International press reports on life and work in the revolutionary new world economy
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May 1998

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Children march in opposition to child labor (Sunday, 5/31/98)
The International Labor Organization estimates that 250 million children are working throughout the world, often under near-slavery conditions. The "Global March against Child Labor" started in the Philippines and will culminate in Geneva at the opening of the ILO's annual conference Tuesday.

In order to discourage job creation, you've really got to work at it, and some European governments seem to have a special talent, columnist says (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Why are several major European economies suffering near-record unemployment? Ludicrous government policies have something to do with it, according to Jerry Heaster of the Kansas City Star.

Intuition and turning down job offers (Sunday, 5/31/98)
The Twin Cities Employment Weekly offers some guidance on when to turn down offers in a hot job market.

Social Security advocates need to grow up, Quinn says (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Time to face Social Security's realities, says nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn. It will be around when we need it, but it will be different. We can't expect to have contradictory things that are inconsistent with new realities, she says. Incidentally, the national AARP convention opens in Minneapolis this week, and David Peterson reports that the huge organization wants to bring its mission and image into alignment with the new realities of an aging population and its changing attitudes toward work and retirement. In Canada, the Montreal Gazette's Jay Bryan looks at new statistics indicating a fairly bright future for older workers.

The multiple benefits of summer work (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Students earn but also learn from summer jobs. Here's Albert Crenshaw with some thoughts as millions of high school and college students get set to work throughout the summer. Francine Knowles of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that prospects for summer employment in the Chicago region are very good, and, of course, that community isn't alone. Also, here's more on what awaits young people who were very recently students. Anthony Lonetree looks at the rich work opportunities that are greeting the Class of 1998.

Healh care may move to the top of the American political agenda, and fast (Sunday, 5/31/98)
With a major election coming up in six months, both political parties are picking up strong messages from the public about managed care.

Hong Kong airline to cut jobs (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Hong Kong's economy has been shrinking a bit, and severe recession may be on the horizon. The former British colony's Cathay Pacific Airways is having a hard time too, and intends to cut an additional 1,000 jobs. Also from the Nando Times, writes that the strong American economy isn't offering good news alone. For instance, the business failures is increasing again. Meanwhile, in Germany, asparagus growers are in conflict with the government over who should be working in the fields. The farmers want the Polish workers on whom they have depended in the past. The government insists that the jobs be taken by unemployed Germans, of which there are great numbers. The work is back-breaking, as is work in the onion fields of Georgia, USA, where farmers want the American government to help them by letting them make use of foreign labor as well.

Transportation a major obstacle to welfare-to-work success (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Getting there is half the battle, according to the Washington Post's Judith Havemann and Barbara Vobejda. Their article comes to you today via the Philadelphia Inquirer.

IMF on the state of the Indonesia economy: Whew! (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Things are worse than originally thought, according to a top official of the International Monetary Fund. One good sign: the counterproductive political system that helped produce the country's economic crisis seems to be fading into history. Here's Evelyn Iritani's Los Angeles Times article on Indonesia's unemployment problem and why the outlook is grim. On the other side of Asia, large numbers of people who used to work for the Chinese government are having to find creative ways to make it on their own, as that country's economy undergoes further transformation. Here's Erik Eckholm's report for the New York Times.

Just when you thought housing for migrant workers couldn't get any worse (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Steven Greenhouse writes than more migrant farm workers than ever are living in squalor, despite the strongest American economy in decades. Also in the New York Times today, Louis Uchitelle says that Stanford University's Joseph Stiglitz is getting a second chance to be broadly influential as chief economist for the World Bank. Tina Kelley reports on the large number of workers who are under pressure to work "off the clock." Translation: they're having to work without being paid. Eight lawsuits have been filed against Albertson's, the big supermarket chain.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Explorations in Social Inequality (Sunday, 5/31/98)
Trinity University sociologist Michael Kearl examines social stratification in the United States and other regions of the world, including the growing "have vs. have not" gap within the context of the revolutionary new world economy. Explorations in Social Inequality provides data, ideas, and access to additional resources.

Moody's downgrades Russia's rating (Saturday, 5/30/98)
That's the bad news. The good news is that the IMF is sending money soon, and experts expect Russian markets to stabilize as a consequence.

Unemployment down in France (Saturday, 5/30/98)
In April, unemployment in France reached its lowest point in two years. Many are pleased with the new 11.9 percent unemployment rate, while, in Japan, unemployment at a bit more than 4 percent is the highest in at least fifty years, and a great many people are upset about it. Here's the French story from the International Herald Tribune. Again, when making international comparisons, remember that what we know depends entirely on how we know it, so take a close look at the methods being used in each case.

INS has new rules governing work site raids (Saturday, 5/30/98)
The Immigration and Naturalization Service responds to criticism of how it has been moving in to find illegally employed aliens. Now, they will have to issue warnings to employers first, and some within the agency think it's a bad idea that will handicap enforcement.

Americans spending a bit too much (Saturday, 5/30/98)
Despite income gains, Americans are spending more than they're making, which means that savings are shrinking, and this concerns economists.

Does the idea of bankruptcy make you feel guilty? (Saturday, 5/30/98)
Attitudes toward stiffing creditors have changed in the United States in recent years. Personal bankruptcy has become more socially acceptable. The number of bankruptcies went up by double digits in 1997 for the third years in a row.

Hong Kong officially acknowledges it's not immune to Asia's economic troubles (Saturday, 5/30/98)
Officials fear that the former British colony may be heading into its worst recession since the Second World War. Hong Kong was handed over to China on July 1 last year, so the first anniversary is slightly more than a month away.

The risks of "capitation " (Saturday, 5/30/98)
The New York Times' Milt Freudenheim reports that an increasingly popular way of controlling managed care costs is controversial, nonetheless.

Some grads are feeling as though they've won the lottery (Saturday, 5/30/98)
Some freshly minted college graduates are starting at salaries that are hard to believe, and many are pinching themselves. ABC News tells about the hot job market for new graduates, particularly in technical fields, and also provides information about regional job market differences. Things are slowest in the northwestern region of the country, but still very hot by historical standards. It's the difference between a really hot job market and a really, really hot job market.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: WebEc: World Wide Web Resources in Economics (Saturday, 5/30/98)
The web contains an awfully lot of economic information available through a very large number of sites. Whatever your specific economic interests, WebEc: World Wide Web Resources in Economics is one of the most comprehensive guides and a good place to start.

A little, very little good news for Russia (Friday, 5/29/98)
Russia's fledgling democracy and free market system may be in a fight for its life, but, at least, its markets recovered a bit yesterday, suggesting that investors still have at least a little confidence in the Russian economy's future. The Russian government is continuing to assert its determination to defend the ruble. Jean MacKenzie of the Christian Science Monitor says that may be a job for the IMF, but columnist William Safire says that Russia needs to seek confidence elsewhere, not in loans.

Big strike in South Korea fades (Friday, 5/29/98)
Mary Jordan reports that lack of public support is one reason that a big strike in South Korea has fizzled out. Twenty thousand Hyundai employees have returned to work. Meanwhile, in the U.S., California workers go out on strike at Rockwell Semiconductor Systems.

Airline negotiations fail to take off in France (Friday, 5/29/98)
Pilots for Air France may strike beginning June 1 if no agreement is reached with the company on wages. Most Air France flights could be canceled just as people are trying to get into the country for the World Cup, according to French papers this morning. Also in France, immigrants continue their hunger strike in Lyon for the 50th day. They're protesting "double punishment." That is, unlike members of the domestic population, foreign offenders can suffer both prison and deportation.

Indonesia commits to 1999 election (Friday, 5/29/98)
The Washington Post's Jackson Diehl reports that the new Indonesian president and parliament have reached agreement on a plan to hold national elections next year, and Raju Gopalakrishnan, reporting from Jakarta , says that the country has been moving away from former President Suharto's way of doing things in several ways, as part of an effort to please the IMF and the rest of the world community.

More and more use of temps in Sweden (Friday, 5/29/98)
Dagens Nyheter reports that Swedish companies are making increasing use of workers provided by temporary help firms, rather than hiring permanent employees. The use of temps is up 30 percent in Sweden since last year.

Some strikers defy Greek court, but there is disagreement in the ranks (Friday, 5/29/98)
Athens News reports today that some workers at state-controlled Ionian Bank are continuing their strike, despite a court's ruling that the strike is illegal. However, Imerisia nearly half of the bank's workers returned to work Thursday.

Huffy to export bike manufacturing jobs (Friday, 5/29/98)
The bicycle maker is closing its plant in Ohio, and it will cost 1,000 jobs.

Board seat for the UAW at Daimler-Benz (Friday, 5/29/98)
The United Auto Workers will have a direct hand in running the company once the Daimler takeover of Chrysler is complete.

Some advice on what to do about Social Security (Friday, 5/29/98)
Charles Krauthammer says the surplus should be hidden so that it will not be "frittered away." Also in the Washington Post today, E. J. Dionne Jr writes that President Clinton has announced a shift in American policy with respect to the global economy, but somebody seems to be listening.

Record unemployment in Japan (Friday, 5/29/98)
Akiko Shiozaki reports in Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun that Japanese unemployment set a record in April for the third month in a row. The 4.1 percent in April was the highest since 1953, when joblessness statistics were first gathered. Incidentally, you may have noticed that a rate of about 4% may be considered awful in one country and great in another. Is unemployment measured in the same way and does a given number have the same meanings across countries? No and no, and the way things are measured can make all the difference.

Leedham begins his campaign for the Teamsters presidency (Friday, 5/29/98)
Tom Leedham is from Oregon, and he's challenging James Hoffa in the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election.

The cost of not being civil (Friday, 5/29/98)
During recent years, America has been awash in vulgarity, incivility, and even mild to moderate levels of sociopathy. Okay, so what! Er...that is, what does incivility on the job mean for the company and its employees? There are real costs, according to experts.

Clouds on the American economic horizon? (Friday, 5/29/98)
The good numbers aren't sustainable because of some of the other numbers which aren't so good, according to a leading Minnesota economist. Dave Skidmore has the story in today's Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Colleges and Careers Center (Friday, 5/29/98)
For years, U.S. News and World Report, one of America's leading news magazines, has been compiling lists of the top colleges and graduate schools in the United States. They've gathered their resources together to produce Colleges and Careers Center, which is filled with helpful information and guidance for those desiring assistance on nearly any aspect of college or career planning.

Emergency in Russia (Thursday, 5/28/98)
The world watches with more than a little interest as the Yeltsin government struggles desperately to head off a collapse of the ruble. Russian President Yeltsin says that saving the Russian currency has priority, but Long Island's Newsday reports that Russian stocks are falling too, sending a flood of investors for the exits. During recent days, we've been reporting that economics is driving political change throughout parts of Asia, and the changes there seem to be for the better. However, things are different in Russia. The world holds its breath, because a collapse of the Russian economy would add immeasurably to the large numbers of persons who have already been impoverished by economic struggles since the fall of the Soviet Union. This could bring down the country's fledgling democracy, as well, with much uncertainty for the region and the remainder of the world. For example, a large number of nuclear missiles are still on site in Russia. Much depends on who will control them. It appears that Russia has been undergoing a process of de-industrialization during recent years, and much of the Russian economy is now a primitive barter economy.

Japan's currency slides too (Thursday, 5/28/98)
New data indicate that Japan's economy continues to struggle, and Todd Zaun writes that the decline of its currency may trigger the next big crisis in Asia. The world worries about Japan as it worries about Russia, but for very different reasons. At the moment, at least, Japan enjoys fundamental political stability, but because it has the second-largest economy in the world, the entire Asian region and even the U.S. can be significantly affected by what happens in Japan. In neighboring South Korea, productivity is dropping and a major national strike is going on. However, that country's stock market recovered some of its losses today, suggesting that investors aren't too worried about the impact of the strike. Finally, new data indicate that the American economy continues to enjoy one of its best periods ever with a 4.8 rate of growth during the first quarter. Corporate profits are off, though.

Greek court rules against strikers (Thursday, 5/28/98)
Thousands of state workers have been protesting the Greek government's privatization plans and clashed with police in several Greek cities yesterday, according to Imerisia. A strike called by unions representing workers at the Ionian Bank of Greece has been ruled illegal by a Greek court which has ordered that the strike not be resumed.

Support builds for airline strike in France (Thursday, 5/28/98)
France is hosting the World Cup, and unions representing pilots at Air France consider this to be a good time to call a strike in order to press their demands. More unions appear to be coming on board. Among other things, the pilots are accusing Air France of fraud. Meanwhile, pilots at Northwest Airlines have authorized their union to call a strike if agreement cannot be reached with the company, and the vote was nearly unanimous.

Poverty and unemployment persist in Latin America (Thursday, 5/28/98)
Here's news from a new report issued by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, an agency of the United Nations.

What will eventually slow the hot American economy? (Thursday, 5/28/98)
It may be the growing shortage of American workers with the skills needed by a new information economy, according to many business leaders, and, in part, they blame American schools. Here's that story from the Paris-based International Herald Tribune.

No Indonesian elections this year (Thursday, 5/28/98)
It doesn't necessarily represent a reluctance on the part of the new government, however. Indonesia is the world's fourth largest country with a population of 200 million scattered over thousands of islands. An election will take some time to set up, and it will have to be done right so that it is perceived as a genuine, free, credible election. Most important immediately is probably that the new post-Suharto government send the right messages to the world community, most notably the International Monetary Fund. Marcus Brauchli writes in today's Wall Street Journal that poverty in Indonesia is likely to get worse, at least for the moment.

President congratulates himself on welfare reform (Thursday, 5/28/98)
John Harris reports on President Clinton's satisfaction with the way his administration's welfare reform policies have been working. Also in the Washington Post today, Barbara Vobejda writes that Census Bureau data indicates that the disintegration of the traditional American family seems to be slowing, and the Federal Communications Commission is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals to reconsider its April ruling on affirmative action. Speaking of court decisions, a Cornell University researcher can breath easier now. A federal judge has thrown out Beverly Enterprises' defamation suit against Kate Bronfenbrenner. In Philadelphia, people who work in the courts have been picketing judges who set work rules.

A narrowing of the income gap in Germany (Thursday, 5/28/98)
When the two Germanys were unified, the overall difference between the economies of eastern and western regions was nearly cosmic. For instance, in 1991, people in the eastern area had personal incomes averaging about 47 percent of those for persons in the west. New data indicate that the gap has narrowed considerably, with personal incomes in the east now averaging 74% of those in western Germany. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has the story today.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: NATLEX (Thursday, 5/28/98)
If you want to know about employment law and related legislation around the world, it's probably a good idea to look here first. NATLEX offers a bibliography of nearly 50,000 references covering all of the countries in the world. The site comes from the International Labour Organization and is presented in multiple languages.

Strikes hit South Korea (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
Robin Bulman reports that, despite South Korean government claims that they are illegal, strikes across the country have idled tens of thousands of workers. Riot police have been put into position in some areas. Jeremy Gaunt reports on strikes in Greece as well, this time to protest the government's privatization move, which labor organizers expect to cost large numbers of jobs. In France, truckers have ended a brief blockade, but, as Bernard Edinger reports, other strikes are expected.

Indonesian paroxysm seems to be clearing the air a bit (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes on some of the things that seem to be going right in Indonesia. Seth Mydans of the New York Times writes that IMF officials are examining the new government and speculating about its real intentions. They may be getting ready to resume the bailout effort that was interrupted by protests, riots, and Suharto's unceremonious departure. For years, Indonesia's economy, in particular, has been weakened by the cronyism disease and lack of transparency that have infected several economies throughout the region, helping to initiate the wave of crises that started less than a year ago. Cameron Barr and Nicole Gaouette of the Christian Science Monitor take a closer look at the self-defeating "coziness" that many Asian government leaders have had with their friends and relatives. All this may be working its way out of those systems, they say. If so, it will be an example of how fundamentally new the new world economy is, and how it continues to drive political change.

Workers coming from welfare don't stick with it, right? (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
Wrong. Robert Pear reports that many companies are finding that there is less turnover among workers who have come off welfare than among their other workers. Here's more from Judith Havemann and Barbara Vobejda of the Washington Post on the first anniversary of the Welfare-to-Work partnership. Also, Donna McGuire of the Kansas City Star tells one woman's success story.

On joining together and tearing asunder (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
Ron Scherer reports on how mergers and acquisitions are resulting in a flood of layoffs. It's not the only reason companies may want to reduce their workforces, however. For instance, The Independent reports that British Steel Plc. may cut as many as 12,500 jobs by early 2001, with a third of those coming by next September. British Steel is Europe's largest steel maker. Also, here's a major hi-tech company that wants to have fewer workers, but is relying mostly on incentives to promote voluntary separations. Meanwhile, another little hi-tech firm called Microsoft is intending to add a thousand jobs in Europe during the next three years. The churning goes on in the revolutionary new world economy.

Hungry immigrants (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
New government policy that cut legal immigrants off food stamps has resulted in a dramatic increase in hunger in the San Francisco and Los Angeles regions, according to a new report.

Arizona expects the new century to bring a flood of boomer retirees (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
The huge boomer generation is nearing the lower boundaries of, er, elderliness. Some people in Arizona want to attract a lot of them to their state, and probably will without too much difficulty. Incidentally, a Cornell University study finds that volunteerism is good for retirees, as well as for their communities.

"Psychosomatic" doesn't mean "all in your head" (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
Psychosomatic illnesses are real illness that are caused or aggravated by stress or other psychological factors. Here's news about a new study from London's University College on the relationship between work pressures and health. The original report appears in the current edition of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Strike fever subsides in Denmark (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
According to Berlingske Tidende, union leaders have announced that about 4,000 workers directly affected at Falck A/S will go out on strike next week if an agreement isn't reached, rather than 200,000 to 300,000 that were announced previously.

Economic stresses and Hungary's recent elections (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
Hungary has been making a painful transition to a free-market economy after years of communism. Colin Woodard reports on how the country's economic struggles have been affecting its political climate. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, how economic reform is going in Thailand, where last year's crises began their sweep across Asia, and Iain Guest says to watch for third-world debt relief to become a major global political issue that could give rise to an international mass movement. Some believe that the industrial countries have been applying a double standard, among other things.

Why China may weather the Asian storm after all (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
Most of China's very large economy depends on domestic demand, according to government officials, and the New York Times reports that this provides a degree of stability within a sea of turbulence. Also in today's Times, news of growing financial panic in Russia, which may not displease that country's communists, given what they're saying.

White paper on hi-tech and higher ed (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
A major accounting firm that works with college and university administrators has issued a report on how technology may change higher education. Here's the story from the New York Times, and here's the original report.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: California Virtual University (Wednesday, 5/27/98)
We believe that it requires too much imagination to believe that the combination of escalating costs, the current political climate, including the privatization drive, plus the hi-tech revolution will not fundamentally transform higher education in the United States during the years immediately ahead. In fact, Peter Drucker believes that universities, as we have known them, will be gone within 30 years. We believe that many will be fundamentally changed and some campuses closed down within five years. Here's a major example of the exploding on-line college course industry from the state with a nation state-sized economy that has set trends for the entire country time and again. It's California Virtual University.

Manpower Inc. sees continuation of strong job market (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
A new survey finds that many employers expect to continue hiring at a robust rate during the third quarter. Here's the story from Reuters, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Washington Post. Speaking of hiring, what can a company do to attract tech talent where there's not enough to go around? Stephanie Stoughton reports that some employers are offering unusual incentives, including nice recreational privileges.

Greek court ruling on strike coming tomorrow (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
For two weeks, strikers have been protesting the Greek government's plan to sell Ionian Bank of Greece as part of its privatization program. A court will decide tomorrow if the strike is legal. Things have been fairly rough. For instance, strikers had taken over the bank's computer center before police moved in and took back control from the strikers. Kathimerini has the story today.

More retirement flexibility called for (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
The Montreal Gazette editorializes on some of the implications of a new study of retirement from the C. D. Howe Institute.

Habibie working hard to make IMF officials feel welcome (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
Indonesian former President Suharto's successor first indicated that he would serve out the remainder of Suharto's term, which had just started when Suharto stepped down last week. Then, he said that elections would be held within a year. Now, he's saying that he would be willing to conduct elections within a month, if that were possible. With the country's economy in a shambles and getting worse, and further social unrest feared as a consequence, President Habibie is anxious to reassure the International Monetary Fund as well as the world community that the kinds of fundamental political reforms that many people regard as necessary for economic recovery will be carried out. Speaking of the IMF's role in Asia and elsewhere, here are a couple of opposing iewpoints: Paul Krugman says that the IMF contributes to world stability, but Mark Weisbrot says it has made things worse in Asia.

Better explain layoffs if you want to stay out of court (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
An Ohio State University study finds that laid off employees who have not been given reasons for their termination are far more likely to sue. Ten times more likely, in fact. Here's the story from CNN Financial.

New austerity plan signed into law in Russia (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
Russian President Yeltsin wants to bring the country's budget under control. The new plan provides for cuts in state expenditures. However, the government hasn't been able to meet some of its financial obligations. For instance, many miners and others have not been paid for months. A major problem is that many people and companies aren't paying their taxes, so Russia remains in a high degree of economic gridlock.

College is costly, but not as much as many parents think (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
A poll conducted by the American Council on Education finds that many parents are overestimating the real cost of college. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, Laura Meckler reports that most corporate programs for hiring people off of welfare are still limited, even though hiring is on the rise. However, here's a company that has been making a point of hiring the down-and-out for quite a long time, and is pleased with the success that has resulted. Also, Dan Sewell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that United Parcel Service has quickly become a leader in helping people move from welfare to work. In part, it's because the company has been making a special effort to hire the unemployed for a long time.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Top Ten Technical Resume Writing Tips (Tuesday, 5/26/98)
Need some help with your resume? Here it is from Taos Mountain, a major San Francisco-area web site development firm. Their Top Ten Technical Resume Writing Tips may be useful, whatever your field, but particularly if you're seeking a technical position.

New Indonesian leaders saying things many want to hear (Monday, 5/25/98)
Brian Williams reports that Indonesia has announced that major political reforms will be carried out. According to the Washington Post's Jackson Diehl, President Habibie is promising genuine elections within a year. The collapsing Indonesian economy is providing a strong incentive for real, fundamental political reform, and fast. A top IMF official on the scene is saying he likes what he's hearing from the Indonesian government. Stay tuned.

South Korea may be in for a longer, harder time than originally thought (Monday, 5/25/98)
Kim Myong-hwan reports that analysts during recent days have been saying that South Korea may face a very deep, very long recession. Its economic problems appear to be more fundamental and difficult than experts originally thought. Kevin Sullivan writes that many of South Korea's unemployed are taking their minds off their troubles at Seoul's racetrack.

Job hopping, and not apologizing for it (Monday, 5/25/98)
The Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg reports in the Los Angeles Times says many generation Xers are changing jobs frequently as they take advantage of a hot economy's opportunities for finding their way.

General Powell consulting Britain (Monday, 5/25/98)
The British government would like to see more minorities in its armed services. They're asking the former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff for advice.

What tobacco means to Richmond, Virginia (Monday, 5/25/98)
Bob Dart writes in the Austin American-Statesman how workers in the old capital of the Confederacy view the historic change in tobacco policy that seems to coming to the United States.

Agricultural recovery in Africa (Monday, 5/25/98)
Stephen Buckley reports that new conditions are leading to a rebirth of Ethiopian agriculture. Also from the Washington Post today, William Branigin reports that a "salad" metaphor may be more appropriate than the "melting pot," when it comes to many immigrants in the United States. Many newcomers to the U.S. are unwilling to sacrifice their cultural identity.

Militant Irish craftworkers call for rejection of proposed contract (Monday, 5/25/98)
Here's Padraig Yeates' report in the Irish Times. About 4,500 workers will vote on June 12.

World Cup could be affected by airline strike (Monday, 5/25/98)
Trouble for the upcoming World Cup seems to be brewing among increasingly militant unions in the airline industry. Striking pilots forced Air France to cancel nearly a third of its flights yesterday. More appears to be coming.

More on the politics of the skilled professionals shortage (Monday, 5/25/98)
Sharon Schmickle of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tells about the fallout of America's current visa policy and the political struggle in Washington.

Something old and something new (Monday, 5/25/98)
Mitch Cooper of the Edmonton Journal tells about a summer jobs program that's been serving students for thirty years, while the New York Times' Pamela Mendels reports on an innovative summer internship program for students who want to learn skills needed by New York's new media industry.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: ErgoWeb (Monday, 5/25/98)
Thirty years ago, it was mostly called "human factors" or "engineering psychology" in the United States. "Ergonomics" was a European term. Moreover, the field started as a concern with "man-machine systems" during the Second World War. It was found that machines could be designed which, from a strictly engineering standpoint, were fine. However, the problems often began when a human being had to operate many of those things, because human capacities and limitations were not taken into account in their design. Later, a concern with automotive safety and the space program made it increasingly obvious that machines should be designed in terms of the operator's perceptual, learning, memory, and other attributes. In more recent years, the computer industry picked up the term "ergonomics" and related it to everything from the design of the user interface to the design of keyboards. Other industries have picked it up as well, and have broadened its application. Now, "ergonomics" concerns the person's relationship, not only to machines, but also to furniture and other aspects of the work or consumer environment. ErgoWeb can help you explore most aspects of ergonomics.

GM auto plant brings jobs to Poland (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Daniel Howes of the Detroit News reports that Gliwice, Poland is welcoming 3,000 new jobs that will come to the community because of a new General Motors auto assembly plant. One of the reasons that it's an attractive location for GM is that the plant will not be unionized.

Trains rolling again in Russia (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Striking miners have stopped their blockade of the Trans-Siberian railway. Like similar strikers in the Ukraine, they want pay that's been owed to them for months.

Let's make a deal (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Not so long ago, several of the Asian economies were distinguished in part for their reluctance to let outsiders into their markets. Sandra Sugawara writes that the Asian economic crises have brought about a change of attitude. Decades of protectionism are giving way to a willingness to attract outsiders, particularly investors.

Okay, now what? (Sunday, 5/24/98)
For the first time in nearly a third of a century, Suharto no longer runs Indonesia, and, despite the fact that his hand-picked vice-president succeeded him, he doesn't appear to be pulling the strings behind the scenes, which means that his influence will surely fade with time. The political landscape may change complexion faster than many expect, and genuine democratization may be a possibility. However, while Indonesia's political situation has driven its economic problems off the front page in recent weeks, those problems have not disappeared. The Indonesian economy remains a frightful mess. Paul Blustein reports that the head of the IMF's Asian department is on his way back to Indonesia...again.

Rough waters ahead for Vietnam (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Vietnam wasn't been hit by the wave of economic crises that rolled across Asia, in part because it doesn't have a stock market. However, the year ahead may be its hardest in a long time anyway.

The hard life of whistle-blowers (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn writes that, if you blow the whistle on your private sector employer, expect your company to try to grind you into little pieces.

Many people read our news at home, er, at work (Sunday, 5/24/98)
The Washington Post reports on Census Bureau data on the great increase in the number of Americans who work at home.

What globalization means for a couple of the world's most important economies (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Germany has the world's third-largest economy, and has been regarded as one of the "miracles" of the post-war industrial era. However, making the adjustment to the new information economy which is also global has not been easy. Despite fairly good growth overall, select a German adult at random, and you have one chance in nine of selecting somebody who is unemployed. Meanwhile, Brazil is on many lists of "emerging economies" for the 21st century. Yet, it's been struggling, in part because of fallout from the Asian crises. The country's new Roman Catholic archbishop has some thoughts about globalization. He says its making poverty worse, not only in his country, but around the world.

How to fly high in your career (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Becoming an airline pilot is one way. Lisa Doll Bruno describes what it takes and what you can expect in her Newsday "Job Hunt" column.

Hi-tech temps (Sunday, 5/24/98)
At one time, you called a temporary services firm when you needed a little extra clerical help for a few days. Now, though, a "temp worker" can mean anything from an executive to someone with hi-tech expertise, and Janet Perez writes in the Arizona Republic about the hot market for the latter.

It's going to be a good summer for teens who want to work (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Tammy Joyner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Lisa Gonderinger of the Arizona Republic report that teens are finding a very receptive job market in their respective communities.

Higher ed costs, but... (Sunday, 5/24/98)
Higher education costs in the United States rose about as fast as the cost of health care over the same period, and many people are worried about the often staggering debt that new grads have built up during their college years. For the moment, though, things look better for many because of the very hot job market and favorable starting pay levels for many graduates. Of course, the market for non-graduates is also very hot, if they possess the skills that employers need. Nonetheless, Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman says that women trying to move from welfare to work will need three things: education, education, and education. Cheryl Shavers of the San Jose Mercury News says that they and others shouldn't overlook the excellent possibilities offered by the relatively economical community colleges.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Online Career Center (Sunday, 5/24/98)
The Online Career Center is still one of the busier career-related sites with job postings, advice, and more. However, it doesn't dominate as it once did. It was started by Jim Gonyea who also founded Help Wanted USA and the Career Center on America Online. However, the Online Career Center appears to be under different ownership at this point.

The latest on the miners' strike in the Ukraine (Saturday, 5/23/98)
Radio Free Europe reports that 120,000 miners are still out on strike in an attempt to collect US$3 billion in back wages. At the moment, talks with the government seem to be going nowhere.

The man is gone, but moving beyond the long Suharto era may be harder (Saturday, 5/23/98)
The Washington Post's Keith Richburg explains why the governmental and economic system Suharto put in place in Indonesia may resist change. However, Brian Williams of Reuters reports that progress may be underway already.

The U.S. isn't the only country with a big child care problem (Saturday, 5/23/98)
The Toronto Star paints a picture familiar to workers in the U.S. Quality child care isn't sufficiently available, and one of the reasons is poor pay for the people who staff the centers.

Stopgap plan on student loans passes Congress (Saturday, 5/23/98)
Argument over the underlying issues is likely to continue, but, for the moment, a student loan crisis is averted. Here's Albert Crenshaw's story.

Mistrial in military harassment case (Saturday, 5/23/98)
A civilian lawyer had sued the U.S. Army, but a mistrial has been declared after the jury indicated that it was hopelessly deadlocked. In another harassment case, a woman wins $1 million in a suit against her female boss. Finally, a truck driver's suit against his employer is a bit different. He objects to having a female coworker with him on overnight runs because it could lead to "lustful thoughts," and he's holding his employer responsible.

Union worried about new air traffic control system (Saturday, 5/23/98)
A technicians' union wants implementation delayed, because they don't think it's safe, according to a New York Times report.

Asparagus farmers want Polish immigrants to be allowed to work their fields (Saturday, 5/23/98)
Germany's unemployment problem as well as growing resentment toward foreign workers is leading to a crisis situation for its asparagus farmers. The crops are rotting in the fields, and farmers are threatening to sue the government.

Hall out, Leedham in to challenge Hoffa (Saturday, 5/23/98)
One Teamsters presidential candidate withdraws for health reasons. Tom Leedham from Oregon doesn't want James Hoffa to lack effective opposition in the re-do of the Teamsters election, so he's going to run himself.

How to get that promotion you feel you deserve (Saturday, 5/23/98)
Jamie Doward of Scripps Howard offers some advice.

Hospital workers plan strike for next week in British Columbia (Saturday, 5/23/98)
About 40,000 health care workers could be involved in a strike Tuesday that is intended to last only four hours, according to the Edmonton Journal.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: JobTrak (Saturday, 5/23/98)
A growing number of web sites attempt to get employers and graduates together. One of the older services with one of the busier sites is JobTrak, which has cultivated relationships with hundreds of colleges and universities. Their site has more than 30,000 visitors daily and more than 3,000 new job posts each day.

Rail traffic grinds to a halt in Russia (Friday, 5/22/98)
Strikers, angry because they have not been paid for months, in some cases, have largely shut down rail traffic in Russia. President Yeltsin says that the striking miners have gone too far and are hurting their country. Among other things, the protests could bring further delays to the International Space Station, according to Russian officials.

If you're trying to find a cab in New York today, you have our sympathy (Friday, 5/22/98)
New York cab drivers are in conflict with the city over proposed licensing rules. More than two-thirds of the city's cabs appear to be participating in the second strike in about a week.

The latest on employment conditions in New Zealand (Friday, 5/22/98)
Nationally, unemployment is on its way up, but improvement is on the horizon in some regions, according to Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce. Here's the story from The Press.

Is it a "primitive" culture? (Friday, 5/22/98)
Some anthropologists are studying the American corporate culture in an effort to make it more friendly to the humans who work within it. Also, according to statistics from the American Anthropological Association, a majority of American anthropologists are not working in academic settings now.

How the economic crises are pushing democracy along in Asian (Friday, 5/22/98)
Democracy may or may not be coming to Indonesia, but the departure of Suharto seems to symbolize changing politics driven by economics in a number of Asian countries. Here's Kevin Sullivan's story from today's Washington Post.

About white collars, blue collars, and...gold collars? (Friday, 5/22/98)
Here's a three-part series on the changing Australian workforce from the Sydney Morning Herald with parts one, two, and three from Dugald Jellie, Jane Freeman, and Andrew Hornery, respectively.

Welfare to work in Sacramento (Friday, 5/22/98)
Gilbert Chan reports that Sacramento area employers are becoming less reluctant to hire people off of welfare, but a training problem remains. Also in the Sacramento Bee today, Cathleen Ferraro writes that, while growing labor shortages may mean that older workers are needed more, they want more flexibility in exchange for staying on the job longer. Employers aren't necessarily responding, however. With respect to welfare-to-work issues in other local California communities, Hilary MacGregor reports that officials expect a surplus of low-wage jobs in Ventura County, while Los Angeles County expects a shortage during the years immediately ahead.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Merlin Falcon MBA Guide (Friday, 5/22/98)
You want choices? You got choices. If you are thinking that a Master of Business Administration degree could help your career, there are more than 1,000 universities around the world where you can earn one. The Merlin Falcon MBA Guide from the United Kingdom can help you with questions like whether, where, when, and how. Their site also provides information about the relevant standardized tests used for selection purposes and other issues.

Suharto out; Indonesian economy still on hold (Thursday, 5/21/98)
After nearly a third of a century in power, Indonesia's President Suharto has resigned. His hand-picked vice president has taken over which, for the moment, leaves unclear the question of whether there will be fundamental political reforms, including democratization. Cindy Shiner of the Washington Post reports that protesting students have roared their approval of Suharto's departure, but vow that they will continue working for fundamental reforms. Economic experts around the world greet Vice President Jusuf Habibie's ascension to the presidency with coolness, expecting that, unless his role will be limited to managing a transition to free elections, there will be little improvement in Indonesia's economic condition. Paul Blustein writes that, once the political situation has settled down, the International Monetary Fund will have to start over in helping Indonesia out of its economic morass. Finally, William Branigin offers an analysis of the conditions that led to the country's economic difficulties and Suharto's downfall.

Why are there unemployment problems in Germany? (Thursday, 5/21/98)
The German economy is doing fairly well now by conventional standards, except that it isn't creating nearly enough jobs. Anne Thompson of the Edmonton Journal looks at some of the reasons. Also the Detroit Free Press' Ted Evenoff looks at what a global alliance of German and American auto worker unions would mean. Elsewhere in the automotive industry, South Korea's Hyundai plans to lay off more than 8,000 workers, according to the Nando Times. Here's more on that story from ABC News, as well as the International Herald Tribune's report that union representatives of Hyundai's workers are saying that they will strike next Wednesday.

New jobless claims up a bit last week (Thursday, 5/21/98)
The newest data from the U.S. Department of Labor probably represent ripples, though, not waves or tides.

A change of mind at the SEC (Thursday, 5/21/98)
The Securities and Exchange Commission has reversed a 1992 decision. Companies will be required to allow shareholders to vote on workplace social issues such as employment discrimination.

Want a private office? You may have to build your own in your basement (Thursday, 5/21/98)
Maggie Jackson writes in the Austin Statesman-American that included in the transformation of corporate America is more open spaces, even for executives.

Young physicians working too many hours in New York hospitals (Thursday, 5/21/98)
A report from the New York State Health Department finds code violations.

When are pilots too old to fly? (Thursday, 5/21/98)
Marilyn Gardner has some thoughts on the possible role of age-based stereotypes in the FAA rule that requires commercial airline pilots to retire at age 60. The proportion of the American population over 60 will be increasing dramatically during the years ahead, and society is struggling to define what it means to be old now, as opposed to earlier years when there were fewer old people and when life conditions were very different. For instance, Mike Wallace of CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" is eighty now, and seems to be at the top of his game. Maybe that's what 80 is like for some people, and maybe it's time to leave traditional stereotypes behind. Here are some additional thoughts on the way the big baby boomer generation may approach retirement from Kalpana Srinivasan of the Detroit Free Press.

Minority enrollments down 12% at UC (Thursday, 5/21/98)
Rene Sanchez writes about what the end of affirmative action at the University of California means for minorities. Also in the Washington Post today, the House of Representatives votes to require separate training for men and women in the American military.

Focus on small business (Thursday, 5/21/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special section on small business. Lots of articles. Speaking of special sections, the May 25 edition of Business Week contains several articles on the increasingly serious labor shortage in the U.S., with a focus on key issues, such as efforts to attract people who are changing careers, retraining, and so on.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Michigan Prevention Research Center (Thursday, 5/21/98)
The University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research has been recognized throughout the world for many years and has conducted extensive studies on a wide variety of topics, not limited to work issues. However, its Michigan Prevention Research Center does deal with work. More specifically, it has several ongoing projects relating to well-being on the job.

Bipartisan plan for Social Security presented yesterday (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
Jonathan Wright reports that legislation should be drafted within a couple of weeks for consideration by the next Congress. Kathy Kristof of the San Jose Mercury News tells who would benefit and who would lose if the plan for saving Social Security becomes law effective in the year 2000.

More from Tyson on women of the Marine Corps (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
The Christian Science Monitor's Ann Scott Tyson continues her series on women in the U.S. Marine Corps. Today, she tells about how it is for women recruits at Parris Island.

Big school layoffs expected in Ontario (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
Labor leaders interpret the introduction of an on-line job service as evidence that the government intends to lay off large numbers of school personnel. Here's the story from the Toronto Star.

Workers who are being hit with info overload (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
Hi-tech makes it possible to be flooded with messages of many kinds from all directions. In fact, for many workers, it's not only possible, it's a continuing daily reality. Kirstin Downey Grimsley explains. Also in today's Washington Post, Thomas Edsall reports that the AFL-CIO is gearing up for the next election, and will emphasize grass-roots organizing at the expense of TV spots this time.

The origins and implications of Brazil's rising unemployment (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
Chris Kraul of the Los Angeles Times tells why Brazil's unemployment has been increasing and what it may mean for the country's recovery and social stability. Here's a hint on the "why" part of it: think about Asia's economic crises.

How well are you managing your career? (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
You can ask you teenagers, according to Sue Shellenbarger in today's Wall Street Journal.

ILO reports that there are more disabled because of new ailments (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
The number of people who are becoming disabled and unable to work has been increasing significantly in industrialized nations, and the International Labor Organization says new diseases are a major reason.

Labor protests escalate in Russia (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
Striking miners interrupt rail service in Siberia. Labor protests have been spreading across the country during recent weeks. Many workers haven't been paid for months. Also from today's Nando Times, strikers at an Ohio McDonald's issue an ultimatum. They'll begin unionizing June 1 if the company doesn't offer a satisfactory response. The strikers have been conferring with representatives of the Teamsters.

Well, work is work, presumably (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
A managed care organization has agreed to provide group health coverage for people who perform in pornographic films.

Many not really ready for work...or for training (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
Francine Knowles of the Chicago Sun Times reports that a survey of Illinois manufacturers shows widespread dissatisfaction with the quality of recruits for whom preparation is not a strong point.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: AboutWork (Wednesday, 5/20/98)
AboutWork offers work-related information and advice of special interest to women. The site comes from iVillage.com: The Women's Network.

Russia raises rates, attempts to cope with strikes, and worries about Indonesia (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
Gareth Jones reports that Russia has raised interest rates to their highest level in a year and a half in an effort to restore investor confidence. Workers who haven't been paid for a long time continue to strike in various regions of the country.

Another boost for Hoffa (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
James Hoffa wins another round in his effort to become president of the Teamsters. Here's the story from Peter Szekely. Also from Reuters today, the bipartisan commission on reforming Social Security in the U.S. intends to release its proposal today, and it would provide for major changes in the system.

That feeling of being unwanted (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
Indonesia's President Suharto says he will leave his job "as soon as possible," but protesting students would like for it to be a little sooner. More large-scale organized protests will go ahead on Wednesday. Here's more from Keith Richburg of the Washington Post and Jim Della-Giacoma of Reuters, as well as some additional perspective from Cameron Barr of the Christian Science Monitor, who has been watching the Indonesian story for weeks. If Indonesia really is heading in the direction of a new government, and possibly even a new political system, it might soon be able to get back to the business of trying to fix its economy and help insure the economic security of its 200 million people. Problem is, the most of the people who will be involved in the "election" that would enable Suharato's departure are those whom he has hand-picked. Indonesia's economic and political mess has had a poisonous effect on the Asian region, which was just beginning to recover from various economic crises, and there are fears that it could infect other areas as well, including Russia, as we have been reporting.

How women are doing in the U.S. Marines (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
The Christian Science Monitor's Ann Scott Tyson has been looking into the subject. She reports that opportunities for women have broadened considerably in recent years, even though women are expected to "remain feminine." Also, here's news about women who are Marine Corps drill instructors.

Learning about immigration (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
Patrick Gustafson reports on interdisciplinary efforts to teach students about immigration, including a trip to the Ellis Island Museum and Statue of Liberty. Incidentally, an appeals court ruling may help thousands of people who have been awaiting deportation. Also, the Washington Times reports that the U.S. Senate has voted to lift the limitation on the number of hi-tech workers who can come into the U.S.

Engineering school diversity likely to decrease (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
Minority enrollments in major American engineering schools have been declining, according to this report from Mark Clayton.

The long-term implications of workplace asthma (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
Here are some of the results from a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: SEACnet (Tuesday, 5/19/98)
SEACnet is a very smart way to use the Internet to get university grads and employers in touch with one another. It's a product of a consortium of twenty-one southeastern United States universities and may be a prototype for what all institutions of higher education will be doing before long.

Nearly too big to sue? (Monday, 5/18/98)
You'll remember that some years ago, many people who ordinarily believe that the market should be allowed to work its way didn't think the American economy could stand the collapse of the then-faltering Chrysler Corporation, so the company was bailed out. Now, suddenly, Billionaire Bill's Microsoft Corporation seems to be worrying the other Bill that lives in the White House. The antitrust case involving Microsoft may influence the entire American economy, he says, but he feels that the Justice Department will handle it in the right way. There are many aspects of the Microsoft case that point out how different the new information economy is from the old. We can expect the debate to continue for years. Even industry insiders who don't like Microsoft are uncomfortable with the idea of the government determining product features.

Mandatory pilot retirement allowed to stand (Monday, 5/18/98)
The Supreme Court lets stand the FAA rule that requires commercial airline pilots to retire at age 60.

Suharto becomes visible, but faces growing pressure to resign (Monday, 5/18/98)
Indonesia's President Suharto has been trying to cool things and reassert his authority without striking any more matches in an increasingly volatile atmosphere. Keith Richburg and Cindy Shiner of the Washington Post report that he's losing support within his inner circle, as well as in the streets. Reuters' Raju Gopalakrishnan writes that he is being urged to resign by other government leaders. What started out as one of Asia's major economic crises quickly became a political crisis as well and has contributed to uncertainty throughout the region.

South Africa to publish its employment creation plan (Monday, 5/18/98)
South Africa's Business Report reports that the South African government intends to publish its strategy for creating jobs next month and will invite public comment.

More on the great job market for grads (Monday, 5/18/98)
Employers are chasing new graduates with more enthusiasm than has been seen in nearly three decades. Here's an example from the University of Texas, as reported by Cara Tanamachi of the Austin American-Statesman. However, despite the hot job market, Eric Evarts reminds graduating seniors that job skills are still required. That is, they will actually have to be able to DO something. Mr. Evarts also offers advice on how to network effectively.

No hot job market in D.C. (Monday, 5/18/98)
Washington, D. C. isn't participating in the best job market in a generation. Unemployment is still above 9 percent in the District. Also from the Washington Post today, some editorial thoughts about what the paper regards as "confusion" over child care.

A day in the work life of an injury consultant (Monday, 5/18/98)
Randi Feigenbaum reports in Newsday this time about a chiropractor who helps employers reduce their workers' comp costs by learning how to take better care of their employees.

Millions of eligible children not covered by Medicaid (Monday, 5/18/98)
A Health Affairs survey indicates that approximately one-quarter of eligible children are not enrolled in the Medicaid program, so do not have the health coverage to which they are entitled. Speaking of health care, the Christian Science Monitor's Alexandra Marks reports that the argument over HMOs is gathering momentum again in Washington. Health care could become the principal issue in the next presidential campaign, according to Marks.

Blind, at the top of his class, and intending to become a physician (Monday, 5/18/98)
Jon Jeter reports on the remarkable Timothy Cordes, who is the University of Notre Dame's valedictorian this year.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Career Interests Game (Monday, 5/18/98)
The Career Interests Game is based on John Holland's career model, as found in The Self-Directed Search, the Strong Interest Inventory, and others. Examine your own career interests on the web courtesy of the University of Missouri Career Center.

Uneasy calm in Indonesia (Sunday, 5/17/98)
More than 500 persons have died in riots so far, but Raju Gopalakrishnan reports that Jakarta and much of the rest of Indonesia seem calm at the moment. Cindy Shiner writes that the country's affluent have been a target of rage at the same time that there is growing pressure for President Suharto to step down. Keith Richburg says that, while, after 32 years, many Indonesians don't want Suharto anymore, they aren't sure what can replace him and his regime. Americans and other foreigners have been scrambling to get out, and the Japan Times reports that the Japanese government is urging that travel to Indonesia be avoided until things settle down.

G8 optimistic about Asia, if... (Sunday, 5/17/98)
IMF bailout requirements must be met for Asian economies to recover, say leaders of the richest industrial nations at the Birmingham, England summit. Myra MacDonald reports that they've also pledged additional debt relief for poor nations, but no new plan for providing it has surfaced yet.

Another 50th anniversary (Sunday, 5/17/98)
It's been 50 years since the American military was integrated, but the Secretary of Defense says that there are still too few minority officers.

The mandatory retirement age should be consigned to history, study says (Sunday, 5/17/98)
The Tornoto Star's Elaine Carey reports on the new study from the C. D. Howe Institute.

Women need to save more (Sunday, 5/17/98)
A lot of working women aren't ready for retirement, and they'll never be, unless they start saving more and soon, according to Melissa Preddy of the Detroit News.

Is it "bloody merger" for the workers? (Sunday, 5/17/98)
Tammy Joyner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution discusses the ways in which the current wave of "mega-mergers" can be hard on the nerves of employees. The Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg says that, while a merger may mean you'll lose your job, that isn't at all certain, and there may be something you can do. Mr. Ginsberg's article comes to you today via the Akron Beacon Journal.

Kennedy keeps pushing for a higher minimum wage (Sunday, 5/17/98)
The "big city" in Senator Kennedy's home state has passed a "living wage" ordinance, and he would like to see another increase in the federal minimum wage. Here's the story from the Boston Globe.

Republicans know what to do with the surplus (Sunday, 5/17/98)
Reform of Social Security is on the Congressional Republican agenda, but, otherwise, they'd like to see tax cuts and debt reduction, not more funding of federal programs.

A college education can help you calculate your accumulating interest (Sunday, 5/17/98)
Will student debt keep some young graduates out of the housing market for years? Albert Crenshaw of the Washington Post tells about the vast new multitude of debtors coming off the campuses each spring. Also from the Post today, Amy Joyce reports on a hot new financial product: harassment insurance.

A good business to be in in Asia (Sunday, 5/17/98)
The Japan Times' Sachiko Hirao writes that the Asian economic crises have people moving all over the place, and, for the moving companies, that's good for business.

What's behind the American economic boom? (Sunday, 5/17/98)
Technology? Plentiful capital looking for good opportunities? Yes and yes, but how about "human capital?" John Cunniff says that the people who are doing the work aren't getting enough credit for unprecedented good times for many in the United States.

Who's behind those onions in your supermarket? (Sunday, 5/17/98)
Here's a Savannah Morning News with some statistics about the people in and around the onion fields.

Sometimes the survivors envy the laid off (Sunday, 5/17/98)
And, sometimes they don't. But, as Martha Groves of the Los Angeles Times writes, while layoffs continue in the new economy, in some ways, it's getting easier. A tight labor market helps too, of course.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives (Sunday, 5/17/98)
As job security has diminished, an increasing number of people are feeling that, if they're going to be nervous anyway, they may as well enjoy the opportunities that can come from starting their own businesses. However, most quickly find that they could really use some experienced advice on many issues. For many years, SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives has been making the expertise of experienced executives available to the owners and operators of small businesses over a wide region. Now, advice is even available on-line.

G8 Summit opens in Birmingham (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Given events during recent days, it may be a little difficult for participants in the G8 summit in Birmingham, England to keep their minds on the kinds of economic issues that the organization is supposed to be about. For instance, violence and chaos in Indonesia have taken most people's minds off the Indonesian economy for the moment. More than 160 deaths have occurred there so far, and foreigners are running for the exits. Nonetheless, the leaders of the largest industrial economies in the world have managed to talk about jobs and crime so far, despite political developments, not only in Indonesia, but also in India.

Chinese leader calls unemployment an urgent problem (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Huge numbers of people are being laid off from the formerly enormous and still huge Chinese government bureaucracy. Chinese President says in the People's Daily that the layoffs are necessary, but calls rapidly increasing unemployment an urgent political problem for the country. The People's Daily is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chinese government, so you can have absolute confidence that it will publish what the government wants you to read.

The number of long-term unemployed women increases in Australia (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Tom Allard reports from Canberra for the Sydney Morning Herald that the overall unemployment rate in Australia doesn't reveal other trends of importance. For instance, the number of women who have been looking for work for a year or more has increased sharply.

Russian coal miners desperate (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Usually, when workers demonstrate, it's because they don't like their working conditions or don't think their pay is high enough. In this case, it's because they aren't being paid at all. Many South Korean workers are feeling increasingly desperate too, but for different reasons. Here's Kevin Sullivan Washington Post story about why there is growing pressure for strikes in that country.

American restaurant industry opposes minimum wage increase (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Cliff Edwards writes in the Detroit News that the restaurant industry in the United States is mobilizing to fight another increase in the federal minimum wage.

Professional driving and heart disease (Saturday, 5/16/98)
People who drive for a living may be at extra risk of developing various kinds of heart disease, according to research results presented at a medical conference in Hong Kong.

Most large American companies now test for drug use (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Most large American corporations appear to have adopted a policy of zero tolerance for illegal drug use, so new hires, particularly, can expected to be tested. Here's the story from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Wage pressures in Alberta (Saturday, 5/16/98)
Alberta's economy has been cooking, and, according to the Calgary Herald, this is encouraging many workers to demand higher wages. Also in Canada, Lia Levesque reports for the Edmonton Journal that a strike may be imminent at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Quebec.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The International Labor Organization (Saturday, 5/16/98)
The International Labor Organization is now an agency of the United Nations, but it predates the UN, and is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The ILO works on a global scale to further the interests and well-being of women in the new economy, to combat child labor and the resurgence of slavery in its various forms, and many other issues.

Growing chaos and death in Indonesia (Friday, 5/15/98)
The fourth largest country in the world has had one of the biggest economic messes in the world exacerbated by its special political problems, and those political problems have just gotten much more serious. Raju Gopalakrishnan reports that deaths have reached 165 at last report. President Suharto has returned from the developing nation summit in Cairo to find that many of his countrymen would like to see him turn around and go someplace else. However, not all of the anger has been directed toward the Suharto government and its economic policies. People are striking out at each other too, as Lewa Pardomuan reports, and Sonali Verma writes that the chaos in Indonesia is deeply worrying a lot of leaders across the globe. There have already been economic repercussions throughout the Asian region, and some fear a spread of the political chaos as well. The Christian Science Monitor's Sander Thoenes wonders how the country will find its way out of the current emergency, particularly when the Indonesian army, which probably holds the key, given that there are no institutional structures in place to provide for a successor to Suharto, seems uncertain where its loyalties lie. Raphael Pura writes in today's Wall Street Journal that many Indonesians themselves have differing opinions on how the current disorder will end.

Big retirement costs at Bell Atlantic (Friday, 5/15/98)
Bell Atlantic has been offering incentives for early retirement to its employees, and hundreds have been taking advantage of the opportunity. Here's news about what it's costing the company.

Good economic times leading to increased home ownership by minorities (Friday, 5/15/98)
Minorities in the United States still lag far behind in home ownership overall, but minority home buying right now is doing a lot to fuel the housing boom.

Even in a boom economy, getting that first job can be hard if you're very young (Friday, 5/15/98)
Tim Montgomery of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tells about the special problems facing teens looking for summer jobs.

Life on the fringe: Russia's "abandoned" teens (Friday, 5/15/98)
Young people try to find meaning, purpose, and a future in a preoccupied and troubled society with a struggling economy. Here's the story from this week's U.S. News. Also in Russia, the St. Petersburg Times tells about how Elektrosila, the company that manufactures most of the electrical generators used in the country, is reforming itself in line with the principles of a market economy, including job cuts.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Careers.wsj.com (Friday, 5/15/98)
Careers.wsj.com is a very rich, deep career site from the Wall Street Journal, one of the world's great newspapers. Articles, columnists, advice, and much more, but with heavy emphasis on technical, managerial, or professional roles.

Time for a career change? (Thursday, 5/14/98)
Indonesians might wish that their only problems were economic. In fact, many seem to think that President Suharto is one of the principal reasons for their economic problems. Raju Gopalakrishnan reports than anti-government rioting continues in Jakarta, and Sander Thoenes of the Christian Science Monitor writes that Suharto seems to be experiencing some panic at the possibility of a real meltdown. In addition, here's Keith Richburg's Washington Post story on how slippery Suharto's grip on power has gotten in only a few weeks. Sara Webb writes in today's Wall Street Journal that the growing mess in Indonesia has driven Asian stocks and currencies down again after a period of apparent recovery. Also, Koichi Iitake reports in Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun that they're scrambling to revise the agenda for the G8 summit in Birmingham, England. Suddenly, Indonesia's problems and the bomb testing in India have gone to the very top of the list. Who says economics can be separated from politics? Well, okay, nobody says it. Incidentally, Japan's PM will ask for patience, if the group has time to talk about the sluggish Japanese economy. In neighboring South Korea, President Kim is condemning the idea of possible strikes in the strongest possible terms, saying that they could be disastrous for South Korea's recovery.

New York cabbies strike over civility rules (Thursday, 5/14/98)
Well, there's a little bit more to it than having to be nice to customers. Here's the story from Reuters and the Christian Science Monitor.

Mrs. Clinton likes what the French are doing about child care (Thursday, 5/14/98)
With growing concern about child care in the United States, the American First Lady praises the French approach following a two-day visit to that country. In the U.S., Laurel Shaper Walters reports on a new kind of for-profit child care service in public schools.

Among the latest cuts (Thursday, 5/14/98)
Jobs will be cut at Quaker Oats and Packard Bell.

What problems can welfare reform possibly have during an economic boom? (Thursday, 5/14/98)
It should be the best of all possible times to reform the American welfare system, and maybe it is. However, there are problems. Here's an explanation from today's Christian Science Monitor.

A federal study of hi-tech gender inequality may be imminent (Thursday, 5/14/98)
Women are greatly underrepresented in science and technology, and Congress may begin looking into the reasons. One of the strong possibilities might be lingering attitudes about differences between the sexes. For centuries, most men and a lot of women believed that females are inherently unable to handle the tough jobs. Within the memory of many persons still living, it was even illegal for a women to vote in the United States of America. Contemporary research indicates that, when it comes to abilities, men and women seem to be made out of mostly the same stuff. It's easy to exaggerate sex differences in general, but the more prominent ones seem to have to do with social behaviors, because hormones do make a difference.

Backlash stirring over privatization (Thursday, 5/14/98)
David Wessel and John Harwood write in today's Wall Street Journal about capitalism's recent triumphs and whether it's possible to overdo it. Some call it the "idolatry of the market," they say.

Managers are in demand again, but their jobs have changed (Thursday, 5/14/98)
USA Today reports on the changing role of the manager in the new economy, and why, after many disappeared from the scene, there's a resurgence of interest in having more managers rather than fewer. Speaking of changes, the Toronto Star reports that there are different kinds of health hazards in the new economy, but they're very costly to everyone involved, nonetheless.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: America's Job Bank (Thursday, 5/14/98)
America's Job Bank comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and state employment agencies. As possible evidence that the Internet is quickly becoming a key element in practical affairs, this site has been visited more than 275 million times during the past six months!.

More violence in Indonesia (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Indonesian government forces have been firing on protesting students, resulting in more deaths. As riots increase, President Suharto returned early from the G-15 developing nations' economic summit in Cairo, where participants today indicated that they will demand more say in trade and other issues relating to the new world economy. Janet Guttsman writes about the tough task faced by the U.S. and the IMF in helping Indonesia with its economic difficulties, given the country's political situation.

Things have been looking better for Asia, but... (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Paul Blustein reports that the recovery of seriously afflicted Asian economies has slowed considerably during the past few days. Robert Samuelson offers his own observations as well.

Nike says it will make working conditions better in its Asian plants (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Speaking at the National Press Club luncheon in Washington, D. C., Nike's top executive says that his company will move to improve working conditions for the hundreds of thousands of people who work it Nike plants in Asia. The Washington Post's Frank Swoboda says this will include raising the minimum age of workers to eighteen.

Exporting sex bias (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Companies that are legally prohibited from engaging in sexual discrimination in the U.S. seem to be willing to discriminate when recruiting workers for their operations in Asia. Here's that story from Jonathan Marshall of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Former Texaco executives acquitted (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Gail Appleson reports on the latest development in the Texaco discrimination case. Two former executives have been cleared of charges that they conspired to destroy key documents in that case.

Most of the new jobs in America are low pay, right? Wrong, says columnist (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
A lot of high quality jobs are being created in a surging American economy, according to St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Chris Farrell. But, as Elsa Arnett reports, many of the best jobs don't seem to appeal to a lot of Americans. Despite the hot job market and pay that averages more than half again as high as for American occupations in general, the U.S. is graduating fewer people in technical fields than during years past. Some companies are even giving up trying to hire tech workers. As we've reported, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has stopped accepting applications for visas from technically trained people who want to come to the U.S. in order to fill the abundance of technical job openings. Many hi-tech companies have been lobbying for a relaxation of these rules, and the Senate will vote on the issue this week.

Will the apparent shortage of the technically trained or even the technically interested in the U.S. eventually put the brakes on a strong economy, or will it fuel further creative efforts to do more with less, thus raising long-term productivity and the American standard of living? Recent stories about the low performance of American students compared to others from around the world on math tests and the growing American reputation for generating enormous numbers of degree holders who have not been particularly challenged don't seem to bode well for America's future. Also, traditional anti-intellectual attitudes, recognized more than 150 years ago by Alexis de Tocqueville, including the current fear among many young persons of being seen as a "nerd," are also causing anxiety among many observers. Finally, Newsday's Robert Reno looks at the implications of the low U.S. unemployment rate, the best in nearly 30 years.

BMW to create a thousand jobs in the U.S. (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Bayerische Motoren-Werke AG, the German auto company, will manufacture sports utility vehicles in the United States. It will mean jobs and a major investment.

A hard year for American farmers (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Low prices because of bumper harvests will mean tough times for many farmers. Here's the story from Reuters and the Christian Science Monitor.

Heart disease risk for former police officers (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
New research indicates that retired police officers have more than their share of heart attacks.

News of affirmative action's death may be premature (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
The Christian Science Monitor's Linda Feldmann writes that what once seemed like a high-speed locomotive has slowed quite a bit, although it may not be permanently derailed.

British unemployment falls (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Unemployment in the UK is now the lowest it's been in 18 years, and officials are mulling over another possible interest rate increase.

"Living wage" debate in Philadelphia (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Cynthia Burton of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the "living wage" bill that's under consideration in the City of Brotherly Love is subject to opposing interpretations. Is that news to you, or what?.

Incentive plan for helping people to remain employed (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
Welfare recipients in some Missouri counties will be offered an $1,800 bonus for remaining employed for nine consecutive months. Here's the story from the Kansas City Star.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Occupational Outlook Handbook (Wednesday, 5/13/98)
For many years, the Occupational Outlook Handbook has been a standard reference in university libraries and career centers. Now, you can obtain much of the same information from its web site. Check for information about occupations of interest, as well as likely labor market demand during the years ahead, and so on. The OOH comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor.

Two international summits: one of the rich, the other of the not so rich (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Alistair Lyon reports on the meeting in Cairo of heads of major developing countries. Meanwhile, a summit involving the richest industrial nations is set to get underway in Birmingham, England. Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun editorializes today that the latter meeting offers Japan an opportunity to gain credibility.

Is big-time deflation looming in Japan? (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Modern economies are subject to inflation, and that's what experts seem to worry about most, but it's the not the only thing that can cause severe problems. Here's a report from Tokyo where an increasing number of economists are beginning to see a deflationary spiral and severe recession on the Japanese horizon. Meanwhile, in neighboring South Korea, the economic problems of the past several months aren't over. Stock prices declined to their lowest level of the year yesterday.

More protests in Greece (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Labor unions have been resisting government efforts to change Olympic Airways in order to make it profitable, to the point where the Greek government has threatened to shut it down. Now, widespread labor protests are arising in response to the government's decision to sell Ionian Bank of Greece SA. Kathimerini has the story this morning.

Labor agreement at AT&T (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Two unions are involved. About 50,000 workers will be affected. A new four-year contract has been tentatively agreed to.

Chainsaw Al revs up (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Al Dunlap has developed a reputation for being able to save sinking companies by ruthless cost cutting and job cutting. His latest effort has been Sunbeam, where Al has been at work for quite a while. Losses have continued, though, so there will be deeper cuts. Plants will be closed, and more than 5,000 additional jobs will go.

Attorney General wants Labor Secretary investigated (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
If an independent counsel is appointed to investigate U. S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, as Janet Reno wants, it may set some sort of record for number of independent counsels in a single administration, but we're not sure.

Age bias suit settled in Minneapolis (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Eleven former managers will share $6.2 million.

A new majority (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
If you're working and over forty, you're about to become part of the new American workplace majority. Here's the story from the Sacramento Bee.

Hugeness seems to be "in" (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Peter Grier and James Thurman say that it's the era of "Superfirms." Is size the key to surviving brutal competition in the global economy? Martin Rosenberg of the Kansas City Star says the trend will continue.

Aren't American students working hard enough? (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
John Miller compares the experiences of American and European students.

No more hi-tech immigrants for now (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
The INS has cut off visas for temporary workers with hi-tech expertise who want to enter the United States. The year's supply of such visas has been depleted, according to the agency. Hi-tech companies have been urging that the rules be relaxed so that much needed technical workers can be brought in to the country. Elsa Arnett writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer that part of the problem is that fewer Americans are attracted to computer careers, despite the fact that technical jobs pay far above the American average for all occupations.

Another effort to take Hoffa out of the picture (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Will James Hoffa really be a candidate in the re-do of the Teamsters' presidential election? His opposition still wants him disqualified. Stay tuned. Long Island's Newsday has the story.

Very tangible evidence that the euro really is coming (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
The first euro coins have been minted in France.

Companies moving employees more, but helping less (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Atlas Van Lines reports that American companies are transferring employees at a higher rate, but that relocation assistance has declined.

Advice for the "downsized" (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
Here's news about Margaret Florczak's book for those who have been laid off. Michael Kane reports for the Ottawa Citizen.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: International Business Resources on the WWW (Tuesday, 5/12/98)
In the revolutionary new world economy, nearly everybody needs to acquire a global perspective, and each day's news tells how an increasing number of businesses are participating in an international marketplace, whether they like it or not. International Business Resources on the WWW comes to you from Michigan State University's Center for International Business Education and Research.

French rail strike may be imminent (Monday, 5/11/98)
Five French trade unions are calling for a "national day of action" which could disrupt SNCF services beginning Wednesday. Unions are demanding increased wages and more staff, according to Agence France Presse.

Unemployment down in Europe as well as in the U.S. (Monday, 5/11/98)
Unemployment is lower in the United States than at any time since early 1970. Europe would like to have news that good, but, still, France's La Tribune reports that new data from the European Commission Statistical bureau, Eurostat, indicates that European unemployment fell to 10.3 percent in February compared to 10.7 a year earlier.

A local example of what's wrong with child care (Monday, 5/11/98)
President Clinton is pushing for government involvement in making quality child care more accessible to working parents, while the news is filled with stories about how low pay for child care workers is holding down availability of services. Here's news about the child care shortage in the Twin Cities.

"Painful sacrifices" needed, according to Suharto (Monday, 5/11/98)
The Indonesian president has been meeting with other national leaders in Cairo, where he is warning that the Asian economic crisis could spread to other regions of the globe. Many agree that economic reforms will require sacrifice in Indonesia, but some wish that Suharto would take his own advice and also persuade his friends and relatives. Sander Thoenes of the Christian Science Monitor reports that, while students and others continue to protest, some Indonesians aren't feeling the pinch of higher prices as yet and, so, don't seem particularly angry. Meanwhile, G8 ministers meeting in London, recognizing that Indonesia's economic problems are complicated by its special political situation, are calling for political reforms as well. Finally, Bill Tarrant of Reuters provides some perspective on the "no pain, no gain" situation of several Asian economies as well as the psychological and political impact of recent events.

Jobs meeting scheduled for June or early July in South Africa (Monday, 5/11/98)
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has been critical of both government and business because they have not yet presented jobs proposals. In an unexpected move, the nation's Labor Minister Tito Mboweni has decided to schedule a presidential jobs meeting for as early as next month or in early July, at the latest, according to Business Day.

Is a strike coming to Northwest Airlines? (Monday, 5/11/98)
The messages from the International Association of Machinists local aren't entirely clear, but a disruptive strike appears to be a possibility, according to this report from Tony Kennedy and Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

What China is doing, Russia is about to do (Monday, 5/11/98)
Peter Henderson reports that Russia is about to "downsize" its government, which will mean