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June 1998

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Jiang arrives in Hong Kong (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
In a ceremony a year ago during which Britain's Prince Charles maintained an expression suggesting that his shoes were too tight, Hong Kong was returned to China after more than a century and a half as a British colony. China's Jiang Zemin, perhaps with some anxiety, has left American President Clinton to tour and talk more or less as he sees fit in order to be present at the first anniversary of the Hong Kong handover. Keith Richburg of the Washington Post writes that Hong Kong residents are still feeling caught in a conflict that is making it difficult to establish identities appropriate to the new realities.

Many are still waiting to see whether China will change Hong Kong or whether Hong Kong will change China. The Chinese government seems to be trying to overcome its knee-jerk totalitarian impulses sufficiently so as to avoid killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. However, as the New York Times' Tom Friedman remarked at the time of the handover, it isn't clear that the Chinese political leadership understands what the goose eats. Meanwhile, as William Kazer reports for Reuters, American first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton helps open a new children's health center in Shanghai which may provide a model for the future and also represents what can result from Sino-American cooperation.

Hand-wringing on a massive scale in Russia (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Economic anxieties deepen in Russia as fear that a devaluation of the ruble may be directly ahead. However, as Ivan Rodin reports, the Russian government is trying to put on a happy face, saying that it has confidence in its plan for managing the crisis. In fact, according to President Yeltsin, there isn't even a crisis, which, in the U.S., is called "spinning" or something. Today's Wall Street Journal does call it a crisis, though, and reports that it's growing.

GM decides not to threaten health coverage after all (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Perhaps thinking it's time to try to de-escalate the tension level in its negotiations with the United Auto Workers, General Motors has backtracked on its threat to deny medical benefits to 160,000 workers who aren't on strike, but who are idled because of two strikes in Flint, Michigan. Meanwhile, talks continue.

Unemployment up again in Israel (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Yediot Ahronot and the Jerusalem Post are reporting today that unemployment in Israel reached 4.8 percent in April. Estimates for the year have been revised upward.

Compaq gets more compact (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Recent upstart Compaq Computer Corporation has acquired old-timer Digital Equipment Corporation, and this has resulted in an excess of workers in the merged company, according to their calculations. So, they're cutting 5,000 jobs. Also, Snap-on Inc., the big automotive tool maker, plans to cut 1,000 jobs.

Overseer tallies Teamsters nominations, but may not oversee the election itself (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
For decades, many serious people have felt that the Teamsters union needs adult supervision. With the re-do of the troubled labor organization's presidential election coming up very soon, Congress is withholding money for federal supervision, so the election may go on out of sight of any official watchful eye. Here's the story from the Nando Times and Gail Appleson of Reuters.

Optimism fades a bit at TWA (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Things looked as though they were moving along well in the TWA negotiations, but talks have hit a snag between the pilots and the company.

Ireland fears loss of Apple jobs (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Apple Computer Corporation is restructuring, and it could mean a loss of manufacturing jobs in Ireland. However, more new jobs are being produced in that country overall than nearly anyplace else. Here are details from a new employment survey.

Vacation trends, retirement trends (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley looks at what a tight labor market has been doing to paid vacation benefits in the private sector. Also in today's Washington Post, Linda Perlstein tells how things have changed for federal workers when it comes to retirement planning.

More trouble in fantasy land (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
Mickey is on strike at Euro Disney, and others are too. In fact, the strike is spreading.

The case against immigration (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
That's a book title. Alexandra Marks describes Roy Beck's book in which he says that immigration cutbacks are needed to protect American workers. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Marjorie Coeyman writes about college in which class attendance is not a problem, but also says such programs remain controversial in the United States, and funding is in jeopardy. Also in today's Monitor, Gail Russell Chaddock examines prospects for a merging of the two largest teachers' unions, while a member of the NEA looks at why an NEA-AFT merger should occur. In other education news, Mark Clayton tells why so many professors seem skeptical of hi-tech. Finally, Robert Rotberg writes that regional economic integration may be coming to southern Africa, and the Monitor editorializes on the American Supreme Court's rulings on sexual harassment last week, saying that the rulings clarify things. An editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times seems to agree, but the Wall Street Journal's Joann Lublin and Timothy Schellhardt say that employers are confused.

Robin Hood in reverse? (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
The haves vs. have nots gap has been increasing for a long time in the United States, and there are a variety of reasons. Some simply have to do with the fundamental attributes of the new information economy and the kinds of skills that are rewarded. However, politics also plays a role. Newsday's Robert Reno seems annoyed about what Congress is doing in relation to capital gains and estate taxes, and the Christian Science Monitor examines budget resolutions moving through the House of Representatives.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: American Express Financial Advisors (Tuesday, 6/30/98)
One of the more interesting things about this site is that it contains a number of on-line "calculators" for determining your net work, planning for your future with "what if" scenarios, and so forth. Here are your on-line American Express Financial Advisors.

American Secretary of the Treasury on Asian tour (Monday, 6/29/98)
The President of the United States isn't the only high U.S. government official in Asia at the moment. Secretary Rubin reached Malaysia yesterday on his tour of troubled Asian economies, and Mark Landler of the New York Times reports that Rubin has a blunt message for some. Meanwhile, Japanese business leaders seem pessimistic about an early solution to Japan's economic problems, while Jay Bryan of the Montreal Gazette thinks Canada may be spared from major fallout from Asia.

Sides report no progress in GM talks (Monday, 6/29/98)
Talks continued over the weekend, but there is nothing new to report. In a related story, Jim Suhr of the Fort Worth Star Telegram tells how the strikes are affecting Flint, Michigan. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Journal reports on the U.S. strikes and their impact on neighboring Canada. In other labor news, Leon Lazaroff writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about efforts to unionize Chinatown's restaurants in New York City, TWA pilots are expecting a settlement soon, and Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times says it appears that Republicans are trying to prevent the federal monitor of the scheduled re-do of the Teamsters presidential election from getting the funds he says he needs to do his job.

Yet another worker shortage (Monday, 6/29/98)
It isn't just hi-tech people who are in short supply. Many cab companies are having difficulty finding enough drivers as well.

Disney characters strike in Paris (Monday, 6/29/98)
Le Parisien reports that about 40 employees of Euro Disney refused to march in the Disney parade, insisting on higher wages. The workers portray various Disney characters.

Putting welfare recipients to work in the tourist industry (Monday, 6/29/98)
Thomas Sheeran writes in the Akron Beacon Journal about how Cleveland's convention bureau is helping people make the transition to one of the city's hottest industries.

Some education gaps all but disappear (Monday, 6/29/98)
Remember when it was hard to find women in college classrooms, and the ones who were there had to put up with wisecracks about how they were in college just to find a husband? Well, things have changed. Now, more women are graduating from college than men. In addition, African Americans are reaching parity with whites in terms of high school graduation. Here are the details. Also in the Washington Post today, Marilyn Moon and Joanne Silberner write about the seemingly eternal problem of finding health care for America's poor.

Tall people need not apply (Monday, 6/29/98)
Well, maybe that's a little too strong, but Laura Hipp of the San Antonio Express-News writes that there are some jobs in the airline industry in which being short is an advantage.

Lebanon's Finance Ministry expects to benefit from training (Monday, 6/29/98)
Minister of State for Finance Fouad Seniora spoke during a training seminar for government employees, saying that additional training in monetary and other fields should help the Finance Ministry's performance. Others indicated that improved salaries and working conditions might also be necessary, according to An-Nahar.

Democratizing the workplace (Monday, 6/29/98)
Minnesota Senator Wellstone may be running for the presidency, and, if he is, to say he's not the front-runner may set a 20th century record for understatement. However, the former Carleton College professor has a lot on his mind and is known for not being driven mostly by political considerations. For instance, today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about the Senator's efforts to reform labor law. Speaking of democratizing work, here's news of a company that doesn't have any bosses and doesn't have any employees either. Is it all a matter of semantics?

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: RetireWeb (Monday, 6/29/98)
RetireWeb offers much of what you need to know in order to start planning for your retirement.

Supreme Court rulings create a corporate scramble (Sunday, 6/28/98)
Companies all over America are rushing to examine their policies governing sexual harassment in the workplace following the landmark rulings by the Supreme Court. Steven Greenhouse reports for the New York Times. Also in the Times today, Michael Weinstein examines the change of attitude in relation to the American Social Security system. Not long ago, any suggestion that Social Security might be tampered with in any way was as taboo as broiling your old work shoes and serving them your to your dinner guests. Now, a lot of people are uttering the dreaded "p" word out loud. Finally, Jon Nordheimer examines the conflicting cross currents with respect to retirement in the United States.

Deadline passes at TWA, but talks continue (Sunday, 6/28/98)
Pilots have agreed to keep the negotiations going, even though the union-set deadline has passed, suggesting that there is progress. Meanwhile, at Northwest Airlines, a rancorous atmosphere gets a little thicker as pilots threaten to file a shareholder lawsuit.

Go ahead, take some time off (Sunday, 6/28/98)
More than 20,000 U.S. employees of AMP Inc. will get a week off, but it will be without pay. The company is also encouraging early retirement as a means for getting costs under control during a period of slackening demand.

Expect a fix of the fixes after the election year is over (Sunday, 6/28/98)
Albert Crenshaw comments on the more to reform the IRS and wonders how long it will be before Congress will be changing the intended changes, possibly with less fanfare.

Making a job out of helping others find a job (Sunday, 6/28/98)
In her "Job Hunt" column this time, Newsday's Lisa Doll Bruno describes the occupation of resume writer.

Scario scenario (Sunday, 6/28/98)
Take a couple of aspirin, and, then, read Jennifer Lin Knight's analysis of how the Asian economic problems could result in a worldwide depression. Also in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press, Michael Zielenziger writes that globalization can be painful, and offers a number of Asian examples from the past year. Robert Heady contributes to our understanding of the new "small world" connections by looking at how your savings and mortgage rates may be influenced by what happens or doesn't happen in Japan over the next several months. Finally, the New York Times' David Sanger reports that the Japanese are getting plenty of unsolicited advice, particularly from American leaders.

Help in starting your own business (Sunday, 6/28/98)
With the changing nature of employment, including declining job security, as well as the increasing reliance on temporary and contract workers, many people are looking to self-employment as an alternative, thinking that if they're going to be insecure anyway, they may as well have a chance to experience the potential benefits of running their own businesses. Here's a three-part series on doing just that from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Incidentally, every new entrepreneur finds that success presents special problems. Sooner or later, s/he must find ways to bring other people's energies, talents, and perhaps money as well, into the picture. Otherwise, it means total exhaustion, because there are only so many hours in the day. Basically, if you intend to be self-employed, you need to decide whether your objective is simply to create work for yourself or whether it is to build a company, which is a quite different thing altogether. Once you're big enough to have a few employees, how do you inspire loyalty? Here's what consultant Pam Krank has to say about that.

Surprise! Things are still cooking long after March 1991 (Sunday, 6/28/98)
Who wudda thunk it? The last recession in the United States ended more than seven years ago, with no slowing of the expansion in sight, unless the Fed chooses to put the brakes on. Here's an analysis of why the current boom wasn't expected. Also from the Nando Times today, California's Bay Area doesn't have room for more people, and, according to University of California professor Larry Kimbell, a principal reason is that the Bay Area is just too damn rich. If it's not one problem, it's another.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: American School Counselor Association (Sunday, 6/28/98)
School counselors play a key role in the education process, not the least being their contributions to helping students achieve career direction. Like most professionals, school counselors have a national organization through which they can support one another and share ideas. Now, counselors don't have to wait for conventions in order to get together. In addition, they can meet at the American School Counselor Association web site.

Major Supreme Court rulings on harassment (Saturday, 6/27/98)
From now on in the United States, employers are legally responsible for the sexual misconduct of supervisors, even if they know nothing about it. The U.S. Supreme Court handed down two landmark decisions yesterday. Here's the story from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Washington Post, and Reuters. Also, here are exceprts from the Court's decisions via the New York Times. Interestingly, these decisions seem inconsistent with the Court's ruling earlier affecting school districts. Here's a Washington Post editorial on that issue that we pointed to earlier this week.

GM plays hard ball (Saturday, 6/27/98)
General Motors may cut off health care coverage for strikers. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times analyzes the big GM-UAW dispute, and says that the cost to the company so far has been about $1 billion. The Kansas City Star's Randolph Heaster tells how the strike is affecting families across North America.

Fixing Japan's economy may mean fixing its banks (Saturday, 6/27/98)
Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof examine what bad debt means to the Japanese economy as well as the rest of the world, and what needs to be done about it.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Education World (Saturday, 6/27/98)
One way or another, education will continue to play a central role in the new economy, whether or not the institutions retain their present form. If you would like information relating to education at any level, Education World may be able to point you in the right direction. Would more than 56,000 education-related web sites be enough?

What are the odds that the IRS reform bill really will become law? (Friday, 6/26/98)
It's a good bet, according to Rob Wells in the Fort Worth Star Telegram today. The fact that it's an election year and polls are showing that Americans are upset about the big tax collector might have something to do with it. The polls also show growing anger about managed health care, so watch out, HMOs.

Soon, no movement will be detectable in GM's North American plants (Friday, 6/26/98)
General Motors is preparing for a total shutdown of its North American operations. Here's the story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Nando Times. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times tells how the effects of two strikes in Flint, Michigan have spread in all directions.

Some French officials oppose higher wealth tax (Friday, 6/26/98)
According to Les Echos this morning, France's finance minister and employment and solidarity minister don't like the idea of including professional assets as part of an individual's possessions for purposes of calculating his/her wealth tax. Instead, the present tax law should be more vigorously applied, says Employment and Solidarity Minister Martine Aubry.

Cuts at Rockwell and Mead (Friday, 6/26/98)
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Rockwell International intends to cut its workforce by 10 percent, which would amount to nearly 5,000 jobs. Also, Ohio's Mead Corporation intends to cut 500 jobs.

Unemployment up in Italy (Friday, 6/26/98)
At 12.5 percent in April, Italy's unemployment is the highest in a year, according to the International Herald Tribune.

Court says HIV-positive people are officially "disabled" (Friday, 6/26/98)
Yesterday's ruling by the American Supreme Court means that persons who test positive for HIV are entitled to protections under the Americans With Disabilities Act. In another Supreme Court decision, part of a 1992 law has been struck down and this will save companies formerly involved in the mining industry large amounts of money in health care costs for retired mine workers.

The cost of supervision (Friday, 6/26/98)
A federal appeals court has ruled that if the government is going to supervise the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election, the government must also pick up the tab, which will amount to about $8.5 million. However, Congress has said no.

Many older casualties from the last recession are still struggling (Friday, 6/26/98)
Even in a hot job market, many of the over-50's who were laid off in the early 90s are still having great difficulty returning to the work world. Tony Horwitz reports in today's Wall Street Journal. Also in the Journal today, Jay Solomon reports that Indonesia's revised agreement with the International Monetary Fund will allow increased social spending.

Americans earning more, and they're spending it (Friday, 6/26/98)
Personal incomes are up, but savings are down, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

How do the "self-made" differ from the rest of us? (Friday, 6/26/98)
Some people seem to create opportunity and success out of thin air, and, of course, most don't. The Los Angeles Times' Shawn Hubler looks at the difference as well as the difference it makes.

Northwest pilots don't like their company's deal with Continental (Friday, 6/26/98)
Northwest Airlines is putting the finishing touches on a deal with Continental Airlines, but the Northwest pilots, who have been in continuing conflict with management for a long time, have voted to file a grievance over the proposed alliance because it threatens jobs protections covered by the current contract, according to them

Slaughterhouse workers displaced (Friday, 6/26/98)
Workers from a Michigan slaughterhouse will need to find new jobs, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Asian mess impacts on Australian employment (Friday, 6/26/98)
Thousands of businesses report that they intend to cut jobs, and the Asian economic crisis is having something to do with it. Here are some details from the new Bureau of Statistics survey from today's Sydney Morning Herald. Also in today's Herald, Debra Jopson reports on the double crunch for workers at BHP's Newcastle steelworks.

Demonstrations at Oakland waterfront (Friday, 6/26/98)
The possibility of nonunion contracting at the Oakland ports has a lot of workers upset, and they're slowing the pace of work in protest. Here's the story from the San Francisco Chronicle.

New temp policy at Microsoft (Friday, 6/26/98)
A battle has been going on for sometime over the legal status of temporary workers at Microsoft Corporation. Now, the software giant has a new policy. Here's a Seattle Times story via the San Jose Mercury News.

Summer jobs program needs a close look (Friday, 6/26/98)
Walter Shapiro writes in USA Today about the need for an examination of the federal summer jobs program for teens.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Office of Vocational and Adult Education (Friday, 6/26/98)
The United States Department of Education maintains and Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and you can go there from here.

GM challenges legality of strikes, wants arbitration (Thursday, 6/25/98)
General Motors is filing a grievance against the United Auto Workers in an effort to end the strikes that have shut down most of GM's North American operations. Here's the story from Reuters and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In other labor news, the New York Times' Steven Greenhouse reports on the AFL-CIO's new campaign to strengthen the right of workers to unionize, which it believes has been weakened by a variety of factors during recent years.

IMF clears loan payment for Russia, but balks on additional help, saying it will be "difficult" (Thursday, 6/25/98)
Adam Tanner reports on the results of meetings between International Monetary Fund and Russian officials. However, Bernard Sanders, writing in the Christian Science Monitor, doubts that the IMF has really been all that helpful. In fact, he thinks their "help" has been disastrous for Russia in the past, and has doubts about the future. Meanwhile, a new agreement has been signed between the IMF and Indonesia which will allow that bailout plan to pick up where it left off when Suharto's government started to unravel.

Education's importance in the new economy (Thursday, 6/25/98)
The American Labor Secretary compares high school dropouts with college graduates and finds what one might expect. She concludes that education is the key to making it in the new economy, as reported in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, Ethan Bronner writes about the increasingly common tendency of skilled young people to ignore college degrees in a hot job market. There have also been recent stories about hi-tech firms hiring 17-year-olds right out of high school at very high starting salaries.

We think it's the difference between traditional so-called "credentials" representing time spent in school, on the one hand, and actual skills, on the other. The higher education establishment is still very much credentials-oriented, and, in fact, distributes its own rewards and opportunities mostly according to who has received official "blessings" from others much like themselves. The new economy off the campuses, on the other hand, is far more competency and performance-oriented.

Thus, the sort of comparison data that the Labor Secretary is examining may not be as relevant to the new economy as she seems to think. High school dropouts tend not to have the skills that are needed, of course, but this is also the case with many college graduates. While there is an overall correlation between formal education, as measured in conventional ways, and economic security, this relationship is much less strong than during previous years in an old industrial economy that was also quite credentials-based.

However, there are many good reasons for going to college or the equivalent, and some of the more important ones have nothing to do with jobs or careers. Persuading people that it is important to learn about those things that are "useless but indispensable" will be among society's major challenges during the years immediately ahead.

First quarter growth better than expected (Thursday, 6/25/98)
The American economy grew at an annual rate of 5.4 percent during the first quarter of this year, the greatest in two years. However, many experts believe that this is not sustainable and expect the Federal Reserve to begin raising interest rates late this year.

Greek government wants longer working hours (Thursday, 6/25/98)
A new bill to reform the Greek labor market and make Greek companies more competitive is being introduced by Labor Minister Papaioannou. It would allow longer work hours, more part-time work, and a suspension of minimum wage limits. Greek unions are unenthusiastic, according to Naftemporiki.

Does your company have a corporate chaplain? (Thursday, 6/25/98)
Ruth Walker writes about a company that does. It's Reimer Express Line in Canada, and it all gives new meaning to the term "circuit rider" which applied to preachers during the 19th century.

Higher retirement age coming to Turkey (Thursday, 6/25/98)
According to Milliet, Turkey's coalition government intends to raise the retirement age to 57 for women and 60 for men beginning next year. Currently, anyone who has worked for 25 years is eligible for retirement benefits, regardless of age.

Why so many Japanese fear what may be necessary to fix their country's banking system (Thursday, 6/25/98)
Sandra Sugawara explains Japan's reluctance to swallow the bitter medicine that other countries are urging the Japanese government to take. Also in the Washington Post this morning, Amy Goldstein and Terry Neal report that House Republicans have their own plan for ensuring patient rights in an American health care system increasingly dominated by HMOs. Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special report on American public opinion which shows growing anger over health care in the U.S., suggesting that pols read some of the same polls. The urge to please is also behind the IRS reform bill that apparently will become law. However, the Washington Post editorializes today that, while useful, the IRS reform that's apparently about to happen isn't going to be quite as earth shaking as many politicians are letting on in an election year.

More on the Administrations new affirmative action rules (Thursday, 6/25/98)
The Clinton administration is changing the rules determining the conditions under which minority-owned businesses will get priority from now on in the awarding of federal contracts. Here are more details from David Rosenbaum of the New York Times.

Strikes will be limited by new Ontario law (Thursday, 6/25/98)
It will be easier to ban strikes on construction projects. Here's James Wallace writing for the Toronto Sun.

Why the traffic jam in Sacramento (Thursday, 6/25/98)
Getting from point A to point B was complicated when 30,000 people were trying to get to the Cal Expo job fair. Here's the story from Marcos Breton of the Sacramento Bee. Also in California, the Los Angeles Times' Marla Dickerson tells why small business will have to play the critical role in getting people off welfare and into jobs.

How the U.S. compares on work standards (Thursday, 6/25/98)
Rick Alm of the Kansas City Star writes that experts are afraid the U.S. is falling behind.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: RAND Journal of Economics (Thursday, 6/25/98)
Did you know that the Rand Corporation has an economics journal? It certainly does, and here's its web site.

IRS changes on the way (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Congress has reached agreement on a bill to reform the American Internal Revenue Service, and President Clinton says he will sign it. Congress and Clinton aren't on the same wave length in relation to other issues, though. Katharine Seelye reports that a House committee wants to cut where the President wants to strengthen.

Yeltsin alarmed, and he's not the only one (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Russian President Boris Yeltsin says he finds his country's financial situation "alarming." He threatens to take matters into his own official hands if the Russian parliament doesn't take the necessary action during the next few weeks. Adam Tanner reports that Russian officials are optimistic about getting IMF help, despite earlier reports indicating that International Monetary Fund officials weren't sure they could afford it.

Puerto Rico privatization of its telephone company leads to large-scale protests (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
GTE Corporation will purchase a controlling interest in Puerto Rico's telephone company. Thousands of telephone workers go on strike, and Sandra Ivelisse Villerrael of the Miami Herald reports that they have been joined by the island's electrical workers.

Today's GM news (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Talks between General Motors and United Auto Workers negotiators have "intensified," but no one is claiming any progress toward settling the two strikes in Michigan which have resulted in the shutdown of much of GM's operations over a wide region. In fact, according to CNN Financial, the slowdown has extended all the way to Japan. Todd Nissen has more on company efforts to cut costs, suggesting that no early settlement is expected by GM management. In fact, as James Hannah reports in the Akron Beacon Journal, additional strikes may occur, and the next one could be in Ohio. Finally, the General Motors strikes are expected to slow the American economy a bit this quarter, but Asia's continuing problems will have a greater effect, experts say.

Food stamps restored to some legal immigrants (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
The move by the President doesn't cover all the legal immigrants who lost eligibility with the new welfare law, though. Restoration affects a quarter million children, elderly and handicapped persons.

Lebanon looking for ways to increase state salaries (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
As-Safir reports that Lebanon's government intends to raise additional revenue to cover the cost of increasing the salaries of people who work for the government, assuming that parliament passes the measure as it is being discussed. Cost: about US$272 million.

Demands for higher wages expected in Sweden (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
According to FinansTidningen, unions are likely to demand higher wages, given that unemployment has been falling and given the growing shortage of workers in the public sector.

Comments on the Supreme Court's harassment ruling (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
The Washington Post says that the latest ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on sexual harassment doesn't clarify things overall. Also in the Post today, columnist Robert Samuelson says that Japan's current economic problems are largely a consequence of Japan's consensus-seeking culture. The New York Times' David Sanger provides an analysis of the Clinton administration's cautious approach to Asia's economic troubles. At least, it's tried to avoid direction involvement, despite the arm twisting, particularly in relation to Japan.

A move to increase minority participation in American media (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
American television star Jimmy Smits is getting together with U.S. government officials to try to find ways to get more minorities into American broadcasting and entertainment industries. Long Island's Newsday has the story this morning. In a somewhat related story, the Los Angeles Times reports that the Clinton administration is revising the rules that determine which minority-owned businesses will get preference for government contracts.

Temps in charge (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Adam Bryant writes about the growing number of executives who work as temps. It's all part of the "just-in-time" approach to doing business in the new economy.

Loitering ordinance may not be what it appears (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Bernadette Tansey of the San Francisco Chronicle says a tough law on loitering is thought by many to be targeting day laborers who are simply trying to make a living.

The vast army of Asia's unemployed (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Inside China Today reports that unemployment is undergoing a dramatic rise across Asia. For instance, Don Kirk of the Paris-based International Herald Tribune says that joblessness has hit a record in South Korea. Also from the IHT, news that China's government is indicating that more needs to be done for the enormous number of people who have been laid off with a restructuring of Chinese state industries. As many as a hundred million Chinese may be directly affected.

Are you a middle manager? Well, it's time to cheer up (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
Kathy Bergen reports in the Bergen Record that middle managers are in demand again. Incidentally, Ms. Bergen really writes for the Chicago Tribune, so it doesn't appear that her newspaper has been named after her.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: International Monetary Fund (Wednesday, 6/24/98)
The International Monetary Fund has been in the news a lot during recent months, because it has been playing a central role in helping to bail out struggling economies, particularly those in Asia. What is the IMF? What does it do? How does it work? Here are answers to those questions.

Big Medicare changes (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
President Clinton has ordered major new protections for Medicare recipients. Here's the New York Times story coming to you via this morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

General Motors strikes could last into late summer (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
The head of the United Auto Workers vows that the union will win its contest with the huge American auto maker, and that the strikes could continue into August. Here's the story from Reuters and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Both sides seem to be digging in for the long haul. For instance, GM has ordered a cut in discretionary spending in order to save. In other labor news, pilots at Trans World Airlines have set Friday as a deadline. Negotiations have been going on for a year. No strike is imminent, though, because of regulations requiring orderly procedures and advance notice. Finally, a five-week gold mine strike at Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories threatens to open up old wounds.

Overtime up in Sweden and is costing jobs (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
Swedes have been working longer hours while workers in other European countries have seen a decrease in the length of their work weeks. FinansTidningen reports that the increasing use of overtime in Sweden has cost the country tens of thousands of new jobs.

Teachers moving to business in large numbers (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
School districts are having to find creative ways to stem the tide during a period when teacher salaries have not kept pace and alternatives abound in the private sector. Also in the Christisan Science Monitor today, Cindy Fisher muses on the relevant issues involved in choosing a college major.

Hong Kong sliding into recession (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
The Asian economic crisis has been having a greater effect on more economies than many were predicting a few months ago. For instance, Hong Kong's economy is slowing considerably, and the government there is making plans to attempt stimulation to take at least some of the sting out of a recession that seems to be coming.

How short is the tech worker shortage, really? (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
The current edition of Business Week takes up the question of whether America's hi-tech companies are really suffering from a skills shortage, as they say, or whether they simply want to obtain cheaper tech workers from overseas. Many thousands of miles away, the technical skills shortage seems very real indeed, and Israel's economic development may depend on its ability to dramatically increase in the number of technically skilled workers. Israel has been attempting something quite interesting and possibly unique: It has been moving from an agrarian directly to an information age economy, mostly skipping the old industrial stage many other countries have gone through. It all highlights the extent to which the competition for technical expertise is global in a new global economy.

Been turned down for a job? Take a deep breath, if you can (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
Ilana DeBare advises a correspondent about whether one can be denied employment simply for being a smoker. In California, the answer is in the affirmative.

Where you'll find more new jobs than anyplace else (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
The generations of Irish who emigrated in order to escape poverty and find work would be astonished, but Ireland now has the highest rate of job creation in all of the industrialized world. Here's the story from the Irish Times.

The increasingly complicated issue of stock options (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
Jenna Ward writes in Cal Law about how attractive stock options are getting many workers to agree to things they might not otherwise, particularly in Silicon Valley. Incidentally, it isn't just tech experts who are in great demand in the region between San Francisco and San Jose. Restaurants are grabbing each other's personnel nearly any way they can as well, according to Carolyn Jung of the San Jose Mercury News.

World Bank's grim prediction for Indonesia (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
The fourth largest country has been undergoing both economic and political paroxysms in recent months. Politically, conditions may be at the beginning of a long process of improvement. Economically, Indonesia is still a basket case and getting worse. The World Bank says that 20 million more people may lose their jobs and the number of people living in poverty may double.

All clear for Hoffa's Teamsters run (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
James Hoffa will have to pay a larger fine, but a federal judge has given the green light to his running for the presidency of the Teamsters in the re-do election.

L.A. Times says no to "guest worker" idea (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
Congress is considering it, but, while it would be good for California growers, it would be bad for workers, according to this Los Angeles Times editorial.

Think slavery is only part of history? Think again (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
Howard French of the New York Times tells about continuing slavery in the Ivory Coast, but it's not the only place where the most primitive of human institutions persists on this planet.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Hunger Project (Tuesday, 6/23/98)
The Hunger Project is an international organization dedicated to the eradication of world hunger. It's been active for twenty years under the direction of a distinguished board.

U.S. continues to urge Japan to do more to stimulate its economy (Monday, 6/22/98)
Madhav Reddy of Reuters has the latest on one of the most watched stories in the world, while Kanta Watanabe reports on the failure of the G7 meeting to instill confidence in Japan's currency. Japanese stocks are up a bit, though, and George Nishiyama writes that Japan has established a time table for fixing its banking system by taking care of a very large bad loan mess. Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun tells about a report from a panel advising the Japanese prime minister. The Christian Science Monitor's Cameron Barr reports on the meetings in Tokyo and why Japan no longer relishes its economic leadership role in Asia.

Progess is glacial in UAW-GM talks (Monday, 6/22/98)
The sides kept talking over the weekend, but there is little to report, except that virtually all of General Motors' operations will be shut down before long. Meanwhile, UAW leaders are meeting in Las Vegas, and it's a good bet that the strikes at GM plants in Michigan and their aftermath will be the principal topic of conversation. Both sides are willing to accept major sacrifices, because whatever settlement results is likely to determine the nature of the huge automotive company on into the next century.

Resolution at Ionian Bank of Greece (Monday, 6/22/98)
Kathimerini reports that the Greek government's sale of control of the state-owned bank has been approved by stockholders, and a 45-day strike by bank workers has been called off.

Immigration talks end with differences remaining (Monday, 6/22/98)
David Monjaraz reports on how well things have not been going in talks about immigration between U.S. and Mexican authorities.

Worker stockholders at Home Depot (Monday, 6/22/98)
Workers at the big retailer share in the company's ownership, and many are doing just fine, thank you. Here's the story from Dan Sewell of the Savannah Morning News.

Wanna work aboard ship? (Monday, 6/22/98)
Shirley Slater and Harry Basch of the Los Angeles Times have some advice for those who are tired of dry land.

Privatization of Social Security not necessarily a done deal (Monday, 6/22/98)
David Francis writes that the American Social Security system does have its defenders, and they're gearing up to derail the strong move in Congress to privatize. It's the difference between major changes and minor changes, and what will be needed to make the system viable on into the late 21st century. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, Kerry Flatley writes about Virginia O'Brien's new book on women in the corporate world, Success on Our Own Terms. Speaking of women in the work world, Mike Snow reports on a new venture capital fund for women that has been approved by the SBA. Finally, here's a San Jose Mercury News story telling what women should do when they feel that they're being discriminated against with respect to pay.

Tax delinquencies in the government (Monday, 6/22/98)
Quite a lot of federal workers aren't paying their taxes in a timely manner. If you're curious about differences across the various federal agencies and departments, this story is for you.

What it takes to make workplace teams effective (Monday, 6/22/98)
Carol Pine tells what an expert from Columbia University has to say. Also from today's St. Paul Pioneer Press, Gary Klott writes about students, summer jobs, and tax withholding.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Industrial/Organizational Psychologist (Monday, 6/22/98)
The Industrial/Organizational Psychologist is a newsletter from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, an American association of professional "work psychologists." To borrow a phrase, psychology has "a long past and a short history," meaning that, while people probably have been interested in human nature for about as long as there have been people, modern scientific psychology arose out of the late 19th century following a period of enormous progress in the natural sciences which, among other things, demonstrated the tremendous power of scientific thinking and procedures for learning about nature, including human nature. Modern psychology usually regards its birth date as 1879 when Wilhelm Wudnt established the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. Psychological concepts and methods were applied to business problems and economic life beginning very early, first in relation to advertising, then, in the 1920's with the famous "Hawthorne Studies" at the Western Electric plant in Illinois, to the organization of work. The Hawthorne Studies and decades of additional research have demonstrated that psychological and social psychological factors can have a huge impact on job performance and satisfaction, productivity, and so on.

UAW president expects re-election as GM strikes continue (Sunday, 6/21/98)
Most General Motors operations are shut down across North America and settlement of the two strikes in Flint, Michigan that have caused the shutdown is not on the horizon. Meanwhile, the United Auto Workers hold a convention this weekend where the union's President Stephen Yokich is expected to be re-elected. Francine Knowles of the Chicago Sun Times tells about the radiating effects of the GM shutdown in the Chicago area where suppliers are preparing to lay off workers as well.

Thousands march for jobs in Rome (Sunday, 6/21/98)
National strikes are a possibility. Premier Romano Prodi's government is under increasing pressure to create more jobs in Italy.

Quinn examines likely effects of Social Security changes (Sunday, 6/21/98)
Two things seem nearly certain about the American Social Security system: it will continue, but it will change. How are the changes likely to affect you? Here's nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn's column from today's Washington Post. Also from the Post today, why many are choosing social work as a second career, and why young South Koreans are shifting to highly practical post-secondary degree programs.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the handover, how are things in Hong Kong? (Sunday, 6/21/98)
Frank Wright of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that China has mostly left Hong Kong alone during the past year, being careful not to mess up a good thing. However, there's no doubt about who's in charge. Also in the Strib this morning, some Father's Day reflections from a dad who works at home.

Two approaches to dealing with a job market that is either good or bad, depending on your perspective (Sunday, 6/21/98)
Amy Lindgren describes two new books that offer differing strategies.

Vocational Industrial Clubs of America meeting in Kansas City (Sunday, 6/21/98)
The 34th annual conference and Skills USA Championships are drawing 12,000 participants to Kansas City this week, according to Rick Alm of the Kansas City Star.

Wife fires her husband (Sunday, 6/21/98)
He started the company, and he's suing for back pay. Incidentally, they're getting divorced too. Have a nice day.

The world of financial aid for students gets more competitive (Sunday, 6/21/98)
Ethan Bronner reports that there is less emphasis on need as a basis for distributing college scholarships. Also in today's New York Times, Robert Hershey tells about the congenial summer job market that's welcoming American teens. However, Gilbert Chan of the Sacramento Bee reports that California's Sacramento County is expected to come up very short in meeting demand for jobs for those lacking skills over the next five years.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: School-To-Work Center (Sunday, 6/21/98)
Want to know more about school-to-work programs, grants, partnerships? Here's all that and more from the National STW Learning and Information Center in Washington, D. C.

Nearly 115,000 General Motors workers idled and counting (Saturday, 6/20/98)
Two more assembly plants close, one in Ohio, another in Mexico. President Clinton, concerned about the effects of the shutdown of GM's extensive operations on the American economy, has urged quick settlement. Nichole Christian reports in today's New York Times on the GM chairman's remarks.

Crisis meeting in Tokyo (Saturday, 6/20/98)
Representatives of the world's leading industrial economies are putting more pressure on Japan to take actions that might be politically unpopular shortly before an election in that country in order to boost the struggling Japanese economy. Knut Engelmann of Reuters reports that the U.S. has emphasized that Japanese government action must come during the next three weeks.

Job cuts at Lockheed Martin (Saturday, 6/20/98)
About 2,500 jobs will go in the company's space and missile division.

Indian economy had problems before the bomb, but now... (Saturday, 6/20/98)
The atomic bomb tests have had significant economic fallout in India. Here's Molly Moore's report from today's Washington Post.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Chronicle of Higher Education (Saturday, 6/20/98)
The Chronicle of Higher Education is the principal source of academic news in the United States. The print edition is published weekly. The paper's web site includes news, as well as many additional features.

Treasury official attempts to twist Tokyo arms (Friday, 6/19/98)
American Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers is in Tokyo meeting with top Japanese officials and urging them to take quick action before the effects of efforts earlier in the week to stop the yen's free fall wear off. Today's Japan Times reports that an emergency meeting of representatives from eighteen countries will be held this weekend in Tokyo. Cameron Barr of the Christian Science Monitor says that, even though Japan's economy is getting smaller and this is already causing widespread pain, there's no strong movement to change political leadership, and Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times explains why. An election is coming up soon in Japan, incidentally, which usually helps explain why incumbent politicians aren't enthusiastic about taking actions that will pinch some voters and financial supporters.

Meanwhile, on the American side of the Pacific, the Commerce Department reports that the trade deficit expanded more in April than experts had expected, additional evidence that the Asian recession-that-borders-on-depression is affecting the American economy, also more than many experts had expected.

The high social and personal cost of South Korea's economic woes (Friday, 6/19/98)
Many South Koreans regard their unemployment as a personal disgrace, not as a consequence of a systemic problem beyond their control. Here's Pauline Jelinek's story in today's Detroit News about men leaving their families or killing themselves because they can't find work.

GM may soon be essentially closed down across North America (Friday, 6/19/98)
Here's Ben Klayman's story about the widening effects of the two strikes at General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan. Only two plants are on strike, but many more are closing down as a consequence, at great cost to the company, and, sooner or later, to the American economy as a whole. GM's willingness to swallow the costs is a measure of how important they consider a favorable settlement to be. The company presumably wants to reduce production capacity and increase its operational efficiency for increased viability in an increasingly competitive global automotive market. Industry observers are saying that General Motors probably remains the least efficient American auto company, so there is strong pressure to increase productivity, and, among other things, that means getting more out of fewer workers. Keith Bradsher analyzes the very different relationship that GM executives have with the United Auto Workers, compared to other Detroit-area auto companies. Brian Akre reports that General Motors dealers across the U.S. are beginning to run out of vehicles to sell. Also, Nancy Waitz reports that initial jobless claims have increased in the U.S., in large part because of the radiating effects of the General Motors situation.

Giat to cut thousands of jobs (Friday, 6/19/98)
Giat Industries SA makes tanks in France, but it hasn't been making enough of them and isn't profitable. It's also a state-owned firm. La Tribune reports that between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs will be cut and three plants closed. Also, in the American hi-tech industry, Texas Instruments and Iomega Corporation have job cuts planned as well.

Danish tax reform will cost jobs, according to employers (Friday, 6/19/98)
Imminent changes in the Danish tax system will result in upward pressure on wages to cover increased taxes, as well as 15,000 new unemployed because of a reduction in private investment. That's the picture painted by Dansk Handel & Service, and organization of Danish employers. Borsen has the story this morning.

Hi-tech help with welfare-to-work (Friday, 6/19/98)
One of Microsoft Corporation's top executives spoke at the grand opening of a computer learning center in northeast Washington, D. C. that the company helped set up. Here's the story from Darryl Taft of Computer Reseller News.

Long-term unemployment eases in Australia (Friday, 6/19/98)
Ben Mitchell reports from Canberra for Melbourne's The Age that the Australian government is putting their own spin on the new numbers.

New incentive system may cut social welfare benefits for some (Friday, 6/19/98)
Eibhir Mulqueen reports that the Irish government intends to begin cutting welfare benefits for persons who refuse work or training opportunities.

Russia may be changing its mind about wanting a loan (Friday, 6/19/98)
Not long ago, Russian officials were saying that more outside loans would not be necessary to get the nation's financial situation under control. Now, it appears that $10 to $15 billion will be sought. Benjamin Gilman writes in the Washington Post that strings should be attached in the international political arena.

American elderly need more understanding of their new Medicare options (Friday, 6/19/98)
Judith Havemann reports that a new survey shows that most older Americans are not aware of the choices they will have to make in relation to their Medicare coverage.

Growing controversy over benefits for the single and childless (Friday, 6/19/98)
What if you're not using some of your employment benefits because you aren't married or don't have children? Should you be able to collect the difference in some other form? Joyce Gannon of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that it's a growing issue in many companies.

Where are all those former welfare recipients? (Friday, 6/19/98)
A General Accounting Office study finds that a lot of them are working as intended. Also in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, the National Mediation Board wants Northwest Airlines' pilots and company representatives to start talking again, now that agreement has been reached with the machinists. Finally, the paper editorializes that it's time for somebody to yell "Whoa!" in relation to strong drives in Congress to change the Internal Revenue Service.

Optimism in Europe mixes with concern in the UK (Friday, 6/19/98)
Research institutes from several European countries agree that, despite Asian problems, good times lie ahead for the overall world economy as well as for Western Europe. Along similar lines, Bundesbank in Germany provides an optimistic jobs outlook for that country. Meanwhile, in the UK, Sarah Lyall reports on the movement to establish a national minimum wage and the controversy it's stimulating, and Tom Buerkle of the Paris-based International Herald Tribune says that inflation threatens to end the five-year period of strong growth and send the British economy into recession.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Bureau of Economic Analysis (Friday, 6/19/98)
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. Their site provides access to many of the economic statistics routinely gathered by the agency. Much information not only on the domestic American economy and state of American business, but also relating to the international context. Charts, graphs, but also lots of articles.

U.S. actions make a difference (Thursday, 6/18/98)
The American government has been sufficiently alarmed about economic developments in Japan and their possible consequences that it abruptly changed direction and started buying yen in large quantities. It's made a difference, but U.S. actions won't be enough, as one can gather from President Clinton's pledge of support for the strong reforms that many around the world would like to see come from the Japanese themselves. Here's Hiroko Nakata's story from Reuters and James Tyson's comments from the Christian Science Monitor. Chris McCall reports on how the U.S. action has influenced Asian markets, and Marjorie Olster writes about the quick turnaround of U.S. stocks. If you'd like to back off a little from the immediate day's story for some additional perspective, Clay Chandler and Sandra Sugawara write about why fixing Japanese banks won't be easy, Nicholas Kristof wonders whether Japan is entering an entirely new economic era, and Peter Passell says that what Japan needs is some inflation. That's right, inflation.

House votes to get rid of the American tax system (Thursday, 6/18/98)
President Clinton opposes the bill and a similar one that is brewing in the U.S. Senate. Should have something new prepared before getting rid of the old, he says. However, supporters of the legislation say that getting rid of the old will make something new really happen. Otherwise, they say, it never will.

Sides posture and maneuver in the UAW-GM dispute (Thursday, 6/18/98)
No end to the strikes seems on the immediate horizon. General Motors is saying that the strikes at two Michigan plants may be so costly that domestic investment plans may be curtailed and calls for marathon talks. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times writes about the dispute's relationship to the large issue of transferring American jobs overseas, and USA Today writes about how the United Auto Workers is still widely regarded as one of America's most effective and well-run unions, even though its membership has been diminishing.

The rise of the corporate university (Thursday, 6/18/98)
The Financial Times reports that there are now about 1,600 training/education institutions run by corporations, compared to 400 ten years ago. Moreover, many are now granting degrees and are becoming independent of more traditional higher education institutions, to the point of competing with them for funding. In a somewhat related story, Tina Kelley writes that hundreds of University of Washington professors are urging Washington's governor to cool the strong movement toward "virtual college."

American small business wants health care reform (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Suzanne Rostler reports on a new survey. Also, the San Francisco Chronicle's Sabin Russell reports that many workers can't afford health insurance, even with help. Catherine McGrath of American Demographics tells about very young workers who are below the poverty line in the U.S. Finally, the American Medical Association has changed its mind: it would like workers to be able to choose their own health insurance.

Some school-to-work success stories (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Vicki Torres of the Los Angeles Times discusses the benefits that can accrue to all involved.

Downsizing at McDonald's headquarters (Thursday, 6/18/98)
McDonald's has cut its corporate headquarters staff by more than a fifth. This sort of thing is something new for that company.

More predators circle the elderly (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Warren Richey writes about the growing number of mortgage scams to which older Americans may be vulnerable.

Continuing problems of sexual harassment in the military (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Not the American military, the Canadian military, but, despite continuing problems with harassment, women are wanted to staff combat units.

More than five percent of Israel's retailers quit in five months (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Ha'aretz reports that more than 2,500 retailing businesses in Israel closed down between December of last year and this past April.

The sad life of a retailing recruiter on the campuses (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Retailing organizations are finding that it's hard competing with hot, glamorous fields for new college grads in a seller's market.

Congressional report questions privatization of Social Security (Thursday, 6/18/98)
There are strong movements in Congress to privatize Social Security, at least in part. A new study questions the value of doing so. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, Janet Moore writes about casual dress in the American workplace, and whether there should be limits. The Strib also has some editorial thoughts about how those who live by the chainsaw may die by the chainsaw and what Al Dunlap's downfall really means for what it takes to make stumbling companies effective again.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Career Mosaic (Thursday, 6/18/98)
Career Mosaic is one of the major job-search sites. In addition to searching through a vast number of posted job openings, you can also access a large number of employers through the site, plus a lot more. Career Mosaic is a very laaaaarge site.

Some experts are beginning to whisper the "D" word (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
Forget the idea of recession across Asia. Instead, start thinking about a depression, says the World Bank, and most experts don't have to be told about the impact that would have on the world's economy, including the U.S. Mark Landler of the New York Times reports that Chinese authorities are saying that, despite refusal to devalue the yuan so far, rapidly changing conditions could make devaluation necessary. The U.S. has moved unilaterally to support the Japanese yen while continuing to encourage Japan's government to do more to get its economy revved up a bit. Richard Melville writes that the American stock market has been reflecting a growing concern that the Asian troubles will be around for quite a long time, although American stocks came back a bit after big losses Monday.

John Berry of the Washington Post says that experts are expecting the American economy to slow down, although it's expected to remain relatively strong, at least for the time being. Except for persistent unemployment problems, things are going quite well in major European countries too, but, sooner or later, the mess in Asia will affect nearly everybody in an increasingly integrated global economy. Japan is most on the minds of experts throughout the world today, and, as a measure of Washington's concern, the U.S. is thinking of sending Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers to Tokyo to confer with Japanese officials. Sheryl WuDunn writes that Japan's hard times are hardest in the northern part of the country. Sandra Sugawara says that many Japanese companies are trying hard to hold on to a system that has guaranteed workers lifetime jobs during most of the strong postwar period, despite weakening conditions. However, Steppanie Strom says some workers are beginning to try to take more control of their own fate, particularly when it comes to retirement preparation.

Strikes getting on the nerves of GM dealers (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
Vehicle dealers like to have vehicles to sell, and, as strikes at General Motors plants in Michigan result in spreading shutdowns across North America, dealers are bothered. Production of light trucks is particularly hard hit. The New York Times' Keith Bradsher tells why there is growing concern in the U.S. about an efficient GM plant in Brazil.

Minimum wage increases by more than a third in Turkey (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
Dunya reports that the Turkish government has made the mid-year adjustment to the monthly minimum wage, raising it by 35 percent. If that seems like a lot, consider Turkey's annual inflation rate of 79.9 percent.

The end of a doctor-owned HMO (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
It was an interesting experiment, but the California HMO started by physicians has failed. Also in today's New York Times, Richard Stevenson reports that liberal Democrats and others are trying to slow the movement toward privatizing Social Security. Saul Hansell says that a federal district court has ruled against nine people who claimed they incurred injuries by using keyboards manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation. Finally, Jeri Clausing writes that a House member says that American hi-tech companies who want to bring in more foreign workers have already laid off more than they say they need.

Hundreds of thousands of new jobs because of airport project (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
A new airport will be built in Gauteng province east of Johannesburg, South Africa during the next five years. The project is expected to create 285,000 jobs, according to South Africa's Business Report.

"Well, after I was Secretary of State, I ran General Motors for awhile, and, then..." (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
The market for services that check resumes has been increasing, because lying seems to be a growth industry.

Manpower slumping (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
There is great demand in the U.S. for temporary workers, so one might expect the temp firms to be flying high. However, labor shortages and the resulting supply-demand changes are causing Manpower, Inc. problems and raising its costs. Its stock slipped considerably yesterday after the company indicated that earnings will be weak.

Greek government warns strikers (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
Workers at Ionian Bank of Greece have been on strike for six weeks, protesting a government plan to sell majority ownership of the company. Now, the government is warning the strikers that they may lose their jobs if they continue the strike. Kathimerini has the story today.

An agreement at Northwest Airlines, but problems aren't over (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
A tentative agreement has been reached between Northwest Airlines and its machinists' union. Five more contracts remain to be settled at the big Twin Cities-based airline, though.

Maybe it would be better if the boys were getting to be more like the girls in some ways (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
Barbara Vobejda and Linda Perlstein write about research showing a narrowing of the gender gap among American young people, and, in some respects, this may be good news. In others, well... H.J. Cummins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tells about concern with teenage girls and their health choices.

Minimum wage for the young in the UK (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
British papers are reporting that the U.K's government is proposing a minimum wage amounting to about US$5.28 hourly for young people. It would be phased in over a period of fifteen months.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Career Development Manual (Wednesday, 6/17/98)
Here's help with nearly all aspects of the career development process from Marlene Bryan of the University of Waterloo. Career Development Manual is a webbook in hypertext format.

Wall Street to Asia: Pass the aspirin (Tuesday, 6/16/98)
Growing concern with Asia's economic problems, particularly with the receding Japanese economy, hit the American stock market hard yesterday.

UAW negotiators walk out of talks with GM (Tuesday, 6/16/98)
Ben Klayman reports for Reuters on efforts to end strikes at two General Motors plants in Michigan. Here's some additional perspective from the Washington Post, which reports that the strikes are costing GM $500 million per week. However, the company's interest in reducing production capacity, they seem willing to accept those losses for the moment.

ADA covers inmates too, Court says (Tuesday, 6/16/98)
The Supreme Court has ruled that prison inmates are not exceptions when it comes to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CDC says to train those divers (Tuesday, 6/16/98)
Commercial divers die on the job 40 times as often as workers in general, and the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says training may help. Mike DeWine writes in today's Christian Science Monitor that more training is needed across the American economy, but, in most cases, for other reasons. The "help wanted" signs tell the story, he says.

Worker health costs up modestly (Tuesday, 6/16/98)
A new survey indicates that average employee health costs are up 3.3 percent this year across a range of medium to larger-sized companies.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: In the Workplace (Tuesday, 6/16/98)
From Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, here's a useful page from their WorkNet@ILR site. In the Workplace offers information of interest to those involved in human resources and industrial relations.

On the UAW strikes at GM: same news as yesterday (Monday, 6/15/98)
The strikes continue, and the effects widen, with more General Motor plant closings expected this week. Ben Klayman has the story from Reuters, and here's a story from today's Nando Times about the ambivalent feelings among many workers in Flint, Michigan where it all started.

The latest on the disaster in North Korea (Monday, 6/15/98)
South Korea, which, in only a few years, has built one of the world's leading industrial economies out of the poverty after the Korean War, is having troubles right now. However, their problems are nothing like the troubles in North Korea. A high-level defector says that 2.5 million people have died during the past three years because of famine.

Remember those earlier stories about the U.S. not being affected by Asia's economic problems? Please disregard (Monday, 6/15/98)
Marjorie Olster reports on how the Asian wave has been rolling ashore in the United States. Recent events on Wall Street tell the story. Also, former presidential advisor Fred Bergsten expects a slowdown of the hot American economy next year, and the German Ifo economics institute expects the Asian crisis to take one percent off the world's economic growth this year. In Asia itself, growing desperation is leading to greater willingness to accept sweatshop conditions, despite contrary movements in the West, and more workers in Japan are committing suicide.

Sunbeam lays off a very well-known worker (Monday, 6/15/98)
"Chainsaw Al" has been cut. Al Dunlap has had a reputation as a magician in turning failing companies around, in large part by ruthless job cuts. However, Sunbeam's condition hasn't improved, so Dunlap's out. Also in the Nando Times today, unemployment in Hong Kong has reached a 15-year high, and a strike of workers in London's subway system impacted hard early this morning, but seems to be losing steam as the day wears on.

Some Father's Day thoughts about missing fathers (Monday, 6/15/98)
James Tyson writes that about a third of American children do not live with their fathers. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Riordan Roett and Russell report on the economic changes that have been going on in Mexico, quietly.

IG Metall loses some of its grip (Monday, 6/15/98)
Dave Phillips of the Detroit News writes about how change is affecting the German trade union that set the standard for unions in the industrialized world, at least in the old industrial economy. Also in the News today, the end of the welfare state in China. In what sense is China still a communist country? Totalitarian, yes, but communist? As many as a hundred million (sic) laid off workers are wandering the country looking for work, and the safety net is dissolving.

Major report on technology (Monday, 6/15/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special section on hi-tech and its impact. Many articles; none that isn't worth reading. Along similar lines, here's a New York Times article about how hi-tech is driving change in business, including a look at the Larry Downes and Chunka Mui book, Unleashing the Killer App: Digital Strategies for Market Dominance.

Most software execs expect to need more workers this year (Monday, 6/15/98)
A new survey conducted by Price Waterhouse, Silicon Valley East, and the Massachusetts Software Council finds that three-quarters of the software company executives surveyed in the United States expect to hire more workers, according to Information Week. They do not say where they expect to find the people they need, as the gap between the supply of tech workers and demand widens in the U.S. and in many other parts of the world.

Writer attempts to sell the 30-hour work week (Monday, 6/15/98)
Recent movements in France and Italy to mandate a maximum 35-hour work week have met with vigorous resistance from employers. Dave Murphy of the San Francisco Examiner would like American business leaders to know how a 30-hour work week could benefit them and how they can pull it off.

How important is the "marriage penalty?" (Monday, 6/15/98)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune says that its significance is exaggerated, but it's a popular issue among people who want to reform the American tax system.

A receptive job market for the very young (Monday, 6/15/98)
Janet Bodnar of the Kiplinger Magazine has more on what teens and new grads are finding as they look for work this summer. Many are finding that work is looking for them, in fact.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: New York Times Job Market (Monday, 6/15/98)
Recently revamped, the New York Times' Job Market section is a gateway to a variety of employment-related resources, some produced by the paper, many others of outside origin.

No news isn't particularly good news in Flint (Sunday, 6/14/98)
Negotiations are continuing between representatives of the striking United Auto Workers and General Motors today, but no settlement is in sight. Two plants are on strike, but the effects have been radiating throughout North America because of parts shortages. Brian Akre offers perspective on what the current struggle may mean for the future of America's largest auto maker, and perhaps for Flint, Michigan, where both General Motors and the UAW got their start.

Forget any ideas you may still have about America being a "white country" (Sunday, 6/14/98)
It isn't, and it never was. Moreover, before long, Caucasian Americans with northern European ancestry will no longer be in the majority either. In fact, there won't be an ethnic majority, as President Clinton pointed out yesterday. Welcome to the real world, which has always been highly diverse. Soon, though, the United States will provide a more realistic reflection of global humanity. Also, if you're still thinking that the U.S. is the exclusive world center of bigotry and racism, the Washington Post's Keith Richburg offers another opinion. Here's his story about how minorities are faring in Hong Kong.

Why does this story bring Santayana's famous quote to mind? (Sunday, 6/14/98)
Spanish-born philosopher George Santayana once remarked that those who don't remember history will be condemned to repeat it. As far back as the Homeric period in Greece, great disparities in wealth have provided fertile soil for eventual social and political upheavals, and violent revolutions usually don't turn out too well. Okay, now here's today's New York Times story about new research that shows the broad scope of the growing gap between haves and have nots in the United States. The U.S. isn't the only place where the gap is getting wider, of course. Huge disparities have been around for a long time throughout the world, but they seem to be acquiring a slightly different character in the new information economy.

Another kind of "empty nest syndrome" (Sunday, 6/14/98)
No nest egg, in this case. Take a deep breath, and, then, go to Newsday's site where Jerry Morgan writes about the 50 million American workers who have no pension of any kind. Also in the Long Island newspaper today, a Reuters story about what Michigan State University economists have found about what makes a difference on the job. Formal educational attainment isn't the most important factor, they say, so affirmative action guidelines should be modified in order to reflect realities. Problem is, formal education is a very rough measure of actual skills and personal qualities. It's like using height as a measure of shoe size. There's a relationship, but it's a weak one. Better, instead, to try to get closer to what we're really interested in and try to measure that.

How to act in a job interview, by negative example (Sunday, 6/14/98)
Employers offer some of their favorite stories about job applicants who apparently suffered from interview cluelessness. This Washington Post article offers some helpful advice in other areas as well.

Not the best policy (Sunday, 6/14/98)
Experts say it's usually not a good idea to invest in insuring the lives of very young members of the family, but a lot of people do it anyway. Speaking of the need for financial sophistication, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says that money management is something that kids should begin learning about in school. Also in the Washington Post this morning, adversity training for those speed bumps in the road ahead. Here's Amy Joyce's report on what some companies are doing and why.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Careers Online, LLC (Sunday, 6/14/98)
In only a couple of years, Careers Online, LLC has become one of the leading hi-tech talent brokerage firms, helping to bring technically skilled persons together with employers or companies needing contract work done worldwide. COL is an excellent example of how the Internet can be used to build productive global relationships in technical industries. The founder and CEO of Careers Online is Dr. Jerry Willenbring, with whom we have been affiliated during the past five years. As a design engineer and project manager, Dr. Willenbring was one of the leading experts in the commercialization of gas laser technology for a number of years, but has also been a professor and has played various executive roles for major companies. In addition, he has helped to establish and manage a number of startup companies. Careers Online is based in California, but has global reach.

GM's dominoes continue to fall (Saturday, 6/13/98)
More General Motors plants are closing because of a lack of parts caused by strikes at two Flint, Michigan plants. The Washington Post's Devon Spurgeon tells how the news was received by workers at one plant. Jennifer Bott of the Detroit Free Press says GM suppliers will be affected too, but they may make a special effort to avoid layoffs as long as possible. Reason: In a hot job market, laid off employees may find other jobs and, so, may not be back later. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times reports that talks between GM and the UAW seem to be making progress. Also, here's some perspective on what the current conflict means for General Motors and its future. One problem is that GM may still be the least efficient of the American auto makers, and it faces a brutally competitive new world economy that rewards high levels of efficiency and productivity.

Japan's recession as it looks from home (Saturday, 6/13/98)
Here's the Japan Times' story on the 0.7% percent shrinkage of the Japanese economy. Amy Shiratori of Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun writes that officials are still finding it hard to acknowledge, but the numbers tell the story. The Japanese economy has receded more than at any time since post-war statistics were first collected. Ms. Shiratori also reports on what Haruki Yoshida, president of the Wako Research Institute of Economics, has to say about current developments. Currency values against other nations' currencies reflect traders' estimates of the underlying strength of the economies involved. During a fairly brief period of time, the Japanese yen has gone from about 90 to the American dollar to about 140 to the dollar, and this probably reflects conditions in Asia that will lead to a worldwide recession, even affecting the currently strong economy of the United States, he says. Before that happens, Japan's troubles will have to deepen the regional crisis in Asia, and that seems to be underway. For instance, Stephanie Strom of the New York Times reports that South Korean stocks have taken a record hit, with values declining 8.1 percent. Thousands of miles away, Hong Kong enters a recession as well, and unemployment increases. The Edmonton Journal has that story.

French public may be getting weary of strikes (Saturday, 6/13/98)
Charles Trueheart writes in today's Washington Post on how the recent Air France pilots' strike may appear later. Observers may look back on it as a watershed in French economic and political life. In other airline news, talks at Northwest have ended with no agreement, increasing the likelihood of a strike at one of America's largest carriers. Finally, a sex harassment suit has been filed against the Federal Aviation Administration.

German mark will celebrate its 50th birthday by stepping aside (Saturday, 6/13/98)
Rolf Lebert reports on the replacement of the German mark with the new euro.

Reflections on the elevator disaster in Kansas (Saturday, 6/13/98)
Jon Jeter writes about how danger is a way of life for working immigrants. Also in the Washington Post today, more on the retirement settlement involving the gay sailor who sued the U.S. Navy and won.

Newspaper Guild decertified in San Diego (Saturday, 6/13/98)
Workers at the San Diego Union-Tribune have voted to end their affiliation with their union after more than sixty years.

Digital is now officially part of Compaq, and 17,000 jobs are cut in the process (Saturday, 6/13/98)
It's been only a decade and a half since a few men had lunch and designed a PC clone on a napkin. That was the beginning of Compaq Computer Corporation. Now, it's the second largest in its industry. Also from today's Nando Times, which, unfortunately, has highly perishable URLs, some former concentration camp laborers are suing Volkswagen for back pay, and the University of Texas health center has reached agreement with the Justice Department over allegations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Illegal workers fall prey to officials in Russia (Saturday, 6/13/98)
Celestine Bohlen reports on how corruption influences the vast army of illegal workers in the Moscow region. Also in the New York Times today, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman says the U.S. supports a proposed treaty to outlaw the most egregious child exploitation, and David Wallace reports on a new hybrid "information strategy" major at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Shawn's Internet Resume Center (Saturday, 6/13/98)
If you need help with your resume, want to search for a resume, or want to post a resume, Shawn's Internet Resume Center can be of service. Sample resumes can be examined by profession or alphabetically.

Second strike at General Motors (Friday, 6/12/98)
The second GM plant in Flint, Michigan to be shut down by a strike within a week could result in the company's operations grinding to a halt throughout most of North America. Here's more perspective on the situation at General Motors from USA Today.

Mitsubishi settlement is a record (Friday, 6/12/98)
The big Mitsubishi sexual harassment suit dominated the front pages many months ago, and finally comes to conclusion in a record settlement.

Unemployed teachers clash with Greek riot police (Friday, 6/12/98)
Kathimerini reports that hundreds of protesters have been demonstrating at various sites throughout the country where a new government test is being given upon which to base teacher appointments to state schools. Reform measures have phased out a seniority system affecting many of the demonstrators. Some violence has been reported.

It's official: Japanese economy is in recession (Friday, 6/12/98)
It's Japan's first year of recession in about 20 years. Here's the story from today's New York Times.

Spain's largest telecommunications company to cut jobs (Friday, 6/12/98)
Telefonica has reached agreement with unions on how to cut about 6,000 jobs through early retirement and the use of various incentives. Expansion has the story today.

Here's a first: layoffs are coming to McDonald's (Friday, 6/12/98)
The job cuts will be carried out at company headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. No word yet on how many.

Navy settles with sailor (Friday, 6/12/98)
The New York Times is reporting that Timothy R. McVeigh will receive full benefits plus reimbursement for legal fees in his successful suit against the Navy.

Not much satisfaction with Italian government's plan for the South (Friday, 6/12/98)
Il Sole/24 Ore reports that neither unions nor employers are greatly impressed with the Italian government's plan for creating jobs for the poorer southern part of Italy. Several labor unions make strike. Also in Italy, European Union officials say that the government's plan to mandate a maximum 35-hour work week won't work unless it is accompanied by reduced wages or increased productivity.

Labor Department says it needs more information on child labor issues (Friday, 6/12/98)
Officials of the U.S. Department of Labor acknowledge that they have insufficient information on which to base public policy. Matt Yancy writes that some child labor arises out of family poverty.

UK proposal that tips be included in minimum wage (Friday, 6/12/98)
A commission is recommending that a new national minimum wage include tips, and unions aren't happy about the idea. BBC News has both stories.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: ERISS Pathfinder (Friday, 6/12/98)
Here's an innovative and highly analytical approach to providing specific job market data in a form that will serve the needs of employers, job-seekers, and workplace professionals. It also represents a smart way to make use of the Internet in the new economy. The system is being installed in a various U.S. markets. ERISS Pathfinder comes From ERISS Corporation and the Students' Work Consortium. Here's more information, including access to a demonstration site.

Tougher bankruptcy rules may be on the way (Thursday, 6/11/98)
A bill that would make it harder for people to walk away from their debts has passed the House of Representatives. Under new rules, a means test would be employed, among other things. Also in the House, another bill would eliminate overtime pay for some types of sales people.

More Air France flights taking off (Thursday, 6/11/98)
The ten-day strike of Air France pilots would have messed up things in France during ordinary times, but, on the eve of the World Cup, it was a horror. However, crises often provide sufficient incentives for getting things done, so agreement was reached, and the planes are getting back into the air. It will take awhile to get entirely back to normal, though. In other airline news in another part of the world, Tony Kennedy at the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on a drive to unionize at Mesaba Airlines.

Talks continued into the night at GM (Thursday, 6/11/98)