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March 1998

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Big restructuring planned at Motorola (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
Motorola is planning some very big corporate changes, and thousands of employees are likely to be affected. Here's the Wall Street Journal story from Reuters.

South African unions claim that their government isn't living up to its commitments (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
South Africa's Business Day reports that the country's major public service unions are claiming that the government is not living up to its part of a three-year salary plan. South Africa's finance minister made a budget announcement earlier in the month which included plans for a major cut in the amount of money set aside for raises for public servants.

A lot of Americans work for foreign car manufacturers (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
A University of Michigan study finds that 1.3 million Americans are employed by foreign car automakers in the U.S.

Labor agreement in Denmark (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
A preliminary framework has been agreed upon in Danish labor negotiations. Further negotiations will have to be carried out between individual companies and their workers, according to Borsen. Danish economists are expecting overall pay increases of about 4 percent.

Breast-feeding mothers seek support from employers (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
However, as Ann Scott Tyson reports, few employers are responsive. Recent research indicates that breast feeding can produce developmental advantages for the child that can last on into adolescence. The fact that many still regard something like breast-feeding as somehow taboo in a society awash in genuine vulgarity, exploitation, and abuse, even in work settings, is at least interesting. To the infant, after all, it just means dinner. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Alexandra Marks reports that a major strike could hit Hollywood hard, while Kevin Platt tells about the big, very big layoffs coming to China where 4 million (sic) government workers are about to lose their jobs. Mr. Platt also reports that previous attempts to reduce the bureaucracy in China haven't turned out all that well.

Greek government wants to make it easier to fire workers (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
The Greek government intends to pass a new law in May that would enable employers with more than 250 workers to fire up to five per month without approval from the Labor Ministry. Imerisia reports that smaller firms have greater flexibility under the current law, which puts larger companies at a disadvantage.

Some good news about America's students (Tuesday, 3/31/98)
Mark Clayton writes that today's American college students are looking pretty good. High-school students are doing well on the job in the D.C.-region's Montgomery County too, according to Fern Shen of the Washington Post, so the old folks can safely complain less about the "younger generation," it appears.

Top-level meeting scheduled over 35-hour work week (Monday, 3/30/98)
France's National Assembly will vote on the 35-hour work week tomorrow. La Tribune reports that Prime Minister Jospin will meet for the first time today with the head of the employer's union, which has been strongly against the plan. The Socialist-controlled French government thinks it will help to alleviate France's record unemployment problem.

Egyptian chemical company to be preserved for its workers (Monday, 3/30/98)
El Ahram reports that El Nasr Company for Chemicals will separate its profitable and unprofitable activities into two divisions in order to protect its 1,700 workers, rather than liquidating the company. El Nasr has been losing money for about a dozen years.

Beyond what the Family Leave Act provides (Monday, 3/30/98)
Linda Feldmann reports that, even though FMLA requires that employees be given time off to deal with some family issues, for many, it's unpaid leave. However, some employers allow other workers to donate their unused leave time to a needy colleague. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Robert Marquand examines the issue of whether HIV will be considered a "disability." The Supreme Court hears arguments on a related case today. Shelley Donald Coolidge discusses the hows and whys of a constructive relationship with your boss. David Francis calls for a reality check for those politicians and others who have been saying that Americans pay 38 percent of their incomes for taxes. Not so, according to his report. Finally, the Monitor editorializes today about what it takes to make college students ready for college work.

UK government to hire 20,000 to combat bug (Monday, 3/30/98)
Britain's PM Tony Blair plans to announce a government drive to hire 20,000 people and train them to deal with the Y2K computer bug, according to London's Independent.

Abuse of workers increasing in U.S. territory, according to report (Monday, 3/30/98)
The Washington Post's William Branigin reports that a U.S. government team has found worsening conditions for workers on the U.S.-controlled Northern Mariana Islands.

Turkey's minimum wage slips to 9-year low (Monday, 3/30/98)
For the first time in nine years, the minimum wage in Turkey has slipped below US$100 monthly, the lowest in Europe, as the country's central bank allows the lira to decline against major currencies such as the U.S. dollar. Radikal has the story today.

Pillsbury among those recognized for its feedback system (Monday, 3/30/98)
Apparently, Pillsbury really cares what its employees think. The Minnesota-based company is among ten recognized for good ideas by Workforce magazine. However, the hot line, while originating at Pillsbury, can be found at other companies as well, according to this Minneapolis Star Tribune story.

Thirteenth school year targeted in Germany (Monday, 3/30/98)
Germany's Education Minister Ruettgers wants secondary students to take their final exams after 12 years of school, rather than 13, according to Franfurter Rundschau. He wants education to contribute to the country's competitiveness by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of its programs so that the 13th year will not be necessary.

Job creation at Swiss airline (Monday, 3/30/98)
Neue Zuercher Zeitung reports that Swissair expects to create 600 new flight attendant jobs this year because of expansion. The company already employs about 3,700 flight attendants.

Thousands protest in France (Sunday, 3/29/98)
France's high unemployment and other economic problems continue to fuel a political spasm with tens of thousands of persons marching in protest of increasing far-right involvement. Here's the story from Charles Trueheart of the Washington Post and Craig Whitney of the New York Times. Meanwhile, large numbers of French are migrating to London in search of economic opportunities.

Republicans expect cost of IRS bill to be recovered from effects of reforms (Sunday, 3/29/98)
The Republican bill to overhaul the American Internal Revenue Service would cost $6.45 billion over five years, but those costs would be offset by closing corporate loopholes and other changes, according to a Senate Finance Committee spokesperson. The Washington Post's Albert Crenshaw says that a restructured IRS wouldn't change things much for most taxpayers, though. Meanwhile, Newsday's James Toedtman reports on the new IRS' chief's plans for making the agency more responsive and "user friendly."

Lingering pay problems in Russia (Sunday, 3/29/98)
Millions of Russian workers haven't been paid for a long time, and this is only part of that country's economic problems. David Hoffman reports for the Washington Post. Also in the Post today, Joan Biskupic examines the case before the Supreme Court that is likely to determine whether HIV is covered by the disability law.

The uncertain future of displaced Japanese brokers (Sunday, 3/29/98)
The Japan Times reports on some of the fallout from the failure of Japan's big Yamaichi Securities Company.

Strategic planning and U.S. college costs (Sunday, 3/29/98)
The cost of college in the United States has moved up somewhere near the stratosphere at many schools. Here's some advice on how to cope. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, students have other things on their minds at the moment. The New York Times' Seth Mydans reports on how Indonesia's failing economy and its government are drawing students to a major protest movement.

Strike may be imminent at Anheuser-Busch (Saturday, 3/28/98)
The company has made its final offer, and the Teamsters union is recommending that members reject it. In other labor news, David Welch of the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports on the possibility of UAW strikes at two GM suppliers.

Americans changing jobs at highest rate in eight years (Saturday, 3/28/98)
A tight American labor market is making many American workers feel sufficiently secure to change jobs. Turnover is at an 8-year high.

Japanese experts worried about middle-aged men (Saturday, 3/28/98)
Many hard-driving Japanese men are on a path that may lead to suicide, according to Japanese mental health experts. Here's the story from Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

American incomes still not influenced by Asia's troubles (Saturday, 3/28/98)
The American economy is strong enough to deflect whatever effect Asia's economic difficulties might otherwise have on American incomes, according to White House economic experts. Incomes in the U.S. went up an average of 0.6 percent in February.

Some perspective on Germany's unsettled state (Saturday, 3/28/98)
Radio Free Europe's Roland Eggleston says that none of Germany's political parties appears to know what to do about Germany's economic and social troubles. This is a country that has cut a very wide swath across the 20th century, first because of its role in two world wars, secondly as Europe's postwar economic powerhouse. But, at century's end, now what?

Agreement reached on distribution of food (Saturday, 3/28/98)
Relief officials had been arguing about how a 50,000-ton food shipment will be distributed in hungry North Korea. An agreement has been reached after talks in Beijing.

L.A. hospital worker claims dozens of killings (Saturday, 3/28/98)
A worker in a Los Angeles area hospital claims he has killed as many as 50 persons. An investigation is underway, but he has not been arrested.

South Korea's unemployment still climbing (Saturday, 3/28/98)
South Korea's February unemployment ran at its highest rate in 14 years, according to Paris' International Herald Tribune.

Thanks, Senators (Friday, 3/27/98)
President Clinton thanks the U.S. Senate for approving the big spending package for the IMF, while also urging Americans to save more for retirement. On the other side of the Capitol, a House of Representatives committee hears claims that former Teamsters officials looted the union's cash reserves. The House has also passed a bill that would end "salting." The bill has strong Republican support. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports on various efforts by American Conservatives to diminish organized labor's political power, while this Christian Science Monitor says labor is fighting for its life. Choose the spin that most appeals to you.

Yeltsin wants results, which may not seem like news (Friday, 3/27/98)
Martin Nesirky reports that Russian President Yeltsin knows who he wants as his country's next prime minister, at least, if Sergei Kiriyenko is able to get the Russian economy moving. Yeltsin recently fired his entire cabinet.

More food urgently needed in North Korea (Friday, 3/27/98)
Several donor nations seem to be holding out on this round of assistance for the millions of people in danger of starving in North Korea.

Incomes strong in the U.S. (Friday, 3/27/98)
Personal incomes were up again last month, according to the latest Commerce Department data.

Why the big difference in U.S. death rates? (Friday, 3/27/98)
Patricia Reaney writes that a new report from researchers says that black men are dying at a far higher rate than white men, and the root cause is racism, they say.

More should benefit from the magic of compound interest, reformers claim (Friday, 3/27/98)
Mark Sanford and Sam Beard write about the movement to change Social Security, and they say that it isn't a partisan issue.

China may be next to come down with the "Asian flu" (Friday, 3/27/98)
So far, China has remained mostly on the sidelines as the "domino effect" has hit one Asian economy after another. That's not going to continue to be the case, according to the Washington Post's Edward Steinfeld. Expect a crisis in the world's largest country, he says. In neighboring Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party backs a very big stimulus package, as unemployment hits record highs.

Girls' "financial confidence" lags (Friday, 3/27/98)
Boy and girls are about equally informed about financial matters, but, on the average, boys seem more confident, according to research from nonprofit Girls Inc.

Deal accepted at Caterpillar (Monday, 3/23/98)
UAW members have ratified the new contract at Caterpillar in Illinois, ending more than six years of labor dispute. Here's the chronology since 1991.

A breakthrough for women in Bahrain (Monday, 3/23/98)
Sabah Faraj Al Mohammed is the first woman to be elected to the General Committee of Bahraini Workers, which advises the government on work issues. It's not a labor union, because unions are prohibited by law in Bahrain. Al Ayam reports that she campaigned for equal opportunities and pay for women. Also in Bahrain, 700 jobs will be created with the building to two manufacturing plants by Pakistani companies. Akhbar Al-Khaleej has the story.

France's far right getting a boost because of unemployment (Monday, 3/23/98)
Unemployment is very high in France and crime has been rising, all of which can translate into good news for ambitious far-right politicians. Peter Ford tells how the National Front is being seen as a bit more respectable in many communities. Meanwhile, the Socialist-run French government is moving ahead on its plan to reduce the work week to 35 hours. There is a similar movement in Italy. Employers in both countries are unhappy with the plan, and all of Europe is watching.

Share sale could be delayed by pilot strike (Monday, 3/23/98)
Pilots at Spain's Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA are threatening to strike, and, if they do, the state-own airline's planned stock sale could be delayed, according to Joseph Pique, Industry Minister. Why the threatened strike? The company's pilots are unhappy about a decision to lease aircraft and crew from Air Europa, according to El Pais.

Supreme Court to decide if HIV is a "disability" (Monday, 3/23/98)
It's illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in employment, but does testing HIV positive constitute having a disability? The Supreme Court will decide. The Court is also hearing arguments in a case that is likely to define some of the boundaries of employer liability in harassment cases. Speaking of unfriendly work climates for women, the United States is not the exclusive world headquarters for such things, its seems. Linda Greenhouse suggests that it might be a mistake to assume that ritualistic courtesy always means kindness. Here's news about how things are for many working women in Japan.

Where to find creativity in a work organization (Monday, 3/23/98)
Best not to look in only a few places, particularly just in the executive suite, according to consultant Alan Robinson.

The success of welfare reform so far has been exaggerated, survey says (Monday, 3/23/98)
The New York Times' Raymond Hernandez reports that New York's Department of Social Services finds that fewer than 30 percent of former welfare recipients have found jobs.

The consequences of a dehumanizing workplace (Monday, 3/23/98)
James Alan Fox and Jack Levin examine the increasingly familiar cases of workplace violence and what the underlying causes may be.

A second opinion on the tech worker shortage (Monday, 3/23/98)
The General Accounting Office and the Department of Commerce have different views on just how bad the shortage of technical workers is in the United States.

What are the chances that any randomly selected member of the world's population will ever make a telephone call? (Monday, 3/23/98)
Not as high as you may think. It isn't necessary to look to computers or access to the Internet to find a big have vs. have-not gap across the globe. Most households don't even have telephones, according to a United Nations report.

So all the good blue collar jobs are gone? No, not all of them (Sunday, 3/22/98)
High-quality blue collar jobs helped build the American standard of living during earlier decades of the 20th century. These were jobs that had fairly low entry skill requirements, that allowed on-the-job training, that paid well and provided benefits, and that offered advancement possibilities,. However, many of the really good blue-collar jobs disappeared with the restructuring that occurred some years ago during the recession before the last one, and, as a group, are being left behind in the new information economy. Overall, blue-collar workers have experienced a significant loss of buying power in the United States. However, there are exceptions, and some of these are spectacular, particularly in the currently hot job market. Here's Peter Passell's story about some good, REALLY good blue collar jobs. Also in the New York Times today, Elaine Underwood writes about the shrinking American office. If yours is smaller than during earlier years, it might help to think about workers who have no offices at all. With hi-tech, some are able to work from the corner of the kitchen table or even out of their cars, for instance.

How the Internet is changing the work world (Sunday, 3/22/98)
Simon Caulkin of the London Observer tells how the Internet is in the process of changing the way business is done and what it will mean for the new world economy, including the work world. The early cities developed on major rivers and trade routes, and economic development depended on the means by which people could interact with one another. The Internet takes interaction possibilities to a much higher level and, in many cases, renders geography largely irrelevant. It's why some experts are predicting that the Internet will be the single most important factor shaping the new world economy during the next century.

Philadelphians may soon be walking because of walkout (Sunday, 3/22/98)
A transit strike appears to be near in the city of brotherly love.

Clinton kicked off his Social Security reform drive yesterday and called for quick action (Sunday, 3/22/98)
President Clinton thinks this is an ideal time to put Social Security on a sound footing for the future. Here's the story from Caren Bohan of Reuters and William Branigin of the Washington Post.

Paydays that may be hard to believe (Sunday, 3/22/98)
Tim Smart tells about the remuneration enjoyed by some top executives last year. Disney's Eisner made $575 million, for instance. On the other hand, Michelle Singletary reports on what may take to raise a family on one salary if your name is something other than Eisner. Speaking of family life, Patricia Kitchen writes in a Newsday cover story this time about balancing work and family responsibilities. Also, in her "Fast Track" column, she reports that "flex time" is no longer so unpopular with managers. In fact, in a tight labor market, it's being used to attract workers.

Implications of the ruling in a big GM case (Sunday, 3/22/98)
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of General Motors and against thousands of GM retirees in January. Steven Ginsberg says that the ruling means that employers will be able to change their minds on promises made about health coverage.

Is being a child of boomers a handicap? (Sunday, 3/22/98)
Several social commentators have suggested that one of the principal problems with being young right now is that your parents may be from that "60s generation." That might be generalizing a bit much, but there is evidence that many of the "baby boomers" haven't been used to denying themselves much, and this has meant saving at a rate even less than the traditionally low rate at which Americans save their money, compared to people in many other countries. So what about college for their kids? The New York Times' Pamela Kruger reports that there may not be much in the cookie jar during a time when college costs are very high.

California aircraft industry to take another hit (Saturday, 3/21/98)
Most of Boeing's new 8,200 job cuts will occur in California, according to Martin Wolk. Tough international competition is driving Boeing to streamline its operations and cut costs.

Vice-President tells a sympathetic audience about worker rights (Saturday, 3/21/98)
President Clinton received a warm reception at the AFL-CIO's executive council meeting in Las Vegas the other day. Now, it's Vice-President Gore's turn. Kieran Murray reports on Gore's remarks about Congress and business when it comes to worker rights. It seemed to be what his audience wanted to hear.

Japan takes a wrong turn, according to its critics (Saturday, 3/21/98)
Many experts, including some in the U.S. government, believe that Japan should spend more in order to stimulate its economy, but, instead, its lower house of Parliament passed an austerity budget yesterday. And what's the good news about a small pay increase? Stephanie Strom of the New York Times' explains why there may be a silver lining for Japanese workers.

Brain drain in France too (Saturday, 3/21/98)
Many of the "best and brightest" are leaving those economies that are struggling in search of opportunities elsewhere, and France's economy has been struggling. In neighboring Germany, growth is occurring, but job creation is not keeping up. On the other side of the earth, Australia also has a jobs problem. Tom Allard reports from Canberra for the Sydney Morning Herald that the long-term unemployed now make up a third of all the jobless in that country, while Adele Horin writes about how Australia's youth have been betrayed.

Children of immigrants are America's top scholars (Saturday, 3/21/98)
If you think that the new young Americans will become the country's future underclass, think again. Celia Dugger reports on a new study that finds immigrant children are doing very well in American schools.

Indonesia's finance minister disagrees with Suharto (Saturday, 3/21/98)
Fuad Bawazier may be a courageous man, or his remarks may presage political changes in Indonesia. At any rate, he doesn't think Suharto's "currency board" idea is realistic, and a new deal with the IMF may be coming next week.

Guess who's been receiving a lot of government checks (Saturday, 3/21/98)
Many prison inmates have been collecting Social Security and disability benefits, and they shouldn't be. It doesn't amount to pennies either. The Wasington Post's Judith Havemann says a crackdown may save as much as $3.46 billion. In part, it may be because America has a larger proportion of its citizens locked up than nearly any other country.

More on the growing American health gap (Saturday, 3/21/98)
There's been growing evidence of an increase in the gap between "haves" and "have-nots" in the U.S. in recent years. One important aspect of this has to do with health. Here's Peter Kilborn's report from a medical school clinic in Nashville, Tennessee.

There's still only one unionized Wal-Mart store (Saturday, 3/21/98)
Wal-Mart workers at a Nelson, British Columbia store have decided not to unionize.

The redistribution of brain power in the new world economy (Friday, 3/20/98)
We've already reported on how Russia has been losing many of its best technical minds to countries that can provide greater opportunities. We've also told you about a movement in the U.S. to relax the immigration rules for people with technical skills. We've told you about Canada's growing concern over the exodus of its technical talent to the hot American economy as well. Technical expertise is being drawn to those economies that are further along in the transition to the information age, and the implications may be profound for the growing "have vs. have not" gap among nations. Here's Jane Perlez' report on Hungary's brain drain, for example.

Big jobs program planned for Germany (Friday, 3/20/98)
Handelsblatt reports that Germany's Federal Labor Minister Bluem has announced a government plan to help create 100,000 jobs, particularly in eastern Germany, where unemployment is highest. The program is expected to cost the German government 600 million marks. Incidentally, Business Week reports that, despite Germany's struggle to move from an old industrial economy to a new information economy, at least one attribute of the new economy is evident: an abundance of part-time workers. Also in Germany, Die Welt reports that the scientific council of the Economics Ministry says that, in the long-run, 50 percent of pensions should be privately financed.

Chrysler sues former employee (Friday, 3/20/98)
Here's David Lawder's story about an $82 million suit against a whistle blower. Also from Reuters today, the American Journal of Public Health claims that the quality of care has declined for Medicaid recipients who have been shifted into managed care programs. Meanwhile, if you're wondering how medicine and the people who work in it are being affected by the information economy, here's a review of Michael Millenson's new book from the New England Journal of Medicine. China has its own problems with a health care system that hasn't been working very well. Michael Laris writes in today's Washington Post about what they're trying to do and how things have changed for individuals who need medical services.

Why victims may continue as if nothing has happened (Friday, 3/20/98)
Peter Grier offers more explanation of why women whose bosses have abused them may continue supporting the boss.

Finding a job with an upgrade path (Friday, 3/20/98)
Career Magazine's Bernie Milano has some advice for graduates who want to get on a career ladder that leads someplace.

Turkish bank cuts 229 jobs (Friday, 3/20/98)
Vakiflar Bankasi, the state bank of Turkey, has new management which says that the old management kept the bank over-staffed, in some cases by putting their friends in unnecessary positions. According to Hurriyet, the new management is firing 229 employees. Many banks in the U.S. have been cutting jobs in recent years too, although for different reasons. However, here's one that's adding 3,000 workers.

The ghost of John Maynard Keynes in Asia (Friday, 3/20/98)
China's new premier appears on television to explain a lot of things, including his government's plans for stimulating the Chinese economy. Meanwhile, the U.S. is still trying to get Japan to stimulate its own economy more.

Hillary Rodham Clinton pushes national service program on Capitol Hill (Friday, 3/20/98)
Mrs. Clinton wants Congress to extend the Corporation for National Service, and she was on Capitol Hill talking about it yesterday.

Wielding the ax is hazardous to your health (Friday, 3/20/98)
Careful...firing somebody significantly raises your risk of heart attack. Also in the Nando Times today, the head of the Australian Stock Exchange sees major worldwide economic disruptions from the Y2K bug. Jeri Clausing of the New York Times adds that the U.S. government's activities will be significantly disrupted too. Many of its computers will not be able to tell one century from another by the time it will begin making a big difference.

IMF and Indonesian officials are meeting again (Friday, 3/20/98)
Representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the Indonesian government got together yesterday in order to try to get together on the big bailout deal and its reform requirements. A confidential report was leaked to the Australian Financial Review saying that the country could be facing hyperinflation.

Oil price drop may be good news for you, but not for Russia (Friday, 3/20/98)
President Yeltsin is back on the job after being under the weather. His nation's economy, on the other hand, while suffering from a bad cold for years, may be in danger of catching pneumonia because of the drop in crude oil prices.

AFL-CIO organizes a "full-court press" (Friday, 3/20/98)
The huge labor federation is turning up the heat on its recruitment and lobbying efforts, and intends to have a $13 Million war chest to help . One thing that the AFL-CIO is likely to favor is President Clinton's plan to increase the minimum wage, which was formally introduced yesterday by Senator Kennedy. Louis Uchitelle has the story.

For many, overtime isn't optional (Friday, 3/20/98)
It may be called "optional," but, for many, it's expected and required, and some think it amounts to involuntary servitude, according to Teresa Burney of the St. Petersburg Times.

Discrimination suit at Boeing (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Forty-one minority workers at the big Seattle aerospace company are suing for millions of dollars, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

35-hour work week losing ground in Italy (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Negotiations between the Italian government and the employer's federation over a proposed 35-hour work week have broken off, according to Paris' Les Echos. Meanwhile, employers in France have been trying to get a two-year delay on France's 35-hour work week law, but, so far, without success.

Street conflict in Indonesia (Thursday, 3/19/98)
A 25-day ban on street protests has ended in Indonesia, so students have taken to the streets in several cities. Jim Della-Giacoma reports that some were detained by police. Incidentally, Peter Passell of the New York Times writes about what Bulgaria's experience with a "currency board" might mean for Indonesia. Indonesian President Suharto finds the idea of a "quick fix" more appealing than the IMF's painful reform measures. The International Monetary Fund has suspended bailout payments to Indonesia until the dust clears, at least. In Washington, the Clinton administration's plan for providing the IMF with additional funds is still being held up in Congress. The Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes this morning that American politicians should let the funding go through before another panic hits Asia. In Thailand, where the "Asian flu" began during the middle of 1997, things are looking up, and investor confidence seems to be returning. On the other side of Asia, the Japan Times reports that pay raises will be smaller than usual, and the New York Times reports that Japan's economic slump has started to influence consumers. Household savings are down.

More sweatshop allegations (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Patrick Connole of Reuters reports that the National Labor Committee is claiming that clothing and shoes sold under major names in the U.S. are being produced under near-slavery conditions in China.

Migrants' parents likely to be denied benefits in Australia (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Elderly parents of foreign migrants probably will be granted only temporary residency in Australia, meaning that they will not be eligible for various benefits, according to Michael Millett of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Kennedy and Bonoir make their case for minimum wage increase (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Here are Edward Kennedy and David Bonoir's opinions on the need for higher pay at the bottom of the American pay scale as presented in the Los Angeles Times. Also in the Times, some thoughts about the grave risks inherent in China's move to dismantle much of its state-run economy. Asia's new economic realities probably leave China with little choice, but what are the social and political implications of putting tens of millions of people out of work?

"PTO" benefits gain in popularity (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Erica Stephens of the Atlanta Business Journal writes about why many employers are choosing to lump sick leave and vacation time together.

Last gasp of Proposition 187 (Thursday, 3/19/98)
California's Proposition 187 was intended to deny illegal immigrants government benefits and services, but the federal courts have found consititutional problems with it. California's Governor Wilson isn't pleased.

Only 200? (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Vice-President Gore thinks that America's Internal Revenue Service can be improved in 200 ways. Speaking of the government, expect some new problems around the turn of the century. It's already too late to fix all the Y2K bugs, according to Matthew Wald of the New York Times.

Fed reports on effects of tight labor market (Thursday, 3/19/98)
The growing shortage of workers in various sectors is putting increased upward pressure on wages and also slowing production in some regions, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve. The Kansas City Star has more and also tells why the Fed is finding the lack of inflation "eerie."

Growing anger among France's unemployed (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Like neighboring Germany, France has been experiencing record postwar unemployment recently. Craig Whitney reports that, in addition to the lack of sufficient jobs, the social safety net is weakening too.

More about job stress and heart disease (Thursday, 3/19/98)
One of the principal things that makes work stressful is the lack of the ability to decide or act, and, instead, having to REACT all the time to conditions outside one's control. Here's additional evidence from Sweden that this condition is hard on the circulatory system.

An "endangered species" in Russia (Thursday, 3/19/98)
If you're a Russian scientist, you may be having increasing difficulty finding another like yourself. Genine Babakian writes in Florida Today about how Russia's economic problems have been affecting its scientists, and why so many have gone elsewhere to find work. With so many other economies experiencing a shortage of technical expertise, Russia's loss is the gain of others, and the implications are long-term.

Big shortage of machinists in California and nearly every place else (Thursday, 3/19/98)
If you're a skilled machinist and want work, you'll probably have your choice of job and location. The skills shortage isn't confined to the computer industry, but, then, hi-tech has come to traditional manufacturing sectors as well. Here's the story from the Los Angeles Times.

Adjusting to the changing face of the American military (Thursday, 3/19/98)
Today's Christian Science Monitor editorializes on what the Pentagon is doing to accommodate the realities of an increasingly dual-sex military.

Tentative agreement, again, at Caterpillar (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
The principal sticking point that resulted in the rejection of an earlier agreement by the UAW membership seems to have been removed. The labor dispute at Caterpillar has gone on for 6 1/2 years. In other labor news, UPS pilots agree to a new deal.

Financial companies cut jobs (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
Chase Manhattan will cut 4,500 jobs, while Dain Rauscher Inc. may send as many as 100 investment bankers home by the end of the week.

Bahrain decides it's against child and forced labor (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
Akhbar Al-Khaleej reports that Bahrain's consultative body, the Shura Council, has voted to apply to join an international convention banning child labor as well as forced labor. Forty percent of Bahrain's population is under 16 years of age.

Clinton to step up efforts to get IMF package through (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
Adam Entous of Reuters reports that the Clinton White House is trying to turn up the heat on Congress in order to provide additional funding for the International Monetary Fund. The Senate is willing to go along, but with strings attached. Here's that story from Helen Dewar of the Washington Post and Erick Schmitt of the New York Times. Incidentally, Japan's Prime Minister Hashimoto is asking the IMF to ease up a bit on Indonesia. Here's the story from today's Asahi Shimbun.

"Reform" no longer a taboo word, when it comes to Social Security (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
For years, politicians were afraid to utter the word, at least when representatives of AARP were around, but now the idea of changing Social Security is no longer unthinkable. In fact, a lot of people are thinking about it and are even saying it out loud. Newsday's Robert Reno discusses the fashionable notion that government can't run anything efficiently and that everything should be privatized. He suggests that those who would like to move Social Security to the stock market proceed with caution.

Postmorten on the McKinney verdict and sentence (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
Here's what the editors at the Washington Post think after having a few days to ponder the outcome of the McKinney sexual harassment trial. Meanwhile, if you're wondering whether Kathleen Willey's letters to President Clinton mean that she really wasn't assaulted after all, Paul Levy reports on what the experts have to say. Incidentally, hard as it may be to believe, Washington insiders usually know quite a lot and talk about quite a lot that they don't tell reporters. One thing to look for if you're wondering about President Clinton's behavior toward women in work settings is what key Democrats, including his key supporters, are doing and saying. If things seem very bad to the insiders, past a point, they'll start trying to distance themselves from the President, so as not to be pulled under by him if he goes down. Who's been particularly quiet lately?

NCs picking up in large corporations (Wednesday, 3/18/98)
Investor's Business Daily reports that International Data Corporation has conducted a study indicating that network computers are beginning to replace PCs in large companies because they cost less. Forty percent of the companies responding report that they own more than 100 NCs.

McKinney affair ends, except for the counter suit (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
The trial of Sgt. Maj. Gene McKinney has concluded, but not in a way than some might have liked. McKinney will spend no time in jail, and he's suing one of his accusers for libel. Meanwhile, the Secretary of Defense says there will be renewed efforts to combat sexual harassment in the U.S. military, but that the sexes will not be segregated during training.

Indonesian students object to cabinet, but mostly to Suharto (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
The composition of President Suharto's new cabinet may reflect the sort of cronyism and nepotism that has put his nation's economy and some others in difficulty in the first place. Students clash with police as the cabinet is installed and begins work on the worst economic crisis faced by Indonesia since the 1960s. Cameron Barr of the Christian Science Monitor provides an analysis of the two related but still separate stories in Indonesia.

New proposal at Caterpillar (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
It appeared for a time that the long labor conflict at Caterpillar would soon be over, but UAW members turned down an earlier deal. Now, the company is offering some modifications.

Industrial action in Australia (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
Miners' strikes spread across the country, while a maritime union considers a resumption of work stoppages at wharves in Sydney.

Prodi proposes plan for the South; unions not impressed (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
The Italian prime minister yesterday announced a plan to spend 59.5 trillion lire on development in the poorer southern part of the country. However, Italian labor unions have indicated that they are not satisfied, according to Corriere della Sera, and are saying that a general strike still isn't out of the question.

Twenty percent of West Bank and Gaza Strip Palestinians live in poverty (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
Here's Liat Collins' Jeruselum Post story on the new report on the effects of labor conditions and frequent closures.

Many Argentine labor regulations would be left intact (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
Argentina's President Menem wants to keep various government-mandated severance benefits as well as the limits on a company's right to hire part-time workers. Also in the New York Times today, major layoffs are expected at New York hospitals, and the General Accounting Office says that the law that was supposed to have guaranteed "portable" health coverage isn't working as intended.

Child benefits to be taxed in the UK (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
London papers are reporting this morning that Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown is announcing plans to tax child benefit payments. The Labour government's budget includes plans for a working families tax credit to cover most child-care costs for low income families.

More on Moynihan's ideas for Social Security (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
Leslie Gevirtz reports on Senator Moynihan's speech at Harvard yesterday where the Senator was once a professor.

Who says there's a shortage of teachers? (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
Gail Russell Chaddock reports that many people on the ground in the nation's school districts find rumors of a national teachers shortage surprising, but, if you think you'd like to switch to teaching, here's what it takes.

The U.S. is in the chips, well, because of the chips (Tuesday, 3/17/98)
The Washington Post's Elizabeth Corcoran reports on a new study from the semiconductor industry on what its products contribute to the American economy. The timing of the report's release isn't entirely coincidental, she says. Also from the Post today, Ireland is calling its sons and daughters back ...for jobs.

To the next president: open all the windows for a while before moving in (Monday, 3/16/98)
The Clintons have been trying to get away from it all at Camp David, but watching TV last night may not have contributed to their relaxation. The latest "sex and the workplace" story is a big one and is only the latest of many things that have been swirling around the Clintons for years, so far without sticking. Gene Gibbons reports on Kathleen Willey's appearance on the CBS-TV magazine show "60 Minutes" last night.

Danish strike delayed for a week (Monday, 3/16/98)
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten reports that a mediator has delayed for a week a strike that was supposed to have started today and was expected to last from eight to fourteen days. According to a report in Borsen, the chief analyst at BG Bank, Keld Holm, says that a lengthy strike would be good for an "overheated" Danish economy. It would reduce the need for government measures to curb spending, he says.

Some see need for spirituality at work (Monday, 3/16/98)
Abraham McLaughlin writes about the various movements to bring a spiritual life and work together. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Ann Scott Tyson reports on "gun-shyness" in the military, but it really doesn't have to do with guns. Instead, with the sexes living and working together every day, many are nearly paranoid about the possibility of sexual harassment allegations. Also, if you're thinking of going into business with your spouse, here's a compatibility test for you, while Shelley Donald Coolidge tells about one couple that has successfully combined marriage and business.

Seventeen and making $50,000 per year...for now (Monday, 3/16/98)
Only a few years ago, many persons with college degrees, including graduate degrees, were working at jobs not requiring any college at all, because those were the best jobs they could find. It all symbolized an historic change in the post-war relationship between academic credentials and economic security in the United States. Now, jobs are plentiful, particularly in technical areas. However, degrees don't seem as important as they once were in a hot job market either. Employers want skills much more than credentials, and they're willing to pay people who haven't graduated from college big money if they can do the job. In fact, some persons who haven't even graduated from high school are in big demand, as Eric Wee reports.

Does a teen earning an adult salary really "have it made," forever? It depends on whether you believe the current hot job market and tech skills shortage is a permanent condition or a temporary aberration. Looks to us like it could turn out to be a trap for many bright young people, much as some talented young athletes have been seduced by early rewards to their long-term detriment.

Also, doesn't a democracy require educated citizens? What will happen to the overall level of public knowledge now that the economic incentive for spending several years in college seems to be eroding? Also, just in case you're thinking that all teens are flourishing in the new economy, here's Steven Ginsberg's story about high teen unemployment and a new government program in the D. C. area.

The bottom-line benefits of day care on the premises (Monday, 3/16/98)
Linda Radin writes in the Detroit News about how corporate day care pays off for workers, and, we suspect, for employers as well. We're not the only ones who suspect this, incidentally, and herein lies a growing trend.

Here's help in learning how to cope with difficult people on the job (Monday, 3/16/98)
Laura Haferd of the Akron Beacon Journal tells about a career center class you might want to take if you're working with "people from hell" each day.

A major newspaper reflects on managed care (Monday, 3/16/98)
Here's the Washington Post's official opinion on President Clinton's efforts to "civilize" managed care. In general, there seems to be a lot of public support for some changes, including further regulation. Many patients seem unhappy with the way things are now, and many physicians are so unhappy that they don't want to be physicians anymore. Changes in Social Security as well as Medicare are still on Washington's agenda too, but, as the San Francisco Chronicle's Carl Hall, reports, if you're planning on retiring early, don't expect Medicare coverage to be available anytime real soon.

Severance payments have been shrinking (Monday, 3/16/98)
If you're laid off, you may expect significantly smaller severance payments now than only a few years ago, according to a new survey.

Clinton administration cuts many affirmative action programs while talking otherwise (Monday, 3/16/98)
The New York Times' Steven Holmes says that the White House has been talking up a good defense of affirmative action, but the talk hasn't been consistent with what it's been doing during the past two years.

Harassment and discrimination lawsuit filed against Ford (Sunday, 3/15/98)
Here's the story from the Detroit News.

Clinton pushes for increased health care quality (Sunday, 3/15/98)
President Clinton wants higher standards for health care quality in the U.S., and many physicians might agree. In fact, the Washington Post's David Hilzenrath reports that some doctors are lying and cheating, not for themselves, but in order to provide treatments that they believe their patients need.

Why a Roth IRA might be for you, even if you're older (Sunday, 3/15/98)
Albert Crenshaw says that the new Roth IRA is attractive to young people for a variety of reasons, but you might find benefits too, even if you're not so young. Also, if you're nervous about your 401(k), Jane Bryant Quinn says help's coming, while Todd Mason of the Fort Worth Star Telegram tells why the nervousness may be justified. Fred Brock of the New York Times examines new interpretations of retirement coming from some business magazines, and Senator Moynihan gears up to provide expected leadership on the reconstruction of Social Security. Moynihan is a former Harvard professor who is widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans for his expertise and his practical, not excessively partisan approach to social issues. Speaking of retirement, Michael Gordon reports that the World Bank has put the brakes on a Russian plan to convert its government-run pension system to IRAs. Russia's not ready for this, the Bank says.

The Wallenbergs want more women on their boards (Sunday, 3/15/98)
In Sweden, the Wallenbergs are famous for several reasons. The family's influence on Swedish industry is a major one. Change is underway as an effort is made to internationalize company boards and recruit more women to serve on them.

Why some are pessimistic about Asia's immediate future (Sunday, 3/15/98)
Japan's economy got smaller during the last quarter of 1997, and China's economy is also sputtering. Keith Richburg says that this could mean that the worst still lies ahead for several of the struggling Asian countries. Meanwhile, Janet Guttsman of Reuters reports that Thailand's prime minister wrapped up his visit to Washington, D. C. yesterday, which has called attention to the dramatic difference between how the Thais are coping with their financial crisis, on the one hand, and the continuing drama in Indonesia, on the other. Cindy Shiner of the Washington Post says that Indonesian and IMF representatives will be meeting again this week to try to salvage the big bailout plan. President Suharto hasn't been greatly enthusiastic about following through with the required reforms. The International Monetary Fund needs more money, and the Clinton administration has been wanting to send them a big check. However, the President is saying that he may veto the funding bill, because some Congressional Republicans are insisting on attaching anti-abortion measures to it. The President probably wishes that the line-item veto were available this time.

Other economies that need work (Sunday, 3/15/98)
The news has been filled with stories about the troubled economies of Asia, but they're not the only ones with problems. Today's New York Times has articles about Ghana and Iran, for instance.

The music won't be interrupted after all (Sunday, 3/15/98)
Broadway musicians have reached a tentative agreement, so their intended strike vote has been called off.

Nike to send workers walking (Sunday, 3/15/98)
Nike, which is based in Oregon but has plants in various other countries, will start laying off about 450 workers in the United States next week.

Young children are still America's most disadvantaged demographic group, but things have improved a bit (Sunday, 3/15/98)
The number of children living in poverty in the United States was greatest in 1993, but things have gotten somewhat better over the years since, according to data from the National Center for Children in Poverty. However, this story from the Los Angeles Times' Melissa Healy points out that the same study finds that many children of parents who have moved from welfare to work are still poor.

Managing anger at work (Sunday, 3/15/98)
Business has needed a lot of management training for a long time. Now, one more type of management has been added to its list of priorities, and consultants are being called in to help.

Kodak pays bonuses, despite its problems (Sunday, 3/15/98)
The Eastman Kodak Company's business is still mostly based on a 19th century technology, and, as it scrambles to move more heavily into the new hi-tech way of producing images within a grimly competitive market, things continue to be a little rocky. Still, though modest, the bonus checks are still going out to workers, both current and displaced.

The latest on the very high-profile work-related sexual misconduct cases (Saturday, 3/14/98)
McKinney is convicted on one count; acquitted on all the others, while additional charges are leveled at President Clinton.

The argument over privatizing Social Security (Saturday, 3/14/98)
You'll be hearing a lot during the months ahead about whether Social Security should be privatized. For instance, President Clinton will be out on his "town meeting" circuit beginning April 7 in order to find out what you think and also in order to tell you what he thinks. Here's an argument for privatizing, and here's an argument against it. In fact, here's another argument against it. Also, new studies show how important Social Security still is to the elderly, and also the importance of the earned income-tax credit to children in low-income families. All of this comes from the new edition of Business Week.

Age discrimination suit at Gerber (Saturday, 3/14/98)
Several former executives at the big baby food company say they were fired because they were more than 40 years old.

Will globalization stick the third time? (Saturday, 3/14/98)
This is the third time this century that a global economy seemed to be developing. The other two times, things got short-circuited. Not this time, though, according to Business Week.

One important reason for the growing income gap (Saturday, 3/14/98)
A new study from the University of Michigan finds that the income gap separating high school dropouts from those with more education is increasing in the new information economy. Here's the story from John Cunniff of the Akron Beacon Journal. Speaking of gaps, millions of American children lack health insurance and also have more health problems. These are more likely to be minority children. A new study finds that Hispanic children are at greatest risk.

Oh, oh--the Japanese economy shrinks (Saturday, 3/14/98)
The once-mighty Japanese economy has been growing at a very sluggish rate for a long time, but this is something else again. New data indicate that the second-largest economy in the world actually got smaller during the last quarter of 1997, and this makes many people nervous about what might be next. For good or ill, the huge Japanese economy influences the rest of the world, and, in particular, the rest of Asia. Here's the story from today's Washington Post as well as the Japan Times. Also from the Times, news about layoffs at three Japanese banks.

Are wages too high? (Saturday, 3/14/98)
Some are worried that wages are now pulling out ahead of underlying productivity and that this could mean bad news for corporate profits. Also in Business Week this time, evidence that the new economy is having a practical effect on the daily lives of Americans. Finally, more on how Britain is widening the gap between itself and the rest of Europe. In the old post-war economy, the exciting things were happening on the continent, while Britain struggled and wondered who won the war. In the new economy, things are a great deal different, and success depends at least in part on new ideas, which may be in greater supply in Britain at the moment than in Germany or France.

Welfare-to-work success in New Jersey (Saturday, 3/14/98)
Thomas Ginsberg writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer that New Jersey is ahead of schedule in moving people from welfare to work.

The oldest worker in the United States (Friday, 3/13/98)
We reported on Macy's oldest worker Wednesday, but he seems positively youthful compared to Mr. Milton Garland who is 102 and still on the job. He's a professional engineer who, it seems safe to say, probably has seen quite a lot of technological change during his career. Speaking of older tech workers, Ilana DeBare and Tom Abate write in the San Francisco Chronicle that, despite the shortage, some older people are still having difficulty finding jobs. "Older" in this case may mean late 40s, and quite a lot has to do with the currency of skills, it seems. Meanwhile, the Akron Beacon Journal reports that as many as 50,000 jobs of all types remain unfilled in parts of Ohio.

Entrepreneurism also big among women in Germany (Friday, 3/13/98)
More new businesses are being started by women in the United States than by men now, but the U.S. isn't the only place where women are creating their own jobs. In fact, with record unemployment in Germany, an increasing number of women are taking their futures into their own hands by starting businesses. In fact, Omar Sacirbey reports that more businesses are owned by women in eastern Germany, where unemployment is highest, than in the western part of the country. One of the principal features of the new economy is the need for self-reliance. For those who have, not only appropriate skills, but also appropriate attitudes and expectations, the new economy can offer exciting opportunities. For those who can settle only for secure long-term jobs with benefits within large organizations, things will be harder and more frustrating. Incidentally, Cathryn Prince reports that the concept of "women's issues" has been broadening considerably across many countries. Here's her report.

More on privatizing, downsizing, and the retreat from socialism in China (Friday, 3/13/98)
Judy Pehrson writes that China's blue-collar workers are likely to take the biggest hit from the massive restructuring that is going on in the Chinese economy. What will it mean politically? Stay tuned. Socialism is being redefined in China, but "totalitarian government" probably means about the same.

Indonesian students probably shouldn't underestimate their rulers' capacity for brutality (Friday, 3/13/98)
Indonesian President Suharto is facing much criticism from abroad and may soon be under siege at home. Students have been protesting his seventh inauguration and the fact that he's still in Jakarta. However, the Indonesian military has sent out a stern warning to the students. Do China and 1989 come to mind? Suharto's way of doing things has been very good for Indonesia's rich, who have helped keep the president in power for a third of a century, and Suharto himself is among the very rich. The IMF is holding up its next scheduled payment because Suharto has been resisting the reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund in exchange for its help. He seems to favor the idea of a "currency board" instead, which, among other things, could allow the rich to convert their assets to dollars at no significant loss and ship them out of the country.

Spanish union wants 35-hour work week (Friday, 3/13/98)
Gaceta de los Negocios reports that the General Workers Union is attempting to win agreement on a 35-hour work week. If the agreement isn't achieved, it will stage demonstrations, according to union officials.

Turkish PM says it's unconstitutional for civil servants to strike (Friday, 3/13/98)
Turkey's largest labor union, Bayram Meral, has been trying to get the Turkish government to allow civil servants to engage in collective bargaining negotiations and also give it the right to strike. However, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz says the government's hands are tied until the constitution is changed. Hurriyet has the story today.

Hard to believe, but things actually seem to be getting worse in North Korea (Friday, 3/13/98)
Given reports coming out of North Korea for a long time, it would seem that conditions there have gotten about as bad as possible. However, it appears that famine is worsening, and the country has announced a "wartime mobilization." Specifically, what's going on? Here's Bill Tarrant's report. Also from Reuters today, Gail Appleson reports that some employees of the Immigration and Naturalization Service have been charged with conspiracy and bribery. Here's more on that story from William Branigin and Brooke Masters of the Washington Post.

Layoffs at U S West Communications (Friday, 3/13/98)
A restructuring will cost 290 jobs, according to this report from Jonathan Gaw.

Why should a government mandate be necessary? (Friday, 3/13/98)
What on earth is going on? As a measure of the overall level of barbarism in the United States, many workers aren't allowed sufficient time to go to the bathroom, apparently. Help is coming from the government in the form of new rules from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Big profit sharing payout at American Airlines (Friday, 3/13/98)
American's employees in north Texas will share $75 million, according to today's Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Commission says no to patients' bill of rights (Friday, 3/13/98)
Robert Pear of the New York Times reports that an advisory commission has decided not to endorse legislation to protect patients' rights, as President Clinton would like.

Saturn workers decide to stay with present contract (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Workers at General Motors' Saturn division have a contract that differs from the more general contract between the UAW and GM. It has been seen as a "model" for the new economy, because it is partly performance-based and is intended to reduce the traditional adversarial relationship between labor and management in order to promote a higher level of effectiveness of the organization overall. However, in part because of a sales slump, Saturn workers have been making less under their arrangement lately than other GM workers. They've voted to decide whether to keep their present contract or move to the more traditional arrangement. Their decision is in: they will stick with what they have.

Hundreds of thousands could strike in Denmark (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Today's Berlingske Tidende reports that industry in Denmark is bracing for a March 16 strike that could affect as many as 200,000 workers. Companies are trying to make as many deliveries to customers as possible ahead of time. In Spain, pilots at Iberia Linea Aerea de Spana SA are threatening to strike two days per week from the end of March through the end of July, according to El Pais. They're angry about their company's decision to lease aircraft and crew from a competitor. Also in Spain, Gaceta de los Negocios reports that Banco Bilbao Vizcaya SA is offering its employees company stock at a 10 percent discount through the first quarter of the year.

International Monetary Fund cash could be held up by abortion opponents (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Republican Congressional leaders are saying that they intend to link the proposed new funding for the IMF to anti-abortion provisions. Here's the story from Adam Entous of Reuters and Erick Schmitt of the New York Times.

If you're reading this at work at home, you're not alone (Thursday, 3/12/98)
In the new information economy, much work can be done anyplace. Labor Department statistics show that a lot more people are working at home, but some aren't being paid for it.

Is a Tiananmen Square situation brewing in Indonesia? (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Indonesia's economic meltdown has been causing widespread suffering, and this has been translating into deep political tensions. There were organized student protests of President Suharto's inauguration for a seventh 5-year term yesterday, but students still haven't taken to the streets to directly defy Suharto's army. What will happen if they do? Would there be popular support for the students, unlike what happened in China in 1989? Suharto himself is asking for national unity, but many people are nervous, and they're not all Indonesians. For instance, James Woodford reports that neighboring Australia's defense forces have a plan for evacuating the 15,000 Australians in Indonesia in case chaos sets in, but they're not sure it will be workable. Incidentally, it appears that more than 30,000 foreign professionals have left Indonesia since the beginning of the economic crisis, but V. Jayanth of The Hindu report that Indians in Indonesia have not suffered too much from retrenchment so far. Finally, Jonathan Decker has more about that Johns Hopkins University economist who has helped President Suharto decide to resist IMF bailout reform requirements in favor of a "currency board." Most independent experts seem to think it's a loony idea, however.

The unrewarding life of the Russian tax collector (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Half of the taxes due in Russia are never paid, which is one of the reasons for "economic gridlock" in that country.

Hard times down on the farm down under (Thursday, 3/12/98)
A grim drought is causing great suffering in Australian agriculture, reports Richard Macey. Also in the Sydney Morning Herald today, Diane Stott reports on Australian unemployment and the dangers that lie ahead.

China's Keynesian approach to fixing things (Thursday, 3/12/98)
China will engage in very big government spending in order to stimulate its economy and create jobs for some of the enormous numbers of people who are being displaced by "downsizing" in state-run manufacturing and government agencies. The equivalent of a cool trillion US dollars will be pumped into construction. Also in today's New York Times, attention shifts to a key telephone conversation in the hearing to determine what will happen to the Teamsters' Carey, a guilty plea in that case involving the smuggling of immigrants into New York, and Susan Wells reports that a great many people are now finding jobs with the help of the web. Still, old ways, and in particular personal networking, play an important role.

American war on poverty hasn't been won, but it hasn't been lost either (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post writes about a new report indicating that Lyndon Johnson's "war on poverty" of thirty years ago and over the years since hasn't been quite the failure that many believe. Also in the Post today, Thailand's Chuan Leekpai visits Washington to discuss his country's economic problems and what has been done to make Thailand's economic future look a lot better now than a few months ago. Also, Robert Samuelson doesn't think the low test results for American students is a fluke and should be taken seriously, but Gerald Bracey, writing in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, thinks the problem is really with the testers, not the students.

Volunteerism not enough, religious leaders say (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Government retreat from social welfare has left a big gap to be filled by volunteer organizations, and they can't do it, say religious leaders to California legislators. Don Lattin writes for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Sexual harassment in the Japanese government (Thursday, 3/12/98)
A new survey finds widespread sexual harassment claims in Japan's government agencies, according to Asahi Shimbun.

How's "don't ask, don't tell" working? Don't ask (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Writing for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate Deb Price says that U.S. military commanders are asking anyway, and more. Her opinions come to you via today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Portable health insurance? Maybe not (Thursday, 3/12/98)
Auditors say that many health insurance companies are finding ways around the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Fewer female computer science grads, according to report (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
USA Today says that a report from The National Center for Education Statistics indicates that the number of women graduating in computer science declined from 37 percent in the early 1980s to 28 percent in 1994-1995.

Sworn in and cussed out on the same day (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Indonesia's President Suharto, who has been in power since the dinosaurs walked the earth, was sworn in for a seventh term Wednesday. Student protesters indicated that they would have preferred somebody else. The Washington Post's Cindy Shiner discusses the concept of inertia as it may apply to Indonesian politics during a time of national crisis.

Saturn workers finish voting today (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
At stake is a special relationship with the GM division that was once regarded as a "model" contract. It's not looking as good to many workers as it once did, in part because of slumping Saturn sales. In other labor news, a settlement is expected at Anheuser-Busch, despite a strike authorization vote.

Tax people want to keep a little more of what they collect (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Sweden's Dagens Nyheter reports that tax administrators are saying they are prepared to strike for higher wages. They're demanding an increase of about 20 percent. Their incomes have fallen behind those in the private sector as well as many other public sector workers throughout this decade, they say.

Another indication of a hard transition (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Soviet communism seemed destined for eventual failure, but putting the pieces back together after its collapse hasn't been easy for Russia. Economically, many persons have been worse off during recent years, rather than better. One indication is that life expectancy dipped significantly in just a few years.

Are your gaskets ready to blow? Job stress may not be responsible (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Research reported in the American Journal of Hypertension says job stress doesn't necessarily raise blood pressure. The study looked at air traffic controllers.

Help for family businesses urged (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Lebanon's economy minister wants the Lebanese government to step up efforts to assist family businesses in attracting outside investors. Yassin Jaber would also like to see a reduction in fees for family businesses, which make up the majority of businesses in the country. An-Hahar has the story today.

Decision about extending Medicare likely to be delayed (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
If you're between 55 and 65 and have been hoping that President Clinton will quickly get his way with regard to making Medicare available to you, it might be best to make other plans, at least for the moment. Many in Congress would like to see the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare's report first, and that will come next year. Also from the Christian Science Monitor today, Ann Scott Tyson reports on a market-oriented program to move people from poverty to a secure place in the new economy. She also tells about a program that attempts to prepare people for the work world in only 20 days. Speaking of crash courses, Michael Baker describes the efforts presently being made to adopt different ways of doing business in South Korea, where big companies are trying to lay off Confucius.

Reich on what blue-collar workers need in the new economy (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Education is the answer, according to the former Secretary of Labor, who writes in Mother Jones.

More on selective immigration for economic reasons (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
American hi-tech companies want the rules changed so that more technical workers can be allowed into the U.S. Similarly, much of the big-time agricultural industry needs more farm workers. Here's William Branigin's story about the help that some Congressional Republicans want to provide. Incidentally, an additional 1,000 border patrol agents are being hired by the INS. Most will be employed in Texas. Incidentally, immigration has become a hot political issue in many countries, including Denmark.

Oldest employee at Macy's (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Harry Kupperblatt is 93. Two years ago, he indicated on his job application that he was, well, 66, and no one has had cause to question that, based on his performance, according to Long Island's Newsday. Incidentally, Mike Wallace of CBS' "60 Minutes" turns 80 in May. ABC-TV's Hugh Downs is also nearing 80, as is radio's Paul Harvey, and all still seem to be at the top of their games. Something interesting seems to be happening in the new work world. Are we redefining what it means to be 80, or even 90?

Productivity growth slips a little (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Productivity is still improving, but at a somewhat lower rate, according to Labor Department data reported in the Kansas City Star. In a business, profit is in the efficiencies. In a society, standard of living is also in the efficiencies, and that's what productivity is all about.

Why the minimum wage should stay where it is (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
The New York Post may or may not be right, but they feel that another minimum wage increase would mostly benefit Democrats who are running for reelection.

More working people among the hungry in America (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Chicago's Second Harvest has conducted a study, and here's news about the results from CNN.

More details on Japan's plan to fix its economy (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Sheryl WuDunn reports for the New York Times. Also, Ethan Bronner reports that in an increasingly litigious society, guidance counselors are among the latest to become reluctant to say what's on their minds.

High unemployment in Australia (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Diane Stott writes from Canberra for the Sydney Morning Herald that Australian unemployment is really about 16% when everyone is counted, including the discouraged.

Hardship in Romania (Wednesday, 3/11/98)
Stuart Parrott of Radio Free Europe reports on the consequences of economic reform in a country that has had more than its share of suffering for a long time.

It's official: Chinese government downsizes big time (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Andrew Browne of Reuters reports that China's parliament voted Tuesday to cut 15 ministries and millions of jobs. Until now, 33 million people have been working for the government.

Report on children and health insurance released yesterday (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Eleven million American children have no health care coverage, and the poor and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented, according to the new government report. Speaking of children, the Washington Post's John Harris writes about President Clinton's move to expand and improve child care services in the United States. One of the principal demographic changes of recent years has been the tremendous number of women who now work outside the home, so both of a child's parents are likely to be working. In single-parent households, the parent is likely to be working as well, in part because of welfare reform. Incidentally, new data indicate that workers are more likely to have health coverage in some regions than in others. Industry and company size make a difference too. Amy Goldstein reports that private sector workers are most likely to be covered in Hawaii and the District of Columbia.

UK public seems to favor abolishing universal child benefit (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
According to a poll conducted by London's Guardian, a majority of the British public would like to see child benefits limited to those who really need them, and those benefits should be increased, they say.

Surprise: Suharto reelected (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
It wasn't a cliff-hanger. Indonesia's President Suharto has been given another five-year term as well as emergency powers after already being in office since the 1960s. It doesn't mean that he'll necessarily complete another five years, of course, given the country's economic problems and their increasing political implications. Still, many fear chaos if he goes, and, anyway, don't expect that he could be easily unseated. Many are attempting to relieve their tensions with humor, and Suharto's name is coming up quite frequently in jokes being heard around Jakarta. Cameron Barr writes that there a number of reasons for being concerned about Indonesia's situation. He can think of three right off. Seth Mydans says that, for many Indonesians, the humiliation of "economic surrender" is the most painful..

Paper supports pay raise for nursing home workers (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Here's the Minneapolis Star Tribune's editorial this morning.

Saturn workers vote today and tomorrow (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
At the big Saturn plant in Tennessee, 7,200 workers will cast their ballots to determine their future relationship with General Motors. Here's the story from Reuters and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Sluggish Saturn sales have something to do with what's going on, according to Eric Evarts of the Christian Science Monitor

Scheduled strike moves closer in Denmark (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Representatives of the Danish Federation of Trade Unions and the Danish Employers' Confederation have been talking, but have not reached agreement. A major strike is scheduled for March 16, according to Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten. An arbitrator could postpone the strike for another two weeks.

Job cuts at Cypress Semiconductor (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
About 100 jobs will go as the company adjusts to a downturn in the industry. Workers will be affected in Texas, Minnesota, and Thailand.

Consumers want regulation of HMOs, according to survey (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
American consumers seem to think new regulatory legislation is a good idea, even if they like their own HMOs, according to a Harvard researcher. However, House Speaker Gingrich says that a "patients' bill of rights" won't fix everything. Meanwhile, Karin Miller of the Fort Worth Star Telegram writes about responses to a $10 million severance deal for the ousted head of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation.

Party official wants to lower benefits to discourage immigrants (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Bernd Protzner, general secretary of the Christian Social Union party, would like to see a decrease in social security benefits in Germany to make the country less attractive to foreigners, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Firing more important than hiring when it comes to reverse discrimination? (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Peter Grier and James Skip Thurman examine the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions affecting affirmative action. In another story, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the high court will not revive a Florida county's affirmative-action program for awarding construction contracts. Finally, Scott Baldauf reports that many minority students aren't bothering to apply at the University of Texas' law school following the rollback of affirmative action there.

Planning a resume "air drop?" Forget it, Kleiman says (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Chicago Tribune career writer Carol Kleiman says that unsolicited resumes may produce no results whatever, but, despite what the experts keep saying, the quest for the perfect resume seems to go on. If you really want to get an interview, directly contact the person who's doing the hiring, she says. Her column comes to you this time via Ohio's Akron Beacon Journal, which also reports on how surveillance and loss of privacy are becoming an increasingly prominent feature of American work life.

If you want to move up, first get the facts (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
In fact, Diane Stafford of the Kansas City Star offers some facts for you to consider.

Australian mine likely to close; would cost 160 jobs (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
David Humphries and Ardyn Bernoth write for today's Sydney Morning Herald.

Many choose not to exercise stock option at Israeli telecommunications company (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Sixty percent of Bezek's workers have chosen to buy stock, but this is down from a 1991 offering, according to today's Jeruselum Post.

Pre-employment testing in the post-ADA era (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Martin Keller writes in CityBusiness that pre-employment testing has become a legal minefield for employers, and there are lots of gray areas.

Pension costs may increase for Swedish employers (Tuesday, 3/10/98)
Dagens Industri reports that the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority may lower the rate which determines the present value of future pensions. This would increase current pension costs for employers.

Just how good is the U.S. economy? Here's how good (Monday, 3/9/98)
Today's Christian Science Monitor summarizes the good news, but says preparations should be made for harder times at some point in the future. Also in the Monitor today, Guy Halverson suggests some ways you can take advantage of the strong consumer economy in the United States. Refinance your home, for one thing. He also tells who's driving the consumer economy by doing a lot of spending. Some of these people probably won't surprise you, because they've been in the news a lot lately because of their low rate of savings for their children's higher education and their own retirement, among other things. Finally, David Francis tells why getting rid of the U.S. tax code might be a tempting idea, but why it wouldn't be easy in practice.

EMI head sees more jobs from inflation policy (Monday, 3/9/98)
Wim Duisenberg, who is head of the European Monetary Institute, says that monetary policy's greatest contribution to increasing employment will come from keeping prices stable. Holland's Het Financieele Dagblad has the story today.

Big report on retirement (Monday, 3/9/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special section on retirement. Lots of articles.

Pharmicists not being paid overtime, suit alleges (Monday, 3/9/98)
The U.S. Department of Labor has also been investigating Longs Drug Stores, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Turkish Labor Ministry offers alternatives for reducing inflation (Monday, 3/9/98)
Turkey has a major inflation problem, and its Labor Ministry is offering the Council of Ministers plans for changing labor policy in order to help get it under control. According to Dunya, the Labor Ministry has been unwilling to raise the mandatory retirement age above 50 for women and 55 for men.

Now, in China, the hard part (Monday, 3/9/98)
China has made remarkable progress in overcoming the consequences of disastrous economic policies put in motion by Mao, and in recent years, by opening up its economy, has achieved spectacular growth rates. However, the country's transition to the new economy is anything but complete. Tremendous numbers of people have been employed in unprofitable state-run manufacturing plants as well as in the government bureaucracy. The level of restructuring that seems necessary will dislocate huge numbers of workers and is likely to produce great social and political tensions. Paul Eckert writes for Reuters from Beijing that the Chinese government is being quite forthright about the country's problems. The solutions aren't all that obvious to anybody, however.

Incidentally, Hong Kong has been part of China for more than seven months now, and Martin Wong writes in the Hong Kong Standard about the hard life of women who have migrated from the mainland. Also in the Standard today, Michael Chugani writes that many people who fled before the handover want to come back, now that they can see that their earlier fears have proved unfounded, and some want to return simply because they're homesick, he says. No, we don't know how free Hong Kong newspapers are now during the former British colony's new era, and we don't know what role government pressure and political motivation have played in the three stories we point to today in the Hong Kong Standard. However, we can confidently claim that the Christian Science Monitor is quite free and stubbornly independent. Here's its story today about the dispute that some Chinese construction workers have with New York University.

Spanish wages up an average of 2.47 percent so far this year (Monday, 3/9/98)
Cinco Dias reports that more than 300,000 companies in Spain have established pay raises so far this year. More than 3 million workers are affected. Inflation is expected to be 2.1 percent for the year. In Sweden, Dagens Nyheter reports that nearly a third of a million manufacturing workers will receive wage increases averaging 8.5 over three years. An agreement was reached last night.

Suharto worries about the legality of IMF reforms (Monday, 3/9/98)
Indonesian President Suharto has said that he's committed to doing what the IMF demands in exchange for its help, but many think he's been dragging his feet rather spectacularly. Given his concern with protecting his own vast fortune, among other things, he might consider just about any reason for not following through to be a good reason. Now, he fears that reforms would be unconstitutional, he says. Also, Seth Mydans of the New York Times reports that Suharto is also worried that the reforms wouldn't be right because of Indonesia's "family principles." Meanwhile, Louise Williams writes from Jakarta for the Sydney Morning Herald that the Australian prime minister fears instability in Indonesia, and, of course, given its location in relation to Australia, is a bit concerned about what the implications of a political meltdown there might be for his own country. Indonesia has the world's fourth largest population and is a country made up of thousands of islands. Australia has a vast land area, but a smaller population.

German banker sees euro influencing the U.S. (Monday, 3/9/98)
Klaus Friedrich spoke to a convention of Mexican bankers in Acapulco.

It may be as good a time as any for a real career change, but... (Monday, 3/9/98)
Steven Ginsburg offers some advice on taking the big leap if you're tempted by all the news about worker shortages in hi-tech fields. Also in the Washington Post today, some editorial thoughts about the ticking of the Social Security clock. Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about another big government program that needs fixing: Medicare. Speaking of fixing, the welfare reform process has been underway for sometime. Here's Jean Hopfensperger's story about what low-skill women are finding in the new economy.

A good year at Goodyear (Monday, 3/9/98)
Goodyear plant operations expand in Tennessee, and 500 new jobs will be added.

Danish union has plan for saving shipyards (Monday, 3/9/98)
The Danish government should equip the navy with new ships as part of an effort to save some of the country's unprofitable shipyards, according to the Danish Metal Workers' Union. Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has the story today.

Go west, young person (Monday, 3/9/98)
In this case, it's some young French people, and they're going west only a little...to Britain and economic opportunity. Here's Warren Hoge's story. Also in the New York Times today, Somini Sengupta tells about a glitch that has cut food stamps for hundreds of people in New York City.

Saturn wobbles in its orbit (Sunday, 3/8/98)
The team spirit may be eroding at this General Motors division. Saturn's union workers will vote this week on whether to abandon their "model" labor-management agreement and go with the more general agreement that the UAW has with General Motors.

America's elders should be wary of groups claiming to be working on their behalf (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says some organizations claiming to be working for seniors may, instead, be working against them. Read the fine print and also between the lines, she suggests.

Benefit expansion as an employment incentive (Sunday, 3/8/98)
One of the principal trends during recent years, as the American economy has restructured, has been away from permanent jobs with extensive benefit packages. However, the increasing shortage of workers is making employers look for ways to attract the people they need, and guess what? Expanded benefits are coming back, even in industries not traditionally known for benefits at all. At least until the economy cools, that is.

Why the American economy may not be the best in a generation after all (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Louis Uchitelle tells why simply hiring more people rather than increasing efficiencies may not bode well for the future. Productivity determines overall long-term standard of living, he says.

That "giant sucking sound" may not be what Perot expected (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Instead, it may be the "brain drain," not from the U.S. to Mexico, but, instead, from Canada to the U.S. Here's Howard Schneider's story from today's Washington Post.

Is your college on AmEx's approved list? (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Henry Gilgoff writes in Long Island's Newsday about how where a student is enrolled may determine whether s/he will be approved for an American Express card. Also, Lynn Brenner offers advice to a correspondent who wants to take full advantage of tax breaks this year. These and many other articles can be found on Newsday's web site, but, unfortunately, we cannot take you directly to the articles cited.

Population stability and the environment (Sunday, 3/8/98)
The Sierra Club is concerned about the effects of population on the environment, but, until now, has taken no position on American immigration policy. That may change.

Wise 401(k) transfers (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Albert Crenshaw says it's important to follow the right procedures in transferring your 401(k), and you may have three choices.

How Suharto looks depends on your perspective (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune offers some editorial views from newspapers in Singapore and Amsterdam, respectively. You may not be surprised to find that Indonesia's President Suharto looks better from Singapore than from Western Europe. Incidentally, Suharto is questioning the IMF requirements more directly now, and this is worrying many people. Moreover, if you think the International Monetary Fund is completely preoccupied with Asia, take a look at this story about Tanzania's economy and El Nino.

Those German professors are poking at the government again (Sunday, 3/8/98)
Some Germany economics professors who have gone to court in an effort to head off European economic union and the euro are claiming that there must be more than meets the eye in the gove