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November 1998

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The latest on the arm wrestling between Russia and the IMF (Monday, 11/30/98)
The Russian government is awaiting the arrival of International Monetary Fund managing director Michel Camdessus before going ahead with a cabinet meeting in which its crisis budget will be the most important thing on the agenda. Meanwhile, Michael Gordon of the New York Times indicates that the old Soviet ghost still prowls in the Russian countryside where agriculture is stuggling to get a start playing its part in a new Russian market economy.

World Bank tells Vietnam to privatize (Monday, 11/30/98)
Dean Yates reports that Vietnam has been told that it must "liberate" its private sector if it wants to absorb a million new workers each year.

Private sector wages rise in Portugal (Monday, 11/30/98)
Average salaries in Portugal's private sector increased by 3.45 percent during the third quarter of this year, according to Diario Economico.

Japan's unemployment numbers (Monday, 11/30/98)
Nicole Gaouette reports that the methods used for measuring unemployment in Japan result in a distorted picture of the underlying reality. If American-style methods were used, for instance, the official unemployment rate would be at least twice as high.

Expect a lot more news about Social Security (Monday, 11/30/98)
The American Social Security system has been in operation since the mid-1930s, but will run into trouble during the decades ahead, given the aging of the American population. David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor reports that the climate seems to be right in Washington for reaching a deal during the next Congress, but several university economists challenge the notion that privatization of the system will produce a better return for retirees. There are hidden costs, they say. Meanwhile, although Social Security needs fixing, Medicare's condition amounts to a more immediate emergency, according to two United States Senators. Fix it first, they say. President Clinton wants to expand Medicare coverage in his next budget proposal in order to allow persons with disabilities to retain their benefits when they return to work. Here's that story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune and New York Times.

Why you haven't heard a lot about Clinton's big child-care proposal lately (Monday, 11/30/98)
President Clinton apparently still wants to make quality child-care more widely available to working parents, but, as the Washington Post editorializes, it's a dilemma.

Special report on personal finance (Monday, 11/30/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special section dealing with personal finance. Many articles, all worth reading.

What? Me retire? (Monday, 11/30/98)
Some older people don't see the need, according to Long Island's Newsday. In a tight labor market, many are getting encouragement from employers to stay on the job. Speaking of those later years, Lorene Yue Knight says it's a good idea to begin early to think about what you will need to retire, if you decide to do so.

Trying not to think about elder care (Monday, 11/30/98)
The American population is aging, which means that, before long, there will be a tremendous number of older people, and that means an increase in the number of elders requiring special care. Are we ready? St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Amy Gage doesn't seem to think so.

Make a hiring mistake, and it can really cost you (Monday, 11/30/98)
One mistake can cost $300,000 on average, for instance. Here's the San Francisco Examiner's Dave Murphy and his report on a psychiatrist's new book, Hiring Smart.

American steelworkers and their reaction to imports (Monday, 11/30/98)
The U.S. steel industry has been struggling lately. Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune says that workers have reason to worry, but some are responding in the wrong ways. Meanwhile, Allen Myerson writes that mergers in the oil industry are leading to additional layoffs. In fact, despite labor shortages in many sectors, layoffs have been on the increase across much of the American economy lately.

Too early to exhale, Soros says (Monday, 11/30/98)
Things have been looking lately across the troubled world economy, but financier George Soros says that a global recession still can't be ruled out. Will it hold off until January 1, 2000? That's the day large numbers of computers may suddenly become demented because of the Y2K bug. CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" did a segment on the problem last night, and it wasn't all that reassuring.

Good jobs in the skilled trades (Monday, 11/30/98)
Some people may not give sufficient consideration to the skilled trades when they're thinking about a good-paying career. Here's more from columnist Amy Lindgren.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Workamper News (Monday, 11/30/98)
A happy camper can also be a happy worker. Workamper News may be of interest if you would like to work and camp at the same time.

Russian PM says his country will meet IMF requirements (Sunday, 11/29/98)
However, Alastair Macdonald reports that Prime Minister Primakov is finding that nagivating between the IMF and the Russian Duma is proving challenging and treacherous.

Another Republican pushes for Social Security changes(Sunday, 11/29/98)
Now's the time, according to Representative Jim Bunning, who will be a U.S. Senator in the next Congress. Republicans and Democrats are faced with a "golden opportunity" to fix Social Security for the long-term and satisfy a lot of voters for whom this is a top priority, he says. Richard Stevenson of the New York Times agrees that an updating of the system may really be about to happen.

New housing help for the elderly and the disabled (Sunday, 11/29/98)
President Clinton has announced that $130 million in federal funds will be made available for housing grants and vouchers intended to help low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.

Deal near on slave-labor compensation(Sunday, 11/29/98)
According to Der Spiegel, agreement seems near in Germany on a plan to compensate persons who were forced to work as slaves during the Nazi era.

Creative ways to keep workers, and to let them go (Sunday, 11/29/98)
The Washington Post's Amy Joyce reports on some rather weird perks offered by companies trying hard to retain valued employees. Dick Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tells what a consulting firm is doing to keep its workers. At the same time, the New York Times' Dylan Loeb McClain reports that more companies are offering stronger incentives to get people to leave.

Harassment case from the mines of northern Minnesota (Sunday, 11/29/98)
Jon Tevlin reports that women working at Eveleth Mines were given a very hard time, so they sued. The case isn't over.

Increasing awareness and changing attitudes make sweatshops bad business (Sunday, 11/29/98)
Carl Goldstein tells how growing "sweatshop intolerance" is changing the way some firms are having to do business.

Careers really should be planned, sez consultant (Sunday, 11/29/98)
Nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman passes on some advice from consultant David Jones. Don't leave your career to chance, he says. He might be pleased with the highly systematic approach being taken by many students in finding just the right job. Here's Andrew Ross Sorkin's story from today's New York Times.

What to do about an abusive boss (Sunday, 11/29/98)
Michelle Cottle advises a correspondent that it may be time to sue, but action should be appropriately targeted.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: JobProfiles.com (Sunday, 11/29/98)
JobProfiles.com offers a look at the personal side of work. Experienced workers in various occupations share their thoughts and suggestions in order to assist career planners in finding the path that best fits them.

An attempt to overcome the past in order to prepare for the future (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
There are many good reasons why Japan and China want to develop good relations for the 21st century, including some sort of economic partnership. However, past relationships haven't always been so good, to say the least. Brian Williams reports that the heads of the two countries are attempting to get off on the right footing in their Tokyo summit.

Job cuts at General Mills (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
Restructuring will cost about 200 jobs at the second-largest cereal maker in the United States.

To have and to hold (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
Eric Wieffering reports on how some companies are trying to find and keep the technical workers they need. Sometimes, things get devious, he says.

More physicians try to regain control of their work lives (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
Another group of doctors prepares to set up their own health plan. This time, it's in Minnesota.

NAFTA and workers rights in Mexico (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
Anthony DePalma of the New York Times reports that Mexico may face sanctions.

Why FedEx pilots backed off (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
Pilots at Federal Express had threatened to strike during the busy holiday season, then changed their minds. Here's an explanation from the New York Times coming to you today via the San Jose Mercury News.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Statistical Data Locators (Wednesday, 11/25/98)
Statistical Data Locators helps you find economic data from countries all over the globe.

Another record high for the Dow (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Many investors who didn't panic and sell are once again in better shape than they were last July 17. The big losses have been erased, and the Dow has hit another record. Here's Kenneth Gilpin's New York Times report via the St. Paul Pioneer Press. In response to the surge on Wall Street, Asian markets also enjoyed major gains yesterday. Good news for a region that has been paralyzed by a flight of foreign capital during the past year or more. In related news, here's a New York Times story about restored economic growth in the U.S., plus a Christian Science Monitor editorial on what a difference a decade makes for the U.S. Only about ten years ago, it appeared that the sun was setting on the great American economic engine, and that the 21st century would belong to Asia.

Summit this week in Tokyo (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Koichi Iltake reports from Tokyo for Asahi Shimbun on the Japanese-Chinese summit. It's the first time that a Chinese head of state has visited Tokyo. They'll have a lot to talk about, given Asia's economic crises, and, as Elaine Lies reports, Japan has been looking over its shoulder at China, given China's growing economic importance in the region and Japan's intractable recession, or maybe it's a depression.

U.S. bankruptcies up again (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
The number of bankruptcies in the United States has hit another record, and may revive efforts in Congress to pass a new law making it harder to walk away from debts.

Portugeuse finance minister favors salary increases (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Diario de Noticias reports that Antonio de Sousa Franco, Portugal's finance minister, said in Brussels yesterday that he favors moderate wage increases in his country, taking into account productivity increases.

High school graduation rate stalls in the U.S. (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
A new study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development finds that nearly two-dozen countries are graduating high schoolers at a higher rate than is the U.S.

What ever happened to those air traffic controllers who were fired years ago? (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
G. Pascal Zachary writes in today's Wall Street Journal that some are "taking wing" again.

Talks start up again at Federal Express (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Representatives of FedEx and its pilots' union resumed negotiations yesterday.

Whistleblower lawsuit filed against Northwest Airlines (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
The former NWA mechanic had been fired during a recent work slowdown. He's seeking more than $50,000 in damages. Here's the story from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Philips to move jobs from Holland to the Philippines (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Royal Philips Electronics NV intends to move semiconductor assembly from its plant at Stadskanaal, Netherlands to the Philippines. The move will result in a cut of 218 jobs at the Netherlands plant, according to Algemeen Dagblad today. Meanwhile, Volkskrant reports that the Dutch candy maker Van Melle NV will move part of its production to Poland, cutting 140 jobs at Breda and Weert in the process. Candy sales to Russia have plummeted because of that country's financial crisis.

Which are the hot jobs in Ohio? (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Paul Souhrada writes in the Akron Beacon Journal about the fields in which Ohio job-seekers will find the most enthusiastic receptions, according to the newest Ohio Job Outlook.

Day-care Catch-22 in Japan (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Many Japanese parents need day-care so that they can find a job, but, they need a job in order to qualify for day-care. The number of children on day-care waiting lists has skyrocketed to about 40,000 last year.

Australian government urges retirees to shift to annuities (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Australia's federal government wants retirees to move away from lump sum payments in favor of income streams, and, as Anne Lampe of the Sydney Morning Herald reports, they have been having some success.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Europa (Tuesday, 11/24/98)
Here's what the European Union has to say about itself in many languages.

Asian markets enjoy a boost (Monday, 11/23/98)
In the U.S., the Dow Jones is getting fairly close to its historic high last July, and a strengthening of various Asian markets has been occurring as well, suggesting that investors are interested in putting some of their money back in Asia again. A tremendous retreat by foreign investors beginning last year helped set off the most serious global financial crisis in 50 years. In many Asian countries, things have gotten very grim. Millions of people are being thrust back into poverty. How many millions? Soon, as many as 50 million, according to the experts. The nearest thing in the American experience to what is happening in Asia was the Great Depression of the 1930s. Asia contains many formerly middle-class persons who haven't been used to being hungry lately, while others in the world have been hungry all along. It's not a matter of insufficient food supplies, incidentally. The world is glutted with food, which is at root of low farm prices and the American farm crisis. Monica Haller explains about hunger in a world of plenty.

The Democrats, the Republicans, and Social Security (Monday, 11/23/98)
The Washington Post has some editorial thoughts on where things stand now following the recent election. Also in the Post today, Robert Kuttner offers some opinions about the abandonment of America's elderly by HMOs.

Yeltin ill again (Monday, 11/23/98)
Russian President Boris Yeltsin has been hospitalized for what is being described as pneumonia. His health has been stimulating a lot of concern both within and outside Russia for many months, but he has already moved from center stage politically. Who will be the next Russian prez? Celestine Bohlen says that it may be the current mayor of Moscow. So, does he know anything about economics?

Big special section on retirement today (Monday, 11/23/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains one of its special sections today, this time dealing with all aspects of retirement. Many articles; all worth reading. Meanwhile, Newsday reports that benefits consultant William Mercer has found a rapid decline in the number of employers offering health benefits to retirees.

A change of mind on the part of French Socialists (Monday, 11/23/98)
Paris' La Tribune reports today that French Prime Minister Jospin yesterday said at a Socialist Party conference that privatization is an okay thing now, a necessary component of France's industrial policy. All this seems to suggest a major change on the part of French Socialists. Along somewhat similar lines, a rail workers strike that started in France has spread across six EU countries. Workers are protesting an opening of the European rail freight market to competition.

Oh, by the way--we didn't mean that we would use outsiders ONLY if you persisted (Monday, 11/23/98)
Douglas Blackmon of the Wall Street Journal reports that Federal Express, despite making its pilots' union blink recently, intends to outsource anyway, which may further weaken the union. Pilots had threatened to strike during the upcoming holiday season, then backed off.

Making a game of workplace law (Monday, 11/23/98)
The number of laws and regulations covering workplace issues has increased geometrically during recent years. It's hard to believe that anyone could think of any of this as amounting to fun and games. However, Newsday reports today that Employment Law Training Inc. has a game to help employers and other interested persons learn relevant law and how it might apply in their own workplace settings. The game is similar to a well-known popular game with the word "trivial" in its title.

How to negotiate a raise (Monday, 11/23/98)
Diane Stafford of the Kansas City Star passes along some findings from Vanderbilt University researchers Bruce Barry and Raymond Friedman. Don't be so agreeable, they advise.

On the difference between civilians and military folks (Monday, 11/23/98)
For many, getting up and going to work in the morning will be occasionally as different as one can possibly imagine from any civilian job, despite the fact that a growing number of military jobs are just jobs. Nationally syndicated columnist George Will has some observations on the gap between civilian and military cultures. In addition to his newspaper column, Will also authors books and appears regularly on ABC News' "This Week" on Sunday mornings. As a young man, he completed a Ph.D. in political science about as early as anyone can, spent a brief period as a Michigan State University professor, and, then, first went to Washington, D.C. as a Senate staffer. We know that you didn't ask for this extra information about George Will, but it's yours anyway. No extra charge.

Manpower says job outlook remains strong (Monday, 11/23/98)
According to Manpower Inc.'s latest survey, many employers expect to hire additional workers during the first quarter of 1999.

Targeting the pay gap (Monday, 11/23/98)
The Chicago Tribune's nationally syndicated columnist Carol Kleiman comes to you today via the Philadelphia Inquirer. She reports that, after all these years, American women still earn 76 percent of what men earn in the workplace, on the average. There has been progress on several fronts, though.

Long-distance marriages in the new economy (Monday, 11/23/98)
Both marriage partners may be on different tracks leading to different career locations. Here's the story from USA Today.

Communism is a bust, so it means capitalism is a roaring success? Ah, well... (Monday, 11/23/98)
If my neighbor is ill, does it necessarily follow that I am in robust health? David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor makes his case for how capitalism has "won," but has he checked the news over much of the world lately? We hate cliches (we avoid them like the plague), so we hesitate to advise anyone to "think outside the box." Still, is it possible that the old "isms" and familiar dichotomies are part of an already earlier time? What will work well in a revolutionary new world economy?

How the Australian labor market differs from times past (Monday, 11/23/98)
Writing for Melbourne's The Age, Kenneth Davidson explains why conventional solutions for Australia's unemployment problem may not work now, even though they seemed to be appropriate earlier.

Israeli students broaden their influence in tuition battle (Monday, 11/23/98)
Joel Greenberg of the New York Times reports on how a movement involving Israel's college and university students is beginning to gather momentum. At the beginning, it was just about college tuition being too high.

Eighty-seven maybe, but too old at forty-seven? (Monday, 11/23/98)
Kathryn May of The Ottawa Citizen reports that a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has agreed that a 47-year-old man was a victim of age discrimination. It may be time to adjust our views about aging and what it means to have survived into later years. During earlier times, many people were profoundly worn out by age 40 or so, and generally considered ancient if they managed to live to age 60. But, that was a different time. Now, a 77-year-old has recently managed to meet all the physical requirements for being a working astronaut. American radio star Paul Harvey, still at the top of his game, is 80. One of the biggest movie stars in the world and one of its most distinguished filmmakers, Clint Eastwood, is approaching 70. CBS-TV's Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" will be 81 next May. And...well, you know.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: U.S. Census Bureau (Monday, 11/23/98)
The United States Constitution says that a census must be conducted every ten years. During recent months, there has been a lot of controversy over whether sampling techniques should be incorporated into the big count during the year 2000. The Clinton Administration is supporting the idea, saying that it would result in a more accurate count, particularly in minority areas, while Republicans tend to oppose the notion, saying that it would be unconstitutional. By definition, a census means attempting to count everybody, while sampling is something else altogether. The founding fathers knew nothing of statistical sampling techniques, of course, and, at the time the country was founded, the entire United States contained fewer people than the current population of Minnesota. Here's the U.S. Census Bureau's web site, and, if you would like to take a look at America as it appeared in the 1990 census, here's your chance.

Congressman Archer pushes Clinton for Social Security plan (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Republican Representative Bill Archer is urging President Clinton to assert his leadership in fixing the American Social Security system. It could be "the finest hour of his presidency," Archer said.

Young execs may be dancing to a different rhythm (Sunday, 11/22/98)
A generation gap seems to be developing with respect to what executives want from work. Here's news about the results of a new study from Russell Reynolds Associates.

Talks break down between letter carriers and the postal service (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Bill McAllister reports that one of three major unions has quit negotiating for the time being. The other two continue to talk with the U.S. Postal Service.

More on drug test phobia (Sunday, 11/22/98)
At one company, half of the job candidates were eliminated either because they failed a drug test or refused to take it.

What to do about welfare fathers? (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Jean Hopfensperger writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about plans for trying to make it easier for welfare fathers to be more involved in their families' lives. Job training may be part of the solution. Meanwhile, Rachel Swarns of the New York Times reports that many officials are promoting Medicaid and food stamps.

Duluth teachers settle (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Teachers in Duluth, Minnesota have reached tentative agreement with the school district. It was expected that they would strike next Tuesday.

Just a speed bump? (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Richard Stevenson reports that Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman hasn't lost confidence in free markets, despite current problems.

Don't panic, columnist advises correspondent (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Sometimes asking for a contract can cause more problems than its solves, according to Michelle Cottle, who passes along some advise from other experts.

Population's impact on environmental systems (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Tom Meersman reports on ecology professor David Tilman's remarks at a conference on population and consumption.

Signs of growing economic trouble are everywhere in China, says the Times (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Since a year ago last summer, many Asian economies have been having extremely serious problems, but China has managed to move ahead in a fairly solid, though not spectacular manner. Now, though, according to this New York Times report from Beijing, things are changing, and you need not look far or hard to see troubles brewing in the Chinese economy. Economic troubles could mean political turbulence as well.

Russians say that "more work is needed" (Sunday, 11/22/98)
The Russian government has failed to finanalize a 1999 budget for the country. Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov also meets with IMF officials.

Bankruptcy bill cools in Congress (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Americans have been walking away from debts at a furious rate, and, only months ago, revised bankruptcy legislation seemed to be fairly high priority in Congress. No longer, according to columnist Robert Heady.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: EcEdWeb (Sunday, 11/22/98)
Public opinion polls some years ago indicated that about 1 of 7 adult Americans were unable to locate the United States on a world map. At about the same time, another poll indicated that, 450 years after Copernicus, about half of adult Americans said that they believed that the sun revolves around the earth, or that they didn't know. However, there is reason to believe that Americans know more about geography and astronomy than economics. EcEdWeb offers support for economics education at all levels.

FedEx pilots back off (Saturday, 11/21/98)
There won't be a holiday strike at Federal Express. Here's the story from Frank Swoboda of the Washington Post. One of the FedEx's competitors, the U.S. Postal Service, has been in talks with its largest unions, and a deadline is near. No strikes are anticipated at this time, however.

Food crisis in Somalia (Saturday, 11/21/98)
Here's news from Naibrobi about the consequences of the third consecutive year of failed harvests.

French rail strike continues (Saturday, 11/21/98)
Railroad workers in southern France are in the 12th day of their strike. Rail workers across Europe are getting ready to strike as well.

Jensen shutdowns will cost 400 jobs (Saturday, 11/21/98)
Jenson is getting out of the business of manufacturing loud speakers. Four plants will be closed, and 400 jobs will disappear.

Here's some pessimism about the Asian crisis (Saturday, 11/21/98)
Some have seen signs that the worst is over in Asia's various economic messes, but here's one South Korean businessman who thinks the worst is yet to come. The crisis has hardly gotten started, he says.

Late marriages can be costly (Saturday, 11/21/98)
Columnist Kathy Kristof tells a correspondent that if you get married after you're retired, it can raise your taxes. Also in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today, Lee Egerstrom tells about farmers who have to find supplemental sources of income to keep going, Jane Applegate tells about the importance of having a mentor if you're intending to become an entrepreneur, and columnist Amy Gage says that if your work really is your life, you may be headed for trouble. Finally, which single person has more influence on the entire world's economy than any other? If you said "Alan Greenspan," you're absotively, possolutely correct, and Chris Farrell thinks it's too much.

Feds bust worker smuggling ring (Saturday, 11/21/98)
The smugglers made hundreds of millions of dollars by getting thousands of workers into the U.S. illegally, all during the past three years, authorities say.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Bplans.com (Saturday, 11/21/98)
If you want to start your own small business, you'll probably need a business plan, particularly if you will attempt to obtain financing. The Small Business Administration offers much help and a lot of sample biz plans on Bplans.com.

Long Canadian newsprint strike ends (Friday, 11/20/98)
The five-month strike at Abibiti-Consolidated is over. The strike has affected 4,000 workers at 10 pulp and paper mills.

Schroeder's honeymoon is over too (Friday, 11/20/98)
Germany's new Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is being criticized for his plans for dealing with his country's high unemployment. Critics don't like some of his high-level policy makers either. Meanwhile, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that the German government intends to change direction on low-pay, part-time jobs, which have been exempt from social security payments so far. No longer, if the government has its way. A bill is being introduced that would impose social security charges on those jobs in order to help reduce the deficit in Germany's pension and health care systems.

ABC wins one in court (Friday, 11/20/98)
The American Broadcasting Company has been locking out 2,200 employees, as a labor dispute continues. The union had filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, but a federal mediator has ruled that the lockout is legal.

Things may be looking slightly better at FedEx (Friday, 11/20/98)
Federal Express and its pilots may be moving closer to some sort of agreement. At least they've agreed to back off on their threats a bit and resume talks Monday. Douglas Blackmon writes in today's Wall Street Journal that the pilots have agreed to call off their strike vote.

Job cuts at Occidental and Deere (Friday, 11/20/98)
Another 500 jobs will go, according to Occidental Petroleum officials. Occidental announced cuts of 540 jobs earlier. Also, things have been slow down on the American farm, and exports have been slow too, so the world's largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment is planning to lay off 7.1 percent of its workforce, which amounts to about 2,400 people. What manufacturer is this? Why, Deere & Company, of course.

Now, Clinton gets around to the bad news (Friday, 11/20/98)
American President Clinton had some fairly cheery opening remarks when he arrived in Japan, saying that he thought the Japanese government was on the right track in its plans for dealing with the country's sluggish economy. However, as he boards Air Force One to leave, he tells Japanese officials that a more vigorous and quicker response will be needed in order to pull Japan out of its worst post-war recession. The Japanese haven't been greatly appreciative of being told what to do by others, but many outsiders are extremely interested in the future of Japan's economy, because it's more than twice as large as all of the other Asian economies put together, many of which can't recover if Japan's economy doesn't recover. Further, while the other Asian economic problems won't necessarily threaten America's strong economy, Japan could very well draw America into a recession eventually, and that would affect the remainder of the world. If everyone falls into the quicksand, there will be no one left to pull anyone out.

Drug testing casts new light on the workforce and changes the American workplace (Friday, 11/20/98)
Here's a report from Jillian Lloyd in today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Laurent Belsie explains why things are starting to look a bit better for American farmers, and Judith Matloff says that Russia's economic hard times are causing a cultural rebirth among Russia's indigenous peoples.

Remember welfare-to-work? (Friday, 11/20/98)
Other stories have pushed welfare-to-work off the front page, but the people who actually have to make things happen haven't forgotten. For instance, the Washington Post's Judith Havemann reports that the U.S. Department of labor is distributing $273 million in grants today. Also, the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about an inner-city job training program that seems to be working well, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tells about a study in Georgia that reports on the rate at which people are moving from welfare to work. Finally, Monica Yant of the Philadelphia Inquirer says that child-care costs for the poor are going to increase in Pennsylvania.

Why Brazil is so different...and so important (Friday, 11/20/98)
Today's Washington Post explains that Brazil is not another Indonesia or Russia, but it does need capital in order to help it get its house in order. Katherine Ellison writes that Brazil's austerity program means cuts, including some painful ones in health care.

What ever happened to those laid-off Stroh's workers? (Friday, 11/20/98)
Most are employed again, but at less pay than when they worked for the brewery in St. Paul. Here's the story from Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Former Teamsters president dies (Friday, 11/20/98)
William J. McCarthy is dead at 79.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Cool Works (Friday, 11/20/98)
Are you presently working in the tar pits or in a salt mine? Would you prefer a slightly better location? How about at a campground or a national park or some other really great place? Cool Works offers tens of thousands of links to jobs in terrific places.

Clinton nicer than expected in Japan (Thursday, 11/19/98)
After expecting that President Clinton had intended to tell the Japanese government that it needs to do much more to get the Japanese economy going so that it can help pull the rest of Asia out of the mire, the President has opened talks by telling the Japanese that they're on the right track.

Mickey may go on strike, for heaven's sake? (Thursday, 11/19/98)
Brad Liston reports that workers at Disney World in Orlando have voted to reject a contract offer. A strike could be coming. In other labor news, Air France cabin crews have been on strike, and the comapny's pilots are set to follow. Nearly half of the big air carrier's flights have been canceled. Microsoft has been in the news a lot lately for various reasons, and here's another one: Some former "contract workers" believe they really were employees, and they're attempting to develop a class-action suit against the world's most powerful software company. What's the difference? "Employees" are eligible for various benefits, while "contract workers" are not. Finally, according to Stuart Drown of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Continental General Tire Company is beginning to hire permanent replacements for strikers at its North Carolina plant.

U.S. jobless claims up last week (Thursday, 11/19/98)
Here's news on the latest jobs data from the United States Department of Labor.

Layoffs at Armstrong (Thursday, 11/19/98)
Armstrong World Industries intends to cut 7 percent of its 10,400 workers. Armstrong is a major floor covering manufacturer. Also, Tim Huber of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that additional 400 to 600 jobs will be cut at the St. Paul Companies.

Not all is cool at ice cream company (Thursday, 11/19/98)
Ben & Jerry's has cultivated a reputation for being a different kind of company. However, at the moment, they appear to be resisting unionization efforts more or less like ordinary companies often do.

LifeWorks to be acquired by Ceridian (Thursday, 11/19/98)
Columnist Amy Gage reports that Ceridian, part of what used to be Control Data Corporation, is purchasing LifeWorks, a producer of products and services to help employees manage their work lives and home lives.

More farmers may join class-action suit (Thursday, 11/19/98)
African American farmers are alleging that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been discriminating against them, and the group's lawyers say that as many as 4,500 additional farmers may join the suit. Meanwhile, in Portugal, Diario de Noticias reports that pig farmers there are experiencing an economic crisis and are demanding assistance. They've released pigs into the streets in Lisbon and other cities in order to draw attention to their plight.

Australian unions want overtime cut back (Thursday, 11/19/98)
According to some Australian labor unions, too many people are working too many hours, and this means too little work for others. A way to reduce unemployment would be to shorten the work week, they say. Here's Tom Allard's report from Canberra for the Sydney Morning Herald.

French companies may be taxed for relying too much on temps (Thursday, 11/19/98)
In an effort to encourage full-time employment, France's social affairs minister said yesterday that she is considering a tax on companies whose temporary workers exceed 10 or 15 percent of their total workforces. La Tribune has the story today.

Do American doctors like HMOs? (Thursday, 11/19/98)
The majority do not, according to a recent survey conducted by University of California researchers.

Poverty greater among the young than the old in Russia (Thursday, 11/19/98)
A study conducted by the Russian State Statistical Bureau finds that younger workers are more likely to be very poor, but there are other interesting findings as well. Here's the story from today's New York Times. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports on the hard times and lack of support for Russia's scholars, and why it's important, not only for them, but for the entire country. Does your cab driver have a Ph.D.?

Boomlet turns into a BOOM! (Thursday, 11/19/98)
Fertility rates are way down in the United States, but, since there are so many baby boomers, suddenly, there are an awfully lot of young people again anyway. In fact, the number of U.S. children under 18 is at an all-time high, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Here's David Peterson's report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

A minimum wage of about $10.00 per hour (Thursday, 11/19/98)
San Jose, California seems to have highest minimum wage in the United States now, at least as it applies to contractors doing business with the city.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Five O'clock Club (Thursday, 11/19/98)
The Five O'clock Club is a national network of career counselors that has been advising job seekers for twenty years. Among other things, their web site contains dozens of articles of interest to which you are provided free access.

Latest cuts from the Fed (Wednesday, 11/18/98)
The American Federal Reserve cut interest rates again yesterday. Scott Gerlach reports that experts are saying that American consumers shouldn't expect the cuts to make too much difference to them, and Mike Meyers of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says it's likely to be the last cuts for awhile.

APEC has a plan (Wednesday, 11/18/98)
The talks in Malaysia have been a bit stormy at times, but participants have agreed on a rescue plan for Asia's troubled economies.

Why wages aren't skyrocketing, despite labor shortages (Wednesday, 11/18/98)
John Berry of the Washington Post says things are a bit puzzling at the moment. Also in the Post today, Linda Perlstein says that available grant money has been increasing for students, but tuition costs are increasing faster. Finally, Bill McAllister reports that AARP is changing its name to, well, AARP, which still sounds like an amphibian mating call.

Swedes almost evenly divided on length of work week (Wednesday, 11/18/98)
A survey from FinansTidningen indicates that 49 percent of Swedes are happy with their work hours, while 44 percent can imagine working fewer hours per week. However, if commensurate reductions in pay were to accompany a reduction in the work week, 8 percent would like to see the reductions.

Japanese-Brazilians returning to Brazil again (Wednesday, 11/18/98)
Howard LaFranchi writes from Suzano, Brazil about Japanese who original went to Brazil, then returned to Japan, and are now returning to Brazil again. Also from the Christian Science Monitor today, Marilyn Gardner explains why it's hard for welfare mothers to get the education they need. The paper also editorializes that the world should not give up on Russia, despite its dire circumstances at the moment. Michael Gordon the New York Times tells how Russia is in danger of losing some of its most highly qualified technical people and why the rest of the world has cause to worry.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: WORLDTIME (Wednesday, 11/18/98)
What time is it in...? WORLDTIME comes from HAB Software in Hamburg, Germany. It will tell you the current time in hundreds of cities throughout the world, as well as sunrise and sunset times, and will also tell you about local holidays.

Moody's depresses Japan's mood (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Japan has been downgraded by Moody's Investors Service just after announcing its 24 trillion yen stimulus plan. However, at about the same time, the Japanese prime minister announced that Japan and the U.S. will provide US$10 billion to assist the rest of Asia

Mediators meet with adversaries at FedEx (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Talks went on yesterday between representatives of Federal Express and its pilots union, plus federal mediators. The company is preparing for a possible holiday strike.

Today's job cuts (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Volvo may be preparing to cut as many as 4,000 white collar workers, which would amount to one of every eight. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco has less ambitious plans. They're saying that 315 jobs will go, while ContiFinancial Corporation intends to cut about 12 percent of its staff, which amounts to nearly 450 workers. Finally, Holland's Het Financieele Dagblad reports that Akzo Nobel NV wants to cut 200 jobs at an Arnhem research facility. Akzo Nobel is the sixth-largest chemical manufacturer in Europe.

The economy's in great shape, now it isn't, now it is again (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Dave Skidmore wonders about the quick turnaround in the U.S. economy. Can we be confident that it's real and lasting? Here's his article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Better education instead of higher pay (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Norwegian trade unions should insist on extended vocational training rather than higher wages next year, according to Ynge Haagensen, head of the Norwegian confederation of trade unions. Sweden's Dagens Naeringsliv has the story today.

Discrimination lawsuit upheld by Supreme Court (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
A general arbitration clause in a collective bargaining agreement doesn't preclude discrimination lawsuits under ADA, the high court rules.

So, you think you're more likely to meet E.T. than benefit from Social Security? (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Peter Lilley writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about widespread pessimism among young people when it comes to the present Social Security system. He thinks privatization is a good idea, and, despite its critics, can work.

An IRS change of mind will help some farmers (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
The Internal Revenue Service has reversed itself on a tax credit ruling that will help thousands of dairy farmers.

A teacher shortage that could turn into an emergency (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Mass retirements over the next several years will result in the need for 2 million additional teachers, according to the Education Secretary. Here's more from Gerald Christenson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Ethics Updates (Tuesday, 11/17/98)
Ethics Updates is intended mostly for people who teach college ethics courses as well as students of ethics. However, it includes special sections on poverty and welfare and on world hunger. The site is a continually developing achievement of Lawrence M. Hinman, Professor of Philosophy at the University of San Diego.

Nearly US$200 billion may not be enough, some experts fear (Monday, 11/16/98)
George Nishiyama writes from Tokyo that many analysts fear that the largest stimulus package in Japan's history may not be enough to pull the country out of its recession. Here's more from Sheryl WuDunn of the New York Times. Pauline Jelinek writes from Seoul about signs that Asia's economic mess may be bottoming out, while Mark Weisbrot, writing in the Washington Post, is skeptical of the IMF's ability to do more good than harm in its efforts to help Brazil.

Another interest rate cut may be coming (Monday, 11/16/98)
Many experts expect the Fed to cut interest rates this week for the third time in less than two months.

Nike says its workplaces are safer (Monday, 11/16/98)
They've reduced the use of solvents that could be harmful to workers, they say.

Job creation up a bit in France (Monday, 11/16/98)
According to Les Echos, there were 60,500 new private sector jobs created during the third quarter. This is an increase of 0.4 percent over the second quarter.

IT workers more likely to change careers (Monday, 11/16/98)
In a survey conducted by George Mason University, 40 percent of information technology workers indicated that, if they were starting over, they would major in something else. The liberal arts were mentioned most frequently. The study found that IT workers were twice as likely to change careers as college-educated workers in other areas, as reported in CIO.

Why the SEC is interested in Social Security reform (Monday, 11/16/98)
Arthur Levitt says that efforts to privatize the American Social Security system brings up issues of importance to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Move to privatize health care in Sweden (Monday, 11/16/98)
Conservative-controlled government in some parts of Sweden, including Stockholm, intend to privatize public hospitals in their regions and seek investors, according to Dagens Nyheter today.

Fraud by workers at the IRS (Monday, 11/16/98)
Stephen Barr reports that the IRS has been audited by the GAO, which has found what appears to be embezzlement of $5.3 million by some IRS workers .

Will you soon be working in a job that hasn't been invented yet? (Monday, 11/16/98)
Shelley Donald Coolidge writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about jobs of the future.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Business Intelligence (Monday, 11/16/98)
Here's a perspective on business in the new global economy from the United Kingdom. Business Intelligence comes from a publishing, conference, and exhibition company offering information on innovative management and new technologies.

Malaysia's Mohamad is feeling rejected for several reasons (Sunday, 11/15/98)
Other Pacific Rim countries don't like Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's plan for dealing with the global financial crisis, and a lot of his countrymen don't seem to like him. As the APEC meeting continues in Kuala Lumpur, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to demand his resignation. Donna Smith reports that the United States has its own plan, which Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is announcing today. Because of the crisis with Iraq, President Clinton has chosen not to go to Malaysia at this time. Chris Johnson reports that more than a thousand top business executives have expressed dissatisfaction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's sluggishness on the Asian crisis.

Meanwhile, far to the north, Tatsuo Ito reports from Tokyo that Japanese government officials are meeting to tie up loose ends on the largest stimulus package in Japanese economic history amounting to 20 trillion yen (US$163 billion). Not far away, Erik Eckholm reports from Beijing for the New York Times that the Chinese economy is stumbling along about as well as can be expected, given the circumstances. Finally, a U.S. Congressman has been to North Korea and brings back some grizzly tales, as well as pictures, from one of the most catastrophic economies on earth. Millions may already have starved to death, he says.

Child labor not a new thing, scholars are finding (Sunday, 11/15/98)
August 24, AD 79 was a very bad day in the vicinity of what is now Naples, Italy. That's the day that Mount Versuvius blew up and covered ancient Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum with a toxic mixture of volcanic ash and lava. Life stopped for a large number of people in these cities at about lunch time that day. Since their rediscovery during modern times, archeologists have been able to learn a good deal about daily life in Ancient Rome by examining the preserved remains of many of these people, their homes, and their possessions. Now, scholars are saying that the bones of children who died that day show clear evidence that they had been engaged in heavy labor.

Incidentally, Mount Versuvius has erupted dozens of times over the centuries since AD 79, and will do so again. However, experts have reason to believe that the next eruption will be a big one. In addition to the likelihood that Pompeii and Herculaneum might be buried all over again, the loss of life next time might be far greater than from all previous eruptions put together, given that Naples is both a modern populous city and one that is dense, congested, and would be hard to evacuate quickly. There might not be time even to try.

Australian teachers consider pay offer (Sunday, 11/15/98)
Craig Clarke of the Australian News Network reports that teachers will vote to determine whether they will accept a 13 per cent pay offer.

Help for women who want to become entrepreneurs (Sunday, 11/15/98)
Dick Youngblood writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about hundreds Twin Cities entrepreneurs who have received help and support from training seminars conducted jointly by Minnesota Entrepreneurs and the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Also in the Strib this morning, Roger Harris tells about how a major California biotech firm is attracting and retaining the workers it needs. Think perks.

Age bias doesn't just affect older persons (Sunday, 11/15/98)
Columnist Amy Lindgren passes on some advice for members of Generation X on the best way to head off bias in job interviews. Also in the Akron Beacon Journal, here's a story about an estimate from the Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace. About three-quarters of drug users have jobs, according to the Institute, which means that quite a lot of workers are drug users, and "just saying no" probably won't solve the problem.

Jokes that aren't funny (Sunday, 11/15/98)
Columnist Kirstin Downey Grimsley responds to a correspondent who is troubled by the workplace fallout from stupid, cruel jokes. Also in the Washington Post today, Amy Joyce reports that, while you may still be able to burst into flame in many work settings, you probably won't be allowed to smoke. Smoke-free workplaces are becoming the norm in America.

Beware of scholarship fraud on the Internet (Sunday, 11/15/98)
Ethan Bronner reports that escalating college costs are making people more vulnerable to scholarship fraud, and there are plenty of opportunities to be victimized. Also in today's New York Times, Richard Stevenson offers some perspective on the almost mythic man who has presided over the Fed for more than a decade, as well as what is about to become the longest economic expansion in American history. If you don't know who we're referring to, you haven't been paying attention. Finally, Louis Uchitelle reports on research that is attempting to assess the consequences of the growing income gap.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Joint Center for Poverty Research (Sunday, 11/15/98)
To say that the United States is not the exclusive world center of poverty is to become a finalist in the all-time understatement sweepstakes. Nonetheless, America probably has more than its share of poverty, and this may seem ironic, given that, by most reasonable standards, the U.S. is the richest country is history, and surely has the strongest economy in the world at the moment, by far. Generations of the privileged here and abroad have attempted to dismiss the problem by muttering something like "the poor will always be with us." This may or may not be the case, and, even if so, it's a relative issue. We still have to account for the growing gap between haves and have nots. Also, why should we assume that something must always be as it has been? The modern period has been characterized by events and conditions that have not occurred before our lifetimes. The most recent Nobel Prize winner in economics is an expert on poverty, and apparently believes that, like anything else, it requires understanding. The people responsible for the Joint Center for Poverty Research seem to agree. The Center is a joint project of two of the world's great universities, both of which are located in the Chicago area: Northwestern University and the University of Chicago.

Less Pacific Rim unity (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Andrew Browne reports on the dispute that has broken out at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. American President Clinton may or may not be on his way there soon, depending on what happens with the latest potential military conflict between the U.S. and Iraq. Some persons who may or may not be in the know seem to be expecting that Vice-President Gore will go instead.

Weren't open markets and more competition supposed to fix things? (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Roger Cohen writes from Berlin for the New York Times on the relative costs, risks, and benefits of capitalism around the world.

It's official: Brazil will get billions in loans (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Assistance will come from the International Monetary Fund and several rich industrial nations, including the U.S. Adam Entous has more on the deal which was finalized yesterday. Larry Rohter writes from Rio de Janeiro for the New York Times that, for Brazil, it's not the end of its financial crisis, but only the beginning of a major challenge, while David Sanger says that the United States is gambling two ways.

The news from Fedex is that there isn't any news, mostly (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Talks between Federal Express and its pilots are still stalled. The pilots have called for arbitration, but the company says no. At another airline across the Atlantic, flight attendants get ready to strike at Air France.

U.S. companies want more of the world's highly skilled, but... (Saturday, 11/14/98)
What does it mean for countries whose "best and brightest" may be drawn to the U.S. to work? Jay Bryan of the Montreal Gazette discusses the hazards of a "brain drain" for Canada.

Former Israeli prime minister to manage fund for slave laborers (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Volkswagen AG has set up a 20 million mark fund to compensate persons who were forced to work as slaves during the Nazi period. Shimon Peres will head the group that will manage the fund.

What do all the recent job cuts mean? (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Not necessarily bad economic news overall, according to Susan Alexander's report from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Also, in the same paper today, columnist Amy Lindgren says that your own personal experience with either large or small companies may not be typical of the opportunities in either. Don't limit yourself, she says.

The hazards of too much work, if you're a teen (Saturday, 11/14/98)
Research conducted by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine finds that teens who work more than 20 hours per week are more likely to have a variety of troubles. Here's the story from Spokane's Spokesman-Review.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Internship.de (Saturday, 11/14/98)
There are lots of web sites that intend to help job-seekers and employers get together. Now, here's a site that attempts to do the same thing for persons seeking student internships or employers seeking interns, and it's international. It's Internship.de.

Rescue package for Brazil to be announced today (Friday, 11/13/98)
Adam Entous reports that the IMF and others intend to announce their aid package for Brazil today. Here's more from Robert Rankin and Katherine Ellison of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. It's all part of an effort to prevent a wrecking of Latin American economies that could start with Brazil. In Central America, some economies already have been wrecked, but not for Asian-style financial reasons. In this case, it's because of a natural disaster largely unparalleled in modern history.

IF Clinton goes to Asia, here are his plans (Friday, 11/13/98)
According to White House officials, President Clinton still plans to attend the economic summit in Asia next week, but those plans could change if armed conflict breaks out between the U.S. and Iraq. At any rate, Arshad Mohammed and Steven Thomma have information on what the President would propose in Asia. Russell Skelton, writing from Tokyo for the Sydney Morning Herald, says that the U.S. and Japan are likely to be in disagreement at the APEC summit. Meanwhile, back home, there is some evidence that the Japanese government will strengthen planned efforts to stimulate the Japanese economy.

Labor shortages may dampen economic growth in Ireland (Friday, 11/13/98)
The great number of Irish people during times past who were forced to leave their homeland to search for economic survival and a better life would be astonished to know that Ireland now has one of the hottest economies in Europe. However, Padraig Yeates of the Irish Times says that labor shortages could cool things considerably.

Hospital job cuts in France (Friday, 11/13/98)
About 840,000 civil service jobs in French hospitals are scheduled to be cut by the French government. However, Paris' La Tribune reports that incentives will be offered to encourage as many voluntary departures as possible.

Suit against Pennzoil settled (Friday, 11/13/98)
Pennzoil has agreed to pay $6.75 million to settle e discrimination suit.

How will H1-B affect domestic employment? (Friday, 11/13/98)
Chris Stamper of ABC News examines the likely consequences of new law that will allow more hi-tech workers into the United States.

Dutch trade union group wants government to ban scheduled job cuts (Friday, 11/13/98)
In the Netherlands, the FNV wants the government to step in and prevent job cuts at Royal KPN NV and Royal Philips electronics NV, according to Het Financieele Dagblad. Thousands of jobs are set to go, and the large trade union federation thinks the cuts are unwarranted, given company profits.

Berkeley incubator for Internet entrepreneurs (Friday, 11/13/98)
Matt Richtel writes in today's New York Times about a new twist on work-related education at the famed University of California, Berkeley.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: National Center for Research in Vocational Education (Friday, 11/13/98)
If you are interested in work-related education, you will want to be familiar with the work of NCRVE at the University of California, Berkeley. NCRVE stands for the Center for Research in Vocational Education, and they're on the web.

Weekly jobless claims up in the U.S. (Thursday, 11/12/98)
USA Today has the latest on data from the United States Department of Labor. First-time jobless claims were the highest last week in four months.

Rising anxiety among young MBAs (Thursday, 11/12/98)
Robin Estrin reports that a change of mood is sweeping across corporate America when it comes to hiring freshly minted MBAs, and it's because of the changing global economic situation.

Sweeney speaks to U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Thursday, 11/12/98)
The head of the AFL-CIO called on business and labor to work together on the big issues. He spoke to the Chamber's board members yesterday. It's a first, according to Chamber President Thomas Donahue.

Cuts, cuts, cuts (Thursday, 11/12/98)
Jobs will be cut at Monsanto, Texaco, Shell, Alcatel, Callaway Golf, and Cargill. Also, Switzerland's Tages-Anzeiger reports that the shutdown of Terlinden Textil-Veredelung AG, one of the last textile companies in the country, will put 100 people of out of work. South Africa's Business Report says that 1,600 workers can expect to lose their jobs as three South African automobile manufacturers move to cut costs. Auto sales have been declining, they say. Also, from South Africa, an International Labor Organization report indicates that the country lost 2.8 million working days to strikes over the past 10 months.

Why some Americans with disabilities are wary of entering the workforce (Thursday, 11/12/98)
It can mean losing Medicaid or Medicare health coverage, but now three states are trying plans that would enable persons with disabilities to accept jobs and keep their health coverage.

Separation of powers has pay gap too (Thursday, 11/12/98)
The gap has been widening between what staff people in the Congress earn and what those in the Executive branch earn. Here's the story from Guy Gugliotta of the Washington Post.

Postal workers in Switzerland push to keep post offices open (Thursday, 11/12/98)
There are 3,600 postal branch offices in Switzerland, and postal workers are concerned that some will be closed in order to cut costs, even though an earlier plan to shut down 40 percent of the outlets has been abandoned. Basler Zeitung has the story today.

American farmers face more rough years (Thursday, 11/12/98)
Virginia Tech Professor David Kohl tells bankers that they will have to work with farmers who probably face another seven years of tough times because of a glut of farm products, depressed demand, and a global recession.

What to do about a long-term labor shortage in Minnesota (Thursday, 11/12/98)
The Citizen's League thinks that emphasis should shift from job creation to better training, plus worker-friendly policies. Here's the story from Melissa Levy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which also has some editorial thoughts on the subject.

More women executives called for in Japanese corporations (Thursday, 11/12/98)
An international women's group says Japan falls far behind the U.S. and some other countries in the number of women in top corporate leadership posts.

Update on Federal Express and its pilots (Thursday, 11/12/98)
Negotiations continue between FedEx and its 3,500 pilots, and things haven't been going all that well, but a strike won't necessarily happen.

Older workers losing out in Australia (Thursday, 11/12/98)
Ian Henerson of the Australian New Network says that older blue-collar workers may be permanently locked out of the job market.

What impending changes in Social Security will mean to you (Thursday, 11/12/98)
It's looking increasingly likely that there will be significant changes in the American Social Security system, so Matthew Miller of U.S. News looks at what it may mean to 44 million Americans now and many more in the future. Also, the great American news magazine wonders if the shortage of hi-tech workers is real or something else. Here's "Too old to write code?"

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Explorations in Social Inequality (Thursday, 11/12/98)
The gap between rich and poor has been widening over much of the world, including the United States, which now has the most unequal distribution of economic resources among all industrialized countries. As a Carnegie Foundation report puts it, this means, among other things, that the future of a randomly selected newborn infant is most likely to be determined far more by social class origins than by individual talents. Here's Explorations in Social Inequality, a comprehensive sociological examination of inequality, its causes, and its consequences.

German Chancellor Schroeder sounds call for European job creation (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
About 20 million Europeans remain unemployed, and Germany's new chancellor, who has said earlier that German employment will be a top priority for his government, calls for coordinated action across the European sub-continent. Here's that story from William Drozdiak of the Washington Post and Roger Cohen of the New York Times.

Talks on industrial emissions snag in Buenos Aires (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Rich nations and poor nations have different views, and, of course, different perspectives on climate issues. Here's the story from Vicki Allen of Reuters.

American economy begins to slow, but productivity still doing okay (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
A nation's productivity determines its overall standard of living, so news that productivity is still increasing in the U.S. economy is good news for Americans. Here's the latest from the United States Department of Labor.

Will U.S. interest rates go lower? Stay tuned (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
The Federal Reserve is studying the effects of the last interest rate cuts, according to the chief economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Their analysis will determine whether further cuts will come.

International "volunteer fire department" rushes to Moscow (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Russian officials may be muttering under their breath, "We wish we knew," whenever they're asked how they intend to deal effectively with Russia's economic crisis, which could turn into a social and political crisis. Nonetheless, they're being asked again by top brass from several other countries who feel that the rest of the world has a stake in how things turn out in Russia. Martin Nesirky writes from Moscow about the arrival of officials from several continents.

Jobs cuts at Heinz and Kodak (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
H.J. Heinz Company is reorganizing its frozen food business, and this will result in the loss of 400 jobs. Meanwhile, Eastman Kodak will cut several hundred jobs from its copier division.

Another source of cheap labor that worries American workers and others (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
A record number of Americans are locked up in prisons. Some officials would like them all to become workers, but a good many other people don't like the idea at all, and we're not talking about the prisoners. Ron Scherer of the Christian Science Monitor writes about growing resistance from both labor and management.

Brazil back-pedals quite a bit (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Diana Jean Schemo reports in the New York Times that Brazil won't be cutting its budget quite so much as first indicated. You'll remember that its austerity plan has been what has made outsider helpers willing to help, so we'll have to wait to see what the response from the IMF and others will be. Many authorities have been worrying that the country's very large budget deficit could set up an Asian-style mess throughout Latin America.

Job-creation greatly uneven in Quebec (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Jay Bryan of the Montreal Gazette says that statistics indicate that new jobs are being created in the major cities, but not in the rest of the province.

"Team" is a four-letter word, correspondent says (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Columnist Lynn Curry responds to one of a growing number of people who feel that this latest workplace fad is beginning to lose momentum.

Gender gap not just at lower echelon levels (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
The Sacramento Bee's Gilbert Chan says that the pay gap between male and female executives looks strikingly similar to the pay gap throughout the American economy.

What's the new work world doing to your character? (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
From Business Week this time, here's a look at Richard Sennett's new book, The Corrosion of Character: The Personal Consequences of Work in the New Capitalism.

Things are looking better in Asia, but don't exhale yet (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Maybe it's that the tidal wave sweeping across Asia is now only about 48-feet high now, rather than 50-feet high. Still, after more than a year of bad news throughout the region, any encouraging sign that the worst is over is welcome. Here's an analysis of a region where economies are still contracting and living standards are still falling.

AARP official promotes the hiring of older workers (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
Becky Kramer writes from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for Spokane's Spokesman-Review that AARP's President Joe Perkins is appearing at a conference in Coeur d'Alene. He wants to help employers overcome their reticence about hiring low-income seniors. Perkins used to be a human resource and retirement specialist at Polaroid.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Dr. Ed Yardeni's Economics Network (Wednesday, 11/11/98)
The Chief Economist of Deutsche Bank Securities in New York wants to be your main source of economic and financial information. Here's Dr. Ed Yardeni's Economics Network.

This slowdown doesn't mean less air speed (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
Still, Federal Express is hoping that the conflict with its pilots won't result in a stall during the holiday season. Frank Swoboda of the Washington Post reports on the work slowdown by FedEx pilots, and here's more from Reuters. The Post's Mr. Swoboda also has a story on preparations for the next recession that are going on right now at employee-owned United Airlines. Whenever that recession comes, they're hoping to avoid layoffs. Finally, Tony Kennedy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says your pilot may be a temp at Champion Air.

Teachers may strike in Duluth (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
Mary Thompson and Tom Wilkowske of the Duluth News-Tribune report that the Duluth Federation of Teachers has filed a strike notice.

What happened to America's plans for the new Russia? (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
Jonathan Landay of the Christian Science Monitor writes that things haven't turned out quite as the Clinton Administration had expected in Russia, and that a partnership seems to have been dissolved. Also in the Monitor today, here's the argument for why college is still a bargain, sort of.

Here's a critique of the IMF's critics (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
In The Washington Post, Michel Camdessus answers recent criticism of the International Monetary Fund, what it's been doing, and how it's been doing it.

Workplace child care gains momentum (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
Child care at the same location where you work, rather than across town. What a wonderful idea! It's not new, but, as Dirk Deyoung reports in CityBusiness, maybe its time has really come.

Today's job cuts (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
Jobs will go at Honewell and J.P. Morgan. Also, Anders Hayden of the Montreal Gazette reports that another 3,000 jobs are set to go at CN, which will bring total employment down to half of what it was only six years ago. As an alternative to cuts, here's good news about Union Pacific's plan to hire 60,000 workers over the next dozen years.

The payoff of workplace health programs (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
A study reported in the current edition of the American Journal of Public Health that workplace campaigns to improve employee health make a difference.

A victory for labor in the Supreme Court (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
A new Supreme Court ruling will make it easier for organized labor to recruit new workers. Here's the story from USA Today.

How to hang on to those valued employees (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
Here's Richard Hadden's article in the Jacksonville Business Journal about employee retention and what it takes.

Gender in the board room and the classroom (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
The Detroit Free Press reports that, while women have made inroads on corporate boards in recent years, they're still paid less. Also, in today's Wall Street Journal, Timothy Schellhardt reports on the persistent gender gap in America's business schools.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Wealth of Nations (Tuesday, 11/10/98)
If, even after more than 200 years, you STILL haven't gotten around to reading Adam Smith's book that started it all (well, maybe not ALL), it's probably about time. In fact, for your convenience, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is on the web. A greater use of paragraphs might have been nice, though.

Final agreement near on help for Brazil (Monday, 11/9/98)
Adam Entous reports that the International Monetary Fund and the wealthy industrial nations are near to finalizing an agreement that is intended to help Brazil gets its financial house in order and avoid setting off a domino effect throughout Latin America similar to what has happened in Asia.

New York welfare system under federal investigation (Monday, 11/9/98)
Yesterday's New York Times reported that federal authorities are looking into the possibility that the New York City welfare system has been violating federal law.

Helping companies do business in one's country of origin (Monday, 11/9/98)
Long Island's Newsday reports today on the growing number of people from various countries who are being hired by multinational companies. They're called "inpatriats" Professor Michael Harvey of the University of Oklahoma.

Will current troubles lead to the break up of Russia? (Monday, 11/9/98)
Russia is a more decentralized country that it used to be, and many observers are wondering if we will soon see a breakup similar to what happened to the old Soviet Union. Veteran print and broadcast journalist Richard C. Hottelet thinks not.

A new global problem-solving structure (Monday, 11/9/98)
Lynde McCormick of the Christian Science Monitor thinks something historic has been going on very recently. During the past several weeks, we have been seeing the beginnings of a new way of dealing with global economic problems, according to the author. Meanwhile, David Francis tells how changes are being brought about in the IMF.

Time for a retirement plan tune up (Monday, 11/9/98)
Guy Halverson says that, with the markets improving, it's probably time to make some adjustments in your retirement plan. The recovery of the stock market is also providing reassurance for those who have feared that the U.S. may be headed for a recession. Incidentally, speaking of retirement, Robert Kuttner of the Washington Post says there is reason to believe that President Clinton is now willing to accept partial privatization of Social Security.

Australian economist expects a "workplace revolution" (Monday, 11/9/98)
The Australian News Network tells why Des Moore of Australia's Institute of Private Enterprise expects a big workplace shakeup.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Estate and Gift Tax Law (Monday, 11/9/98)
The Legal Information Institute from Cornell University Law School has some information for you if you're not planning to take it with you, or if you're simply feeling generous. Here's what you need to know about Estate and Gift Tax Law.

Thousands want someone to blame for the ruin of South Korean economy (Sunday, 11/8/98)
Tens of thousands of South Koreans apparently believe that some individual or individuals are responsible for that country's economic problems and want to see that they are punished. A huge rally was held in Seoul Sunday.

Women gain in the Congress, but parity lies in the future (Sunday, 11/8/98)
There will be more women serving in the new Congress, but not proportionate to their number in the population.

Continuing Senate opposition to climate treaty (Sunday, 11/8/98)
Peter Lardner reports that it remains doubtful whether the United States will support a UN treaty that would reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Philadelphia hospitals emphasize retraining (Sunday, 11/8/98)
Stacey Burling of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that many hospitals are retraining people for better jobs that are in more demand than the ones to which they've been accustomed.

How to explain gap in work history due to crime victimization (Sunday, 11/8/98)
A correspondent asks columnist Kirstin Downey Grimsley about explaining the gap in her work history following a rape and its long aftermath.

A new trend in holiday corporate giving (Sunday, 11/8/98)
Columnist Amy Joyce of the Washington Post reports that an increasing number of corporations are making charitable contributions in the name of clients, rather than giving gifts to the clients themselves.

What to learn about globalization from the Russian experience (Sunday, 11/8/98)
Steven Mufson and David Hoffman explain the risks of globalization and puts the Russian crash into evidence.

Take Thumper's advice in job interviews (Sunday, 11/8/98)
In an old Walt Disney film, Thumper advised that "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Job search consultant John Kelly says that's good advice for a job interview. Don't bad-mouth former employers, he says. One reason: employers are reluctant to import discontent. They feel they can produce all they need on the premises.

Who's wrecking the workplace? (Sunday, 11/8/98)
People you may not suspect of vandalism are acting out their resentments in tangible ways, writes the Los Angeles Times' Mary Curtius. Her article comes to you today via the Akron Beacon Journal.

The special problems faced by two-career families (Sunday, 11/8/98)
St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Amy Gage says that the percentage of the workforce made up of two-career couples has more than doubled in less than 50 years in the United States. She discusses the special challenges of keeping things in balance. Also in the Pioneer Press, Carol Pine discusses a new book on the sychology of decision making, Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions. Kathy Kristof tells about the challenge of choosing a health plan during a season of "open enrollment" and rising costs, and nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says many people are looking to "advocates" to help them sort through the complexities. Will advocates to help with retirement planning or even Medicare choices be needed soon too? Finally, Ms. Quinn also discusses the changes that will come to Europe with the gradual introduction of the common currency, including employment changes.

Thoughts about the hi-tech worker shortage...or not (Sunday, 11/8/98)
Do American high-technology companies really need more technically skilled workers, or do they simply want ones they can pay less? The Toledo Blade editorializes on the subject.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Kiplinger Magazine (Sunday, 11/8/98)
The Kiplinger Magazine has been providing financial information and advice for many years. Now, there is an informative and useful web site as well..

Bureau of Labor Stats officials call time out on the web (Saturday, 11/7/98)
After accidentally announcing jobs data too early on the Internet, officials at the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics are taking time out to review their procedures. While this happens, data will not be provided on the web. John Berry of the Washington Post reports that the BLS says it was a staff error. It's important because investors watch employment data closely, so the stock market can be affected, as it was the other day.

Deal sealed on food aid for Russia (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Barbara Hagenbaugh reports details of the U.S. plan to help the Russian people get through the winter. It is a combination of gift and loan, she says. Michael Gordon of the New York Times says that accepting the help is difficult for a proud people. In the U.S., the deal has resulted in higher wheat and meat prices, which should help American farmers who have been struggling under the weight of a worldwide glut of farm produce. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Kulak is indicating that he believes further aid will be coming from the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott says that Russia's plan for economic recovery almost certainly will fail, and this can have serious political and diplomatic repercussions.

Factory explosion kills workers in Portugal (Saturday, 11/7/98)
An explosion at an ammunition plant in Lisbon, Portugal has killed three people and injured fourteen.

Unemployment increases vulnerability to suicide (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Research reported in the current edition of the British Medical Journal finds that unemployed persons are more than twice as likely to commit suicide.

University of Washington terminates its affirmative action program (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Initiative 200 passed overwhelmingly last Tuesday in Washington State, and the University of Washington is moving ahead in order to be in compliance. Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes on the meaning of this latest development for affirmative action in the United States.

Mental health and law in the workplace (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Geanne Rosenberg of the New York Times tells about a case that highlights the increasingly complicated situation for employers when it comes to psychological disorders, employment, and layoffs.

American banks hold back a bit on aid to Brazil (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Timothy O'Brien explains the recent change of mind on the part of major banks in the United States when it comes to helping Brazil out of its tight financial fix. Meanwhile, American Vice-President Gore would like to see Europe help a little more in stimulating the global economy.

Some dissatisfied with progress on climate issues (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Peter Lardner reports on the international conference in Buenos Aires and why the wealthy industrial nations are being criticized.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Worldwatch Institute (Saturday, 11/7/98)
Worldwatch Institute is a Washington, D. C-based think tank that studies the effects of economic activity on the world environment. They claim that the Industrial Revolution put us on a course that is unsustainable and that changes must occur if the world is to avoid catastrophe. Among other things, the Institute monitors environmental changes and presents a description of key trends in their new book, State of the World 1999.

America's unemployment remains steady; BLS officials a little shaky (Friday, 11/6/98)
No change in the unemployment rate in the United States. It remains at 4.6 percent. John Simons writes in today's Wall Street Journal about the slowing of new job creation and an increase in layoffs. Incidentally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics accidentally released the jobs information on the web a day early, surprising even President Clinton. Most recent presidents have been annoyed by White House leaks. President Kennedy is supposed to have been angered that sometimes he would first learn in the Washington Post about things going on just down the hall in the White House. With hi-tech, it's now possible to make more mistakes faster and more efficiently than ever before. Incidentally, just to the north of the U.S., Canada gets good news. That country's unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in eight years.

Food assistance deal may be finalized today (Friday, 11/6/98)
The U.S. has agreed to help Russia feed its people and the two countries are expected to sign on the dotted lines today. Meanwhile, Stephen Rosenfeld of the Washington Post ponders what the collapse of the ruble means and how it's been influencing thinking in Washington about Russia's economic future.

Halloween's over, so investors may be less spooked (Friday, 11/6/98)
Fed Head Greenspan seems to think that the global financial storm is beginning to dissipate.

French government to discourage firing of older workers (Friday, 11/6/98)
Paris' La Tribune reports today that the French government will double the tax employers will pay if job cuts displace workers over 50. The unemployment rate among older French workers has been increasing.

FedEx Pilots want to speed things up (Friday, 11/6/98)
Federal Express pilots met yesterday to try to find ways to accelerate their strike vote. They want to put maximum pressure on the company by making it possible to shut things down during the crucial holiday season. In other airline labor news, pilots at American Airlines are afraid that a plan by rival airlines could cost jobs, so they're asking federal regulators to intervene.

What's the bottom line on the union vote the other day? (Friday, 11/6/98)
Stay tuned. Richard Morin of the Washington Post says the experts are still trying to figure it out.

Former Nazi slaves resist settlement deal (Friday, 11/6/98)
People who were forced to work as slave laborers during the infamous Nazi period in Germany don't like the plan to set up a compensation fund that's been supported by both government and industry. They think it's an attempt to bypass their claims.

What a cut in work hours might mean for employment in Sweden (Friday, 11/6/98)
Svenska Dagbladet reports that a Swedish Employers' Association survey indicates that about one-tenth of Swedish companies would hire more workers if the work week is cut from 40 hours to 35 hours without a cut in wages.

Why an international economic meeting in Kuala Lumpur may seem ironic (Friday, 11/6/98)
The New York Times' Mark Landler on the big meeting in Malaysia, a country which has not been an enthusiastic about participating in the new global economy, to say the least.

Work should not be a teen's main thing, panel says (Friday, 11/6/98)
Many teenagers are spending far too much time working for their own good, says the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine. Not only that, but, for many kids, work is far too dangerous.

Hey, Mickey, did you get the message? (Friday, 11/6/98)
People who work for Mickey Mouse in Orlando have rejected a 5 to 8 percent pay increase.

Pants plants down temporarily (Friday, 11/6/98)
The original Levis aren't nearly so much in demand as before, so production has to be cut back, with implications for a lot of workers.

The argument over corporate sabbaticals (Friday, 11/6/98)
Are they worth it? Well, yes and no, depending on whom you ask. Here's more from today's St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Why two major union organizations don't like the anti-sweatshop agreement (Friday, 11/6/98)
Steven Greenhouse explains why the AFL-CIO and other unions have rejected a deal that is supposed to discourage sweatshops.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Fortune's Global 500 (Friday, 11/6/98)
If you've been wondering which companies are the largest in the world, here's the place to find out. It's Fortune magazine's Global 500.

Initiative 200 passes overwhelmingly in Washington state (Thursday, 11/5/98)
It means no more consideration of race or sex in hiring or education. Officials are already putting changes in motion.

U.S. economy shows slower growth in September and October (Thursday, 11/5/98)
The American Federal Reserve has the latest numbers, and Glenn Somerville has the story. However, despite increasing effects from the Asian crisis, the Fed says the American economy still has "pockets of strength." Maggie Jackson reports that increasing economic uncertainty is taking its toll on the physical and psychological well-being of individuals. Therapists and crisis hot lines are busy in the U.S.

Big job cuts may be coming to Australia's Centrelink itself (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Centrelink is the gateway to Australia's Job Network, and Tony Wright and Gareth Boreham of Melbourne's The Age report that it appears that the government is about to cut 6,000 jobs from Centrelink, which many consider to be an irony. So far, no one is willing to confirm the story, though.

The latest on the extreme crisis in Russia (Thursday, 11/5/98)
The Russian government has acknowledged that the country is nearly out of food as the winter approaches, and also that it will not be able to make payments on its foreign debt. The United States has agreed to help with the first problem by sending huge quantities of grain to Russia, and here are more details on the second problem from Reuters and the New York Times. Russia hopes to be able to reschedule foreign debt payments.

Cadence cuts (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Cadence Design Systems said yesterday that it will cut 560 jobs, and investors saw that as good news.

Workers at AutoEuropa agree to wage increase (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Portugal's Diario Economico reports that workers at a joint venture of Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG called AutoEuropa have reached agreement on wage increases amounting to 3.5% to 4.0%. The agreement will be retroactive to October 1.

Your nest egg: scrambled, poached, or fried? (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Washington Post columnist James Glassman tells about the thousands of federal employees who lost their nerve and moved retirement money out of equities, and now probably wish they hadn't. Glassman also hosts the PBS television program "TechnoPolitics."

Fast-food company fined for hiring minors (Thursday, 11/5/98)
GZK Inc., and Ohio company, has been fined $333,450 for violations of child labor laws.

Unemployment down in Austria (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Unemployment in Austria fell .1 of a percent from 4.6 percent to 4.5 percent in October, according to Salzburger Nachrichten.

Union card carrying docs (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Six-hundred physicians in New Jersey want to unionize, and say that they now have a legal right to do so.

Republicans say, "OK, Bill, let's get going on Social Security" (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Now that the election is over, competing sides in D.C. resume their dances around each other. Congressional Republicans are calling on the President to get going on "fixing" Social Security.

More on the protests by French students (Thursday, 11/5/98)
University students in France have been demonstrating on behalf of lower tuition, while secondary students want better study conditions. Here's the latter story from Craig Whitney of the New York Times. Also in the Times today, James Brooke explains why so many jobs remain unfilled in Vail, Colorado, and it may not be what you think. Tina Kelley tells about a new company that wants to provide a place for travelers to connect with their laptops in airports, and the 1998 Campus Computing Project survey finds more and more professors are finding e-mail and the Internet pegagogically useful.

You can safely delay your visit to the Eiffel Tower (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Yesterday was the fifth day that the Eiffel Tower was closed due to a strike in Paris.

Palestinian unemployment takes a major dip (Thursday, 11/5/98)
David Zev Harris reports in today's Jeruselum Post that unemployment among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza areas fell by more than 22 percent during the first half of 1998. The data come from the United Nations.

Retailers have recruited early for the crucial Christmas buying season (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Gary Pakulski of the Toledo Blade reports that retailers in Ohio have been scrambling to hire the people they will need for the Christmas shopping season, and it's also meant offering higher wages.

UK food retailer is selling pensions (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Tesco Plc. has 580 food stores in Britain. Beginning next year, you will be able to buy "1 pound a day" pensions at any of them. London's Independent has the story today.

Cases studies on the communism to capitalism transition (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Why has China apparently had significant success in introducing features of a market economy into what has been a totalitarian communist system for decades, while a similar transition in Russia so far has been mostly disastrous? Abulani Sikhakhane has some thoughts on this issue in today's Financial Mail from South Africa. However, all is not without pain in China, and this may be one of the more notable understatements of the decade. Huge numbers of workers have been laid off at the same time that the Chinese government has been clipping large chunks out of the social safety net. Elisabeth Rosenthal of the New York Times reports via the San Jose Mercury News that older women without skills face a particularly grim future in the new economy that China is trying to build. Inside China Today reports that some laid off workers seem to be getting a bit more bold, though. For instance, here's news about 30 laid-off workers holding a sit-down protest in front of a state-owned Beijing hotel.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Institute for Family Business (Thursday, 11/5/98)
Baylor University estimates that family businesses account for about half of the American Gross Domestic Product as well as about half of the wages paid in the U.S. Their Institute for Family Business is intended to help keep these businesses vital for the benefit of their family owners and the country.

Locked out ABC workers may bring things up with Mickey (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
Disney owns ABC, so locked out workers are trying to find new ways to bring pressure on the company.

GE to close plant in the UK (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
London's Financial Times reports that General Electric will close a Birmingham-based plan and cut 300 jobs. GE is Britain's largest manufacturing company.

Union shows support for Israeli students (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
Students in Israel have been demonstrating for lower tuition costs for the past two weeks. The Federation of Labor Unions has called a one-hour strike for today to show its support, according to Ha'aretz.

Food aid offered to Russia (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
The United States has offered Russia 3.1 million metric tons of wheat and other food to help that country get through the winter.

Big jobs cuts at Portuguese insurance company (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
According to Publico, Companhia de Seguros Imperio SA will cut its workforce by 35% over the next four years. Company officials indicate that they will try to do as much as possible through attrition in order to minimize layoffs.

High Court rules on union membership requirement (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
The U.S. Supreme Court has said it's okay to have collective bargaining agreements that require union membership as a condition of employment.

Job cuts at Occidental Petroleum (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
Occidental Petroleum plans to lay off 80 workers at its Los Angeles headquarters. Also, Philips in the Netherlands plans to shut down one-third of its plants, which is likely to impact on that company's workforce in a big way. Here's the story from Janet McBride of Reuters.

A former migrant workers tells about how it was (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
Toby Sonneman writes for the Christian Science Monitor on 16 years picking fruit. Also in the Monitor today, an economist says things are better than you may think for many people facing retirement, and here's an editorial on the contest between Europe's left-of-center governments and the European Central Bank, and what it will mean for jobs.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: CEO Express (Wednesday, 11/4/98)
CEO Express is a major information resource for busy executives, but, even if you're not an executive, you're free to take a look, and may find this rich site helpful.

Economic woes could increase trafficking in human beings (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
The head of the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific expects a worsening of the sex slave trade in Asia, given that region's economic crisis.

Americans saving even less (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Americans are spending, spending, spending, and dipping into savings in order to do it. The savings rate was at its lowest point in September since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Americans typically save less than people in other industrial countries.

Walkout leads to lockout at ABC (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
More than 2,000 employees at ABC are still off the job, but programs go on as scheduled.

Austria's largest utility to cut more jobs than originally planned (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Der Standard reports today that Verbund intends to reduce its total staff from 2000 to 1300, which will mean cutting about 200 more jobs than originally planned. The reductions will occur over the next three years.

Supremes to decide employment-related cases (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
James Vicini reports that the United States Supreme Court has decided to rule on two cases that could influence workplace policies.

African American economic progress accelerates (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
The Black-White economic gap is narrowing somewhat more rapidly. Here's the story from Abraham McLaughlin of the Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Catherine Elton writes from Limi, Peru about racial discrimination in Latin America and provides additional evidence that the United States is not the exclusive world center of bigotry, in case you've been wondering.

Dangers to youth in the Australian workplace (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
There seems to be an increase in violence against young people at work in Australia. Here's that story from Adele Horin of the Sydney Morning Herald. Homicide is a leading cause of death on the job in America, and, as Jessica Guynn reports in the Detroit Free Press, nastiness and meanness on the job seems to be on the increase overall. Of course, the American popular culture and even its political culture have been awash in vulgarity and incivility for sometime, suggesting that making sure that civilization continues to win out over barbarism requires eternal vigilance.

Are you still middle class? Are you sure? (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Asia's recently burgeoning middle class has been evaporating rather quickly, given that region's economic problems. But, as Adolfo Garza writes from Mexico City, the economic dip over much of the world is putting many people's comfortable middle-class status in grave jeopardy.

Schroeder bets his government on job creation (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Germany's new chancellor says his government will stand or fall on its ability to create jobs and reduce unemployment in the world's third-largest economy. William Drozdiak of the Washington Post has the story.

Dismissed workers sue NordicTrack (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
David Phelps of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that five former workers at NordicTrack allege violations of federal law in the laying off of several hundred workers. In other labor news, flight attendants at America West threaten to strike during the holiday period. Also, strikes in Paris affect public transportation, libraries, and the Eiffel Tower.

Are "teams" just the latest corporate fad? (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Carol Pine writes in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that many are beginning to question that all work should be done by teams. In fact, individuals haven't gone entirely out of style in the corporate workplace, she says.

Pentagon having trouble reaching recruitment goals (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Steven Lee Myers writes about the American military's problems attracting and holding the people it needs when civilian jobs are plentiful and young people seem to have different things on their minds.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Disgruntled (Tuesday, 11/3/98)
Disgruntled.com covers the odd, bizarre, unpleasant, often hard-to-believe aspects of the work world. Some stories are serious, some are hilarious. The person responsible for this popular web site now has a paperback book as well.

What can make the Soviet period seem like "the good old days?" (Monday, 11/2/98)
Try Russia's current economic situation in which many citizens are trying to live on less than a dollar per day with winter coming on. The Washington Post's David Hoffman discusses the Russian government's revival of some state controls which limit its market economy. Peter Graff of Reuters says Russian Prime Minister Primakov is trying hard to gain support for his hybrid plan, which many in the West regard as contradictory and unrealistic. Many leaders in the Russian parliament thinks it's unrealistic too. The International Monetary Fund has already rejected the plan, but the Russians are trying to keep the communication lines open.

Is it flirting or harassment? (Monday, 11/2/98)
Sherwood Ross writes in Long Island's Newsday about the many people in an increasingly litigious society who would like to know where the line is located that separates the two. In his new book, The Office Romance: Playing With Fire Without Getting Burned, Dennis Powers may be able to help you find the line.

Austerity is never politically popular, and resistance grows in Brazil (Monday, 11/2/98)
Tracey Ober reports that the Brazilian government's belt-tightening plan for getting its economic house in order and quality for IMF assistance is stimulating domestic resistance.

Enjoy the surplus while you can (Monday, 11/2/98)
David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor says that a slowing American economy next year may make the 1999 budget surplus evaporate.

What do American and Japanese farmers have in common? (Monday, 11/2/98)
Answer: serious questions about their ability to survive on the land. Mary Jordan reports from Maki, Japan.

ABC workers strike over health benefits (Monday, 11/2/98)
About 2,000 workers at the American Broadcasting Company are staging a one-day strike, and it's disrupting programming today.

The very hard times for some South Korean families (Monday, 11/2/98)
Sheryl WuDunn of the New York Times tells how South Korea's economic problems are affecting even middle-class families, or, at least, families that were middle class until a few months ago. Also in the Times today, Reed Abelson writes about Americans who are making a career out of part-time work in a new economy that relies more and more on temps.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: CollegeQuest (Monday, 11/2/98)
From the well-known Peterson guides, here's CollegeQuest with information about all of the colleges and universities in the United States, as well as a database containing information on more than 800,000 scholarships and awards..

November is National Career Development Month (Sunday, 11/1/98)
St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Amy Lindgren is presenting four columns in honor of National Career Development Month, and here's the first, which she calls "Chutes and ladders."

Big Latin America career event scheduled in Miami (Sunday, 11/1/98)
The second annual Latin America Career Futures'98 conference is scheduled for November 19-21 in Miami. A large number of companies will be recruiting professionals for work in Latin America.

Unemployment down in France (Sunday, 11/1/98)
CNN Financial reports that the jobless rate in France has declined for the first time in six months. Things look fairly bleak for the industrial sector, however.

Market reforms on hold in Russia (Sunday, 11/1/98)
A prominent Russian liberal says that the country needs some "breathing space," given the severity of its economic crisis. The IMF and others in the West are not pleased, as Celestine Bohlen reports in today's New York Times.

"Asian flu" begins to threaten Taiwan (Sunday, 11/1/98)
For more than a year, while a severe financial crisis has rolled across Asia, Taiwan has been noticeably absent from the bad news. Now, as Lawrence Chung reports, that may be about to change.

Sexual harassment in Japan (Sunday, 11/1/98)
For the most part, women are still considered fair game by many Japanese men. Sexual harassment has not yet become all that "politically incorrect" in Japan, as Sheryl WuDunn reports from Tokyo.

There's another election this week in the United States (Sunday, 11/1/98)
Tuesday is election day in the U.S., but, in "that other election," ballots will be sent out tomorrow. Nearly 1 1/2 million members of the Teamsters will decide who will be their president, and a familiar name is on the minds of many.

What Social Security problem? (Sunday, 11/1/98)
Fred Brock doesn't think there is a Social Security emergency and doesn't think the system needs saving.

The latest from "Silicon Isle" (Sunday, 11/1/98)
Fox News reports that Ireland has become one of the world's hi-tech centers, and is now setting up new companies in California's Silicon Valley.

Phone contact only in Kaiser strike (Sunday, 11/1/98)
No new bargaining sessions have been scheduled as the strike at Kaiser Aluminum begins its second month. However, as Hannelore Sudermann of Spokane's Spokesman-Review reports, the two sides are still in touch by telephone.

Getting your shot at work (Sunday, 11/1/98)
Employers find that it's in their own best interest not to have a lot of workers out sick, so many are offering flu shots on the job. Here's that story from Gilbert Chan of the Sacramento Bee.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Information Economy (Sunday, 11/1/98)
If you want information about the new information economy, including the Internet, here's a good place to start. The Information Economy web site comes to you from Professor Hal Varian, a dean at the University of California, Berkeley. It includes dozens of links to sites that deal with all aspects of the new global economy in which information provides a major portion of the value.

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