategique previouly.

Nicaraguan Vice President to make another appeal on behalf of immigrants (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
Approximately 150,000 Nicaraguan immigrants are facing deportation from the U.S., and Vice President Bolanos is on his way to Washington to argue for their being given legal status. Speaking of immigration, here's a Los Angeles Times story about how new rules make it harder for immigrants to bring their families. Here's more about that from William Branigin of the Washington Post. Also, Steven A. Camarota and Jessica Vaughan says there's a loophole in the new immigration law.

Swedish roller bearing company to fire 2,000 workers (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
According to Svenska Dagbladet, SKF AB wants to increase operational efficiency, and having fewer workers may help, they think. So, 2,000 jobs worldwide will be eliminated. Two-hundred of these will be in Sweden itself.

French government to help companies adjust to 35-hour work week (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
Social security tax breaks will be provided to companies that reduce their work week, according to French government officials and as reported in Les Echos. Also, the head of the French Employers has resigned over frustration over the new 35-hour work week, and Didier Pineau-Valencienne, chief executive of Schneider SA appears ready to assume that position. In Italy, there are similar arguments. For instance, Fiat's chairman has criticized the Italian government's plan to reduce the work week to 35 hours, according to a report in Corriere della Sera. Also in Italy today, talks between government and trade union representatives over welfare spending reforms are resuming. Il Sole/24 Ore has that story.

Winners and losers in the new world of trade (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
The gap between winners and losers is getting wider, according to this story by James Tyson. Also in the Christian Science Monitor, colleges are concerned about their rankings in an increasingly competitive higher ed market, 1 out of 100 American households will file for bankruptcy this year, but Godfrey Sperling reports that Americans seem to be fairly optimistic about the future, despite various polls.

New Teamsters vote postponed (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
It will be awhile longer before a new presidential election in the Teamsters union, a federal judge rules. Also, E. J. Dionne Jr. takes a look at the "Teamsters mess," while Steven Greenhouse tells about the importance of James Hoffa's name and also examines Ron Carey's claims of a former Hoffa family connection to organized crime. Did we say something about a "mess" with the Teamsters?

Women not getting many combat-related jobs (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
Dana Priest reports on a new Defense Department study of women in the military. Also from today's Washington Post, columnist David Broder examines efforts to shake up the IRS, and Richard Stevenson of the New York Times says Gephardt is likely to support a bill intended to do just that. Finally, columnist Rober Reno also has some thoughts about how much imagination it requires to think about reform of the Internal Revenue Service.

Why some pensions are shrinking (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
Robert Fresco explains why the federal Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation has been cutting a lot of people's pension checks. Also in Newsday, falling in love on the fast track, as well as the latest columns from Randi Feigenbaum, Carrie Mason-Draffen, and Patricia Kitchen.

How downsizing has been hitting Australian households (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
Nearly 1/3 of Australian households have been hit by the effects of job losses, according to Helen Trinca and Paul Cleary of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mental Health Parity Act diluted? (Tuesday, 10/21/97)
Things may not be turning out quite as intended. Robert Pear reports today for the New York Times. Also, the new Congressional pay raise didn't include federal judges, and they're not happy.

Cooler heads prevail; talks resume at Amtrak (Monday, 10/20/97)
Talks are on again, and a strike, if it occurs at all, is at least a week away.

One famine spreading, while another goes on and will undergo examination (Monday, 10/20/97)
The famine in Indonesia is spreading. Meanwhile, the famine in North Korea continues with little expectation of improvement soon. The first official assessment team from the United States will arrive soon in order to take a look.

Dedication of new memorial at Arlington (Monday, 10/20/97)
Nearly 2 million women have served in the American armed forces, many before women had the right to vote. A new memorial has been dedicated in their honor.

Soros to contribute half a billion to help Russia (Monday, 10/20/97)
As much as $500 million will go to help Russia improve health care and education, as well as to retrain Russian military personnel for civilian jobs.

Another verse from a familiar song (Monday, 10/20/97)
For years, France has insisted on resisting U.S. domination in most areas of life. Once again, it is going its own way with its own brand of capitalism. Roger Cohen reports in today's New York Times. Also in the Times today, Cuba sends its migrants back home, while opposing sides examine the fine print in America's new immigration law and its welfare implications. Finally, Sabra Chartrand says it again: "Workers aren't saving enough for retirement."

Is Clinton wishing or reporting? (Saturday, 10/18/97)
President Clinton says in Buenos Aires that a "great tide of change" is sweeping the world. He wants greater integration of the Americas for some of the same economic reasons that many want greater integration of Europe, and many European countries are struggling to get budget deficits under control in order to help bring it about. Europe's current pain may pay off in a big way in the long-run, according to this Business Week forecast of European economics in the year 2020. Clinton has been on a tour of several South American countries and will be on his way home soon. Incidentally, University of Delaware researchers say they've found a direct relationship between the size of a country's government and its unemployment rate.

Major New York Amtrak station to stay open, no matter what (Saturday, 10/18/97)
There may be a track maintenance workers strike at Amtrak next week, but, even if there is, it appears that LIRR will remain open, say negotiators on both sides.

Best jobs for the years immediately ahead (Saturday, 10/18/97)
Here's the U.S. News 1998 career guide. Several articles about what's hot and what's not for the future.

Another dismal report from North Korea (Saturday, 10/18/97)
An American Congressman has come back from North Korea and is saying some of the same things that other recent visitors have said: disaster may be imminent. At the very least, the country is facing another grim harvest. Richard Newman of U.S. News says that, even though the country may be ready to collapse, the risk of military conflict remains high.

What does he mean? What does he mean? (Saturday, 10/18/97)
Pierre Belec attempts to examine the meaning behind Fed head Alan Greenspan's nervousness about the surging American economy and his sporadic warnings.

Guess what? Job cuts at Guess (Saturday, 10/18/97)
Guess Inc. intends to trim about 6 percent of its workforce. Blue Cross is also planning layoffs, and here's news about research indicating that downsizing is a threat to worker health. The report appears in the current edition of The Lancet.

The "Teflon Teamster?" (Saturday, 10/18/97)
Richard Behar writes for Fortune about Teamsters prez Ron Carey.

Another spin on the American economy during Clinton's watch (Saturday, 10/18/97)
William Niskanen, an economic advisor to President Reagan, gives his views about how well things have been going during Bill Clinton's administration. The article is from William Buckley's National Review. Meanwhile, the Washington Post's William Drozdiak explains why Germany is struggling right now, uncharacteristically. What a difference a few years can make.

Preventing workplace violence (Saturday, 10/18/97)
The CDC now says workplace homicide is a major public health epidemic. Work settings aren't immune to the conditions that have made America one of the more violent places to live and work among industrial countries. What can be done? Here's news about some prevention programs that are in place right now.

Fed workers' retirement changes vetoed (Friday, 10/17/97)
President Clinton is out of town, in fact out of the country, but he can exercise his veto, nonetheless. This time, it denied an increase in retirement benefits to more than a million government workers. Eric Pianin and Stephen Barr of the Washington Post provide more details, including a discussion of this use of the president's new line-item veto authority. Expect court challenges, however. It remains to be seen whether the line-item veto itself will hold.

Continental Airlines pilot wins harassment suit (Friday, 10/17/97)
A female pilot objected to the common practice among male personnel of leaving pornographic pictures in the cockpit. Here's the story from Reuters and Newsday this morning.

Forty-four million Americans get a slight raise (Friday, 10/17/97)
It's the smallest cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits in ten years, though.

Foreign aid is running at its lowest rate in a half century (Friday, 10/17/97)
The rich nations aren't helping the poor nations nearly as much as during earlier years. Here's Barbara Crossette's New York Times story on the big dip in foreign aid. Also, a big AFL-CIO rally in New York against Clinton's "fast track" plans, a clerical workers' strike at Columbia University moves classes off campus, and a new infomercial isn't selling anything. Instead, it's asking for contributions.

Portugal to take a long time catching up (Friday, 10/17/97)
According to a Diario de Noticias report today, the Portuguese economy is 50 years behind the rest of the European Union. That is, extrapolations from trends described by the European Commission indicate that it would take a half century for Portugal's per capita gross domestic product to match the average of the EU, given present rates of change. Portugal's Centre for Sociological Investigation and Study says that one-third of the country's population is poor. Also in Portugal, Publico reports that the government plans to limit mortgage subsidies for young people in order to reduce costs.

Layoffs at ITT (Friday, 10/17/97)
Nineteen hundred jobs will go at ITT Industries Inc. as part of a general restructuring. IBM wants to eliminate several thousand jobs too, but it's going to try to do it by offering buyouts. In Europe, Opel's Antwerp plant plans to cut nearly a quarter of its workforce. About 1,900 will go, according to Belgium's Le Soir.

Fiat honorary chairman critical of 35-hour work week plan in Italy (Friday, 10/17/97)
It will make Italy less competitive, says Gianni Agnelli, according to La Repubblica.

Danish academics need more help in finding work (Friday, 10/17/97)
The chairman of the Danish engineer's union says that the country's employment agencies aren't doing enough to help unemployed academics find suitable positions, according to an article in Berlingske Tidende. Also, the Danish minister of social affairs wants to save costs to the government by getting employers to pay more for sick benefits to workers. This story appears in Borsen.

"Quiet crisis" in day care may be nationwide (Friday, 10/17/97)
Ann Scott Tyson finds examples in Washington, D.C., but problems seem to be more widespread. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, European corporate mergers are a sign of the times.

Strike at Amtrak may not be avoided, writer says (Friday, 10/17/97)
The Washington Post's Don Phillips thinks efforts may fall short at Amtrak. A strike of track maintenance union workers could begin Tuesday, and participants in the negotiations are not greatly optimistic that it can be avoided. Matthew Wald of the New York Times says that the two sides didn't meet yesterday, but did exchange messages by other means.

Signs of possible good news ahead for Germany (Friday, 10/17/97)
Germany could use some good news. Matt Marshall writes in today's Wall Street Journal that signs of future growth are on the horizon.

Researchers examine Nike workers' pay in Indonesia and Vietnam (Friday, 10/17/97)
Dartmouth College researchers are saying that their preliminary results indicate that workers in Nike plants in Indonesia and Vietnam earn enough to meet their basis needs with some left over. However, the study is being paid for by Nike.

Minorities will be graduating in greater numbers in Minnesota (Friday, 10/17/97)
Whether job opportunities will keep pace is a major question, according to Maureen Smith. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, a survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute indicates that more Americans are saving for retirement, but they haven't really worked out the math, and may be surprised at how much money it will take.

Argentina complains about U.S. trade barriers (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Clinton is in Argentina promoting free trade, but that country's trade secretary says the U.S. is part of the problem. Meanwhile, Hugh Byrne of the Christian Science Monitor says Clinton may have made a mistake in allowing one particular kind of export to the region: hi-tech arms. Elsewhere, the U.S. is talking with the European Union, and Douglas Hamilton says things are not going particularly well.

The hazards of being a miner (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Seven miners have been rescued from the world's largest gold mine in South Africa. Also in South Africa today, Business Day reports that about 1.2 million civil servants are in need of training, and the country's Management and Development Institute was able to train only about 15,000 persons last year. Parliament presented plans yesterday for providing more training in the future.

Controllers leave their jobs in New York, but it's not what you think (Thursday, 10/16/97)
No labor walkout. This time, it was a workplace environmental problem. Controllers got sick and had to leave the area, and air traffic in the region was greatly snarled as a result.

Getting dads to acknowledge they are dads (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Check Margaret Jacobs' article in the Wall Street Journal today about what it being done to get unwed fathers to acknowledge paternity. A lot of people are concerned, including those worried about welfare costs.

NCR to cut jobs (Thursday, 10/16/97)
About a thousand jobs will be cut by NCR Corporation following major third-quarter losses. Also, Frontier Corporation, a major long-distance company, will cut more than 700 jobs.

Turkish government employees to get very large raise, but it only keeps pace with inflation (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Yeni Yuzyil reports that government employees in Turkey will receive a 57.7 percent wage increase during the first half of next year. It's just a cost-of-living increase, though. Wages are indexed to inflation, which, in Turkey has been running at rates that tend to remind people like American Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan why it's important not to forget about inflation. Speaking of Greenspan, today's Christian Science Monitor thinks that he's "courageous," and here's why.

Denmark congratulates itself on care for the elderly (Thursday, 10/16/97)
According to a story in Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten today, Denmark's National Institute of Social Research concludes that the elderly in Denmark are receiving better care than the elderly in Norway and Sweden.

Conflict brewing over 35-hour work week in Italy (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Part of what brought about a resolution of the political crisis in Italy was a commitment to reducing the work week to 35 hours. Employers organizations have come out in opposition, and now trade unions in Italy are preparing to fight for it. Corriere della Sera and other Italian papers have the story today. A similar movement to reduce the work week to 35 hours is underway in France, and Max Walsh of Australia's Sydney Morning Herald writes that American economist Paul Krugman says these movements are based on a radical economic doctrine that has come out of nowhere very quickly: the doctrine of "global glut."

How Germany's economy has changed and what it means (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Ruth Walker writes about Germany's "jobs mirage," while Peter Passell of the New York Times explains why the U.S. is doing a better job of creating jobs than Europe.

Organized crime still a threat to the Teamsters, Justice claims (Thursday, 10/16/97)
There is still a risk of the Teamsters being taken over by organized crime, according the U.S. Department of Justice yesterday. Continued monitoring is necessary, they say.

European nations get together on policy to control illegal migration (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Many countries are having a problem with illegal immigration as the "have vs. have not" gap widens in many areas of the world, and large numbers of people seek opportunities for a better life. This has also led to widespread trafficking in human beings, including a resurgence in slavery, including sexual slavery. Representatives from nearly 40 European countries have been meeting in Prague to find ways to stem the tide. There seems to be agreement on 55 recommendations for dealing with the problem.

Not much progress in talks at Amtrak (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Anna Wilde Mathews and Nancy Keates write in today's Wall Street Journal about how things aren't progressing in labor talks at Amtrak, and Mattthew Wald says a strike could come next week. If that happens, expect an unholy mess in America's northeastern corridor.

Management training in the child care industry (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Management training is common in most industries, but it's just starting to become available for people who run child care centers, and there is a need, according to this Newsday article.

Legal challenge to welfare changes in Minnesota (Thursday, 10/16/97)
A new Minnesota welfare law limits benefits to people who have recently arrived in the state, and the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society doesn't like it. They filed a class-action lawsuit yesterday. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, an editorial about why resistance to President Clinton's "fast track" plans may be based on highly visible but unrepresentative job losses which distort the larger picture.

Is welfare reform working, as President Clinton claims? (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Some in Mississippi would argue, as many people leave the welfare rolls but fail to find jobs in an area where unemployment is high. It's not necessarily working very well in the San Francisco area either, according to this San Francisco Examiner story.

The increasing popularity of retention bonuses (Thursday, 10/16/97)
Employers are finding that the bonuses ease the downsizing process. Also from PR Newswire today, Oracle Corporation will invest $50 million in higher education in an effort to help relieve the worldwide information technology labor shortage. Finally, Telecommute America Week is coming up a bit later this month with the purpose of telling employers about the benefits of telecommuting.

What it will take for Hispanic immigrants to make it in America (Thursday, 10/16/97)
R.A. Zaldivar writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer today on the struggle that many Hispanics are facing to make economic gains in the United States.

The cost of economic growth in China (Thursday, 10/16/97)
C. Rammanohar Reddy writes from Guangzhou for The Hindu about "cracks in the iron rice bowl." It's just one more example of the apparent conflict between a state-supported social safety net and free market economics.

Clinton appeals to Brazilian biz leaders (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Before leaving Brazil, American president Bill Clinton was expected to make his free trade pitch to Brazilian business executives and others, while celebrating Brazil's progress and attempting to be considerate of its sensitivity to possible American domination in the hemisphere. Meanwhile, back home, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, a possible presidential candidate in 2000, says that Clinton's "fast track" bill probably isn't going to make it through Congress.

Strike threatened at Amtrak (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
An Amtrak strike would cause tremendous chaos in the Northeastern U.S., and it could happen soon. Also from Reuters today, a racial discrimination suit against Avis, and new jobs at General Motors brake plants.

Tough competition for higher ed from the private sector (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Some publicly supported colleges and universities spend a lot of time and resource doing things that any organization whose continued existence depends on efficient operation simply will not do, at least not for long. As a consequence, many conventional higher education institutions have allowed themselves to become highly vulnerable to alternatives from the private sector, particularly during the Internet age. Here's one for-profit university that is giving many schools that feed at the public trough cause for concern. Also in the New York Times today, Matt Richtel says it's a mistake to confuse information with knowledge, and there are job opportunities for people who can turn the one into the other. Information isn't data, knowledge isn't information, and wisdom isn't knowledge, or, at least, we think so, or we think we think so. We'll let you know once we decide if this is an informed, knowledgeable, or wise attitude.

The have vs. have not gap in Turkey (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
The United Nations keeps track of how the various countries compare in terms of unequal distribution of income. Milliyet reports that Turkey is 26th in the world.

Over 50? Here's good news (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Ken Sheets of the Kiplinger magazine reports that the over-50s are in demand, and here are some resources to help things along if you're one of those "junior citizens" (as opposed to "sophomore citizens," "senior citizens," and so on).

The move toward competitive employment for persons with disabilities (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
There has been a change of attitude, according to Paula Mergenhagen of American Demographics, who says that persons with developmental disabilities are being moved out of the "sheltered workshops" and into the mainstream. Also, Diane Crispell offers some insight into who's moonlighting and why.

Jobs may come back to Philadelphia Navy Yard (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
However, not all of those who were laid off will be wanting to come back. Life moves on, reports Paul Davies of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Thousands of hi-tech jobs added to Arizona's economy last year (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
The American Electronics Association reports that Arizona added 8,000 new high-tech jobs during 1996, but lost rank slightly among states in terms of overall hi-tech employment. Speaking of hi-tech, Jason Kelly of the Atlanta Business Chronicle tells about what employers and colleges are doing to try to narrow the gap between the demand for and the supply of technical workers. If you have technical qualifications, you'll probably have to be very creative in order to avoid being hired by somebody, given the shortage of folks like you.

Labor Market Centers construction to stop in Denmark (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Denmark's Labor Minister says that construction will halt on new centers for training the unemployed or for retraining people who already have jobs. Reason? Existing centers already have too much empty space, according to Berlingske Tidende.

Good times for consultants (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Business want a more flexible "just-in-time" workforce that doesn't carry major benefit costs, among other things. So, they're hiring consultants to do what employees used to do, which means that the consulting firms are hiring as other businesses continue to lay off managers. Gabrielle Solomon reports for the National Business Employment Weekly. Meanwhile, in Spain, El Mundo reports that the government intends to implement tighter controls over the kinds of jobs that can be performed by workers contracted through temporary employment agencies. Part of the concern is with preserving full-time jobs, but there is also concern with safety. Some lower-skilled persons are doing temporary work in hazardous industries, such as construction, and are usually paid much less than regular contracted workers.

What it takes to do business in Tanzania (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
It takes bribes, according to this report from Michael Switow.

IRS decides against layoffs (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
At America's Internal Revenue Service, 500 people will keep their jobs after all. Also in the Washington Post this morning, Robert Samuelson says that the battle between "free trade" and protectionism" is already over in the global, hi-tech economy. Hi-tech itself is one of the reasons.

Balancing work with other concerns (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Sue Shellenbarger writes in today's Wall Street Journal about how teens with jobs are trying to balance work-life issues. Also, Jay Solomon says that Indonesia is tightening its belt, and it is the poor that will suffer most. The Journal is on the web, but they charge a subscription fee.

What is the biggest employer in Switzerland? (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
If you guessed health services, you are absolutely correct, and the health care sector has grown 37 percent during the past ten years, even though the overall Swiss economy has grown almost none at all. In fact, it's the worst period of sluggishness since the Second World War, according to today's Tages-Anzeiger.

Return of the trickle-down theory, and a test of it (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Columnist Robert Reno says that it's taken a long time, but the American boom is finally beginning to influence those further down in the food chain. After five years of expansion, prosperity is trickling down, he says. How are people on the bottom doing elsewhere in the world? Paul Cleary writes in today's Sydney Morning Herald about the big increase in long-term unemployed in Australia.

Get set for more labor demands following the UPS strike (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
George Clucas of the Business Courier says that the UPS strike, and how it turned out, indicates that organized labor finally has some leverage in negotiations again.

Italian business takes aim at 35-hour work week (Wednesday, 10/15/97)
Corriere della Sera reports that, while Italy's political crisis has been resolved, many industrialists in that country don't like what it took to make it happen. Among the things that distress them most: the planned cut of the Italian work week to 35 hours by 2001.

Clinton to make free-trade case in Brazil (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso isn't as enthusiastic about "fast track" free trade in the Americas as is President Clinton, and Brazil is beginning to assert itself. Many experts expect Brazil to be one of the world's leading economies during the next century. Meanwhile, Mrs. Clinton hears about the benefits of free trade from Venezuelan women who tell their own stories.

Nobel Prize in economics goes to two Americans (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
They worked out a means of determining the value of derivatives.

Greece needs drastic pension changes, report asserts (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Naftemporiki reports that a professor who is a close advisor to Prime Minister Simitis has conducted a study which concludes that Greece's social security funds need major changes if they are to be able to pay pensions in 2010. Among other things, he recommends raising the retirement age and cutting early retirement programs.

Child support personnel may lose jobs in the UK (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
The Guardian reports that Britain's Child Support Agency will cut back services in local offices in order to reduce costs and start a 7-day-a-week telephone service instead. The agency employs 3,000 people in its local offices, and the restructuring could cost many of them their jobs. Some are expected to be transferred to regional centers, however.

Italian political crisis over budget resolved (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Corriere della Sera reports that an agreement has been reached between Prime Minister Prodi and the Italian communists. The communists have agreed to support Prodi's budget which is intended to enable the country to qualify for membership in the European monetary union. Included in the agreement is a provision that will reduce the work week to 35 hours by the year 2001. Here's more from Alessandra Galloni of Reuters. Speaking of budgets, Yeni Yuzyil reports that the Turkish government has gained the support for its budget of labor unions that were expected to resist. Among other things, the Turkish government is attempting to reduce a high rate of inflation.

Layoffs coming at IBM (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Restructuring that will eliminate its consumer division as a separate entity is expected to cost hundreds of jobs.

Unemployment down in Israel (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Israel has experienced the first drop in its unemployment rate since April last year, according to the latest government data. The number of job seekers declined by 2.8 percent last month, according to Ha'aretz. Also, here's the story from today's Jeruselum Post.

University of Michigan charged with reverse discrimination (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
A lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that the University of Michigan's admission policies discriminate against whites. Also in the New York Times today, Robert Pear reports on a court ruling saying that states cannot discriminate against recent residents in the payment of welfare benefits. Pennsylvania had been taking advantage of a provision in the 1996 welfare law that said it could pay smaller benefits to people who had recently moved into the state, but the court says it cannot. The ruling should have national implications. States with larger than average benefits have been concerned about attracting people specifically because of the larger benefits.

Agreement on labor law reached in Switzerland (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Tages-Anzeiger reports this morning that Swiss employers and trade unions have agreed on a plan for a new employment law that would liberalize the job market. Among other things, the plan would include extra pay for night work and shops would stay open on some Sundays without a special permit.

Telecommuting on the increase, but... (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Shelley Donald Coolidge reports that expectations that most people would be working from home by now have not been fulfilled. Telecommuting is increasing, but both workers and managers are skeptical or unenthusiastic. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, teachers unions are supporting school reforms as political momentum builds, but America's top teachers are worried that education will not continue to attract the greatly talented.

Citizens initiative on gay rights in Washington state (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
The proposed law would ban discrimination but prevent preferential treatment, and might pass in the state of Washington. Also in today's Washington Post, a battle over sweatshops in the Northern Mariana Islands, and columnist James Glassman examines the implications of that study on the real-world performance of physicians who got into medical school based on selection test scores vs. affirmative action procedures.

Upjohn to move 600 jobs (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Sue Ellen Christian reports from Kalamazoo, Michigan for today's Chicago Tribune on the company's plan to move 600 jobs from its headquarters to other locations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Also, columnist Carol Kleiman responds to a correspondent's remarks about the new "welfare to work lunacy."

On working and battling cancer at the same time (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Tom Incantalupo of Newsday tells one person's story as public attention is drawn to the current grave condition of Coca-Cola's chief executive. Also in Newsday today, a new report on New York's workers' compensation costs. They're high by national standards, but they're coming down.

Increasing social welfare crunch in Germany (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
More people are living off government welfare in Germany at the same time that the government is cutting its total support payments. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports on the new government statistics in its latest edition.

Don't dismiss the professional worrier (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
Fed head Greenspan is worrying at a time when there doesn't seem to be much to worry about, but, as the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes this morning, he's worth listening to.

Another free trade agreement (Tuesday, 10/14/97)
North America isn't the only place where free trade agreements are brewing. Here's news about the one about to be signed by Israel and Hungary.

Will there really be a European common currency before long? (Monday, 10/13/97)
It's absolutely certain that it may happen. Here's Anne Swardson's Washington Post story this morning about Europe's ongoing effort to integrate its national economies to a greater extent in order to compete in the new global information economy. A quick glance at Europe's history over the past thousand years or so provides a hint about how easy it's going to be. Elizabeth Neuffer of the Boston Globe describes one of the reasons it's not easy for the national economies to position themselves for European unity. Budgets are hard to get under control because so many people have grown to expect the costly social safety net. Germany's situation is one among many examples.

A new welfare benefit in Oakland (Monday, 10/13/97)
Access to the Internet should be a required part of new public housing projects, according to a policy statement in Oakland, California. Welfare and low-income residents will need access to the Internet in order to learn critical job skills for the new economy, according to a report in last month's edition of Government Technology.

Israeli Finance Ministry refuses to honor pension agreement (Monday, 10/13/97)
The Ministry will explain to the Israeli Supreme Court within a week, according to Ha'aretz. The agreement was reached in May 1996 with Histadrut, Israeli's largest labor federation.

Business leaders oppose 35-hour work week plan in France (Monday, 10/13/97)
La Tribune reports that French business leaders are afraid that the Prime Minister's plan for reducing the work week to 35 hours by the year 2000 will lead to business bankruptcies and higher unemployment. That's not its purpose, but many are skeptical of the government's expectation that such "job sharing" will instead help reduce France's record unemployment rates.

Advice to employers on discrimination claims (Monday, 10/13/97)
Wayne Helsby of the Orlando Business Journal tells how employers can help protect themselves during a highly litigious period. Also, Jill Krueger writes that a lot of Central Florida's welfare recipients aren't going to make the transition to work in time.

UK to grease the slide under incompetent teachers (Monday, 10/13/97)
The London Times reports that the British government is setting up a 20 million pound fund to help get rid of incompetent school teachers. The fund would enable targeted teachers to be taken out of the classroom immediately, rather than having to remain on the job while they work off their notice periods. Presumably, they would be paid during this period, but would not work in the classroom. The fund would cover the cost of hiring alternatives immediately.