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

August 1998

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

Agreement at U.S. West (Monday, 8/31/98)
The 15-day-old strike at U.S. West seems to be over. Dinah Zeiger reports that a tentative three-year agreement has been reached.

No movement at Northwest Airlines (Monday, 8/31/98)
Both sides seem to be digging in, hoping that the other will start bleeding on the floor before itself. Northwest Airlines is said to have three billion dollars stashed away, so it may be able to take quite a lot of pain. Pilot pay and job security are still the sticking issues. Benno Groeneveld reports on the mounting costs of the strike by more than 6,000 pilots. When Northwest's pilots last went on strike in 1978, the shutdown lasted more than 100 days.

Compromise deal falls apart in Russia (Monday, 8/31/98)
It had appeared that a compromise had been worked out that would have resulted in a sharing of some of the power presently held by President Yeltsin, but the deal seems to have come unglued. Communists in the Russian parliament are blocking Yeltin's reappointment of Viktor Chernomyrdin as prime minister. Here's more on the snag from today's New York Times as well as Reuters. Given that Russia's economic meltdown may be turning into political chaos, it could be the worst possible time for a visit from an American president, but Clinton's trip still seems to be on, even though about all he'll be able to offer is a kind word. Michael Wines of the New York Times wonders about the deep political divisions in Russia and whether the country can hold together, while Graham Allison tells why it all makes a difference to the rest of the world, including the United States.

A look at where the world's cascading economic crises began (Monday, 8/31/98)
Lynde McCormick of the Christian Science Monitor examines a small country with a small economy where the first domino fell a year ago last July. Many more followed, finally resulting in the avalanche in Russia, among other places.

The turbulent hi-tech workplace (Monday, 8/31/98)
Many companies are claiming that there is an overall shortage of workers with hi-tech skills, but, as Luke Timmerman of Spokane's Spokesman-Review reports, there is nothing static about hi-tech employment, and, in fact, a continual churning in technical industries often results in layoffs.

Small biz creates a lot of jobs, but many don't measure up, according to study (Monday, 8/31/98)
Here's a report from the San Jose Mercury News on a new study that finds that new jobs in small business are good news and bad news. The good news is that there are a lot of them, while the bad news is that many of those jobs aren't very good and don't pay very well.

Many stick with their present jobs because of health care concerns (Monday, 8/31/98)
The Los Angeles Times' Stuart Silverstein writes about the large number of persons who aren't likely to take advantage of a strong job market's opportunities for making changes because they must hang on to their present health care coverage.

Search for illegal workers in Turkey (Monday, 8/31/98)
Turkey's Labor Ministry has announced that it will begin a nationwide inspection of work settings in order to identify persons working without social security, according to the Financial Forum. The nation's social security system is experiencing a deficit, and part of the reason is that many employers are not making social security contributions for many of their employees.

Whoops! A Medicare glitch may cost American elderly a half billion dollars (Monday, 8/31/98)
William Branigin reports on the error and its aftermath in today's Washington Post.

UK government will try to reduce work stress for many (Monday, 8/31/98)
Recent research has indicated that a half million workers in Britain suffer from stress-related illnesses. The Health and Safety Executive will issue guidelines to companies aimed at reducing the amount of stress in the workplace, according to The Independent.

Minnesota teacher unions' merger about to become official (Monday, 8/31/98)
A national merger of the AFT and the NEA fell through, but the rival unions are getting together in Minnesota, just the same. Norman Draper reports for today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. The paper also editorializes today in favor of the use of sampling in the next national census.

Employment conference scheduled in South Africa (Monday, 8/31/98)
South Africa's President Mandela has announced that an employment conference with representatives from government, business, and labor will be held on October 30 with the aim of reducing that country's unemployment. Business Report has the story.

Where are they now? (Monday, 8/31/98)
Remember all those laid off middle managers who found themselves out in the cold because of downsizing and restructuring that largely eliminated their roles in some companies? Now, many are being recruited by consulting firms. Here's Brian Palmer's report from Fortune magazine.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: WorkInfoNet (Monday, 8/31/98)
Canada's WorkInfoNet is a bilingual service for Canadians seeking labour market resources or services relating to human resource development. Eighteen-hundred links to other sites are included.

Compromise in Russia (Sunday, 8/30/98)
A deal has been reached that apparently will allow President Yeltsin to remain in office while transferring some of his powers to others and allowing Viktor Chernomyrdin to move ahead quickly as prime minister. The compromise is intended to build a new political consensus in Russia that hopefully will enable a more effective response to that country's desperate financial crisis, which also threatens whatever political stability that remains. Adam Entous reports that American President Clinton will soon be on his way to Russia with many top economic advisors, but the New York Times' John Broder says that the timing isn't wonderful. Meanwhile, Britain's Tony Blair has been on the phone with G7 leaders, and loans to Russia have become a significant issue in the tight German election campaign. Celestine Bohlen tells how the Russian people are trying to find ways to survive, and this Los Angeles Times story tells about the very sad state of Russian agriculture. Finally, Joseph Kahn of the New York Times says that the Russia's current economic mess with its radiating effects over much of the globe is an example of the new global economy's downside.

Quick end to the Northwest strike not expected (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Both sides seem to be digging in, as Benno Groeneveld of Reuters reports, and the big air carrier's pilots head for home. Laurence Zuckerman of the New York Times explains the issues in the conflict--pay and job security--and Fetzer Mills tells how passengers are coping and how they feel about the fact that America's fourth-largest airline is not flying.

Some editorial thoughts after two years of welfare reform (Sunday, 8/30/98)
It's been two years since the old welfare system in the United States was scrapped, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune has some editorial thoughts about the next necessary step. Dave Hage writes that "welfare reform" means different things in different states, and Gregory Acs has some thoughts about what it will take to continue the movement of people from welfare to work.

Job stability comes to Wall Street (Sunday, 8/30/98)
The old boom and bust cycle on Wall Street seems to have been tamed for the moment. We're talking about hiring and firing, of course. Employment levels on the street seem to have stabilized and seem less tied to the market.

Jackson and Boeing head to meet over discrimination complaints (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Jesse Jackson reportedly had been frustrated because he had been having difficulty getting together with leaders at Boeing to talk about improving conditions for minorities at the big aircraft company. Following those reports, scheduling a meeting with the company's chairman got easier.

The very hard lives of maids in Singapore (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Here's Jasmina Kuzmanovic's story from the Philadelphia Inquirer about efforts to curb abuses affecting women from other countries who work and work and work as maids in the prosperous city state.

New Post column on work-life issues (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Here's Kirstin Downey Grimsley's first Washington Post column in which experts will answer readers' questions about work issues, and, in particular, balancing work with the rest of life. Also in the Post today, Amy Joyce reports that an increasing number of hi-tech companies are creating their own in-house units for training workers in order to alleviate the shortage of people with tech skills, and Ceci Connolly writes that the Clinton administration seems to be gearing up to continue to the battle with Congressional Republicans over managed health care and the idea of a "patients' bill of rights."

Preparing for life and work on the outside (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Prison work programs can help ex-convicts become productive citizens once they leave prison by giving them what they will need to survive without crime in the new work world. Here's the story from the Deseret News.

Did you know that things are more flexible now for your 401(k)? (Sunday, 8/30/98)
You can shift your assets around more readily than before in order to respond to market conditions, but, as Mickey Meece reports, not many people are taking advantage of their opportunities.

Pay is higher, but mostly because of the extra goodies (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Employers are having to offer extra incentives in order to attract and hold the workers they need, and a result has been an overall rise in average pay levels in the United States. Here's the story from Susan Wells of the New York Times.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: AgEcon Search (Sunday, 8/30/98)
Agriculture has been in the news a lot lately, as many American farmers struggle because of low farm product prices and many abandon farming altogether to leave the Great Plains, resulting in a decline in population and a "return of the frontier" in some regions. For those interested in full-text versions of papers having to do with agricultural economics, here's AgEcon Search from the University of Minnesota.

Strike at Northwest Airlines (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Northwest's pilots went on strike at 11:01 PM CDT last night, shutting down the nation's fourth largest airline. Here's the story from Benno Groeneveld of Reuters, as well as from the New York Times, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Washington Post. President Clinton could intervene, but observers think that it's unlikely, and, in fact, the White House is indicating that the Administration will stay out of it.

Yeltsin insists that he won't go prematurely (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Russian President Yeltsin says he will serve out his term, despite pressures to step down as Russia's financial crisis worsens. Many Russians and also many persons in other parts of the world worry about political stability in the country, but many are also skeptical about Yeltsin's ability to survive politically during the present crisis. Sharon LaFraniere reports that one official who is on his way out predicts that Russia's market economy will survive, despite everything, and acting Prime Minister Chernomyrdin vowed that Russia will not return to the ways of the old Soviet Union. Steve Holland reports that they're getting plenty of urging from the U.S. to stay the course, and President Clinton, who still intends to be in Russia meeting with President Yeltsin and others within a couple of days, says the U.S. will help all it can if Russia takes the tough steps necessary to avert economic collapse. Meanwhile, the Russian people continue to suffer terribly, and expect things to get quite a lot worse before they get better, suggesting to many that serious social upheaval could be on the horizon in Russia too if substantive changes do not take hold soon.

U.S. stocks down again (Saturday, 8/29/98)
The American stock market slipped for the third day yesterday. The Dow has suffered its largest weekly point loss ever, but, of course, that can be misleading, because those losses are coming off a much larger base than during previous years, so, in percentage terms, there's no comparison to, say, 1929. Still, the unsettled international situation is taking its toll, not only in the U.S., but also across many of the world's markets. For instance, the Nikkei average has hit a 12-year low in Japan.

More trouble for U.S. West (Saturday, 8/29/98)
In addition to the strike at U.S. West, Steve Alexander of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the company may face a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission hearing because of consumer complaints. Also, as Dinah Zeiger reports, an additional walkout may occur in Montana on September 1.

Big plan for skills development in Asian economies (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Hisane Masaki of the Japan Times writes about Malaysia's proposed program for helping persons in APEC member economies acquire necessary work skills. Also in the Times today, here's Eric Johnston's story about proposed changes in pensions for foreign workers in Japan. Foreign university teachers have formed a group to work on the issues.

Farmers fall into safety net (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Grain prices are putting tremendous pressure on many American farmers. Philip Brasher reports that a little-known USDA program is helping some survive.

Job cuts at Deluxe (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Your checks may very well be printed by Deluxe Corporation, but the company has been making big overhead cuts lately. Among the consequences: A lot of jobs are being cut too. Here's the story from Dee DePass of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Some things to think about as Labor Day approaches in the U.S. (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Kim Bobo of the Akron Beacon Journal offers some alternative ideas about family values, particularly as related to jobs. For instance, people need jobs that can support families as well as leave time available for families, according to the writer.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Salary Zone (Saturday, 8/29/98)
Curious about what people are making, either because you're negotiating for a new job or because you're an HR professional? Want to make comparisons? Here's the Salary Zone with lots of salary information, and Salary Search is coming to the site soon, they say.

Waiting to exhale at Northwest (Friday, 8/28/98)
Talks continue at Northwest Airlines, but, by around 11 PM CDT, a lot of pilots who are used to flying may be walking...the picket line. The company may be preparing its final offer, and has already canceled a large proportion of its flights in anticipation of what may happen tonight. Meanwhile, a strike that's already been underway for about two weeks seems to be getting more acrimonious. Here's news about the growing unfriendliness at U.S. West where negotiators are apparently shouting at each other.

Investors badly shaken by events in Russia (Friday, 8/28/98)
Here's news about the big decline of the Dow yesterday from the New York Times and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Holly Rosenkrantz of Reuters says that continued market volatility can be expected. Edward Wyatt says that mutual fund investors are also looking for safer places to put their money, while Jonathan Fuerbringer says that they won't find safety in commodities. The American dollar is down too, so, what's left--stuffing the money under the mattress? Tim Smart of the Washington Post tells about some of the really big losers so far because of the Russian meltdown, and London's Financial Times estimates that foreign creditors and investors have $200 billion at risk in Russia. Clarence Fernandez reports that Asian markets were hit yesterday too, while European stocks recovered somewhat by the end of the day, although Europe is plenty worried.

Once again, the world watches Russia with deep anxiety (Friday, 8/28/98)
For a variety of reasons, international attention has focused on Russia several times during the 20th century. Once again, large numbers of people throughout the world worry about how events in Russia may influence their own lives. Edmund Andrews of the New York Times reports that many experts are saying that economic fundamentals aren't quite as bad as many persons seem to think. Nonetheless, for whatever reason, investors throughout the world scrambled to find safer places for their money yesterday in response to Russia's deteriorating economic situation with its broad political implications. Many people around the world are worried about Japan's economy too, but a key difference is that the Japanese don't have thousands of old leftover Soviet nuclear missiles capable of reaching a lot of other places, including North America. Meanwhile, in Russia itself, there is growing pressure for President Yeltsin to quit, and some are guessing that he can't last much longer. Here's more about that from this Los Angeles Times article, as well as from the Washington Post and the Christian Science Monitor. Also, Michael Gordon of the New York Times and David Hoffman of the Washington Post tell about the role being played by figures from the communist era, as well as by the tycoons, and how some of the old Soviet-style procedures for managing the economy are beginning to look better to the current government, even though the U.S. continues to urge Russia to bite the bullet and stick with its free-market reforms. President Clinton is scheduled to be in Russia to meet with President Yeltsin within a few days.

Two places where recession has become official (Friday, 8/28/98)
As parts of the world worry about how cascading financial crises may produce depressions, Hong Kong and Malaysia have economies that are officially in recession.

The good news about the stock market decline (Friday, 8/28/98)
Robert O'Harrow Jr. sees something good in the recent loss of American stock values, including a possible retreat from the "irrational exuberance" that Alan Greenspan worried about some months ago. It reminds us of Thumper in the Disney movie, though, who advised that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Some investors who are nursing their wounds may see this attempt to look on the bright side in the same general category as the old notion that "death is nature's way of telling us to slow down."

VR in the training of surgeons (Friday, 8/28/98)
Here's how experience with virtual reality is helping to prepare surgeons for the real thing.

German chancellor sees improved labor market (Friday, 8/28/98)
Chancellor Kohl points out that German unemployment has been falling from its recent postwar record highs. The country's unemployment annual rate has fallen three months in a row, according to Franfurter Rundschau.

More job cuts at 3M (Friday, 8/28/98)
Minnesota-based 3M Corporation has long had a reputation as one of the most effective American companies (ask famed consultant Tom Peters), as well as one of its best employers. However, they're restructuring, and jobs are being jettisoned as part of the process. Here's news about the latest round of job cuts from Reuters and Terry Fiedler of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Also, a major Chip equipment company is no longer in the chips. Dan Fost of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Applied Materials will cut 2,000 jobs.

New European economy expected because of narrowing tech gap (Friday, 8/28/98)
Business Week reports that the technology gap between Europe and the U.S. will have narrowed considerably by 2005, and this should fundamentally benefit the increasingly integrated European economy. The "unifying influence of the euro currency" will help, according to technology company leaders.

Have you been working more and enjoying it less? (Friday, 8/28/98)
Americans are getting tired of working so many hours, according to the Christian Science Monitor's Abraham McLaughlin, and want to cut back in order to have more time for family and other things.

Brain tumors result in suit against Amoco (Friday, 8/28/98)
Pam Belluck reports on the disproportionate number of Amoco workers over the years who have had brain tumors. Nobody knows why, but some have filed suit against the company.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Junior Achievement (Friday, 8/28/98)
Junior Achievement has been helping children to understand business and economics for a very long time, and is playing a key role in helping young people in nearly a hundred countries to prepare themselves for participation in the revolutionary new world economy.

Russia suspends foreign currency trading second day in a row (Thursday, 8/27/98)
Oleg Shchedrov reports on the near panic in Russia. Here's more on the collapse of the ruble from Sharon LaFraniere of the Washington Post. Judith Matloff of the Christian Science Monitor writes that, among the things Russia is trying in order to cope with the crisis is to merge its banks. Knut Engelmann says that top economic powers around the world are becoming increasingly alarmed and are urging Russia to do something, which may already have occurred to them. Adam Cox reports that fears of global consequences are shaking world markets, and Sam Dillon the New York Times tells about how the Russian mess is affecting Latin America. Also, third-quarter data show that the hot American economy isn't quite so hot anymore, in part because of events in Asia. It's all further evidence of the integrated global economy in which pneumonia in one part of the world produces bad colds all over the place. Peter Hakim argues for global solutions to global problems, and his paper editorializes on the reluctance of the American Congress to provide the IMF with what it needs to fight fires around the world.

Tomorrow may be "S-Day" at Northwest (Thursday, 8/27/98)
Talks are continuing between Northwest Airlines and its pilots, and while some progress has been reported--there were even unfounded rumors of a settlement for a while--the principal sticking point still seems to be pilot pay. Frank Swoboda reports that the airline is cancelling large numbers of its flights in anticipation of a strike this weekend. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that it isn't only the pilots who may strike at Northwest. The paper also provides a survival guide for travelers if one or more strikes occur. In other labor news, things get less friendly in the U.S. West strike, and a UAW strike deadline passes at Lear Corporation.

A settlement at Hyundai that should avert violence still makes some wonder (Thursday, 8/27/98)
The concern is with whether South Korea really is committed to its own economic reforms, according to Evelyn Iritani of the Los Angeles Times.

Elders can relax a little about the charitable contributions they would like to make (Thursday, 8/27/98)
Concern with having enough income during retirement, as well as with other issues, sometimes makes older Americans reluctant to give as much as they would like. Here's advice on how they might be able to do it all.

More on the sampling in the census question (Thursday, 8/27/98)
The New York Times' Michael Weinstein reports on what statisticians are saying about whether sampling would improve accuracy in the next census. A court has ruled against it, but the Clinton administration says it will appeal.

Hire Economics (Thursday, 8/27/98)
Stephanie Stoughton reports that a lot of employers may be losing sleep now that the student workers are about to leave. In Canada, Eric Beauchesne of the Ottawa Citizen says that the Canadian economy is getting rid of a lot of its low-paying jobs. In fact, as the Toronto Star reports, 1 in 20 Canadians work for minimum wage now. Jerry Langdon of the San Jose Mercury News tells how to motivate your low-pay workers, assuming that you still have any.

What you always wanted to know about sex in the workplace but nobody knew what to tell you (Thursday, 8/27/98)
Heather Pauly of the Chicago Sun Times reports that recent, ah, well, events have made many employers take another look at the rules when it comes to sexuality at work.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Economic Statistics Briefing Room (Thursday, 8/27/98)
What comes to mind when you think of the White House? No, no, no, leadership, leadership, and knowledge, particularly knowledge. In fact, the White House wants to share. Here are the latest government economic statistics gathered together in one place and accessible to you from the White House Economic Statistics Briefing Room. International statistics are included, incidentally.

Countdown continues at Northwest (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
Will there be a strike at Northwest Airlines this weekend or not? Nobody really knows, but plenty of people are trying to get ready, including many states served by the big air carrier. Meanwhile, Northwest is telling non-pilots to be ready to report for work, no matter what happens Friday. Incidentally, if you're intending to travel, here are some survival tips from Edwin McDowell of the New York Times.

Phone customers becoming restive (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
With 34,000 workers missing from action at U.S West, service delays are more or less inevitable, and customers across 13 western states are beginning to get impatient. Talks continue at U.S. West, though, and talks are starting up again at the other telephone workers strike on the opposite side of the country.

More on General Motors and its workers (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
GM is trying to make a deal with workers at its Delphi Automotive Systems unit, so that it can sell it off, and the company is also trying to avoid a strike at Saturn.

Former French PM under investigation (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
Authorities are looking at Alain Juppe as a possible participant in a payroll scam, according to Thierry Leveque. Also from Reuters today, 2,000 jobs will be cut at Applied Materials, according to Therese Poletti.

If you're a Greek government employee, start tightening your belt (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
Naftemporiki reports that, in an effort to slow inflation, Greece will put stricter limits on pay for government employees next year. They want to hold wage increases to 2 percent, compared to 2.5 percent this year.

Black enrollment turns around at colleges in the South (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
Rene Sanchez of the Washington Post reports on the decline in African American enrollment at southern colleges. Speaking of college, Newsday's Randi Feigenbaum reports that many students are overlooking renters' insurance when they move away from home, and that can be a serious mistake.

The Post editorializes on the census ruling (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
Today's Washington Post speaks its journalistic mind on what the argument over sampling in the next census is really all about, and what it thinks of the court ruling. Steven Holmes of the New York Times reports that the Clinton administration intends to appeal.

Another round of panic sweeps across Russia's financial community (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
The ruble loses more value as the Russian government attempts to restructure its debt payment. Beleaguered President Clinton will be meeting with beleaguered President Yeltsin in about a week.

Israeli finance minister issues warning about effects of deficit (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
According to Ma'ariv, Israel's finance minister, Ya'acov Ne'eman warns that increasing the budget deficit will cause a collapse of the Israeli economy and create hundreds of thousands of additional unemployed.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Nobel Prize Winners in Economics (Wednesday, 8/26/98)
Want to check to see if you're listed among the Nobel Laureates? Here are the Nobel Prize Winners in Economics.

Tough first day back on the job (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
Adam Tanner reports that Russia's ruble has fallen again as acting Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin begins to put his new team together. Michael Gordon of the New York Times says that President Yeltsin has decided that it would be better to have the communists working with him than against him in the current crisis, so he's prepared to make some accommodations. Istanbul's Hurriyet reports that top Turkish officials have gone to Moscow to see what assistance they can offer to the Russians. Finally, Michael Wines, reporting from Moscow, says that the Russian people are working harder and harder for less and less. Now, take a couple of aspirin and then read Knut Engelmann's story about the global meltdown scenario. Three trouble spots, in particular, are on expert minds at the moment.

No sampling in the census (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
A federal court has ruled that sampling procedures cannot be used as part of the next big census in the United States. Proponents of the idea claim that it would increase accuracy if an effort were not made to count everybody. That may seem peculiar, but most statisticians probably would agree that it's true. However, the Constitution says a census is a census, and that means making an effort to count each of about 260 million persons in the United States. When the Constitution was written, the U.S. population was confined to a fairly small geographical region and was smaller than the present population of the state of Minnesota. Barbara Vobejda of the Washington Post tells how sampling would change things if it were used.

Lawsuit against Liz Claiborne thrown out (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
Diana Henriques of the New York Times has the story.

Tens of thousands of telecommunications workers remain off the job (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
The U.S. West strike continues, but a second strike has idled many workers in Connecticut. Negotiators in the U.S.West strike talked for seven hours yesterday and are expected to do more talking today. In other labor news, barring last-minute breakthroughs, a strike at Northwest Airlines seems an increasingly likely possibility, and Northwest's competitors are getting ready. Speaking of things that fly through the air, the restructuring at Northrop Grumman is underway, and it will mean the loss of 8,000 jobs.

More on that new Manpower survey (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
A strong job market should continue in the United States through the remainder of this year, according to a survey conducted by the big temp agency.

Wilson says "Please" to the President (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
California's governor is trying to persuade President Clinton that he should not veto a bill that would allow more foreign hi-tech workers into the U.S. However, the San Jose Mercury News reports on an alternative point of view offered by critics. Silicon Valley shouldn't become dependent on foreign workers, they say. Finally, Erik Espe writes in that famous valley's Business Journal that some older tech workers are feeling than an "age gauge" is used in hiring in the Valley, but employers are denying it.

Health education in the workplace for diabetics (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
It's makes a difference too, according to a report in the current edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Affected workers learn how to manage their disease more effectively.

What it takes to organize effectively (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
A Cornell University economist has some conclusions about union organizing efforts after years of research. Here's the story from Jim McKay of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Hot job market not so good for the armed services (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
The American Air Force and Navy are finding it hard to hang on to highly skilled people who can find many interesting options in the civilian economy. Here's the story from Dave Moniz of the Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Lee Lawrence reports on the growing presence of "soft skill " training in continuing education programs.

Some results from research on occupational disease (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
Thora Qaddumi of the Houston Chronicle writes about the results of two studies sponsored by an Austin, Texas organization.

Italian payrolls steady last month (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
La Stampa reports that payrolls at large industrial companies remained unchanged last month on the average. An increase in the hiring of metalworkers offset employment declines in manufacturing, energy, gas and water.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: United States Postal Service (Tuesday, 8/25/98)
The United States Postal Service site offers zip code information, domestic and international postal rates, a means for tracking your priority mail, and more.

Chernomyrdin's back (Monday, 8/24/98)
Russian President Yeltsin has re-appointed Viktor Chernomyrdin as prime minister, as the Russian government scrambles to get a deteriorating economic situation under control and restore stability. American President Clinton is still scheduled to visit Russia to meet with Yeltsin, despite their respective domestic problems.

Agreement at Hyundai in South Korea (Monday, 8/24/98)
Workers had occupied South Korea's largest auto plant to protest planned layoffs as part of that country's economic reconstruction plan. Agreement finally was reached Monday.

The news at U.S. West is that there isn't a whole lot of news, but that may be good news (Monday, 8/24/98)
Negotiations are continuing in an effort to bring tens of thousands of workers back to the job across thirteen states.

Very good jobs picture for fourth quarter (Monday, 8/24/98)
The fourth quarter job market will be the best in more than two decades, according to a staffing firm's report.

Play can be serious business (Monday, 8/24/98)
Games are part of the training for traders, while the Washington Post's Sarah Schafer reports more generally on how play can be turned to one's advantage in the development of job-related skills.

Auto strike looms in South Africa (Monday, 8/24/98)
South Africa's Business Day reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is planning to begin a national strike on September 1. The union has rejected a 4.5 percent wage increase offer. It wants increases linked to inflation which would range from 12 to 18 percent. Billions in exports could be affected.

Survey finds affirmative action to be "moderately successful" (Monday, 8/24/98)
Paul Van Slambrouck reports on research that suggests rolling back affirmative action is a dangerous experiment following moderate overall success of these programs. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, Michael Switow reports on government intervention in Hong Kong's stock market that, in the former British colony, is unprecedented. Reason: a desperate effort to tame a bear. Finally, Guy Halverson passes along some advice to a correspondent who wants to minimize inheritance taxes.

Some expect Brazil's economy to flourish following privatization (Monday, 8/24/98)
Here's Steven Ginsburg's report from the Washington Post.

Raspberry applies "locus of control" to poverty issues (Monday, 8/24/98)
Here's the nationally syndicated columnist's examination of some psychological concepts as they may apply to poverty and getting out of it.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Trends In The U.S. Job Market (Monday, 8/24/98)
America's Career InfoNet summarizes information about the American job market on the web. If you're interested in the likely demand for persons in various occupations, educational requirements, or expected wage levels, check here for Trends In The U.S. Job Market.

Sunday isn't a day off for negotiators (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Dinah Zeiger of Reuters reports that the sides will be talking today in an effort to end the strike at U.S. West. In fact, it's an order. Meanwhile, another telephone company is hit by a strike, this time in southern New England. More than 6,000 workers are affected, reports CNN.

Agreement at Canadian National Railway (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Gilbert Le Gras reports that agreement was reached Saturday that should lead to a new contract for thousands of repair, clerical, and other workers. CN is Canada's largest railway and the sixth largest in North America.

Clinton could stop a strike at Northwest Airlines, but would he? (Sunday, 8/23/98)
If Northwest Airlines is shut down by one or more strikes, it will cause an unholy mess for travelers throughout much of the world, as well as for various local economies. The President could intervene, but, as Tony Kennedy reports, it's anything but a sure bet that he will do so. Mr. Kennedy's newspaper editorializes that intervention should be no less than a last resort.

Little Brother may be watching (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Do you spent your boss' time wandering around on the web? S/he may know all about it, as well as just which sites you've been visiting, among other things.

Teens at greatest risk for work-related injuries (Sunday, 8/23/98)
The Los Angeles Times' Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar reports on the growing occupational hazards for teenagers in the hot American economy. One reason: the labor shortage often results in teens being pushed into jobs for which they may not be well-prepared.

Not so much job hopping as you may imagine (Sunday, 8/23/98)
We've reported on how many persons with hi-tech skills are hopping around quite a lot in places like Silicon Valley, but, as Susan Wells reports, this pattern has not been typical across the American economy.

More on the grim impact of Russia's economic troubles (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Celestine Bohlen of the New York Times reports from Kaluga, Russia.

Wisconsin brewer to lay off workers (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Fourteen workers will be laid off at G. Heileman Brewing in La Crosse, Wisconsin. More layoffs are likely to come later because of slow beer sales.

For many, whether or not to work outside the home is not a matter of ideology (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Jane Gross writes about how many women are finding self-help books to be falling short on the work vs. don't work issue.

Increased options in saving for college (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Suddenly, it's not simply a matter of stuffing money under the mattress of putting it in a passbook savings account. Anne Tergesen reports on the variety of new financial instruments to help people prepare for the high cost of college future.

Prep for work involves more than job skills (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Self-esteem training can also be important for those trying to move from welfare to work. Here's Dara Akiko Williams' story from the Austin American-Statesman about a special independence training program conducted by Los Angeles County.

If this trend moves to education, it will give new meaning to the term "teacher's pet" (Sunday, 8/23/98)
Max Jarman of the Arizona Republic reports that a growing number of businesses in the Phoenix area are allowing employees to bring their pets to work.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Quicken.com (Sunday, 8/23/98)
It's likely that Quicken is the most widely used financial software, at least for personal use. The same company maintains an information-rich web site, as well, where you can find articles, retirement advice, links to additional resources, stock quotes, and financial news. Here's Quicken.com.

Striking workers restrained from picketing U.S. West buildings (Saturday, 8/22/98)
CNN Financial has the latest in the U.S. West story, including news about the temporary restraining order. Meanwhile, here's a major newspaper's editorial, prompted in part by the strike at U.S. West, on how the strong job market has made organized labor more assertive.

President urged to resign (Saturday, 8/22/98)
President Yeltsin, that is. Because of his handling of the financial crisis, the Russian parliament says it wants him out. Many persons outside Russia are wondering if this is the beginning of a new round of dangerous political instability in Russia. Incidentally, the Russian government defends its actions.

The risks of being a UN aid worker (Saturday, 8/22/98)
The Los Angeles Times' Craig Turner writes that it's now more dangerous to be a humanitarian aid worker than a soldier on peacekeeping duty.

How a Northwest strike would affect workers at the Twin Cities airport (Saturday, 8/22/98)
The effects would be significant, because this is where America's fourth-largest airline is headquartered. Here's the story from John Windrow of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Activists advocate good jobs and child care for people leaving welfare (Saturday, 8/22/98)
Welfare reform won't work if dead-end jobs are all that await former welfare recipients, according to activists. Carla Crowder of the Rocky Mountain News has the details about a rally involving leaders from a number of interested organizations.

Job mobility in Silicon Valley (Saturday, 8/22/98)
Here's USA Today's story about how job-hopping won't necessarily be held against you if you have high-tech skills in an economy short on high-tech skills.

Bay area garbage strike ends (Saturday, 8/22/98)
Garbage workers in part of the San Francisco region have been on strike for three weeks. They're heading back to work, reports the San Francisco Examiner.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: My Virtual Reference Desk (Saturday, 8/22/98)
Again, with millions of returning students in mind, here's another place to start when looking for references, periodicals, and more. It's My Virtual Reference Desk.

Discrimination charged at Amtrak (Friday, 8/21/98)
A new lawsuit alleges that Amtrak has been discriminating against African American managers.

U.S. West says it's flexible on the overtime issue (Friday, 8/21/98)
Mandatory overtime seems to be the key sticking point in the big strike at U.S. West. The company says that it's willing to work on that issue with representatives of the union. Sandy Shore writes in the Fort Worth Star Telegram that the two sides are talking to each other, but have imposed a gag order on themselves. Both sides have stepped up their efforts to win the hearts and minds of the public through advertising, however. Jonathan Gaw of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says that, unlike most companies under similar circumstances, U.S. West doesn't have to worry much about a loss of market share because of the strike.

Union softens its opposition to layoffs at South Korea's Hyundai motors (Friday, 8/21/98)
A strike has been going on for a month at the largest automotive plant in South Korea with layoffs the principal issue. The union has agreed to compromise a bit on layoffs, which could mean that a resolution of the conflict is near. Speaking of layoffs, a new study finds that women are somewhat more likely to be laid off in the United States. Here's that story from the Los Angeles Times.

The latest on what may be done about the bad loans in Japan (Friday, 8/21/98)
Japan's banking system has been wobbling because of a mountain of bad debt, which the Japanese government will probably have to clean up in order to enable the Japanese economy to begin restoring itself. Here's the latest on a possible major early step in that process with Miki Shimogori reporting. Sandra Sugawara of the Washington Post reports on the extreme consequences of the recession in Japan. Finally, Cameron Barr of the Christian Science Monitor writes about the evolutionary changes that are occurring in the Japanese economy, which, among other things, will mean more freedom, but less security than people are used to.

Costly strike at the port of Lisbon (Friday, 8/21/98)
According to Publico, the strike is costing $16 million per day, while in Italy, it's the dubbing actors who are on strike. These are the people who dub the audio of foreign movies into Italian. Corriere della Sera says that the strike may delay the opening of many major American movies in that country. Also in Italy, Treasury Secretary Ciampi tells businesses that they may be willing to make their labor markets more flexible, as employers want, in return for a commitment from the companies to keep their gross profit margins unchanged and channel the savings into investments in under-developed areas. Il Sole/24 Ore has the story today.

It has only just begun, says Russian PM (Friday, 8/21/98)
Don't expect the financial crisis in Russia to be over any time soon, according to Prime Minister Kiriyenko. He thinks the government has been doing the right things, though. Judith Ingram writes from Moscow that Alexander Livshits, who recently resigned as President Yeltsin's chief economic advisor, thinks that the devaluation of the ruble is the most painful.

Jobless claims down in the U.S. (Friday, 8/21/98)
First-time jobless claims declined last week in the United States, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Ground crews at Air France may be working 35-hour weeks before long (Friday, 8/21/98)
Air France has 30,000 employees who work on the ground. They will begin negotiations on September 1 on the 35-hour week and expect a deal before the end of the year, according to La Tribune.

Harassment via the Internet charged (Friday, 8/21/98)
A former Smith Barney investment banker has been ordered to appear in court to face charges that he harrassed top executives through the use of electronic mail.

Talks about job cuts today at Belgium's Digital Electronics (Friday, 8/21/98)
Digital has been taken over by Compaq Computer Corporation, which says it plans to cut 5,000 jobs at both Digital and Compaq in Europe. About 790 people in Belgium work for the two companies, and they will be talking today about how to handle the cuts. Incidentally, Compaq has just been displaced by Dell Computer Corporation of Austin, Texas as the largest maker of personal computers.

Cancer risk for oil refinery workers (Friday, 8/21/98)
Workers exposed to gasoline on the job may be at greatrer risk for developing kidney cancer according to a report in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Workers lose jobs at Crown Books (Friday, 8/21/98)
Steven Ginsberg reports that 170 workers have lost their jobs as 14 Crown bookstores close in the Washington, D. C. area as part of the company's bankruptcy reorganization. Almost overnight, a lot of book sales have moved from stores to the Internet, with upstart Amazon.com leading in online sales. Barnes & Noble has announced that it will spin off its online service and try to raise money through an IPO.

South Africa's largest labor federation has plan for creating jobs (Friday, 8/21/98)
South Africa's Business Day reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions thinks it knows how to raise 50 billion rand to create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Among other things, it would involve workers contributing one day's wages to a jobs fund.

Hoffa picking up momentum (Friday, 8/21/98)
Glenn Burkins writes in today's Wall Street Journal that James Hoffa seems to be gaining support in his bid to become president of the Teamsters.

Liberal arts grads should enjoy it while they can (Friday, 8/21/98)
In the new economy, specific skills tend to be more important than credentials, but when there's a big labor shortage, employers are more willing to compromise and accept greater training costs. One consequence is that liberal arts graduates are finding a more receptive job market than usual.

If you need your roof fixed in Chicago, there may be a delay (Friday, 8/21/98)
The Chicago Sun Times' Francine Knowles tells about the shortage of workers in the roofing industry.

More on the sex industry that the ILO wants recognized (Friday, 8/21/98)
The International Labor Organization reports that prostitution is now one of the major industries in Southeast Asia.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Entrepreneur Magazine (Friday, 8/21/98)
Entrepreneur Magazine is on your newsstand and also on the web. It's a source of information and ideas for the large number of people who want to start their own businesses in the new economy.

Talks continue at U.S. West (Thursday, 8/20/98)
Negotiators met yesterday, and are getting together again today in an effort to end the strike at the big Baby Bell. Meanwhile, managers who are replacing striking workers are putting in long hours.

ILO says sex industry should be recognized (Thursday, 8/20/98)
Elizabeth Olson of the New York Times reports that the International Labor Organization, an agency of the United Nations, says, in a new report, that the international sex trade should be recognized as a thriving economic sector. Also in the Times, Louis Uchitelle writes that a new Labor Department survey finds that the pace of layoffs has slowed in the United States. Gretchen Morgenson finds that more people are becoming critical of the increasingly common practice of lowering the price at which employees can buy stocks in order to retain them in a tight labor market. Finally, Laurence Zuckerman reports that Delta Airline's dispute with its pilots may jeopardize that company's alliance with United Airlines.

ACTU wants $26.60 a week pay rise for 2 million workers (Thursday, 8/20/98)
John Elliocott and Nicholas Way of the Australian News Network report that the big union will apply to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission soon. Employer are opposed, they say.

Canadian paper weighs the rights of workers and taxpayers (Thursday, 8/20/98)
The Montreal Gazette editorializes on whether Canada's federal government should appeal the pay equity ruling.

Federal pay raise approved (Thursday, 8/20/98)
President Clinton has approved a 3.6 percent pay raise for federal workers. The official announcement will be made today, according to reports.

High-paying jobs not socially cool (Thursday, 8/20/98)
Robert Greene of Fox News reports that a new survey of high school students and their attitudes toward computer-related jobs is a cause for concern for high-tech employers who already suffer a shortage of skilled workers.

Psychiatric hospital to pay nearly $5 million in Medicare fraud case (Thursday, 8/20/98)
The company illegally collected millions from Medicare for elderly patients, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: AFL-CIO (Thursday, 8/20/98)
The huge American labor federation is on the web, which will come as no surprise, we're sure. Here's the AFL-CIO.

Will foreign creditors have to wait at the end of the line? (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
Here's the latest news on Russia's financial whirlwind. Growing concern among foreign investors has resulted in Russia's putting off an announcement about how it plans to restructure government debt following the devaluation of the ruble. The Russian economy has been in crisis for a long time with great numbers of workers and other citizens being severely affected. Now, the Russian government is trying to head off a collapse that could have profound political implications as well as economic. Adam Tanner reports that unions are planning a nationwide strike on October 7 to protest.

More talks at U.S. West today (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
A federal mediator will get representatives of both sides together again today in an effort to reach an agreement that would end the three-day strike.

Working poor may gain access to public housing (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
Congress and the Clinton administration may be near an agreement that would allow more working families to move into public housing.

Death on the job in Texas (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
Two workers have been killed in an oil rig accident. Meanwhile, the California Supreme Court has ruled that workers who have been fired after suffering injury on the job can sue for discrimination.

How New York University uses the Internet to attract foreign students (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
How can a great university reach interested persons throughout the world? They could have asked us. Seriously, the New York Times reports on how New York University is intending to use the Internet to publicize a financial aid program in dozens of countries.

One air force base recruits at another (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
About 700 workers are losing their jobs at Kelly AFB, but representatives of Tinker AFB are being sent to try to hire them.

Employee theft rampant (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
A new study finds a tremendous amount of theft by employees in the workplace. Here's the story from Heather Pauly of the Chicago Sun Times.

Canadian National Exposition attracts students seeking jobs (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
The Toronto Star reports that students have been lining up for hours to apply for jobs at the big Exposition.

Not enough family time, according to University of Cincinnati study (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
Sociologist David Maume finds that about three-quarters of the workers surveyed say they need more time for their families.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Internet Public Library (Wednesday, 8/19/98)
With millions of college students about to return to classes, it may be time to offer some suggestions for finding information for those who are not already suffering from information overload. If you would like links to thousands of references, the Internet Public Library may be just what you're looking for.

Mediator expected to gets sides together for talks today at U. S. West (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
The two sides have been communicating with the federal mediator, but not much with each other. However, they should be talking today. Steve Alexander of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says that basic phone service seems relatively unaffected by the strike, although if you want to talk to a human being at the phone company, there may be a delay. Managers are at the other end of the line, but there aren't enough of them.

More on the devaluation of the ruble (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
David Hoffman of the Washington Post explains why the Russian government changed direction and devalued the country's currency. Celestine Bohlen of the Fort Worth Star Telegram says the Yeltsin government believes strong medicine is needed to rescue an economy that is in danger of collapse, and Vladimir Isachenkov reports that the Russian people, many of whom have been falling deeper into an economic hole for years, are wondering what they will do now.

How much of the growth is due to more hours of work? (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
ABC News reports that most of the growth in the American economy recently has come, not because of increased productivity, but simply because Americans are working more hours. Dave Phillips of the Detroit News writes that productivity in the American automotive industry seems to have leveled off, which is drawing more attention to the workforce and what can be done.

Spiritual concerns gain strength in the corporate culture (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
Jenifer Nii writes in the Deseret News more people are searching for something more deeply satisfying in their work lives. Rat races are won by rats, after all.

Nonsmokers say smokers work less (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
The nonsmokers in Britain would like smokers to be paid less.

For some, the move from welfare to work has been working well (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
Steven Holmes reports that the strong American economy has been a major help in raising the incomes of some single mothers who have recently moved into the workforce.

On Wilson in relation to unions (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
The Sacramento Bee's Dan Walters compares recent California governors in relation to organized labor. Here's what he thinks of the current Governor Wilson.

Labor attempts to organize workers in New Orleans tourism industry (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
Steven Greenhouse reports that the AFL-CIO is attempting to organize New Orleans hotels and casinos.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: World Fact Book (Tuesday, 8/18/98)
Nearly everybody should be interested in the world as a whole, rather than their own little patch of it, particularly during this period when the revolutionary new global economy is evolving so rapidly. If you want information on the countries of the world, the American CIA's World Fact Book is likely to be helpful.

Russia changes its mind (Monday, 8/17/98)
Russia has announced a devaluation of its currency after all. Here's the story from Reuters and the Washington Post.

Sides haven't begun to talk at U.S. West (Monday, 8/17/98)
No talks are scheduled in the U.S. West strike, and, in fact, Jill Barshay reports that a mediator hasn't even been able to get negotiators into the same hotel room. There's no word about whether they've been trying to contact each other by telephone. In other labor news, representatives of the pilots and Northwest Airlines are talking, but many feel that a strike is likely and imminent. Minnesota is preparing for the worst, because the fourth largest airline has its headquarters in the Twin Cities, so a strike would impact many travelers and workers in the region, but also the region's economy. Finally, police may be preparing to evict 5,000 workers and their family members who have been occupying a Hyundai plant in South Korea.

Hearing loss and race (Monday, 8/17/98)
Hearing loss on the job seems to be greater among whites than non-whites, according to research reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Making the bottom-line case for on-site child care (Monday, 8/17/98)
Columnist Amy Gage of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes about how it's getting a bit easier to make a convincing case for providing on-site child care for your employees, even in terms of your bottom-line.

Objectionable behavior is easier on the job with hi-tech (Monday, 8/17/98)
The Christian Science Monitor's Laurent Belsie technology abuses in the workplace, and how easy they have become. Also in the Monitor today, David Francis writes about the dangers inherent in the Asian economic crisis. The dangers are greater than at any time since the 1930s, according to some economists.

Does Social Security need changing? Many experts say yes (Monday, 8/17/98)
If it were a person, the American Social Security system would be old enough to be eligible for, well, Social Security. Joanne Morrison writes that many experts agree that it needs fixing. However, the devil's in the details.

Welfare and the increasingly popular practice of "diversion" (Monday, 8/17/98)
Here's more on how some states are finding ways, not only to get people off welfare, but to discourage them from getting on in the first place.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Monday, 8/17/98)
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million workers and has been in the news a lot for a variety of reasons, not just during recent months, but for decades. Here's what they say about themselves on the web.

Another dark morning in Russia (Friday, 8/14/98)
Russia has gotten the world's attention again. The Russian stock market has plummeted, pulling others around the world down a bit with it, including the U.S. market. Here's Alastair Macdonald's report from Reuters as well as a report from Michael Wines of the New York Times. Inga Saffron writes in the Fort Worth Star Telegram that an increasing number of financial experts are urging Russia to devalue its currency, but Yeltsin, so far, at least, is refusing. Markets in Hong Kong and Malaysia are down too, but other Asian markets are doing fairly well this morning.

Big, really BIG layoffs coming to Boeing (Friday, 8/14/98)
The big Seattle-based aircraft company plans to layoff as many as 28,000 workers over the next eighteen months as part of a major restructuring move. Incidentally, a new report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas finds that 1/8 of the workers displaced in recent months in the U.S. have lost their jobs to corporate mergers.

A bear to the rescue? (Friday, 8/14/98)
Robert Kuttner of the Washington Post says a bear market may be what it will take to save Social Security from privatization.

Court rules for Medicare patients (Friday, 8/14/98)
Medicare patients who are denied services by HMOs have more protection now, following an appeals court ruling. Here's the story from Robert Pear of the New York Times.

Majority of California vineyards studied violating labor laws (Friday, 8/14/98)
The U.S. Department of Labor has found that three-quarters of the California vineyards studied have been violating laws for the protection of farm workers, according to the Sacramento Bee. Also in the Bee, Cathleen Ferraro reports that workplace deaths are down in California.

Feds to the rescue in Australia (Friday, 8/14/98)
Helen Trinca writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that a federal watchdog agency is going to court to defend a woman denied work because she refused to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement. Also in Australia, Gervase Greene reports in Melbourne's The Age that July's data on the long-term unemployed are not encouraging.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Pitsco's Ask An Expert (Friday, 8/14/98)
Got any questions you want answers to? Or any answers for which you'd like questions, for that matter. Actually, if you're a student, or if you'd simply like to appear to be a know-it-all to your friends, Pitsco's Ask An Expert may be of service. This site says it can help you find experts on nearly any topic you can imagine.

Northwest's ground workers want impasse declared (Thursday, 8/13/98)
An official declaration of an impasse by federal mediators sets in motion the processes that can lead to a strike. It's already happened with Northwest Airline's pilots. Now, the nation's fourth largest airline's ground workers are asking that an impasse be declared as well.

European farmers supplement income by catering to tourists (Thursday, 8/13/98)
John Tagliabue reports that European governments have been subsidizing "agritourism," but that the U.S. and others may not be pleased. In the United States, President Clinton has signed into law a bill freeing $5.5 billion in emergency subsidy payments to farmers. Finally, the U.S. Department of Labor is beginning a campaign to educate American farm workers about basic workplace rights and safety. There is particular concern about the well-being of children in farm settings. There are 1.6 million farm workers in the U.S., many of them poorly paid and poorly educated.

U.S. jobless claims down last week (Thursday, 8/13/98)
The U.S. Department of Labor's latest statistics indicate a still-strong job market in the United States.

Medicare costs too much for many older people, report says (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Medicare is confusing, too expensive, and varies widely from state to state, according to a new study from Consumer's Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine.

What to do about the great income divide (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Peter Passell of the New York Times examines the possible ways of reducing the gap between those who earn a lot and those who earn very little. Also in the Times today, Terry Pristin says that many labor experts are seeing a victory for workers at Bell Atlantic in a new contract that increases job security in a rapidly changing telecommunications industry.

Where suburban DC employers are looking for needed workers (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Steven Ginsberg reports that a growing number of employers in the Washington, D. C. suburbs are recruiting in the inner-city. Also in today's Washington Post, Pamela Ferdinand writes that the latest results from teacher testing in Massachusetts are an improvement, but just barely.

Day laborers oppose privatization of job center (Thursday, 8/13/98)
The city of Costa Mesa, California has been planning to turn its Jobs Center over to a private company. Elise Gee of the Los Angeles Times reports that day laborers who depend on the center for finding jobs oppose the plan.

More skepticism on the cheery welfare-to-work statistics (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Judith Gueron and Amy Brown write that, even though the welfare rolls continue to decline, current statistics really don't provide the information needed in order to tell how well things are really working. They report on research conducted by their organization, the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation.

What it takes to hold office workers in Tampa Bay (Thursday, 8/13/98)
One company is building a "community center" for its workers, hoping that it will help them want to stay where they are, rather than moving on in a tight labor market. Here's the story from Kyle Parks and Teresa Burney of the St. Petersburg Times.

A plan for combating workplace ageism in the UK (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Large numbers of people over 45 believe that they have been discriminated against because of their age in employment situations. BBC News reports on a code of practice that is expected to become the basis for a "soft law" to combat ageism in a workforce that is growing older on the average.

New series on the evolution of the Japanese economy (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Here's the first in a six-part series from the Christian Science Monitor on the changing Japanese economy.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Kaplan's Amazing College Simulator (Thursday, 8/13/98)
Here's an online simulator to see whether you have what it takes to survive the rigors of college life, if you're planning to be a student, that is. Kaplan's Amazing College Simulator may not be very helpful for professors and administrators who may also be wondering if they will survive the changing academic scene.

Bell Atlantic workers back on the job (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
Thousands of Bell Atlantic workers are busy again so that you don't get a busy signal. Here's Dan Burns' story from Reuters, as well as more from Terry Pristin of the New York Times. USA Today offers more information about the issues underlying the round of labor conflicts at the Baby Bells. Among the biggest: whether phone company workers are going to be shut out of the big voice/data upgrades that are going on. The Christian Science Monitor's Ron Scherer also offers some perspective on the radpidly evolving world of telecommunications in an Internet age and what it means for telecom workers. It's a familiar issue across much of the corporate world in the new economy. Companies often find that it's less expensive to contract work out than to do it in-house, in part, because it may be an indirect way of getting the work done by non-union labor.

The BP acquisition of Amoco and its impact on jobs (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
About 6,000 jobs will be eliminated now that British Petroleum is purchasing Amoco Corporation. Most of the job cuts will be in the U.S.

Miners allow the trains to run in Siberia (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
Miners protesting the fact that they haven't been paid have been blockading the Trans-Siberian railway for three weeks. They've lifted the blockade in response to promises that they will receive at least part of their pay very soon.

Which team will Britain join? (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
Is it possible that the UK won't join the European common currency after all, and, instead, link to the American economy? A debate is going on in Britain right now. Here's Alexander MacLeod's story. Also, in today's Christian Science Monitor, David Holmstrom writes about how teens are contracting to learn leadership skills down on the farm.

Another reason for the decline in the welfare rolls (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
The numbers look dramatic, but it isn't all because people have moved from welfare to jobs, according to Barbara Vobejda and Judith Havemann of the Washington Post. They report on a little noticed shift in policy across many American states.

How small farmers are replacing Hawaiian plantations (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
Alex Salkever reports that international competition has devastated the old plantation system in Hawaii, blowing away large numbers of jobs with each company closing. However, individuals are trying to make it on their own in the fields of paradise.

Whoops! Productivity slipped during the second quarter (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
It's the first decline in the U.S. in more than three years. It's important, because productivity is the underlying factor determining a society's overall standard of living in the long run. The new data are also another indication that the American economy is losing some of its shimmer. Also, Clay Chandler of the Washington Post examines the possible impact of the American stock market's recent decline on the American economy. Will it apply the brakes? Finally, John Berry reports that some recent economic research calls into question the presumed connection between tax cuts and growth.

Bunny money in Belarus (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
Michael Wines of the New York Times reports that the Belarus currency has been losing its value at a dizzying rate. In an effort to keep its economy afloat, the country's government has decided to stop accepting its own currency as payment for exports.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: U.S. Customs Service (Wednesday, 8/12/98)
In a global economy, it isn't just information that moves all over the world. Products sold nearly anywhere may have been manufactured nearly anywhere else. If you import into the United States, you will be interested in the U.S. Customs Service on the web.

Yen's decline pushes Dow lower this morning (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
The Japanese yen has reached an eight-year low against the American dollar. The U.S. stock market responds with major losses early Tuesday. Seth Faison reports that many economists believe the Chinese when they say they won't devalue their currency. Nonetheless, China's economy is in a slump, and, as John Pomfret of the Washington Post reports, the timing isn't all that wonderful.

The end seems near (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
The end of the Bell Atlantic strike, that is. The 73,000 telephone workers are likely to be back at work soon, according to reports. In fact, both sides seem to agree that a tentative deal has been struck. As we've reported, Bell South managed to avert a strike, but a strike could come at U.S. West. Here's that story from Susan Peterson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Talks resume in South Africa today (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
More than 20,000 workers remain on strike in South Africa, but talks have resumed today. Petrol deliveries have been disrupted throughout the country, but seem to have stabilized, according to Business Day.

HMOs say they don't get to tell their side of the story (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
Privacy obligations keep HMOs from making their case, they say, and things aren't as they often seem. However, a new survey of 500 physicians indicates that many doctors feel that managed care often means declining quality of care. Also, Robert Pear of the New York Times writes that federal investigators have found the Medicare has been paying too large a share of the operating costs of HMOs. Finally, President Clinton says he will veto the Republicans' plan for regulating HMOs because it wouldn't provide patients with adequate protection.

Wage rebates in the competition for employers (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
The states are using new incentives to try to attract businesses, writes Louis Uchitelle of the New York Times.

Summer camp for college presidents (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
Mark Clayton of the Christian Science Monitor tells about a quick summer training program for people who are new to one of the most strenuous jobs in academe.

Should a couple of years of school count as work for former welfare recipients? (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
Senator Wellstone wants to see people coming off of welfare acquire some education or training so as to be more marketable in a work world that values sophisticated skills like during no other time. Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes that Wellstone's amendment needs presidential support in order to survive.

The cost of higher productivity (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
The sad truth is that achieving more output per worker often means fewer workers, according to Tim Colebatch's article in Melbourne, Australia's The Age.

A shortage of professional day laborers (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
There aren't enough substitute teachers, and this means higher pay, but lower standards, according to Robert Greene's report.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Varsitybooks.com (Tuesday, 8/11/98)
Varsitybooks.com would like to be the "Amazon.com" of college textbooks. You can save from 15 to 40 percent on your texts by buying online from them, they claim.

Will Bell Atlantic's management be able to handle it today? (Monday, 8/10/98)
With 73,000 Bell Atlantic workers on strike, management personnel have stepped in to keep the phone company serving its customers. Dan Burns reports that today's resumption of normal business volume will be a test of how well things will go while the strike is on. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports that talks continue. The Miami Herald's Harriet Johnson Brackey tells what it took to avoid a strike at Bell South.

Changing interpretations of gift-giving in business (Monday, 8/10/98)
Hillary Feder reports that $1.8 billion a year is spent on business gifts in the United States. Gift giving has always been part of the social cement that helps establish and hold relationships in business and elsewhere, but the meaning of gifts changes over time. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, New York Times writer Margot Slade says that harassment laws have been clarified...a bit.

Workers fall ill on the job in Japan (Monday, 8/10/98)
It appears that ten workers have been poisoned during their morning tea break. Here's the story from Elaine Lies of Reuters.

Poverty is a temporary state for most, according to the Census Bureau (Monday, 8/10/98)
A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that, while 3 out of 10 Americans live in poverty at any particular time, it's not a permanent condition for most. Also in today's Washington Post, nationally syndicated columnist William Raspberry has some thoughts about two plans for closing the wealth gap in the U.S., which is even greater than the income gap, according to him. Finally, Bill Archer thinks that welfare reform has been a resounding success, and he explains why.

Computer job trends in the U.S. (Monday, 8/10/98)
TechWeb reports that 20,000 new jobs were added in computer services during July, as well as 3,000 new jobs in computer manufacturing, despite the smallest overall increase in jobs in the U.S. during the past 2 1/2 years.

Glasgow children's homes close because of strikes (Monday, 8/10/98)
Whether privatization will occur is the issue. Here's the story from BBC News.

How some companies approach ethics training (Monday, 8/10/98)
Laurent Belsie of the Christian Science Monitor reports that a deliberate effort to teach ethics on the job seems to pay off in greater overall integrity, but that companies that provide "ethics training" approach it in a variety of ways.

When your morning commute means stopping by the coffee maker in the kitchen (Monday, 8/10/98)
Here's more on the growing popularity of working at home and, well, phoning it in. Hi-tech makes it possible to do some kinds of work nearly anyplace, and, in fact, work with others without even being on the same continent or knowing which continent they're on. Maria Bohuslawsky of Ottowa Citizen reports that many Canadians are staying home too, but it's from work rather than to work.

Bolles on the net job search (Monday, 8/10/98)
Sarah Schafer writes about what the famous Mr. Richard Bolles has to say about finding a job on the web. He's the author of What Color Is Your Parachute, the best-selling career book ever, in case you've forgotten.

Why the U.S. should be cautious about its Social Security plans (Monday, 8/10/98)
In today's Wall Street Journal, Steve Stecklow and Sara Calian write about the disastrous social security switch in Britain, which has resulted in big losses for many persons. Also, London's Financial Times reports that the privatization of Britain's railways has cost taxpayers $1.63 billion while making many former British Rail executives millionaires.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Better Business Bureau (Monday, 8/10/98)
Is the Better Business Bureau on the web? Of course, and theirs is a useful site to begin with, whatever your interest might be in the Bureau.

Strike at Bell Atlantic (Sunday, 8/9/98)
Seventy-three thousand workers at Bell Atlantic have gone out on strike. However, an agreement has been reached at Bell South.

China says it won't devalue its currency (Sunday, 8/9/98)
Among the principal worries relating to the Asian economic crises has been that China will devalue the yuan, setting in motion a downward spiral that could be destructive not only for Asia's economies, but also for much of the rest of the world. However, Chinese President Jiang Zemin has told Japanese officials that this is not going to happen.

The great divide at Northwest (Sunday, 8/9/98)
Tony Kennedy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that pilot contract talks will begin again soon at Northwest Airlines, but the sides are far apart on pay issues. Aron Kahn of the St. Paul Pioneer Press offers some perspective the pilots' ambivalent feelings toward their airline.

Nest egg vs. empty nest syndrome (Sunday, 8/9/98)
Albert Crenshaw and Stan Hinden of the Washington Post tell about an investor whose portfolio dropped more than $100,000 in value since last month, and why risk management is important for persons with 401(k)s.

We may be approaching the end of the cubicle age (Sunday, 8/9/98)
It all started with Herman Miller's "action office," but Amy Joyce reports that many companies are trying to redesign their work spaces at the expense of cubicles.

A repeat of history on the American Great Plains (Sunday, 8/9/98)
Bob von Sternberg writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that the frontier seems to be returning to parts of the Great Plains, as an increasing number of people leave the land. It's a situation that is unique in American history, he says.

Some editorial thoughts about the "100-hour" rule (Sunday, 8/9/98)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune thinks that President Clinton is on the right track in wanting to help people retain Medicaid coverage under some conditions when they move from welfare to work. In a related story, the New York Times' Robert Pear reports on the growing multitude of the uninsured in American society.

On overworked Americans: here's a second opinion (Sunday, 8/9/98)
Columnist Chris Farrell reports that new research indicates that the average American may not be working all that much more, but some Americans are, and they're not those you might expect.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: U.S. Trade and Development Agency (Sunday, 8/9/98)
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency says it helps create jobs for Americans by assisting American companies in developing overseas business opportunities, particularly in middle-income and developing countries.

Devaluation fears spread in Asia (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Sandra Sugawara of the Washington Post reports that Asian currencies have weakened, giving rise to more fear of a wave of devaluations across Asia, particularly of the Chinese and Hong Kong currencies. The New York Times reports that Vietnamese has devalued its currency for the third time since the onset of the Asian economic crises. Incidentally, Inside China Today reports that layoffs are accelerating in the world's largest country. The state sector has been employing more than 100 million persons. More than 11 million persons are unemployed in China, and another 10 million could lose their jobs this year, given the massive restructuring of the Chinese economy that is going on.

More on the latest jobs data (Saturday, 8/8/98)
The General Motors strikes didn't raise the unemployment rate last month, but did slow job growth a bit in the United States. However, an examination of the data shows that the problems were confined mostly to the manufacturing sector because of the events at GM. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the job market in other sectors remained strong. President Clinton says that the job report is good news for the American economy.

Clinton signs job training bill (Saturday, 8/8/98)
A large number of federal job training programs have been consolidated into one system. At the same time, the President signed a bill greatly broadening access to credit unions.

The UPS strike plus one year (Saturday, 8/8/98)
It's been a year since the big Teamsters strike that largely shut down United Parcel Service, and neither side has fully recovered, according to Dan Sewell in the Kansas City Star.

Chechen president seeks foreign investment (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Left with the ravages of war, the Chechen economy needs rebuilding, and President Maskhadov is encouraing foreign investment.

Construction industry boom may be limited by worker shortages (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Some regions are experiencing the tightest construction labor market in a decade. Here's that story from Maryann Haggerty of the Washington Post.

Russia may be faced with more strikes (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Many Russian workers haven't been paid for a long time, and many more are feeling the pinch of austerity measures, so the conflict between trade unions and the government is heating up. Here's that story from Russia Today.

More on the fuss over Australia's Job Network (Saturday, 8/8/98)
A survey indicates that some students have been charged as much as $80 per hour for basic employment counseling, according to the Australian News Network.

Removable drive company to remove jobs (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Once upon a time, there were two more-or-less equal removable hard drive companies competing to become the standard. One was Syquest, which, despite some early reliability problems--because everybody had reliability problems during a time when computer users lived in mortal fear of "head crashes"--won out over Iomega Corporation and its non-standard "Bernoulli Box," which, in its first iteration, used cartridges with an astonishing 5 megabytes of storage capacity. Iomega went off many persons' radar screens, and some thought the company had gone out of business. Then, suddenly, it released its amazingly popular Zip Drive, which cut dramatically into Syquest's business in only a couple of months and quickly became the almost ubiquitous standard. Syquest has been having difficulties ever since, despite a collection of well-regarded products offering incremental advantages in a market where quite a lot of a product's value comes from using what most other people are using. Now, Syquest is restructuring and laying off 950 workers. Here's the story from MacWeek and Reuters. Incidentally, Iomega has been having organizational and earnings problems of its own lately.

Workers exposed to chemicals while building planes get big jury award (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Michael Fitzpatrick reports that about 28 workers have been awarded $760 million.

Health costs grow in Japan, but at a lower rate (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Japan's Health and Welfare Ministry reports that health costs increased by 1.5 percent during the latest fiscal year, which is a record low. Here's the story from Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

Bell Atlantic contract expires at midnight tonight (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Long Island's Newsday reports that, while talks have been continuing, agreement does not seem near at Bell Atlantic. A strike may be imminent.

Is increasing diversity attenuating America's strengths? (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Greg Filice writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that America's strength lies in its essential principles and in providing opportunities for immigrants, no matter where they come from. In a related New York Times story, Mirta Ojito reports that the INS has announced plans for speeding up the naturalization process.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Kaplan's Mock Job Interview Quiz (Saturday, 8/8/98)
Okay, it's time to begin preparing for that big job interview, and here's help from Kaplan's Mock Job Interview Quiz.

Unemployment holds steady in the U.S. (Friday, 8/7/98)
The strikes at General Motors didn't raise the overall unemployment rate in July, according to the latest U.S. Department of Labor data. The rate held firm at 4.5 percent. Meanwhile, in Australia, the overall unemployment rate has increased at the same time that it has declined for women, according to the Australian News Network.

Not two, but three labor problems for Northwest (Friday, 8/7/98)
In addition to possible strikes from the machinists and pilots, Northwest Airlines may be in mediation soon with its 12,000 flight attendants as well, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Also, flight attendants at ValuJet's successor, AirTran, are threatening to strike.

Why the chemical workers strike may affect the South African mining industry (Friday, 8/7/98)
The mining industry depends on the chemical industry for its explosives. The Chemical Workers' Industrial Union of South Africa has been on strike since Monday. More than 20,000 workers have been directly affected, according to Business Day.

New Japanese PM expresses good intentions (Friday, 8/7/98)
Japan's Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi has made his first major speech, and has vowed to revitalize the Japanese economy, but hasn't shared his specific plans. Here's the story from the Washington Post and Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun, which also reports that Japan's Health and Welfare Ministry has acknowledged that the country's pension fund is running in the red.

One reason for Russia's big economic problems (Friday, 8/7/98)
Russia has a huge amount of bad debt a problem faced by a number of other struggling economies, including those in Asia. Also, Nick Wadhams of the Washington Post reports that Russia has limited the visas of foreign religious workers to three months. Most others can have visas renewed for a year without leaving the country.

Flash! Knowledge makes a difference in human life (Friday, 8/7/98)
Research conducted by University of Maryland researchers and reported in the American Journal of Public Health finds that education can improve nutrition among the poor. On the average, minorities are greatly over-represented among the poor in the United States, and these include the Native Americans. The Clinton administration has announced a $70 million program aimed at improving their health, among other things. Incidentally, Washington Post columnist William Raspberry comments on educational gains made by African Americans, while this Nando Times story reports a slowing in the growth in the number of home mortgages for minorities last year. Incidentally, which is America's largest minority group? If you said African Americans, you're right, but not for much longer. Steven Holmes of the New York Times reports that Hispanics will surpass American blacks in number within seven years.

Medical ethics challenged by new health care approaches (Friday, 8/7/98)
An editorial in the The New England Journal of Medicine calls on physicians to resist