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July 1998
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revolutionary new world economy |
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July 1998
Links included were live and functioning at time of publication.
They may not necessarily remain so, and this is not under our control
Northwest could face two strikes at the same time (Friday, 7/31/98)
Both the machinists and the pilots at Northwest Airlines could be on strike before long. The countdown has started following the declaration of an impasse in the case of the pilots, and the machinists have soundly defeated a new contract proposal. Here's the story from Tony Kennedy and Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Brad Dorfman of Reuters. In other labor news, the Teamsters reject a contract offer at Anheuser-Busch, which may mean a strike is on the horizon. Meanwhile, court-appointed overseers reject accusations that they were biased against Ron Carey's opponents.
Unemployment hits record level in Japan (Friday, 7/31/98)
Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that unemployment has reached 4.3% in Japan, which is a modern Japanese record. If you're muttering to yourself that there are European countries that would be deliriously happy with a 4.3% unemployment rate, you're right, but you need to consider that nations do not use the same criteria for defining unemployment. For instance, in Japan, you're counted as fully employed if you have worked as little a single hour during the month surveyed. It brings to mind how unemployment figures were improved in the United States during the administration of Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s. Many persons who had been out of work for a long time were surprised to find that they were no longer unemployed if they had given up and stopped looking. Instead, they were called "not in the labor force." What we know always depends entirely on how we know it, so methodology is everything.
Train drivers expected to strike in South Africa (Friday, 7/31/98)
Drivers for South Africa's Metrorail have rejected a salary offer from the company. A nationwide strike seems likely, and the company has announced that it will use non-union drivers in order to maintain a skeleton service, if the strike happens, according to The Star.
Conflict between Russian government and striking miners gets hotter (Friday, 7/31/98)
The miners aren't striking for higher pay. They simply want the pay that's been due them for months. Here's the story from Tatyana Ustinova in Moscow.
GM begins the process of getting things back to normal (Friday, 7/31/98)
General Motors has been mostly shut down because of strikes at two Flint, Michigan plants. The strikes are over, but getting such a behemoth back on its feet takes a while. The company has called more workers back to the job, and more assembly plants are expected to be back in operation by Wednesday. Kevin Galvin has been thinking about how the recent strikes compare with those during the old glory days of American organized labor, and he doesn't find much comparison. One reason is that organized labor's numbers have declined. Only about 10 percent of the private sector workforce is organized now in the United States. The Christian Science Monitor has some thoughts about the recent strikes at GM too, and how important underlying issues remain unresolved.
California's privatization move may offer glimpse of 21st century higher ed (Friday, 7/31/98)
TechWeb reports that California has privatized its virtual university. The California Virtual University Foundation is made up of the state's principal higher education systems plus several hi-tech firms. Ninety-five schools will be offering 1,600 different courses which can be completed entirely online, and, of course, the big news that isn't really news is that you don't have to be in California in order to sign up. Hundreds of American higher education institutions are beginning to offer online programs for credit, as well as various others around the world. For example, we reported recently that Britain's famed Oxford University has announced that it will be offering continuing education programs on the Internet.
Do increasing wages mean inflation is about to rear its ugly head? (Friday, 7/31/98)
Inflation hasn't been a problem in the American economy for quite some time, but it would be a mistake to assume that it's disappeared permanently. That's why many experts regard rising wages and benefits as a mixture of good news and bad news, depending on your point of view. Incidentally, the latest Commerce Department data indicate a significant slowing of the American economy during the 2nd quarter, as many expected. The reasons aren't hard to identify, but what lies ahead? We don't know either.
HP cuts managers' pay (Friday, 7/31/98)
Hewlett-Packard is trying to get its costs under better control, and 2,400 managers will be making less for three months as a consequence.
How do you define a "balanced life?" (Friday, 7/31/98)
St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Amy Gage writes about different approaches to weighing the obligations of work, family, and other areas of life.
Those with more education and higher income have better health, on the average (Friday, 7/31/98)
It may not come as a surprise, but, anyway, here's what a new study from the Department of Health and Human Services has found. There's been plenty of previous evidence that life's privileges tend to cluster together, and so do many of life's miseries, not only in the U.S., but worldwide.
Cuts in mental health coverage (Friday, 7/31/98)
Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield is cutting mental health services, which means dropping about 120 psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers from its plans. Peter Kilborn of the New York Times reports that a lot of elderly are losing coverage too.
Who will more money attract to the classroom? (Friday, 7/31/98)
Massachusetts is hoping that strong financial incentives will improve the quality of instruction by attracting better teachers. Some are skeptical, given the special motivation of many who choose careers in education.
Undocumented workers get additional protections (Friday, 7/31/98)
Davan Maharaj of the Los Angeles Times reports on a California court's ruling and what it will mean for immigrants in the workplace.
Grads finding job crunch in Australia (Friday, 7/31/98)
During recent months, at least, most college graduates in the United States have found plenty of job opportunities, and it's taken little more than a steady pulse. In fact, in a hot job market, many haven't needed the degree. On the other side of the globe, however, things are quite different, as Luis Garcia reports from Melbourne's The Age. In Australia, the number of grads has been increasing as the number of available jobs has been decreasing.
Large numbers of American welfare recipients should find work on the next census (Friday, 7/31/98)
Jean Hopfensperger reports that the U.S. Census Bureau expects to employ 300,000 people in the big Y2K count.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: International Business Forum (Friday, 7/31/98)
Here's a "new global economy" site offering information that is both broad and deep for companies wanting to do business in foreign markets. International Business Forum comes to you from Australia.
Impasse at Northwest Airlines (Thursday, 7/30/98)
An impasse has been declared, which could clear the way for a strike by Northwest Airlines pilots.
New contracts approved; now the post-mortem (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Workers at General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan have approved the agreements reached by GM and the UAW, so the two plants will open, and that means that many other GM plants throughout North America will be able to resume operations as well. What does it all mean? Rebecca Blumenstein and Gregory White write in today's Wall Street Journal that the strikes have cost General Motors $2 billion, and, with that, they've bought a little labor peace for a while, but it may not be a bargain. Steven Greenhouse says that labor has paid a very high price too, and Keith Bradsher says no clear winner emerges from the conflict, and, in fact, losses are more obvious on both sides than gains. Abraham McLaughlin writes in today's Christian Science Monitor that organized labor may be bolder following the big standoff with GM, while others claim that the auto company's long-term problems have not been resolved by the strikes and the new agreements. On the other side of the Pacific, there is another conflict between labor and an auto company. South Korea's Hyundai Motors has shut down its principal plant, but workers refuse to leave. Here's the story from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Nando Times.
Continuing skirmishes over the "marriage penalty" (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Backers withdraw the measure in the Senate following a vote to support it. Here's an explanation. In other tax news, here's why a new law may affect estate planning for some people.
Brazil sells most of its phone company (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Seth Schiesel of the New York Times reports on the biggest privatization so far in Latin America. Meanwhile, a decision to privatize the telephone company in Puerto Rico resulted in a destructive strike that has finally ended after 41 days, according to this St. Paul Pioneer Press report.
Digital gulf widens (Thursday, 7/30/98)
The difference between the haves and have nots has increased, at least so far as access to computers is concerned, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Austrian miners may still be alive (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Ten miners have been trapped for 12 days. Sounds indicate that at least some may still be alive.
How to cope with college sticker shock (Thursday, 7/30/98)
This writer tells about the difficult job of coping with the high cost of college, which, in some cases, has approached stratospheric levels. We're reminded of Oscar Wilde's wisecrack about people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. That is, Americans often use price as a measure of value, and, when it comes to higher education, it's probably a mistake. Keep in mind that, with sufficient resolve, it's still possible to obtain a splendid education for nothing at the public library.
The latest on France's 35-hour week (Thursday, 7/30/98)
The Paris-based International Herald Tribune reports that employers and unions had reached agreement on how to implement the 35-hour week, but that agreement has been thrown out by a government official.
Labor group displeased with Wal-Mart (Thursday, 7/30/98)
William Branigin reports that the National Labor Committee says that Wal-Mart's practices aren't consistent with its advertising in support of American-made products. The big American retailer sells more clothes manufactured overseas than their competitors, according to the group. Also in today's Washington Post, an editorial on whether adversaries in Congress will find common ground and substance in relation to managed care in an election year.
Despite changes in regulations, big broadcasting firms intend to keep affirmative action policies (Thursday, 7/30/98)
The New York Times' Steven Holmes reports on broadcaster intentions following a federal court ruling.
Appearances vs. realities in Zambia (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Angus Shaw reports on Zambia's effort to bring about economic reforms and why you should not be misled by what appears to be major progress. Below the surface, you will see a different picture, according to Mr. Shaw.
Secretary Herman urges government support for Teamsters election (Thursday, 7/30/98)
A court has ruled that the government should supervise the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election, but Congress has refused to provide the money.
U.S. wages and benefits getting better faster (Thursday, 7/30/98)
The U.S. Department of Labor's latest statistics indicate accelerated improvement in wages and benefits in the United States. Also, a University of Georgia study finds increased spending by African Americans throughout the country.
On life as a long-term temp at Microsoft (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Joe Brockert reports in the Detroit News on efforts to pursue the interests of tech workers who work at Microsoft Corporation for long periods of time but aren't full-time workers.
Canadian court rules in favor of pay equity for women (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Two-hundred thousand civil servants in Canada are entitled to compensation for years of unequal pay, according to a court. Here's the story from the Nando Times and BCC News.
Job cuts at TRW (Thursday, 7/30/98)
TRW Inc. manufactures auto parts, among other things, and the company intends to cut about 7,500 jobs in its automotive division, which amounts to 14% of that workforce.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Harvard Business School (Thursday, 7/30/98)
Harvard Business School is on most people's top ten lists of the best business schools in the world, and, as one might expect, Harvard Biz is on the web.
Settlement at GM; ratification vote today (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
General Motors and the United Auto Workers have reached agreement, and workers at the two Flint, Michigan plants are set to vote on the contract. Idled workers in Flint are eager to return to work, but Nichole Christian reports that many are afraid more conflict with GM will develop, while Keith Bradsher of the New York Times says that General Motors really needs better labor relations. David Lawder of Reuters writes that a period of labor peace will be helpful, however brief, but that the company has not solved its longer-term cost and productivity problems which put the company at a long-term disadvantage in the market. Meanwhile, as one might expect, President Clinton praises the settlement, but GM dealers expect a tough month ahead because of a shortage of vehicles to sell.
The latest labor news from Northwest Airlines (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Machinists vote on a contract today as pilots may be nearing impasse and strike.
Why many Canadian social workers are leaving the field (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Don Retson of the Edmonton Journal reports on what some Canadian union leaders are saying. Social work is a high-stress job with work loads that are too heavy in many cases, they claim.
Miyazawa draws the short straw (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Want a tough job? Try being Japan's finance minister. Former premier Kiichi Miyazawa has agreed to give it a go in order to solve Japan's persistent economic problems and start its engine.
A growth forecast for the South African economy (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
South Africa's Business Report reports that officials are expecting a growth rate of about 3 percent next year. Growth this year has been running at about 1 percent.
Minorities urge the use of sampling in census (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Several organizations have officially come out in favor of the use of sampling procedures in order to get a more accurate count of minorities and others in American society. Actually, by definition, a census means counting everybody in a population, which is fundamentally different from sampling from a population in order to draw conclusions about the total population. It might seem that a census will be more accurate than sampling, but this is not necessarily the case, and almost surely is not the case when it comes to trying to count each individual in a population of over 260 million persons. Modern statistics and sampling procedures didn't exist at the time that a national census was mandated in the Constitution. Also, at the time, the total population of the United States was smaller than that of Minnesota today.
World Bank says wage increases have neutralized improvement in the Turkish economy (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Wage increases have been higher than was budgeted, so state asset sales have not resulted in the kinds of improvements that were expected, according to Sabah.
American agriculture: the big shutdown (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Every several years, American farmers face a death struggle in their businesses. This is one of those times. Kyle Johnson of the Christian Science Monitor provides perspective on the current American farm crisis which extends across much of the nation.
A breather for the IMF (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Paul Blustein writes that the International Monetary Fund isn't frantically having to fight fires at the moment, but it can't afford to stash its fire hoses either. Incidentally, ever wonder who's responsible for those credit ratings that can rattle national economies? Ron Scherer tells what it's like to work at Moody's Investor Services in New York City. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Lara Santoro looks at entrepreneurism in Nigeria, Marilyn Gardner examines why many people are losing their summers for various reasons, including vacation shrinkage, and Ross Atkin reports on how retirement influences spousal relationships.
Saudi government sets new limits on foreign workers (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
The Khaleej Times reports that the government of Saudi Arabia will impose new limits on the number of foreign employees in the country in order to create job opportunities for unemployed nationals. About a third of the Saudi population is made up of foreign nationals, largely from the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines.
The painful task of rationing health care (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
HMOs aren't necessarily the monsters many believe, writes Robert Samuelson, and "patient rights" legislation won't magically cause tough realities and tough choices to disappear. Nationally syndicated columnist David Broder also has some thoughts over this year's fight over health care in Washington.
Single worker sues because of family allowance (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that an airline employee is suing because she believes that she has been discriminated against because, as a single worker, she has not been given the family allowance paid to married workers. In the U.S., a worker with Seasonal Affective Disorder is suing under the Americans with Disabilities Act because she been required required to work in the dark while developing photographs. Part of her work could be done in lighted areas, she says.
A lot of lawyers in Sweden's government (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
One in four top government employees in Sweden has a law degree, according to Dagens Industri, while technicians and economists are over-represented in Swedish companies. Membership in the European Union will require many persons to have double degrees from now on, according to a parliamentary spokesman.
Fluent in any ancient languages? (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
If you're a retired computer tech, someone may be looking for you to help squish the Y2K bug.
Employees who would rather not be portfolio managers (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Want to be in charge of your own pension investments? Are you sure? Business Week says that employers are finding that many employees would like some help with their 401(k)s.
Personality and careers (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Columnist Carol Kleiman reports on personality differences and the differences they make in career choice and advancement. Also, St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Amy Lindgren discusses the role of irrational fears in the job search process.
Want children to learn about money? Here are some suggestions (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Many people cause themselves a lot of trouble as adults because of financial illiteracy. Here are some ways this ailment can be prevented starting early.
Busy working adults continue education on-line (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
So-called "distance learning" might be just the thing if campus locations and schedules aren't convenient for you. In fact, business travelers with access to the Internet are finding that they can do their homework in a wide variety of locations, so why do we call it HOMEwork?.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Academy of Achievement (Wednesday, 7/29/98)
Want to hear some inspiring stories about persons of high achievement? Want the young people in your life to be inspired? You may be interested in exploring the Academy of Achievement.
Is it all over but the announcement? (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
There are some indications that General Motors and the United Auto Workers have reached agreement to end the Michigan strikes, and that an announcement will come later today. Keith Bradsher and Nichole Christian of the New York Times write that the arbitrator's imminent ruling has provided additional incentive to make a deal.
Carey not president, and not a Teamster either (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
The man who led a successful strike against United Parcel Service last year has been expelled from the Teamsters. Thomas Edsall writes in today's Washington Post that Carey's expulsion hurts the progressives in the labor movement.
Albright only a little cheery about Asia (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
Don't expect immediate improvement in Asia's financial situation, says the American Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Linda Sieg reports that Kiichi Miyazawa is likely to get the tough job of finance minister in Japan's new government.
The struggle to organize hi-tech workers (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
Unions aren't finding it to be an easy task. Here's an explanation from the Nando Times.
Open mind urged by the President (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
Keep an open mind on Social Security changes, President Clinton advised yesterday in a public forum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The big issue is whether trust fund money should be invested in the stock market, thus introducing an element of risk into what was originally intended as a guaranteed retirement safety net below which retirees could not fall. Francine Kiefer writes that it's becoming increasingly likely that Social Security will be privatized in some way and to some extent, but how?
Unemployment hits five-year high in Israel (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
Israeli unemployment hit 9.3 percent in May, according to reports in the Jerusalem Post and other major papers.
Workplace violence declines (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
Here are details from the U.S. Justice Department via today's Christian Science Monitor. Meanwhile, other data indicate that the biggest work-related hazard people face are traffic accidents. Finally, new research reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that carpal tunnel syndrome is sometimes caused by factors other than repetitive motions on the job.
Fewer civil service jobs in French hospitals (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
La Tribune reports from Paris that the French government intends to cut 840,000 jobs in hospitals across the country. Many persons will be offered incentives to leave voluntarily.
Hop, but don't hop too much, writer advises (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
A strong job market is making it easier to change jobs, but, do it too often, and it can cause problems for yourself. Here's Max Jarman's article from the Arizona Republic.
Trade union congress predicts big job losses with energy deregulation (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
If the South African government deregulates the energy industry as it proposes, it could cost as many as 80,000 jobs, according to the Congress of South African Trade Unions. The Star has the story today.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: U. S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Institute (Tuesday, 7/28/98)
The United States Chamber of Commerce Small Business Institute offers a variety of resources for starting and building your own business, including tapes, books, and more.
Progress still in the air, but no deal yet (Monday, 7/27/98)
The New York Times is reporting that the strikes at General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan may be near an end. However, Ben Klayman of Reuters reports that talks have recessed without an agreement.
Effort to rescue miners continues in Austria (Monday, 7/27/98)
A mine near the Austrian village of Lassing collapsed, but rescuers have not given up hope. One miner has been brought out alive.
What to do with Social Security trust fund money? (Monday, 7/27/98)
Should the rules be relaxed so that Social Security funds can be invested in something other than U.S. government securities? Donna Smith reports that President Clinton is participating in a public forum today in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Meanwhile, David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor cautions against too much enthusiasm for linking Social Security to the stock market. For instance, it's a good idea to take a close look at Chile's pension system before trying to emulate it, he says. Several countries have followed Chile's lead in privatizing their pension systems.
Woman with multiple personality disorder gets career on track (Monday, 7/27/98)
Andrew Backover of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provides an example of how persons with psychiatric illnesses can be valued and effective employees. At any particular time, approximately 20 percent of the population would meet diagnostic criteria for one or more psychiatric illnesses. For instance, about 1 percent of the population is schizophrenic, and far more suffer from various anxiety disorders, depression, and other illnesses ranging from life-threatening to mild. However, at this very late date, psychopathology is still widely misunderstood. In fact, it's probably accurate to say that most of what most people, including most employers, believe about it is simply wrong.
Welfare reform tipping the demographic balance (Monday, 7/27/98)
Large numbers of persons are leaving welfare for the work world, but the demographics are becoming increasing unbalanced. Much depends on the resources you have to work with, and these are distributed very unevenly in the American population.
Support your parents and you will inherit more in South Korea (Monday, 7/27/98)
Here's a Korean Herald story explaining the new bill drawn up by the South Korean Justice Ministry.
Telecommunications workers to lose jobs in Hong Kong (Monday, 7/27/98)
Cynthia Wan reports in the Hong Kong Standard about the likely lay off of 2,000 telecommunications workers, according to union predictions.
Is there still breath in the "temporary workers bill?" (Monday, 7/27/98)
The San Francisco Chronicle's Tom Abate reports that California's hi-tech companies are working hard to bring about a law that would allow more foreign workers with hi-tech skills into the U.S.
Company refuses to compensate Nazi slave workers (Monday, 7/27/98)
The head of Germany's Zueblin construction company says that Nazi-era slave workers worked for the Nazi SS, not for his company. About 1,700 persons have been seeking compensation for their forced labor, according to Ian Mader in the Detroit News.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: New York Public Library: Science, Industry, and Business Library (Monday, 7/27/98)
If you live a few blocks from the New York Public Library, please visit the real thing. On the other hand, if it's not convenient for you to drop in, their various web sites can be a satisfying substitute. For instance, here's their Science, Industry, and Business Library, which is a good place to start if you're looking for information about starting a business, market research, government information, and much more.
Progress at GM? (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Labor and management are agreeing that they have made significant progress toward settling the strikes at GM plants in Michigan.
Postal workers accept union dues increase (Sunday, 7/26/98)
The American Postal Workers Union has been spending quite a lot more than it's been taking in. Members have agreed to an increase in dues as part of an effort to get the union into the black.
If you're single, here's what it may be costing you (Sunday, 7/26/98)
The Boston Globe's Aaron Zitner says it isn't just the married who are penalized by the current tax code.
Summit sees increased role for women during the next century in the new global economy (Sunday, 7/26/98)
The Global Summit of Women has been meeting in London and is calling attention to the increasing number of women in entrepreneurial and other key economic roles, meaning greater influence on the global economy during the years directly ahead. In a related story, Noelle Know of the New York Times reports that women's access to business financing is disproportionately small relative to the rate at which they are starting new businesses in the United States. Finally, Albert Crenshaw of the Washington Post writes about how many persons are focusing on whether changes in the American Social Security system will end up being fair to women.
Change of attitude about death in the workplace needed, clergyman says (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Insensitivity is still common, but people need an opportunity to grieve, says Rev. Diana Dale of the Worklife Institute. Here's the story from L.M. Sixel of the Houston Chronicle.
Big privatization plan in Brazil (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Brazil intends to sell controlling interest in its state-controlled telecommunications company, which, among other things, might improve telephone service for Brazilians. It will be the largest privatization in Latin America so far.
Want to see the future? (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Saul Hansell of the New York Times reports on a new factory in Tennessee that manufactures computers for a great variety of companies, and does it differently. New processes and work settings mean new ways of working, as well.
Here's a "bottom 10 list" (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Here's Bob McMullan's Sydney Morning Herald report on what some think are the 10 worst things about Australia's Workplace Relations Act. A tide of change is sweeping across the country, and workers need help, they say.
The hi-tech engine in Taiwan (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Taiwan has been conspicuously absent in the news about Asian economic crises during the past year. The island nation is enjoying economic growth in large part because of its vigorous hi-tech sector.
Children in Arizona fields (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Children as young as four have been working in the fields, and the U.S. Department of Labor has announced fines against those responsible.
50 years since President Truman desegregated the American military (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Now, it's time for racial equality in the military, according to the head of the NAACP.
Who's in charge here? (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Mostly white men, but not just any white men. Here's a summary of results from a big new survey of American managers conducted by the American Management Association. Also in the Washington Post today, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn offers help in calculating what you're likely to need for retirement.
A global economy also means many people working away from their home countries (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Amy Joyce reports on companies that are sending workers abroad and what the workers think about it.
Another means to exploit? (Sunday, 7/26/98)
American hi-tech companies say they need for more foreign workers with hi-tech skills to be allowed to come to the United States to work. Critics are saying that it amounts to exploitation.
Big fuss about union corruption in the SSA (Sunday, 7/26/98)
Ben White reports on the heated Congressional arguments over allegations of union corruption within the Social Security Administration.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Monster Board (Sunday, 7/26/98)
The Monster Board is one of the job listings sites in an increasingly crowded field. However, it's one of the major ones. It's been on-line longer than many of the others, and it claims to have been the most visited job site in a recent survey. In addition, it offers special features for the self-employed, for those relocating and in need of housing, and so forth.
UAW implies additional strike if GM follows through on non-union parts (Saturday, 7/25/98)
General Motors is indicating it may restart a Corvette plant using parts produced by non-union workers, but can expect no cooperation from the United Auto Workers. GM executives have been meeting in Detroit to develop contingency plans, depending on how the arbitrator rules on the legality of the strikes in Flint, Michigan. Meanwhile, Warren Brown of the Washington Post reports that GM dealers are running short of some hot models.
House passes managed care bill (Saturday, 7/25/98)
It's one that President Clinton has said that he will veto, though. Also, in and around Congress, a financial privacy bill has been introduced in the House, and the Senate has approved a plan for bringing more farm laborers into the United States. William Branigin offers more details on the movement to respond to shortages claimed by American employers, from farm laborers to hi-tech workers. Meanwhile, seven scientists are told to go home, but the circumstances are special ones. It has to do with sanctions imposed on India because of that country's nuclear testing. Finally, with the surplus looking much bigger than originally expected, and with tax cut fever in the air during an election year, President Clinton insists that he will protect Social Security.
Strikes planned in South Africa (Saturday, 7/25/98)
South Africa's Business Day reports that metal workers and chemical workers unions are planning strikes that are expected to affect both automotive and chemical industries in that country. The unions have made wage demands that employers have refused to meet.
Judge approves settlement at Smith Barney (Saturday, 7/25/98)
Gail Appleson reports on what may be the end of a long bias suit. Also from Reuters, Carol Giacomo reports on Secretary of State Albright's warnings about how the Asian economic crisis could get worse, and Earl Moxam reports that a 13-year-old has gotten a good job: he's to be hi-tech advisor to the Jamaican government.
Rover's switch to overseas suppliers could cost 20,000 UK jobs (Saturday, 7/25/98)
Rover Group Plc has decided to cut 1,500 jobs in an effort to increase productivity, but their decision to buy 1 billion pounds worth of parts from overseas suppliers could cost an additional 20,000 jobs in the United Kingdom, according to a report from the London Times.
Swissair will be hiring (Saturday, 7/25/98)
Cash reports that Swissair expects to hire an additional 1,300 workers over the next 18 months. These will include flight attendants and pilots. The fifth largest airline in Europe has cut thousands of jobs over the past few years.
Anglicans want big debt write-off to give developing economies a chance to recover (Saturday, 7/25/98)
Mike Peacock has the report on the church leaders' recommendations for helping economies burdened by international debt.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's On-Line MBA (Saturday, 7/25/98)
A growing number of accredited higher education institutions are offering programs on-line for credit, including the highly publicized consortium made up of several Western states, as well as California's own system. Here's one of the lesser known on-line Master of Business Administration programs from the University of Wisconsin system. The Internet makes geography largely irrelevant, so schools all over the world will be competing all over the world, and it is likely to become a free-for-all for a while. For instance, here's the University of Asia from Australia, about which we know nothing whatever. However, it is an example of how every campus is close to every other campus and most of the learners in cyberspace, no matter how far removed on the surface of the globe.
Big job cuts at 3M (Friday, 7/24/98)
The inventor of that very well known transparent sticky tape has tens of thousands of products and has enjoyed a long reputation as one of America's best-run companies, as well as one of its best employers. However, demand has been soft, and much of the softening has come from Asia. As a consequence, profits are down and 4,000 jobs are out. Here's more from near the company headquarters: Terry Fiedler of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Speaking of cuts, the maker of the nearly ubiquitous Zip Drive, Iomega Corporation, has cut 700 jobs after big losses last quarter, according to Christina Follmann of MacWeek.
Clinton pushes for more farm aid (Friday, 7/24/98)
Given the vagaries of pestilence, weather, costs and markets over which farmers have no control, plus a hundred dozen other hazards, agriculture makes Las Vegas gambling seem sane by comparison. For centuries over most of the globe, subsistence farming has worked pretty well, but the best you can hope for is to subsist. As a business, though, agriculture may be inherently unprofitable in the long-run, and survival on the farm, as in Las Vegas, may depend in large part upon knowing "when to fold them." Farm commodity prices are way down, and, as Doug Palmer reports, President Clinton wants to see more of a safety net restored to keep farmers in business so that everyone will be able to continue eating. Sharon Schmickle offers more details on the decline in farm income over the past year in the United States. In related news, Curt Anderson of the Detroit News reports on a compromise bill in Congress that would steady the supply of legal farm workers while improving conditions for the workers themselves, claim supporters. Finally, California strawberry workers have voted to unionize, but offer a surprise to the United Farm Workers union.
Not your garden-variety strikes (Friday, 7/24/98)
Workers strike about as often as lightning around the globe, but the current conflict between General Motors and the United Auto Workers is not routine. How things are resolved during the weeks (or months) ahead will have a lot to do with determining the nature of the huge American auto maker for the next century, as well as its relationship with the huge auto workers union. Reuters reports that GM is working up some major restructuring plans, while Brian Akre writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that the arbitrator's decision on the legality of the strikes in Flint might fundamentally alter the relationship between GM and the UAW,. Here's more on that issue from the Nando Times. Finally, David Lawder writes that if the arbitrator decides that the strikes are legal, the outcome may be decided by which side runs out of money first. Neither is in danger of doing that immediately, though.
Drive-through surgery? (Friday, 7/24/98)
Suzanne Gordon says that the motto of HMOs should be "Patient, heal thyself," given the means they're using to cut costs. However, despite cost cuts, not all HMOs are profitable. Here's one major east coast managed care organization that intends to lower physicians' salaries and raise fees to patients in order to try to get out of the red, which should leave everybody enjoying a warm glow deep within their hearts. The Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer tells how Hollywood screenwriters managed to help stir the embers in Congress and put health care issues up at the top of the election year political agenda where they haven't been since "Billary's" plan to rebuild the system from the ground up several years ago, including the parts that didn't need fixing. At that time, America had mostly a health care cost and access problem. Now, genuine quality of care problems seem to be developing in addition, and the evolving system seems to make everybody unhappy. If all this weren't enough, Y2K may be bad for your health too, particularly if you're in the hospital and your HMO's computers think you haven't even been born yet.
Plaintifs want to raise their suit to class action status (Friday, 7/24/98)
West Publishing may be best-known for their law books, and they may be consulting them regularly now that they're being sued for sexual discrimination. Jonathan Gaw reports that those making the allegations would like it to become a class action suit.
New jobless claims down last week (Friday, 7/24/98)
Here's news on the latest data from the United States Department of Labor.
Low income families to get help buying their own homes (Friday, 7/24/98)
The Ford Foundation is setting up a $2 billion dollar program that may help as many as 35,000 families.
Economist casts doubt on severe labor shortage (Friday, 7/24/98)
Millions of American adults remain unemployed, according to puzzled Irwin Kellner of CBS Marketwatch.
Not three, not four, not five, but SIX steps to the kind of career you want (Friday, 7/24/98)
Raymond Gerson offers some career advice from Career Magazine.
Gore talks economics in Russia (Friday, 7/24/98)
The American Vice-President is in Moscow discussing Russia's economic problems, and other things, with Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko.
The upside of an economic crisis (Friday, 7/24/98)
Economic hardship can promote consideration of fundamental life priorities and a return to traditional values, according to some in Thailand.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Internal Revenue Service (Friday, 7/24/98)
Now that they're kinder and gentler, maybe you'll want to find them, rather than waiting until they find you. If so, here's the Internal Revenue Service on the web. Their home page opens to their daily on-line newsletter, from which you can easily navigate to many other sections containing information, advice, and access to tax forms.
Is the American economy contracting? (Thursday, 7/23/98)
Ron Scherer of the Christian Science Monitor reports that some are expecting new numbers from the U.S. Department of Commerce to show the first econ shrink in the U.S. in seven years. Also, the Monitor reflects on the meaning of what Chairman Greenspan has been saying, bringing to mind President Truman's exasperated remark that he would like to have a "one-handed economist" as an advisor. This way, he wouldn't keep hearing, "On the other hand..." Also, James Thurman writes that the proposed health database is causing extreme anxiety among those concerned with privacy. Finally, here's some often overlooked good news about the economic progress of what will soon be America's largest minority.
It's official: IRS to be kinder and gentler from now on (Thursday, 7/23/98)
President Clinton has signed the bill into law, but a man who had quite a lot to do with setting all this in motion remains to be convinced that the American Internal Revenue Service will be all that different. Long Island's Newsday has that story.
Clinton has new plans for helping American farmers (Thursday, 7/23/98)
The President is scheduled to disclose new measures in radio interviews today. Meanwhile, the Washington Post's editorial writers support Republican interpretations of the current plight of American farmers and what should be done about it. Jim Barnett of the Oregonian reports that the two Senators from Oregon are introducing a bipartisan bill to change immigration laws that affect migrant workers. Finally, the Austin American-Statesman reports that the drought in Texas is taking its toll on farm jobs, and lines at the food banks are getting longer.
Strike disrupts air travel in South Africa (Thursday, 7/23/98)
Hundreds of striking workers blockaded a runway at the international airport in Johannesburg yesterday, resulting in flight cancellations and delays. The dispute centers on fears that ramp-handling concessions would be distributed to outside firms, resulting in loss of business and job losses. Business Day reports that the strike was called off following negotiations among involved parties.
Arbitration talks resume today (Thursday, 7/23/98)
Representatives from General Motors and the United Auto Workers first met with a court-mandated arbitrator yesterday and are continuing to argue their cases today. The arbitrator will decide if the strikes at GM plants in Flint, Michigan are illegal, as the big auto company claims. In other labor news, Northwest Airlines' mechanics are thinking of changing unions.
Minister supports worker demands at Lebanese electrical company (Thursday, 7/23/98)
Workers at Lebanon's state-run Electricite du Liban want an increase in pay, and Elias Hobeikah, Electicity and Water Resources Minister, has announced that he will support them when the cabinet meets next time. The electrical workers staged a 24-hour strike earlier in the week.
Job cuts at Russell (Thursday, 7/23/98)
Russell Corporation makes athletic uniforms and is thinking about cutting as many as 4,000 jobs. Also, Minnesota-based 3M Corporation has seen a dip in earnings, which may also lead to job cuts.
Funding for the IMF delayed in the House (Thursday, 7/23/98)
House Republicans have put the brakes on the move to replenish the International Monetary Fund's reserves. Here's that story from Adam Entous of Reuters. Meanwhile, Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that, despite continuing international concern with Pakistan's nuclear tests, the G8 has approved an IMF loan in order to try to head off economic failure in that country. If you think you're already worrying about all the real and potential economic crises in the world, here's another one. U.S. Vice-President Gore isn't supporting aid for the Ukraine at this particular time.
Final: Congress won't pay for watching the Teamsters election (Thursday, 7/23/98)
The Washington Post's Frank Swoboda reports on why the Teamsters union may continue as the "problem child" of the American labor movement. Also in the Post today, Barbara Vobejda reports that a new survey finds little improvement in the employment of persons with disabilities.
Work ethic vs. the parenting ethic (Thursday, 7/23/98)
Sam Newlund isn't sure he's happy about New York Mayor Giuliani's plan to rid the big city of welfare by the year 2000. Maybe the Mayor is forgetting something, according to Newlund.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: U.S. Department of Commerce (Thursday, 7/23/98)
The United States Department of Commerce is one of the federal government agencies most involved in economic issues. They gather and analyze a range of economic statistics, among many other things, and they're on the web.
Russian government celebrates IMF loan (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Russia will get its $11.2 billion loan, reports Irina Demchenko of Reuters, and the Washington Post's Sharon LaFraniere reports that officials are claiming that the Russian financial crisis is under control for the moment.
GM and UAW reps meet with arbitrator today (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Arbitration at this point isn't intended to settle the dispute that has mostly shut down General Motors operations, but to determine the legality of the two strikes in Flint, Michigan. Chicago Sun-Times biz writer Francine Knowles provides her analysis of how the current dispute is about nothing less than the future of General Motors. Finally, despite the lack of parts coming from Flint, GM has found a way to reopen a truck plant in Mexico.
Getting off welfare vs. getting out of poverty (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
They appear to be two different issues, according to this Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial. Unless America drops the other shoe, we'll simply increase the number of working poor. The new government report, "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being," is cited.
Greenspan to say it all again today on Capitol Hill (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
The Federal Reserve Chairman testified before the Senate Banking Committee yesterday and will do the same before the House Senate Committee today. Things are still cool, he thinks, but there is the danger of, er, overheating. Robert Samuelson of the Washington Post wonders if the American economy is too good to last, and sees some of the same possible future dangers as Mr. Greenspan.
Clinton says no to education savings accounts (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Here's more on President Clinton's veto of a bill supported by Congressional Republicans.
Discrimination suit filed against Merrill Lynch (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Hispanic workers at a Merrill Lynch facility in New Jersey are claiming systematic discrimination.
No agreement in Portugal's gas truckers strike (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
According to Publico, striking gasoline truckers in Portugal ended talks with government representatives very early this morning, but without reaching agreement. The majority of gas stations in the country were expected to begin running out of fuel yesterday.
Here's the latest from Indonesia, and it ain't pretty (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Not so long ago, it appeared that Indonesia had a serious economic problem. Now, nearly everything's a problem, and Suharto's departure hasn't solved much. Keith Richburg reports on the world's fourth largest country--the world's largest Islamic country--and its apparent slide into chaos.
America blew its best chance on health care in 1994, according to columnist (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Los Angeles Times commentator Matthew Miller examines the ironies in how public dissatisfaction with HMOs has pushed health care issues to the top of the election year political agenda. Jack Faris and Anthony Burns of the Washington Post also have some thoughts on health care, and say that the various "patients' rights" plans would still leave huge numbers of Americans without coverage.
Pensions in Turkey to increase (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
The Turkish government will increase pensions by 30 percent between now and October in order to match the increase in pay for civil servants, reports Hurriyet today. The increases are intended to help compensate for the erosion of buying power resulting from Turkey's high inflation rate.
Clinton wants more regulation of nursing homes (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Too many of the nation's nursing homes aren't doing a very good job, according to the American president, and he intends to do something about it. Here's the story from Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post.
Is there really a hi-tech worker shortage? (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Hi-tech corporations are searching desperately for qualified workers, but they're also laying off a lot of people. What's going on?
Say good-bye to the familiar workplace, speaker says (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
Here's what John Challenger has been telling members of the World Future Society at their meeting in Chicago about an increasingly obsolete workplace.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Headhunter.net (Wednesday, 7/22/98)
There are a large number of job-posting sites on the Internet, and Headhunter.net is one of them. They say they're "Net Working @ Its Best," and should be of interest to job seekers, employers, and recruiters. No fees and no recycled postings, they say. The site is supported by advertising, and they claim lots of traffic.
Strikes may continue until autumn leaves begin to fall (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Brian Akre reports in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that an official of the United Auto Workers is saying that the strikes at Flint, Michigan GM plants could continue until September. Dave Phillips of the Detroit News reports on rising discontent among GM workers at other locations, and also indicates where some additional strikes could occur, and Ben Klayman reports on rallies in which thousands of UAW workers vow to endure hardship for months if necessary. The Washington Post's Warren Brown explains how arguments over "peg rates" have played a role in the current strikes.
Armageddon may just be the name of a movie (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
If you're expecting more or less the end of the economic world because of Y2K, the San Francisco Chronicle's Jonathan Marshall reports that the sky may not fall after all.
What it takes to gain work flexibility (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Columnist Amy Gage says that simply working for a woman doesn't guarantee empathy for your work-family pressures. What it takes is skillful negotiation, she says.
Hard times for an ex-mayor (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Darla Clark lost an election, and has had difficulty finding work ever since. However, she's given up trying to collect unemployment benefits.
Fed Head talks to the Senate (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Alan Greenspan goes to Capitol Hill to deliver his report on the American economy. Here's Knut Engelmann's story.
Hot job prospects for new grads...in the U.S. (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Even people with freshly minted degrees in the liberal arts are finding a welcoming job market this year in the United States, but new grads in Thailand are finding a much different situation, according to the Arizona Republic.
New York's mayor wants to bring a complete end to welfare and soon (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
The end of welfare in New York City by the year 2000 is Mayor Giuliani's goal. Here's the story from Blaine Harden of the Washington Post. Also in the Post today, Helen Dewar reports that House Majority Leader Armey has changed his prediction on new IMF funding. The Post also editorializes today on the standoff on who should pay for keeping a close eye on the Teamsters presidential election re-do. In another editorial coming to you via the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Post says that the surplus should be saved for Social Security.
Argument over health IDs begins to heat up (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Privacy is the issue, according to many. Also from the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, Jon Tevlin reports on labor law violations at a nonprofit that runs a major Minnesota county's Head Start program.
Job cuts in the tech industry (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
AMP is cutting, and so is Harris. The former is the world's largest supplier of electric and electronic connectors, and the latter produces semiconductors, among other things.
Australian coal mine to become center of attention again (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Christopher Niesche of the Australian News Network reports that a mining union is trying to regain jobs at the mine.
On the desire for quality at bargain rates (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Today's Christian Science Monitor explains what the current argument over health care is all about. Also in the Monitor today, Linda Feldmann describes the conflict that many mothers face in relation to work options. Incidentally, there may be less intrapsychic conflict if work outside the home is an absolute necessity, but that doesn't make it feel any better.
Where you're most likely to find workplace violence (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Devi Ramachandran reports that the incidence of workplace violence is high in Canada, according to a new study from the International Labor Organization, an agency of the United Nations. In Europe, La Tribune reports that workplace violence and sexual harassment are most likely in France.
Truckers strike in Portugal (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
Diario de Noticias reports that workers who drive truckers carrying gasoline and other hazardous substances began a strike yesterday which could cut back flights in and out of the Lisbon airport. Strikers are demanding better pay and working conditions.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Keirsey Temperament Sorter (Tuesday, 7/21/98)
The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory is a paper-and-pencil questionnaire that is widely used by counselors and others in a variety of situations, including employment settings, in which it is often used to help people determine what kind of work is best for them. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter is a briefer version which is intended to provide similar results, and it's available on the web. It represents another way in which the web may come to be used by a variety of helpers for employment as well as other purposes. Refer to this site for help in interpreting the Sorter's results. Also, professionals and other interested persons may refer to a little book by Keirsey and Bates, called Please Understand Me, published by Prometheus Nemesis, P.O. Box 2082, Del Mar, CA 92014. Here it is on Barnes & Noble's web site, where you can purchase it if you like. Or, you can order it from the other big on-line bookstore, Amazon.com. Also, here's a classic from the inventor of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator herself, and here's another book by David Keirsey to help you interpret his Sorter.
Strike authorization vote at Saturn (Monday, 7/20/98)
Saturn workers have authorized their representatives to strike if necessary, which further complicates GM's situation. Negotiators have taken some time off in efforts to reach agreements that would end the strikes in Flint, Michigan. Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor offers some perspective, including how the UAW sees its members' high stakes in the conflict. Also, here's a USA Today story about how the strikes in Michigan are affecting workers many miles away. Finally, Keith Bradsher of the New York Times looks back at the very beginning of the relationship between General Motors and the United Auto Workers in 1937 in, of all places, Flint, Michigan.
Electrical workers strike in Lebanon (Monday, 7/20/98)
According to As-Safir, workers at the state-run electrical company, Electricite du Liban, have staged a 24-hour strike to support their wage and working condition demands.
Two South Korean auto makers suspend operations (Monday, 7/20/98)
Yun Suk-bong reports that the car companies are trying to head off possible strikes or violence as tension increases. However, the South Korean government insists that it will not retreat from its intended labor market reforms, despite opposition from union hard-liners. Despite the ongoing economic problems, South Koreans are intending to take some time out to celebrate the country's 50th anniversary.
Events in America's northern plains affect Indonesia (Monday, 7/20/98)
One of the defining attributes of the new world economy is the high degree of integration, or, at least, the extent to which events in one part of the world affect other parts. Farmers in the American northern plains are in crisis because of low farm product prices, so the American government intends to buy a lot of wheat in order to push market prices up. The wheat will be distributed overseas, and Indonesia, which has severe economic problems, including high rates of unemployment and growing hunger, expects to benefit. Incidentally, other countries, including the United States, also have a stake in Indonesia's economic and political success, given that it is the world's fourth largest country, and, given its location, could be a destabilizing influence throughout the Asian region.
How are you feeling about being "downsized out?" (Monday, 7/20/98)
Sarah Schafer of the Washington Post puts things into perspective and passes along some suggestions from career expert and therapist Marilyn Goldman. Meanwhile, in Japan, people continue to die from overwork. Uri Kageyama of the Los Angeles Times reports.
What it takes to get rich (Monday, 7/20/98)
Wise investment in the stock market combined with patience is one way, according to Washington Post columnist James Glassman who reflects on the couple who quietly accumulated $800 million, which they left to charity. Glassman is also host of PBS' "Technopolitics" on public television stations throughout the United States.
Paying for wage increases in Turkey (Monday, 7/20/98)
Turkish civil servants will get a raise in pay beginning in October, and the Turkish government has announced an austerity plan to pay for the increased wage costs, according to Hurriyet today.
Irish teachers want pay increase like the police are getting (Monday, 7/20/98)
The Irish Independent reports that the government has offered a 9 percent pay increase to police, and this has brought about protests from 20,000 elementary school teachers who say their pay should be re-negotiated.
What's hot eventually cools (Monday, 7/20/98)
Enjoy the hot hi-tech job market while it lasts, but remember that nothing lasts forever, says Philip Ross of Forbes magazine.
The shrinking of the AMA (Monday, 7/20/98)
Charles Ornstein reports that the American Medical Association now represents only a bit more than a third of American physicians. What's been happening? Here's Mr. Ornstein's explanation.
High school students predict the future (Monday, 7/20/98)
Here's what some high school students expect from the future world of work, as reported in the Sacramento Bee.
Louder arguments coming over the minimum wage (Monday, 7/20/98)
David Francis reports on the new effort to increase the federal minimum wage. It last went up in 1996. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, news about the issue that has moved to the top of the election-year agenda in Washington: patient rights and whether patients should be able to sue their HMOs. Meanwhile, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times writes that the Clinton administration wants to be able to track every American's health history through the use of a unique "health identifier." It's all been fairly quiet so far, but we're betting that this will become a very visible and controversial issue before long.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: HealthCareerWeb (Monday, 7/20/98)
Want help locating either jobs or workers in the health care field? HealthCareerWeb specializes in health care and is associated with CareerWeb.
Negotiators met again yesterday (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Talks continue in an effort to settle the strikes at General Motors plants in Michigan, but there's not much more to report. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times tells how striking workers in Flint are getting by with a little help from the UAW, and Steven Greenhouse says that the current strikes bring to mind the old days when organized labor had more clout overall.
Retirement self-reliance in Britain (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Richard Stevenson reports that workers in the UK seem to think they should be mostly in charge of their own retirement. Also in Britain, Conal Urquhart of the The Scotsman tells the dismal story of the mostly forced labor camps of so many years ago. There were at least twenty-five of them in Britain, according to the article.
Quinn says this should be the year if you're going to shift to a Roth IRA (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Reason: this is the year when you'll get a tax break. Consider carefully, though. Here's nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn's advice. Also in the Washington Post today, Amy Joyce writes about how the twentysomethings are handling management roles in their own way, and suggests Bruce Tulgan's book, Work This Way: How 1,000 Young People Designed Their Own Careers in the New Workplace and How You Can Too, which may be a finalist for the year's longest book title, and this may be a finalist for the year's longest sentence. Finally, James Rupert reports on U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin's trip to Africa and what he's saying about economic development there.
More on the government's big wheat purchases (Sunday, 7/19/98)
The Clinton administration sees big dangers for America's agricultural industry and is buying wheat to send overseas in order to boost prices. Today's editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune suggests a fix for the Freedom to Farm act. Nearby, Minnesota's Red River Valley, which has some of the most fertile soil on the planet, is in deep crisis because of collapsing farm product prices. Many economists say that farming is an inherently unprofitable business in the long-run, so, if people like to eat, it will be necessary to support farmers in some way in order to keep them in business.
Quick quiz on the revolutionary new world economy (Sunday, 7/19/98)
In the New York Times today, Cynthia Mayer provides an example of what is so different about the new economy. Which company has the greater market capitalization, Barnes & Noble, which has been around since shortly after the beginning of time and has lots of bookstores, or Amazon.com, which is barely three years old and has no bookstores? If you said the latter, you are entitled to the handshake award. In the old industrial economy, bricks and mortar and such things were associated with much of a company's value. However, in the new information economy, the principal value comes from, well, information.
AFT approves merger with the NEA (Sunday, 7/19/98)
But, as reported earlier, the NEA turned down the merger idea at the national level. However, states can go their own way, and it appears that Minnesota will be the first to do so by merging the NEA and AFT at the state level. If any of this is confusing, ask a teacher for clarification. At any rate, here's the latest on the AFT vote from the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Local hoarding of job vacancies alleged (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Tom Allard reports from Canberra for the Sydney Morning Herald on why the new national Job Network isn't working so well yet.
Music major runs big foundation (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Robert Miller of the Dallas Morning New tells the story of Anna Faith Jones' tremendous success in building a community foundation with assets of over a half billion dollars.
Among the best places to work if you're a minority (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Fortune magazine identifies 50 of the best companies if you're talented and Asian, Black, or Hispanic, and they explain why the best are the best.
European economies move beyond steady pulse (Sunday, 7/19/98)
John-Thor Dahlburg of the Los Angeles Times reports on the economic revival of economies on the European continent. Several countries still suffer near-record unemployment levels, though.
Mexican government gears up to protect Mexican workers in the U.S. (Sunday, 7/19/98)
The Mexican government intends to take a more aggressive stance in the courts to protect Mexican workers in the United States. Here's the report from Mexico City via San Diego.
Clinton may be waiting with a veto (Sunday, 7/19/98)
American hi-tech companies want the U.S. government to allow more immigrants with technical skills into the country. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that the President may be prepared to veto the bill that would increase the number of visas. Meanwhile, the Editor-in-Chief at U.S. News thinks it's foolish to restrict hi-tech immigration. Let 'em come, he says.
More teenage hi-tech experts (Sunday, 7/19/98)
Computerworld reports that new U.S. Department of Labor data indicate an increase in the number of computer programmers and system analysts between the ages of 16 and 19 in the United States. There were 9,000 in 1996 and 16,000 in 1997, says the Labor Department. Many are earning top salaries.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Job Direct (Sunday, 7/19/98)
In 1995, two Pittsburgh-area students were looking for summer jobs. This led to their making a job out of helping graduating college students find a job. Job Direct is the result, and it's intended to serve the special needs of students.
Help for farmers (Saturday, 7/18/98)
The Clinton administration hopes to boost domestic farm product prices by buying grain and distributing it overseas, and the U.S. Senate approves $500 million in emergency aid for U.S. farmers. On the other side of the Capitol, the House Speaker says that he expects Congress to approve more money for the International Monetary Fund.
First arbitration meeting scheduled for Wednesday (Saturday, 7/18/98)
Representatives of General Motors and the United Auto Workers will begin meeting with an independent arbitrator Wednesday to settle the issue of whether the strikes in Flint, Michigan are legal. Here's that story from Reuters and the New York Times. Meanwhile, the U.S. Labor Secretary has offered mediation help to settle the strikes.
New ruling lets individual managers off the hook a bit (Saturday, 7/18/98)
California's high court says that employers can be held financially liable in discrimination cases, but not individual managers. Here's that story from Maura Dolan of the Los Angeles Times.
Job cuts at Micron Electronics (Saturday, 7/18/98)
Personal computer price wars will cost 130 jobs at Micron.
Strike ends at Rockwell (Saturday, 7/18/98)
Workers in the semiconductor division at Rockwell International have agreed to end a seven-week strike. As part of the settlement, the union has abandoned its work week demands, among other things. In other labor news, passenger-service workers at United Airlines have voted to be represented by the International Association of Machinists.
Rubber meets the road at RCA (Saturday, 7/18/98)
John Russell of the Akron Beacon Journal reports that while workers at RCA Rubber Company have been on strike, their company has been making some changes. According to the restructuring, a number of things will be done in different ways and affect the nature of 140 jobs.
Trade unionists want minimum wage in Ireland before 1999 (Saturday, 7/18/98)
Padraig Yeates of the Irish Times reports that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions wants to see a national minimum wage before the end of the year.
Lawyer mom loses custody of child (Saturday, 7/18/98)
The New York Times' Melody Petersen reports on a custody battle that may have implications for many hard working parents.
Perks get more perky in tight labor market (Saturday, 7/18/98)
Tim Smart and Beth Berselli write in the International Herald Tribune about the rich mix of benefits that U.S. companies are offering to high-demand workers in a hot economy where labor shortages are becoming more common, particularly in technical and professional areas. Affected workers should enjoy it all while they can and remember what they learned about supply-demand relationships in Econ 101. When the American economy begins to cool again, well, you know...
Would a job by any other name be as sweet? (Saturday, 7/18/98)
For many people, it's not only what they do but what they can call themselves that counts. Claudia Coates writes in the Kansas City Star about the importance of titles to many people.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: CareerPath.com (Saturday, 7/18/98)
CareerPath.com gives you access to more than 200,000 job listings from newspapers throughout the United States.
Adversaries present plans for the Japanese economy (Friday, 7/17/98)
How will the new Japanese government cope with the most severe recession Japan has experienced during the postwar period? That country's next prime minister is likely to be one of two or three leading contenders, and they present their views.
After seven weeks, sides in GM strikes troll for support (Friday, 7/17/98)
The sides don't seem to be in much mood for compromise as they seek support and turn up the heat on the war to win hearts and minds. Ben Klayman of Reuters reports that General Motors is seeking alternative sources of supply for the parts that are needed to resume production. Tom Henry of the Toledo Blade writes about how Ohio workers who have been idled by the strikes in Flint, Michigan are getting help from their union.
Clinton leads rally on Capitol Hill (Friday, 7/17/98)
Randall Mikkelsen reports that Democrats see public concern with managed health care as a ticket to big wins in November, possibly even including regaining control of the House of Representatives. As a consequence, President Clinton visited Capitol Hill yesterday in an effort to rev things up. The Washington Post's Amy Goldstein and Helen Dewar write that Republicans are trying to call attention to the cost increases they see as resulting from the Democratic plan. The Republicans have their own plan, and the Post examines the alternatives.
Gore addresses NAACP convention in Atlanta (Friday, 7/17/98)
The Vice-President told the conclave that African Americans haven't been benefiting enough from the American economic boom, and he found little disagreement.
The cost of Lebanon's pilots' strike (Friday, 7/17/98)
Pilots at Middle East Airlines were on strike for 24 hours, and it cost the company $1.2 million, according to reports in An-Nahar today. Also in Lebanon, As-Safir reports that workers at Electricite du Liban are planning their own 24-hour strike to enforce their demand for increased worker subsidies and a health care plan, among other things.
Adolescent health risk and immigration (Friday, 7/17/98)
What factors are related to health risks among adolescents? Is it safer to be a foreign born immigrant, a native born, or what? Ann Quigley reports on some new findings from a University of North Carolina study. Speaking of health risks, another study finds that women in some occupations are at greater risk for developing cancer of the reproductive system than are others.
Some reasons for starting your own business if you're a woman (Friday, 7/17/98)
Ann Scott Tyson of the Christian Science Monitor writes that not having to contend with a glass ceiling is one. Ms. Tyson also writes about women and retirement: many aren't able to afford it. Along similar lines, Rachel Kaprielian of the Boston Globe says that statistics show that American women are disproportionately represented among the elderly in poverty. Meanwhile, Jim Abrams reports in the Savannah Morning News that a Congressional report suggests that raising the retirement age will hurt blue collar workers.
Russian oligarchy and the IMF (Friday, 7/17/98)
The International Monetary Fund faces somewhat different home-grown obstacles in its effort to help Russia than it faces in trying to assist the Asian economies out of the hole they've gotten themselves into. Michael Gordon and David Sanger report in the New York Times on how the U.S. has been twisting IMF arms in relation to Russia.
Job satisfaction in Alberta (Friday, 7/17/98)
A new survey claims that workers in Alberta enjoy generally high levels of job satisfaction. Here's that story from Vicki Barnett of the Calgary Herald.
Are you nostalgic for the role of paperboy? (Friday, 7/17/98)
Jeffrey Shaffer seems to be, and, among other things, discusses customer satisfaction. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, the problems that Massachusetts faces in finding enough qualified, that's qualified teachers. Other regions are likely to face that problem too.
Labor leaders assert their determination in South Korea (Friday, 7/17/98)
Don Kirk of the Paris-based International Herald Tribune reports that the latest strike in South Korea has mostly fizzled, but labor union leaders are undeterred.
How the "cagemen" are making it or not making it in mostly affluent Hong Kong (Friday, 7/17/98)
Being down and out in some regions isn't quite the same as being down and out in Hong Kong. Here's Keith Richburg's report. Also in today's Washington Post, Charles Krauthammer wonders if the population explosion will be over soon worldwide. In some areas of the world, there is already the opposite problem, and, if it were not for immigrants, he says, Americans would barely be replacing themselves. He reports on a new article by Nick Eberstadt.
Average real wages are increasing in the U.S. (Friday, 7/17/98)
David Wessel writes in today's Wall Street Journal that, adjusted for inflation, average wages in the United States have been on the way up again.
There's something unenthusiastic in Denmark (Friday, 7/17/98)
An 18-month experiment has found little enthusiasm among Danes for working at home. A key reason: they miss interpersonal contact with their colleagues, according to Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten.
Japanese court rules that many illegal aliens are covered (Friday, 7/17/98)
Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports on a Tokyo District Court ruling that means coverage by Japan's national health plan for many illegal aliens.
Fashions come and go, and when they go, so do jobs (Friday, 7/17/98)
San Francisco-based Levi Strauss plans to cut more jobs in order to bring costs down in an effort to adjust to softening demand.
Guilty plea in Medicare fraud case (Friday, 7/17/98)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois will pay a $144 million fine.
Clinton gets emergency assistance for farmers in Senate bill (Friday, 7/17/98)
President Clinton had been pushing for $500 million in emergency aid for farmers, and the Senate has agreed, following reluctance from many Republicans. Farmers in the northern plains are having trouble, in large part because of prices, but farmer and ranchers in Texas are suffering because of the extreme heat and drought. Here's that story from Worth Wren of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Also in Texas today, Diana Kunde reports in the Dallas Morning News that some companies are trying to help employees cope with business travel combined with family responsibilities. Incidentally, that kind of help is more forthcoming in a tight labor market.
Rail merger to create jobs in Chicago area (Friday, 7/17/98)
Mary Ellen Podmolik reports in the Chicago Sun-Times that more Chicagoland jobs will result if the Illinois Central--Canadian National Railway merger is approved.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Advancing Women (Friday, 7/17/98)
Advancing Women focuses on women and work and has an international orientation. News, self-help, and a good deal more.
Judge says arbitrator will decide if strikes are illegal (Thursday, 7/16/98)
In an effort to break the deadlock between General Motors and the United Auto Workers, a federal judge has ordered negotiators to set up an arbitration meeting. Here's the story from Reuters, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. The Detroit Free Press reports that GM may soon begin planning to eliminate white collar jobs, particularly if it discontinues some models, as reports have indicated. The two strikes in Flint, Michigan may not be the end of GM's problems. Workers at a Saturn plant in Tennessee will take a strike authorization vote on Sunday. Finally, here's an ABC News report on how the GM strikes are affecting subcontractors in a "just-in-time" economy.
First-time jobless claims decline last week (Thursday, 7/16/98)
They had gone up earlier because of the GM strikes, but hit a four-week low last week, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Some perspective on Puerto Rico's attitudes toward their phone company (Thursday, 7/16/98)
Peter Passell of the New York Times examines the reasons for so much resistance to the Puerto Rican government's plan to privatize the telephone company.
The state of America's kids (Thursday, 7/16/98)
There are 70 million children in the United States. A new government report finds good news and bad news to report.
The fight over securing patient rights (Thursday, 7/16/98)
The HMOs and related health care issues seem to have moved to the top of the political agenda in an election year, and both sides are scrambling to respond to what polls say Americans want. The Republicans released their plan yesterday, and President Clinton heads for Capitol Hill to be chief cheerleader for the Democrats. Also in Congress, a bipartisan group has introduced legislation to fix Social Security, but doesn't expect a vote until next session, and Helen Dewar of the Washington Post reports that things are looking better for President Clinton who wants $18 billion for the International Monetary Fund, but Senate Republicans have squished Democratic plans to provide struggling farmers with subsidies. Also, the Washington Post editorializes today that the higher-education bill that has moved through Congress involves spending increases financed mostly by gimmicks and amounts to sloppy policy. Finally, Bill Thomas says the Administration should stop stalling on Medicare. Key provisions of last year's law aren't being implemented, he says.
Why the West cares about Russia's success (Thursday, 7/16/98)
Here's more on the stake that a lot of people outside Russia have in it's economic and political success, and why the West is working to bail out the gasping Russian economy. Jonathan Landay writes for the Christian Science Monitor.
More on the new Business Work-Life Study (Thursday, 7/16/98)
Theresa Walker of the Orange County Register provides more details on the new study from the Families and Work Institute.
So, managed care means poorer care, right? Not necessarily, says a major newspaper (Thursday, 7/16/98)
An editorial in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune claims that it's possible for the quality of care to improve in a managed care environment.
Texas Instruments moves ahead on layoffs (Thursday, 7/16/98)
The Dallas Morning News reports that TI is half way through the planned cuts worldwide, and 275 jobs have been sliced in Dallas.
The search for the "money personality" (Thursday, 7/16/98)
Standardized assessment instruments are being used on Wall Street and in other parts of the financial community, this time to get to know clients better. Is it a valid process? Who knows?
Northeastern Brazil attempts a transition to the new world economy (Thursday, 7/16/98)
Diana Jean Schemo writes in today's New York Times about how a huge part of South America's largest country is working its way to full participation in the new economy and what it means for individuals.
Pilots strike in Lebanon as scheduled (Thursday, 7/16/98)
As-Safir reports that pilots for Middle East Airlines began their 24-hour strike yesterday. Twenty-two flights will have to be canceled. MEA has been struggling financially for several years, and pilots are concerned about pay as well as future employment prospects.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Training and Education Select List (Thursday, 7/16/98)
The Training and Education Select List helps you quickly find schools that offer the programs you're interested in, if you're in the New England region or want to study there.
General Motors files suit against the United Auto Workers (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
GM sues the UAW in an attempt to bring binding arbitration into the picture to settle the strikes in Michigan that have largely shut down its North American operations. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times sees chances for settlement diminishing.
If you work for Ford and get a buyout offer, here's what they're thinking (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Ford Motor Company wants to get rid of about 5,000 of its white-collar workers who are doing less than a spectacular job, in their judgment. However, they want to do it in a kinder and gentler fashion, so they're offering buyouts, according to today's Detroit Free Press story. Incidentally, according to independent analysts, Ford and Chrysler are already operating at higher overall levels of productivity than General Motors, which helps explain the high stakes negotiations that are going on to settle the strikes at two GM plants in Flint, Michigan.
Russian stocks respond to IMF bailout plan (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
The Washington Post's Daniel Williams reports that investors seem buoyed by the IMF's $22.6 billion bailout plan to help Russia, and that the plan buys the Russian government some time. President Clinton likes the plan, but an editorial in today's Washington Post suggest that, while perhaps necessary to hold back catastrophe, what happens to Russia in the long run very much depends on the Russians. Clay Chandler writes that the big loans to Russia further depletes the IMF's reserves, and Reuters' Adam Entous reports that the U.S. House of Representatives may be getting ready to support the move to send the IMF more money, but not as much as many supporters have wanted. The Minneapolis Star Tribune says that the U.S. should get its checkbook out quickly.
Here's something that's surging in the Japanese economy as that country forms a new government (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Business bankruptcies are at their highest level since World War II.
Pilots to strike in Lebanon (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
United Press International reports that twenty-two Middle East Airlines flights will be affected by a 24-hour strike of Lebanese pilots that is scheduled to begin at midnight. Also in Lebanon today, An-Nahar reports that the Lebanese parliament has approved a 30 percent increase in pension benefits for some state employees.
Thousands strike in South Korea (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
South Korea has been trying to restructure its economy in order to fix its economic mess. However, tens of thousands of union members don't like the restructuring efforts, and they've expressed their displeasure by going out on strike. Here's the story from Reuters and the International Herald Tribune, as well as the Nando Times, which also reports that labor is losing its clout in the present crisis.
Republican health plan to be released today (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Senate Republicans have heard the public call for more regulation of the managed care industry and are set to release their plan to guarantee "patient rights." Also, the Senate vows help for farmers, and President Clinton has his own ideas on that problem, according to Charles Abbott's story. Despite a booming American economy overall, farmers across the northern plains have been suffering from a dangerous drop in income.
Are men working in the child care industry? Here's one (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Marilyn Gardner writes about a man who regards caring for children as his mission in work life. Still, justified or not, Americans tend to be suspicious of men caring for children.
Boss won't listen to you? Tell BrainBank Inc. (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
A good suggestion coming from you may be ignored, so tell BrainBank, and they'll tell your boss. Also in today's Washington Post, Mary Janney reports on what it seems to take to stay off welfare. Hint: it's a nine-letter word that starts with an "e." So, what does it take to gain access to this wonderful stuff?
The '70s pioneers look back (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Ellen Joan Pollock writes in today's Wall Street Journal about those dual-career couples of the 1970s and what they see when they look back. Incidentally, are you keeping up with the cost of raising children in the late '90s? Jean Hopfensperger reports that tax credits, which are supposed to help, are slipping behind the rising costs. Also, if you're a working parent, are your employer's policies helpful as you try to balance your responsibilities? Here's Maggie Jackson's report on a new study coming to you from today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Is there intelligent life on earth? (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Some sales trainees were urged to walk on hot coals during a "motivational" training course, and, guess what? Some of them suffered serious burns.
No automatic productivity gains from hi-tech (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
South Africa has spent a lot on technology, but many are still looking for the productivity gains that were supposed to result. However, as the U.S. and others have found, it may be more of a people problem than a technology problem. Here's that story from today's Financial Mail. Also in South Africa, Business Report says that more than 14,000 Transnet employees are threatening to pull out of the medical aid program because it hasn't been paying medical bills that it's supposed to cover. The state-owned transportation company says that the problem is being addressed and that the program is 54 million rand in debt.
Wanna retire someday? What will it take? Biz Week has some suggestions (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
Here's the major cover story on retirement from the current edition of Business Week.
Today's NewWork News Web Tip: United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (Wednesday, 7/15/98)
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination and was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, the Commission also enforces more recent statutes, including ADEA and ADA.
Strike settled in Philadelphia (Saturday, 7/11/98)
The long transit strike in Philadelphia is over. A tentative agreement was reached last night.
New contract at AT&T (Saturday, 7/11/98)
CNN Financial reports that communication workers at AT&T have approved a new four-year contract.
GM strike talks slow again (Saturday, 7/11/98)
There seemed to be progress in the negotiations between General Motors and the United Auto Workers, but things have slowed down again. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times says that a major reason is that GM wants a guarantee of no strikes elsewhere for a while.
UPS responds to Teamsters complaint (Saturday, 7/11/98)
The Teamsters are complaining that United Par