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February 1999

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Clinton wants more money for farmers...fast (Sunday, 2/28/99)
President Clinton is asking Congress for another $1.1 billion for loans to farmers, including $153 million in emergency funds, in part to hire additional personnel to process requests for disaster assistance. With farm product prices at historic lows, many American farmers are on the verge of bankruptcy, and many will not be able to plant their crops this spring without assistance.

A form of stalking on the job (Sunday, 2/28/99)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley responds to a correspondent who is concerned about a fellow manager who has become a self-appointed "employee policeman." The Los Angeles Times has an answer for another writer who wonders about shifting hours worked from one day to another in the records. Finally, Michelle Cottle of the New York Times answers a worker who's pleasing the boss but is about to collapse.

Recruitment problems, not only in the military, but also in paramilitary organizations (Sunday, 2/28/99)
More specifically, a growing number of American police departments are having difficulty finding and holding the people they need, according to John Seewer, whose article appears in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Guatemala's only unionized apparel plant to close (Sunday, 2/28/99)
Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times writes that officials of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees sees the action by Phillips-Van Heusen as undercutting worker rights. Also in the Times today, David Sanger ruminates about the global financial mess and what can be . He seems surprised that, despite a crisis that continues 24 hours per day, the Washington IMF office seems to be keeping old-time banker's hours. Louis Uchitelle looks for sources of the American surplus and finds one in income inequality in the United States. Daniel Cuff offers some advice on how to achieve a comfortable retirement. Finally, Robert Pear passes on advice from labor and management about what to do until the new standards governing ailments and injuries on the job arrive, if they do.

Who's paying most of the taxes? (Sunday, 2/28/99)
Not the poor, according to David Westphal, who writes from Washington, D. C. today. Despite a growing gap between haves and have nots, more of the tax burden has already been shifted to the rich? So, why are the poor poor and the rich rich? In the new economy, part of it has to do with a growing skills gap.

How do you spell "relief?" (Sunday, 2/28/99)
"M-e-d s-a-v-i-n-g-s a-c-c-o-u-n-t" spells "relief" from rising health care premiums, say some. Here's more from Glenn Howatt of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Ever wonder about wonder women? (Sunday, 2/28/99)
Nancy Rivera Brooks writes in the Los Angeles Times about women who seem to be able to handle everything. Hundreds of women entrepreneurs offer tips for successfully juggling everything at once.

What record unemployment may mean to South Korea (Sunday, 2/28/99)
Unemployment in South Korea is at an historic high, according to CNN. The growing number of jobless aren't suffering silently, and many are beginning to worry that protests can undermine the country's economic stability. How about its political stability?

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Cents Financial Journal (Sunday, 2/28/99)
A tremendous amount of economic data digested and summarized. Here's Cents Financial Journal.

Last quarter of 1998 very hot for the American economy (Saturday, 2/27/99)
America's Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of 6.1 percent during the last quarter of last year, one of the highest rates of growth during the entire decade of the 1990s. What's the role of productivity in this growth? Robert Rankin of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes from Washington, D.C. and has some ideas on the subject.

More on organized labor's triumph in L.A. County (Saturday, 2/27/99)
Frank Swoboda of the Washington Post says that Service Employees International Union's winning the right to represent 75,000 home-care workers in Los Angeles County is the biggest union election victory in American history, and could mean a turnaround for the labor movement which has fallen on hard times during recent years. Fewer than 1 of 6 private sector workers belong to unions in the U.S. now. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times offers more perspective on the SEIU's success and tells about the role played by "risk-taker" Andrew Stern, the union's president. In other health care labor news, 1,000 hospital workers strike in Rhode Island. In labor news outside health care, the Minneapolis Star Tribune' Tony Kennedy reports that Northwest Airlines' flight attendance are saying that the fourth-largest American airline will have to go deep into its very deep pockets if it wants a deal.

Can the Internet help attract needed migrant workers? (Saturday, 2/27/99)
Michigan intends to find out. Here's that story from the Detroit News.

More on America's hungry (Saturday, 2/27/99)
We reported yesterday on the decline in the food stamp rolls and why this should not be taken to mean that fewer Americans are hungry. Along these lines, Andrew Revkin of the New York Times tells about the demand for help from food shelves that are having difficulty keeping their shelves supplied.

What will happen to Europe's safety net for farmers? (Saturday, 2/27/99)
European farmers have been kept in business for a long time by very generous subsidies that would make struggling American farmers salivate. Germany's Chancellor Schroder would like to see those subsidies reduced.

Auditors warn about possible Y2K Medicare crash (Saturday, 2/27/99)
January 1, 2000 could be a very bad day for millions of Medicare recipients, according to an official of the General Accounting Office. Meanwhile, a commission studying Medicare's future won't have its report ready on Monday, but will continue working toward consensus. Finally, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says it's time for Americans to begin thinking more about Medicare reform.

Cuts at Kerr-Mcgee (Saturday, 2/27/99)
While low oil prices continue to depress the American energy industry, an acquisition and subsequent reorganization has led Kerr-Mcgee to announce that it plans to cut about 12 percent of its workforce, which amounts to 530 jobs.

In the new information economy, manufacturing is dead in the United States, right? Wrong (Saturday, 2/27/99)
Mark Twain might say that news of the death of the manufacturing sector has been exaggerated. Dave Beal says that the manufacturing sector is still the cornerstone of the American economy and supports a lot of high-paying jobs. He also points out that many of these good-quality jobs are occupied by people without college degrees. Somebody has said that employers don't want to pay you simply for being well-educated any more than for being a nice person. Instead, they want to pay you for actually doing something that they need done. Come to think of it, the "somebody" who said that was us.

Why America's loony attitude toward its elders? (Saturday, 2/27/99)
Columnist Amy Gage says that the vast army of the retired have stories to tell, and we should listen. Carol Pine says that change is brewing, and that older people will transform the workplace. Last Sunday, CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" did a segment about a 32-year-old woman who fooled Hollywood producers by pretending she was 19. That's what it took to get them to read her scripts. When they found out that she really isn't a 19-year-old whiz, but, instead, has exceeded her thirtieth birthday, of all disreputable things, they said they felt betrayed. It's additional evidence that Hollywood is some sort of security hospital. If you want to get some sleep tonight, try not think about its influence on the rest of American society.

On the surrender of Levi's to the realities of the new world economy (Saturday, 2/27/99)
Levi's has tried to keep production of an American classic product in America, but, as the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes today, they've had to give up and export a lot of jobs. Also on the Strib's opinion pages today, Deb Price of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate comments on the increasing labor shortage experienced by the American military services, at the same time that those services continue to reject gays.

Is this a step forward, or backward? (Saturday, 2/27/99)
Paual Van Slambrouck describes the various "local currencies" or the movement back toward barter for those who are unnerved by globalization. Is this really what you want? Also from the Nando Times today, Glenn Adams reports on the attempted takeover of Maine's Great Northern Paper company. What makes this story different is that it's the company's employees who are trying to take it over.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Telework.net (Saturday, 2/27/99)
For those interested in working at home, Telework.net comes to you from Spain, and is available in multiple languages.

Big victory for organized labor (Friday, 2/26/99)
The Service Employees International Union will represent 74,000 home-care workers in Los Angeles County.

The latest on Saturn's famous labor relations experiment (Friday, 2/26/99)
Keith Bradsher reports that leaders of the union representing workers at Saturn have been voted out by the membership.

Clinton steps up his campaign for his plan to reform Medicare (Friday, 2/26/99)
President Clinton wants to use a significant portion of the budget surplus to put Medicare on a sound long-term footing, and is urging Congressional Republicans to support him. He's also looking to the nation's large population of elders for help in making things happen his way. Meanwhile, as Joanne Kenen reports, a bipartisan group of House members is introducing a bill for a partial privatization of Social Security. It includes a provision intending to keep politics out of it, something that Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan has indicated will be hard to do. Japan has pension reform on its mind too. Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that the Japanese health ministry has finalized a plan.

Minnesota governor wrestles with economic issues (Friday, 2/26/99)
Former big-time wrestler, movie actor, and now governor and talk show guest Jesse Ventura has been meeting with the Minneapolis Star Tribune's board of economists.

More evidence of the still-strong American economy (Friday, 2/26/99)
Good numbers indicate that the American economy is still booming and has lots of momentum left. Meanwhile, one of the troubled Asian economies sees good times ahead, and Malaysian leaders, who endured significant international criticism relating to their approach to fixing things, are now beginning to feel vindicated.

Australia's uncounted unemployed (Friday, 2/26/99)
The official unemployment figures don't tell the whole story in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Here's the story from Melbourne's The Age.

Who are the uninsured? (Friday, 2/26/99)
Persons lacking health coverage in the U.S. may be just about anybody you can think of. Peter Kilborn of the New York Times says that the uninsured "run the gamut," but, altogether, there are 43.4 million of them in the world's largest, richest economy.

Big discrimination suit at Merrill Lynch gets bigger (Friday, 2/26/99)
Thousands of current and former women brokers at Merrill Lynch are eligible to participate in the class-action settlement, according to a report from Ann Wozencraft.

Opportunities for women in construction (Friday, 2/26/99)
Brigitte Greenberg reports that the American construction industry is trying to change its image in order to attract women. The traditionally male-dominated industry is experiencing a major labor shortage throughout most of the country.

Employed, but still homeless (Friday, 2/26/99)
The next time you feel like asking a homeless person why s/he doesn't get a job, it may be good to stifle the impulse. Mark Brunswick reports that, in the Twin Cities anyway, about a third of the homeless are already employed, but they're homeless anyway.

Rising skill levels in Mexico and what they mean for the U.S. (Friday, 2/26/99)
It's not just the unskilled jobs that are heading south now, according to Howard LaFranchi who reports from Ciuda Juarez, Mexico for the Christian Science Monitor.

Americans feeeelin' good (Friday, 2/26/99)
A new poll finds considerable optimism in the United States, and, despite widespread satisfaction with President Clinton's job performance, many Americans would like to see a slight personal adjustment when the next president takes office. On CNN's Larry King Live the other night, Andy Rooney of CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" said that President Clinton is very good at what he does and very bad at who he is.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Welfare to Work Partnership (Friday, 2/26/99)
The Welfare to Work Partnership was started by a number of well-known corporations to encourage and assist business in hiring welfare recipients. Since the beginning of the Partnership, a large number of additional companies of all sizes have come on board.

What he said, and what it means (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan spoke to the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday and to the House Banking Committee yesterday. Economists are trying to decide on the implications of his fairly complex message. One thing he said is that President Clinton's plan to raise the minimum wage could work to the disadvantage of teenagers in the job market.

Military pay raises approved (Thursday, 2/25/99)
John Whitesides reports that the United States Senate has approved pay raises for military personnel which, it is hoped, will help the volunteer services attract and hold the people they need in a hot civilian job market with which the services must compete.

Mediation accepted at one airline, sought at another (Thursday, 2/25/99)
American Airlines and its pilots have agreed to mediation, while flight attendants at USAir say their talks with the company have stalled and have asked the National Mediation Board for help in moving things along.

Use of food stamps has declined in the U.S., but hunger maybe not as much (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Andrew Revkin writes in today's New York Times about the dramatic decrease in the number of people applying for food stamps in only four years. However, it doesn't mean that people aren't hungry.

Full benefits will require lengthening period of employee contributions, planning agency says (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Les Echos reports from France that the Commissariat Genera du Plan says that employees will have to contribute to their retirement system for 42 years, rather than the present 40, if they want to retire with full benefits.

One bug that health care workers aren't treating very effectively (Thursday, 2/25/99)
An attorney specializing in health and technology says that the American health care industry is behind other sectors in preparing for the year 2000 and whatever havoc the Y2K bug might bring. In fact, most health professionals seem to have no idea what might happen on January 1, 2000, he says. Speaking of health care, don't hold your breath for changes in the Medicare system, despite all the talk. Two analysts say that an overhaul of the system isn't on the immediate horizon.

The pursuit of control in work life (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Columnist Amy Gage discusses how so many people want control, not necessarily of other people, but of their own work schedules and situations. Along these lines, research indicates that job stress is increased by the need to react to things over which one does not have control. As a consequence, one of the most stressful occupations is that of secretary.

The difference between insurance annuities and Social Security (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Why aren't insurance companies worrying about the annuities they're obligated to pay out, while nearly everybody worries about Social Security? Thomas Sowell says it's because of a fundamentally different way of operating, and Social Security's problems were a "time-bomb" planted in the system at its very beginning.

The contribution of sex bias to family poverty (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Many families wouldn't be in poverty if women who work outside the home were paid at a level comparable to men for comparable work, according to a new study from the AFL-CIO and the Institute for Women's Policy Research. Here's that story from Tamar Lewin of the New York Times.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: History of the Internet (Thursday, 2/25/99)
Will the Internet have as much impact on the evolution of the world economy, political, organization, and culture as the invention of the light bulb, the printing press, written language and mathematics? We don't know either. It does seem to be awfully significant, though, and we're probably only at the very beginning of its development. It may seem as though the Internet has exploded on us over night, but it has a history that extends back longer than you may think. Here's a very informative collection of articles on the History of the Internet, including a timeline and other information, from the Internet Society.

Big suit against American Airlines pilots (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
Disgruntled passengers are seeking damages for the inconvenience caused by the recent "sickout" at American Airlines, and would like their suit to be given "class action" status. In Portugal, workers at Trasportes Aereos Portugueses SA protested at the airline's Lisbon headquarters yesterday. They don't like plans to sell a minority interest in the company to SAirGroup, which owns Swissair, saying that the plan would give Swissair control over some TAP operations and threaten jobs. Diario de Noticias is reporting the story. Also in Portugal, but in another industry, Publico reports that a union at Corticeira Amorim SGPS SA, a cork producer, is threatening a second strike within a week if union representatives are unable to meet with company representatives about salary and benefit issues.

Greenspan provides mixed report to Senate Banking Committee (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
The American economy's "fundamentals" are still strong, the Federal Research Chairman testified yesterday, but he expects growth to be slower this year. He says the Fed is open-minded about interest rates and still sees dangers from economic problems in other parts of the world, as well as from the growing labor shortage throughout the U.S.

What can be done about the crisis in American agriculture? (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
Charles Abbott reports that President Clinton is asking a special commission for quick advice.

Fewer workers in small business covered by health insurance (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
Health coverage has become an increasingly unusual benefit provided by smaller firms. Here's the story from Martha Hamilton of the Washington Post.

Watch out! The employers are coming, the employers are coming! (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
Careful that you don't get trampled. If you're going to graduate from college this spring, a lot of employers may be chasing you. At least, that's what Mary Jane Smetanka suspects following the response to a private college job fair in the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, Roger Yu reports on perky quirks, er, quirky perks offered by employers who need to attract and hold tech workers.

Mediate, don't litigate, says EEOC official (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
The courts are clogged with employment-related suits. A solution may be more reliance on mediation, according to Commissioner Paul Steven Miller. Here's a big harassment suit that has just been settled, with a large lettuce grower agreeing to pay $1.9 million. Martha Mendoza reports that it's the biggest harassment settlement in the agricultural industry handled by the EEOC.

One-hundred million job seekers (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
China's effort to dismantle its huge, inefficient, state-run industries has thrown enormous numbers of people out of work. The New York Times' Elisabeth Rosenthal says the search for jobs is causing large-scale migrations within the country.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: AllECommerce (Wednesday, 2/24/99)
It's still a very small part of the American economy, but business on the web is growing fast. Big companies are trying to stake a claim, but the web also provides individuals or very small companies with entrepreneurial opportunities that might not be available to them otherwise. AllECommerce can help you keep up with everything related to biz on the web.

Big alterations at Levi Strauss (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
The company that invented denim jeans in the 19th century has gotten behind the curve in its highly competitive industry. Levi Strauss plans to close half of its pants plants in North America, which will cost nearly 6,000 jobs. Stephanie Stoughton of the Washington Post explains why they're is having so many problems. Abigail Goldman and Stuart Silverstein of the Los Angels Times says that the company's new manufacturing plants are most likely to be located in South America or the Caribbean. Speaking of job cuts, Bank One Corporation plans to eliminate about 200 jobs, most of which will be in London.

Norwegian labor protests Shell's plans to close refinery (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
Aftenposten reports that two major Norwegian labor unions, NOPEF and LO, are asking their members to boycott Shell products as a way of protesting the company's decision to close its refinery at Sola.

President foregoes salary (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
The president of Venezuela, that is. President Hugo Chavez says his salary will be used to establish student scholarships. The new president is popular with his nation's poor, of whom there are many. Venezuela has a major unemployment problem, and Chavez is asking for a national effort to solve its serious economic problems.

Governors don't want state workers to be covered by Social Security (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
Perhaps you weren't aware that millions of American workers are exempt from the Social Security system. It's true, and many of them don't want to be forced to abandon what they have in order to join up. State governors meeting in Washington have made their views clear, as well. They don't want the federal government to mandate Social Security coverage for state and local workers not presently in the system.

The looming catastrophe down on the American farm (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
Thousands of American farmers may be forced out of business this year, with enormous social consequences, according to Dan Glickman, United States Secretary of Agriculture.

A Japanese plan for helping its economy (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
How about instituting daylight savings time so that consumer will have more time to shop? Much of Asia has been looking to Japan to get its economy going, because of Japan's great influence across Asia. The Japanese economy is more than twice as large as all of the other Asian economies combined, so, as Japan goes, so goes much of the rest of the region. Despite indications that the worst may be over in many suffering Asian economies, the disruption in the lives of ordinary people is essentially beyond calculation, according to Grant Peck, who writes from Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand is where the Asian financial crisis began nearly two years ago, incidentally.

How's the world's second-largest nation doing? (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
Japan has the second-largest economy in the world, but the second-largest nation is India. Demographers are forecasting that it may surpass China in population by the middle of the new century, and many economic forecasters have been including India on their lists of "emerging economies" for the 21st century. Jim Boyd comments from Mumbai, India in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that India has a "glass half full, half empty" economy, and is still trying to recover from Nehru's socialism.

One of the best reasons for overcoming a tendency to stereotype on the basis of age (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
One of the world's most remarkable and perhaps still its most influential man is a scholarly, elderly gentlemen named Greenspan, who is anything but retired. USA Today takes a look at the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, who, more than anyone else, can be given credit for America's historic economic expansion. Also in Gannett's national newspaper today, Peter Eisler and Barbara Pearson report on the record number of health care professionals who are going to prison because of health care fraud convictions. In a somewhat more positive health care story, Robert Pear of the New York Times reports that President Clinton intends to set up a toll-free line to make it easy to enroll children for health care coverage.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Resources for Economists on the Internet (Tuesday, 2/23/99)
If you're an economist or economics student and would like to know what is available for you on the Internet, Professor Bill Goffe of the Department of Economics and International Business at the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg is willing to be your guide. Here's his Resources for Economists on the Internet.

Farmers participate in violent protest in Belgium (Monday, 2/22/99)
As many as 40,000 Belgian farmers demonstrated in opposition to changes in the European Union's agricultural policy, clashing with police in the process. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Doug Palmer reports that American farmers are likely to have more to protest, as a weak export market is expected to cost them billions of dollars per year. With things very tough down on the American farm, farmers are trying to stay in business by borrowing against the value of their land, hoping that better times will come by the time they have to pay off the loans. The Minneapolis Star Tribune tells why that's a risky business.

Greenspan's testimony this week to be cheery, but will include some cautions as well (Monday, 2/22/99)
The Federal Reserve Chairman will report to Congress tomorrow and Wednesday.

American teachers need more computer training, according to a new report (Monday, 2/22/99)
American schools are getting better equipped with h-tech gear, but many teachers still haven't gotten up to speed. Here's that from Jay Mathews of the Washington Post.

Maryland employers find worker scarcity dims their confidence (Monday, 2/22/99)
Finding enough of the right kinds of workers isn't easy, and, as Peter Behr reports, employers in Maryland are becoming less confident about the future of their businesses as a consequence. Mike Hughlett reports on a new survey that forecasts increasing demand for workers in St. Paul, Minnesota. It's the same story over much of the United States, as nearly a third of U.S. businesses expect to add workers during the next quarter...or try to.

The latest on the crisis in Asia (Monday, 2/22/99)
Things are looking a bit better, or, at least, the worst seems to be over, but it's easy to exaggerate how good things are at this point. Dirk Beveridge reports on the continuing high unemployment in the battered Asian economies, as well as declining living standards. Meanwhile, Ronald Bosrock reports on Ireland, which has been thriving in the new global economy, but has also been experiencing some unintended consequences.

Wellness programs can help keep companies as well as employees healthy (Monday, 2/22/99)
Here's Ira Dreyfuss' report on the benefits of wellness programs in the workplace.

Mental health-related lawsuits on the increase (Monday, 2/22/99)
More and more employees are suing employers, claiming special needs for their psychological problems. Here's the story from Stephanie Balzer of the Business Journal of Phoenix.

EEOC sharpens up (Monday, 2/22/99)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is getting things under control, and may no longer deserve its reputation as one of the most ineffective government agencies.

Sometimes career paths contain curves and switchbacks (Monday, 2/22/99)
Here's Rosanne Rosen's New York Times article about matching your talents and preferences with your career plans.

What to do about child labor (Monday, 2/22/99)
Kate Stanley writes from Jaipur, India on the need for alternatives. Simply conducting boycotts won't help in the long-run.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Harvard's MBA Program (Monday, 2/22/99)
The market for MBAs varies from time to time, and it makes a difference where you get your degree. There are a number of MBA programs in the "first tier" with Harvard now, but, although not as exclusive as it once was, Harvard's MBA Program, with its famous "case method," is still regarded as "blue chip."

Ministers see economic deterioration (Sunday, 2/21/99)
Finance ministers from the world's largest industrial nations met in Germany and came away agreeing that global economic conditions have been weakening and that action must be taken to sustain growth. Tony Czuczka of the Washington Post reports that the ministers also agreed that an early warning system should be developed so that future financial crises can be identified early.

Northwest flight attendants try to deliver petition (Sunday, 2/21/99)
Northwest Airlines, which has been in the news a lot lately because of labor disputes, is negotiating with its flight attendants. Talks were disrupted yesterday by several flight attendants who tried to deliver a petition signed by 11,000 workers.

Will Y2K really disrupt your economic life? (Sunday, 2/21/99)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn provides an update on preparation for the first of January of next year. Incidentally, if you've been wondering what the Y2K bug looks like, we're pleased to be of service.

Honest, taxes really have been going down in the U.S. (Sunday, 2/21/99)
The Washington Post's George Hager writes that Americans are really less heavily taxed than they were 20 years ago. The tax burden has been higher in most European countries than in the United States for a long time, and Anne Swardson, writing from Paris, says that, despite regional differences, the one thing that European countries still have in common is a big tax bite to support lots of government services.

Get set for the era of women in American economic and political life (Sunday, 2/21/99)
American women have long considered themselves to be a minority group, in terms of influence, but, statistically, they are a majority. While more males are born, females survive longer, so, at any particular time, there are more females in American society than males. Nonetheless, institutional patterns have persisted, and, while women have made progress in many areas of American life, there are still widespread disadvantages. That may be about to change, however, if Matt Towery, author of Powerchicks: How Women Will Dominate America is right. Here's Amy Joyce's column telling about Mr. Towery's ideas.

The sad and dangerous state of the once-proud Red Army (Sunday, 2/21/99)
Russia's professional military isn't all that professional--or combat-ready--anymore. Many personnel haven't been paid regularly, to say the least, which, among other things, has influenced their attitudes toward their government and their jobs. For a several years, many observers have felt that the Russian economy couldn't get much worse, but, so far, most of these people have been wrong. Currently, the country needs an IMF loan, and, despite resistance and skepticism, Prime Minister Primakov says he's "cautiously optimistic" that a deal will be worked out.

Whistle-blower beneficiaries (Sunday, 2/21/99)
The federal government is asking Medicare beneficiaries to help uncover waste and fraud in the system.

Are you and your employer singing off the same page when it comes to vacations? (Sunday, 2/21/99)
Columnist Kirstin Downey Grimsley has been talking to some experts on one of the most cared about benefits.

More income equality in Canada (Sunday, 2/21/99)
The gap between haves and have nots is smaller, on the average, in Canada than in the United States, according to Stanford economist Paul Romer. Other research during recent years has found that the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is the most uneven of the world's industrial countries and the gap has widened over most of the 1980s and 1990s.

Seminar for people wanting more workplace meaning (Sunday, 2/21/99)
A March 4 workshop scheduled in Phoenix arises out of a recognition of the need for a more "stimulating and empowering work environment." Here's more from the Arizona Republic.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Successful Farming (Sunday, 2/21/99)
Along with the American steel and oil industries, American agriculture is among those conspicuous exceptions to the current American economic boom, and many people who work in these industries are suffering. Many farmers, in particularly, are wondering whether they will be able to stay in business and look for helpful information and advice wherever they can find it. Successful Farming is one of the oldest and most widely read magazines among American farmers.

Long strike ends at Samsung (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Workers have been on strike at South Korea's Samsung for seventy-five days, but not any longer. They went back to work yesterday.

G7 meet in Germany (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Representatives of the world's largest industrial nations are meeting to take a fresh look at the world's economic problems, including sluggish growth in Europe. A new "financial stability forum" is being considered. Thousands of miles away in Washington state, the American Secretary of Defense urges that it not be forgotten how much prosperity depends on peace.

Bad GDP numbers in Brazil (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Tracey Ober reports on the latest consequences of the Brazilian government's austerity program: a major recession. The country's gross domestic product figures are the worst in six years.

Another Democratic presidential wannabe makes a pilgrimage to Miami Beach (Saturday, 2/20/99)
If the Democrats are to retain the White House in the next election, organized labor's help will probably be required. The AFL-CIO's Executive Council has been meeting in Floriday, and Vice-President Gore follows Bill Bradley in search of support. Meanwhile, the New York Times' Steven Greenhouse says that union leaders are starting to respond to John Sweeney's "organize or die" message by concentrating on companies that have been resisting unionization. More than a third of the American workforce was unionized in 1955. It's down to less than 15 percent now.

Keyboard design makes a difference (Saturday, 2/20/99)
If you spend a lot of time at the computer and have problems with your hands, it may be because of the design of your keyboard. A new study reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports on findings and recommendations.

I should consider working for the WHAT?!! (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Now, now, now, don't prejudge. Working for the government can be a good thing, says columnist Amy Lindgren. In this case, she's referring to a particular state government, but her points may have wider applicability. The state government is the largest employer in Minnesota, incidentally.

The number of illegal workers in Australia shrinks (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Judy Hughes of the Australian News Network reports that vigorous detection and enforcement has been reducing the number of illegal workers in that country.

It's time to produce some women engineers, lots of them (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Smith College is establishing a department of engineering, and it's the first women's college to do so. Here's the story from Ethan Bronner of the New York Times.

The increasingly important role of project manager (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman says that the new economy has a need for project managers, and the field has developed into a sophisticated new profession. Meanwhile, Susan Vaughn of the Los Angeles Times writes that the Labor Department reports a continuing shortage of construction workers, which could provide interesting high-paying opportunities for women, if it were not for persistent biases.

Big job cuts at Japanese banks (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Nearly 20,000 banking jobs are expected to disappear in Japan over the next four years. In the U.S., Cone Mills Corporation gets ready to cut an additional 650 jobs after losing nearly that many last month in a plant shutdown.

Key players in managed care try to talk about it (Saturday, 2/20/99)
American physicians and officials of managed care organizations probably don't hang out together just for fun too much, but they have been meeting to try to work out some possible long-term solutions for things.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Americans With Disabilities Act (Saturday, 2/20/99)
Here's an explanation of the Americans With Disabilities Act from the University of North Dakota, focusing on its implications for higher education and the workplace.

Last-minute agreement in Germany (Friday, 2/19/99)
Employers and IG Metall, Germany's largest labor union, have reached a last-minute agreement. Here's the story from the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the International Herald Tribune. However, the threat of a strike is not entirely over, as Michael Latz reports via the Detroit News. CBS MarketWatch says that the deal may mean additional trouble for the already troubled German economy, and because it's the largest economy in Europe, it may mean trouble for the rest of Europe as well.

Strike at CBC (Friday, 2/19/99)
About 2,000 camera operators and other technical personnel at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation have gone out on strike, disrupting programming at the CBC's English-language television service.

Large numbers of illegal immigrants employed at world's largest shopping mall, according to allegations (Friday, 2/19/99)
Large numbers of arrests appear to be imminent at the Mall of America in the Twin Cities, where as many as 2,000 workers are illegal immigrants, according to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Proposed "ergonomics" standards coming from OSHA (Friday, 2/19/99)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration intends to propose the standards after years of study and opposition from employers and Congressional Republicans.

American steel industry finding it harder to get attention while the rest of the economy is strong (Friday, 2/19/99)
Because of cheap imports, the American steel industry is in a fight for its survival, according to U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller. Here's the story from Steve Massey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Too few students are attracted to accounting as a career (Friday, 2/19/99)
Melody Petersen of the New York Times says that accounting needs to make its image a bit more zippy in order to attract enough top students to the field.

Some hi-tech layoffs (Friday, 2/19/99)
Yuko Inoue reports from Tokyo that NEC will cut 15,000 jobs from its chipmaking operations following major losses. In the U.S., Applied Graphics will cut 10 percent of its workforce, and First Union in Charlotte intends to cut the first of what will probably be thousands of jobs nationwide, including technical positions, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.

Bradley hits the beach to talk to labor leaders (Friday, 2/19/99)
Bill Bradley has had a varied and highly successful career so far, first as Rhodes Scholar, then as National Basketball Association star, and then as a United States Senator. He would like to add to his resume the position of President of the United States. Jane Sutton reports that he's been in Miami Beach, Florida to talk to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, which is meeting there. Also from Miami Beach, Frank Swoboda of the Washington Post reports that the AFL-CIO intends to try to advance its political agenda by keeping track of Wall Street money managers and how they handle pension funds. Finally, Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times tells about the AFL-CIO's forum on Social Security, which was well-attended.

Workers fired for downloading "inappropriate" material from the Internet (Friday, 2/19/99)
Decatur, Georgia's city manager says that the rule against city employees downloading "inappropriate" material comes under the city's sexual harassment policies, after three fire department supervisors were fired for having such downloaded material in their possession at work. The ACLU says that the employees' free speech rights may have been violated. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the story on Wednesday.

Impressive checks will be in the mail at DaimlerChrysler AG (Friday, 2/19/99)
Here's news from today's St. Paul Pioneer Press and Los Angeles Times about DaimlerChrysler's profit sharing.

Hollywood slowing down, jobs less plentiful (Friday, 2/19/99)
Some jobs are being exported, as film production moves overseas, according to Michael Fleeman's report from the American film capital.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Library Job Hunting on the Internet (Friday, 2/19/99)
If you're a library professional and would like to find just the right job, Jeffery Charles Lee of the San Diego Public Library can help you with Library Job Hunting on the Internet.

If the "sickout" ends up costing the pilots $10 million, it has cost the company a lot more, they claim (Thursday, 2/18/99)
American Airlines officials claim that the cost of the recent industrial action on the part of its pilots' union will exceed $150 million, plus much loss of good will on the part of passengers. A judge ordered that the "sickout" stop and also ordered the union to make an initial payment of $10 million, but it could amount to more in the end. In other airline news, the International Association of Machinists says that early results indicate ratification of a new contract at Northwest Airlines where 18,000 ground workers will be affected. Finally, Frank Swododa of the Washington Post writes about a new arrangement at United Airlines where workers will help determine executive compensation.

Some of today's job cuts (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Heinz will reduce by selling "Weight Watchers" and closing plants, with an overall workforce reduction of about 10 percent. BF Goodrich plans to cut about 150 jobs, plus Amoco and TWA are announcing cuts. Finally, South Africa's Business Report says that South African Airways intends to cut between 900 and 1,100 jobs out of a total of about 11,000. Speaking of South Africa, officials from the U.S. and South African governments are meeting in Cape Town to talk about many things, including jobs.

Swedish union to spread strike fund risk over euro countries (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Stockholm's FinansTidningen reports that the largest labor union in Sweden, Landsorganisationen, is thinking of buying more shares listed in countries using the euro.

U.S. organized labor gets ready for 2000 campaign (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Patricia Zengerle reports on the annual AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting in Florida where the year 2000 election has been a major topic of conversation.

The problem of getting from here to there, and why it can make a big difference (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Amy Lindgren says that available transportation can be the key to enable inner city welfare recipients to make the transition to the work world.

Maternity leave breakthrough for part-time workers (Thursday, 2/18/99)
"Casuals" will receive maternity leave in New South Wales, which is a first in Australia, according to Linda Doherty, who writes for the Sydney Morning Herald.

More on Greenspan's thoughts about hi-tech and job insecurity (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Beth Belton reports on the Federal Reserve Chairman's remarks for USA Today.

Diagnosis is easier than prescription, when it comes to the world's financial contagion and its aftermath (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Here's the fourth installment in that important series on the global economy by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn writing for one of the world's great newspapers (hint: think New York Times). Also, if you missed them, here are parts one, two, and three.

Which southern state discriminates most in hiring? (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Walter Jones of the Savannah Morning News writes that a recent survey finds more employers in Georgia have been discriminating against women and minorities when it comes to hiring.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Business Tr@veler Info Network (Thursday, 2/18/99)
Articles, advice, resources, and links, links, links of interest to the biz traveler. It's the Business Tr@veler Info Network.

American Airlines makes an offer (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
In an effort to resolve its conflict with its pilots, who conducted the recent "sickout," American Airlines management is offering to grant immediate salary parity to the pilots of the recently acquired Reno Air. Marcus Kabel of Reuters reports that American's pilots union has turned over $10 million to a federal court in response to a court order, but the total cost to the union may be more in the long-run. In other airline labor news, 18,000 employees of Northwest Airlines have voted on a new four-year contract, and results should be known today.

Insecurity in a hot economy (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
It used to be that there was either a strong job market or a lot of people worrying about job security. In the new economy, America has both, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan.

Army Secretary wants to change selection criteria (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
The United States Army is having difficulty competing with a hot civilian job market. In order to attract recruits in sufficient numbers, Army Secretary Caldera would like to relax the high school graduation requirement. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal's Robert Johnson reports that, while many civilian employers are also having difficulty find enough of the people they need, at least one Florida employer, rather than relaxing hiring standards, may even increase them.

Ukraine not expected to escape hardship (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
The Ukraine has enjoyed a greater degree of economic stability recently than many of the other former Soviet republics, including Russia, but it's only temporary, say experts.

A mark of growing American affluence...for some (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
Many Americans have gotten a lot better off financially, but there's also been a growing gap between haves and have nots. Perhaps as evidence of both trends, Louise Rafkin tells about the growing number of Americans who employ domestic helpers.

Last-minute efforts to avoid a major strike in Germany (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
Midnight tonight is the deadline for finding a compromise that would head off a strike by Germany's largest union. Here's that story from Roland Eggleston of Radio Free Europe.

Another basis for employment discrimination (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
Some employers would rather not hire you if you have children, according to Shelley Donald Coolidge of the Christian Science Monitor. Stephen Long of the Australian Financial Review reports that age discrimination is a problem in his country, where overall unemployment is at its lowest level in eight years. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a MacArthur Foundation survey finds little evidence of a universal "midlife crisis.

Optimism about political climate at AFL-CIO meeting in Florida (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports that organized labor expects success in pressing its agenda, given changes in Washington's political climate.

Good news for business and other travelers (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
It's costing less to get across the Atlantic at the moment. There are some real airline bargains if you want to get from the U.S. to Europe, and, as Edwin McDowell reports, that may not change for a while.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Social Security privatization (Wednesday, 2/17/99)
If you're interested in the movement to privatize at least part of the Social Security system, you may find articles and other information of interest on this Social Security privatization site, despite its obvious point of view.

American Airlines mostly back at full strength (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
Marcus Kabel reports that most "sick" pilots have returned for work and that American Airlines will fly most of its scheduled flights today. Caroline E. Mayer and Tim Smart and the Washington Post have more on this story, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that pilots and the airline have started talking again. In case you've forgotten what all this has been all about, American Airlines recently acquired a regional carrier, and their pilots union has been concerned about the way in which Reno Air, particularly its pilots and their pay levels, is being integrated into American. Howard Kleinberg of the Cox News Service doesn't like the pilots' use of a "sickout," thinking that it hurts the labor movement, and Steve James of Reuters takes a broader view of how American unions are changing.

Just how bad are things in Russia for average citizens? (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
The years since the demise of the old Soviet Union have seen a desperate struggle to establish both a viable democracy and a market economy in Russia. Among the things that have actually happened are an historic process of de-industrialization and the development of a subsistence economy in which most people are attempting to grow at least some of the food they consume themselves.

Meanwhile, in the steel plants, and down on the farm, and in the oil fields of America... (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
While most Russians would be willing to trade situations with most Americans in an overall booming economy, not all sectors are flourishing, by any means. For instance, the American steel industry is hurting, as are steel workers, and American farmers are finding that their businesses are in jeopardy because of low farm product prices, with no quick fixes on the horizon, according to Keith Collins, chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Oil prices are very low too, so the American oil industry is struggling, and many jobs in the oil fields are being cut. Here's more on that story from Agis Salpukas in the New York Times.

Retraining in Japan (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
Sandra Sugawara writes from Tokyo about an effort to prepare laid off Japanese workers for re-entry into the workforce.

Dole wants major teacher training effort (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
Teachers at all levels need to be better trained, says apparent presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole. Meanwhile, the current Secretary of Education wants national licensing of teachers, and points out that the U.S. will need 2.2 million new teachers during the next decade.

The increasingly dangerous business of getting into the United States illegally (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
William Branigin writes that people attempting to get into the U.S. from Mexico are choosing more remote and also more dangerous areas in which to attempt a border crossing.

Not all persons with specific learning disabilities are children, which has implications for the work world (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
You've heard of ADHD, or "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder," but probably in relation to school children who are having difficulty performing up to their ability. The same kinds of things can happen with adults on the job and for some of the same reasons, according to employment consultant Ruth Erickson. Here's more from Amy Lindgren via the Kansas City Star.

More on the global financial crisis (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
Here's the second installment in that important New York Times series on the financial meltdown over much of the globe during the past couple of years. Yesterday's first installment can be accessed from our Monday news brief or on the New York Times site itself.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Millennium Project (Tuesday, 2/16/99)
The Millennium Project involves hundreds of scholars from 50 countries examining alternative scenarios for the long-term future, including, but not limited to issues relating to the new economy.

Threat of big fine brings pilots back to work (Monday, 2/15/99)
More and more American Airlines pilots are returning to work, deciding that they're not sick after all, and the company hopes to be back to full strength by the middle of the week. Laurence Zuckerman of the New York Times offers some perspective on the long-term militancy of this highly-paid class of workers. In Finland, the government intends to intervene in the two-week long flight controllers' strike, according to a report in Helsingin Sanomat. In Minnesota USA, a union representing 18,000 workers at Northwest Airlines urges ratification of a new agreement. In another part of the world and outside the airline industry, striking Samsung employees have decided to return to work in South Korea.

Strike vote may come soon at IG Metall (Monday, 2/15/99)
Germany's largest union wants a raise for its members during a time of high unemployment in that country and major changes in European economic life. A strike vote may be coming very soon. Here's the story from the International Herald Tribune and the Irish Times.

Detroit newspaper union ratifies contract (Monday, 2/15/99)
Remember the big Detroit newspaper strike of 1995? Well, one of the formerly striking unions has reached agreement with the papers and has ratified a new contract.

Sun International to cut 20 percent of its workforce (Monday, 2/15/99)
South Africa's Business Report says that Sun International South Africa Ltd. plans to fire 2,000 of its 10,000 workers over the months ahead. The company operates casinos in South Africa.

French employers not optimistic about growth (Monday, 2/15/99)
Small to medium-sized companies in France don't expect strong growth this year, according to La Tribune, which writes about a survey conducted by Credit Lyonnais in conjunction with France Info.

Where to find career advice now that you're started but worrying whether you're going in the right direction (Monday, 2/15/99)
Amy Joyce of the Washington Post passes on some advice and tells where you can find the career guidance you need.

What to do if you're stuck in Russia's far north and no longer working (Monday, 2/15/99)
Judith Ingram reports on the extreme discomfort of people who used to work in Russia's frigid regions and want to go someplace warmer.

A little confused about the global financial crisis? Here's clarification (Monday, 2/15/99)
Nicholas Kristof and Edward Wyatt of the New York Times provide an in-depth look at the financial meltdown that has affected so much of the globe during the past year and a half or more. This article is the first in a series.

Will your job be taken over by a machine? (Monday, 2/15/99)
If you're a retail clerk, it could happen, just as many human bank tellers have been displaced by ATMs. Sabra Chartrand of the New York Times describes a growing trend.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: QuickSite (Monday, 2/15/99)
Brought to our attention on TV's "Computer Chronicles," QuickSite offers a quick way to start a new business on the web. You pay for the software to get you started, plus a monthly fee in order to keep your business on their server. The latter part will make you particularly hopeful that their company will succeed so that you won't have the awkward task of moving your business from their server to another later.

American corporations lay off nearly 80,000 workers in January (Sunday, 2/14/99)
No, it doesn't mean that the American economy has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Things are still going well, and there's still an overall tight labor market. It's all going on at once, and continuing layoffs in the midst of a strong economy simply reflect the turbulence and churning that is characteristics of the new economy.

Malaysia claims success (Sunday, 2/14/99)
Malaysia was widely criticized for putting strong controls on foreign investment last fall, but now officials are claiming that their actions have been vindicated, and that the country once again is open for business.

Boskin injured in auto accident (Sunday, 2/14/99)
Michael Boskin was Chairman of President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers. He has been injured in a California car accident and is in serious condition.

The cost of defying the court (Sunday, 2/14/99)
The union representing pilots at American Airlines hasn't been doing enough to end the "sickout" that has resulted in the cancellation of many of the big air carrier's flights, says a court, and the cost of its negligence or outright defiance will be at least $10 million. Here's the latest from Steven Greenhouse in today's New York Times. Also, Agis Salpukas reports on how members of other unions are being affected by the slowing of American's operations.

Fewer young Americans aspire to the presidency as a career goal (Sunday, 2/14/99)
Some of the recent occupants of the White House may have convinced youthful Americans than nearly anybody can become president, and, compared to other options, it's not necessarily an attractive career objective. Here are some results from an ABC News poll of American teenagers.

Men can be sexually harassed on the job too (Sunday, 2/14/99)
The Houston Chronicle's L.M. Sixel tells about an harassment suit brought by a man against his female boss.

People like to know how they're doing (Sunday, 2/14/99)
A correspondent would like to know how to get the boss to review performance now and then. Also in the Los Angeles Times, Stuart Silverstein says that California isn't necessarily leading a recovery of the American organized labor movement.

Now that the holiday bills are coming due... (Sunday, 2/14/99)
Money can become a taboo topic in many relationships, but couples need to talk about it. In fact, couples have more conflict over money than anything else, according to these writers in the Nando Times.

An old taboo is resurrected (Sunday, 2/14/99)
During the Middle Ages, the only thing regarded as more immoral than sex, or even marriage itself, according to some church leaders of the time, was the charging of interest, or "usury," as it was called. Now, an Islamic nation may try to develop an "interest-free economy."

Blue-collar temps (Sunday, 2/14/99)
Temporary workers used to be clerical workers, but in a new economy that is short of help and values a "just-in-time" workforce, you can even rent an executive. Also, Amy Joyce reports that the temp trend has also broadened to include blue collar workers.

An unintended consequence of the new welfare limits (Sunday, 2/14/99)
How's the new two-year welfare limit affecting grandparents who are raising their grandchildren? M.S. Enkoji of the Sacramento Bee explains.

Why many people care about the sampling issue (Sunday, 2/14/99)
A more accurate count in the 2000 census can determine where Congressional district boundaries are drawn. Here's more from Steven Holmes of the New York Times. Also from the Times today, Paul Sweeney tells about a special effort to prepare new employees for work in their new company. Deborah Stead tells about Edward Luttwak's new book on a what may be an excessively brutal new economy: Turbo Capitalism: Winners and Losers in the Global Economy. Michelle Cottle advises a correspondent who wonders if skills forged in public education will transfer to the corporate work world. Keith McWalte considers what it means to be among the work world's perhaps excessively privileged. Finally, Matt Richtel reports on the vigorous competition to become the leading online job listing site.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: hotjobs.com (Sunday, 2/14/99)
hotjobs.com is the job listings site that spent a full 50% of its entire 1998 revenues of $4 million on one 30-second commercial on the Super Bowl telecast.

Pilots found in contempt (Saturday, 2/13/99)
The American Airlines pilots' union has been found in contempt for defying a court order to end the "sickout" that has resulted in the cancellation of a large proportion of American Airlines flights. The Allied Pilots Association will be fined $10 million, unless the fine is increased by the court.

Schroeder attempts to head off strike by IG Metall (Saturday, 2/13/99)
A strike by Germany's largest union would be harmful to an already troubled national economy, says the Chancellor, who is sending out an urgent appeal, according to a report from CNN.

Irish hospital unions to resist job cuts (Saturday, 2/13/99)
It is expected that more than 100 jobs will go at Tallaght Hospital, but, as Padraig Yeates of the Irish Times reports, unions representing the 1,800 staff members aren't sitting still.

The Americans are coming! The Americans are coming! (Saturday, 2/13/99)
Not so many years ago, American executives were traveling to Japan to try to learn the "secrets" of Japanese managers. Now, with a very weak Japanese and a strong American economy, Japanese companies are being bought out by American companies, and the American bosses are arriving, not to learn, but to take charge, and this makes a lot of people nervous in Japan. Things haven't been going well in nearby South Korea either, but, as the New York Times' Sheryl Wudunn reports, there are more signs of improvement there than in Japan at the moment.

Working mothers wean their children from the bottle later (Saturday, 2/13/99)
Stanford University researchers have found that infants of working mothers are bottle-fed longer, which may have long-term implications for the health and well-being of the children, they say.

Brazilian crisis less influential than expected (Saturday, 2/13/99)
Brazil's economic problems have had less of an impact on the economic life of other countries than expected, according to Paul Blustein of the Washington Post.

About to be married? First, check your "fiscal compatibility" (Saturday, 2/13/99)
Kathy Kristof tells about Citibank's Financial Bliss Quiz. You might want to compare answers with your spouse to be before tying the knot. Along similar lines, St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Amy Lindgren wonders about the financial well-being of women and why so many end up making less and living in poverty later.

What on earth is "ElderZest?" (Saturday, 2/13/99)
Carol Pine reports on a new organization that hopes to change some minds and overcome stereotypes about older workers.

Can you have low unemployment and low inflation at the same time? (Saturday, 2/13/99)
Yes, and the current state of the American economy proves it, according to John Cunniff, whose article comes to you via Canada's CBC News. Moreover, America's most poorly paid workers have been helped by the economic good times in the U.S.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The 2030 Center (Saturday, 2/13/99)
They're not a "think tank," but, instead, an "action tank," they say. The 2030 Center was founded by young people concerned about economic issues affecting the American future. They do research and act as advocates. Among other things, take a look at the report on Social Security which is available on their site.

Will American Airlines pilots be held in contempt? (Friday, 2/12/99)
The big airline's management believes that their pilots' association is defying an order to resume work at a normal pace, but the Allied Pilots Association denies it. Meanwhile, many passengers are getting stranded and increasingly angry. "Sickouts" are becoming a more popular pressure tactic on the part of unions as an alternative to strikes. Emily Nelson and J.C. Conklin offer an analysis of this trend in today's Wall Street Journal. Here's another on the same subject from Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times. However, speaking of strikes, Germany's largest union may not be reluctant to strike as early as the first of next month. John Schmid of the International Herald Tribune reports that IG Metall has ruled out arbitration. Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that Baden-Wuerttemberg employers had proposed arbitration as a well of ending the conflict. IG Metall wants an average 6.5 percent wage increase for its members, which number 3.4 million workers across several industries.

Miners converge on Queensland's Gordonstone Mine (Friday, 2/12/99)
Barbara Adam reports for the Sydney Morning Herald that miners from other mines are arriving to join the picket lines at Gordonstone Mine. They're protesting the reopening of the mine with a largely non-union workforce. Also in the Herald, Adele Horin reports that continued funding is in jeopardy for a training program for disabled youth. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Robert Pear of the New York Times that the Clinton administration wants to increase cash benefits to persons with disabilities through the Social Security system.

Congressman Archer says Clinton's plan for fixing Social Security would increase the national debt (Friday, 2/12/99)
Archer is House Ways and Means Committee Chairman. He claims that the Clinton plan would increase the total national debt by $1.2 trillion through 2004.

EEOC would like to see more mediation, fewer suits (Friday, 2/12/99)
Working things out through mediation would be a better approach than going to court to solve disputes between employers and employees, says the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Here's the story from Kirstin Downey Grimsley of the Washington Post. Also in the Post today, some editorial thoughts about former convict and current President Chavez' plans for easing Venezuela's increasing distress.

Here's a consequence of the Japanese recession that you may not have thought of (Friday, 2/12/99)
Financial pressure on families as a consequence of Japan's worst recession since World War II is forcing more and more high school students to drop out of school, according to Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

South Korean government plans gifts to raise morale (Friday, 2/12/99)
John Larkin reports on the Seoul government's effort to brighten things at least temporarily for the increasing numbers of homeless persons in the middle of South Korea's severe recession.

Workers may have friends in Iran (Friday, 2/12/99)
Iran's new Islamic Labor Party may have broad appeal because of its support for workers rights. Here's the story from William Samii of Radio Free Europe.

Is work more stressful than during earlier years? (Friday, 2/12/99)
Not so, says columnist Jerry Heaster of the Kansas City Star, who attempts to put things in perspective.

Construction trades may not be color blind (Friday, 2/12/99)
Timothy McNulty reports on testimony on racial discrimination in Pittsburgh's construction industry. Here's the story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Maybe Cupid should take some time off (Friday, 2/12/99)
Maggie Jackson reports on the downside of workplace romances that are actually carried on in the workplace.

Strib agrees with Clinton on expanding AmeriCorps (Friday, 2/12/99)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes on President Clinton's desire to increase the AmeriCorps budget so that the number of young people serving in the program can also be increased significantly. The big Twin Cities paper thinks it's a good idea.

More U.S. students are studying overseas (Friday, 2/12/99)
Approximately one percent of American students are studying outside the United States, according to USA Today.

Government workers cannot download sexual explicit content from the Internet (Friday, 2/12/99)
Here's Pamela Mendels' New York Times story on a court decision upholding a Virginia law. Some professors will have to get special permission in order to gather information for their research, for instance. The ACLU, which sees the ruling as representing a rollback of the First Amendment, is not pleased.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Basic Facts About Registering A Trademark (Friday, 2/12/99)
One of the defining characteristics of the new economy is an historic surge in entrepreneurism at all levels. The Internet alone is making possibly the development of a tremendous number of new businesses started by individuals or small groups of people. If you're among them, you may be interested in Basic Facts About Registering A Trademark from the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Slow down, you're goin' too fast (Thursday, 2/11/99)
Janet Guttsman reports that representatives of developing countries meeting in Jamaica would like to see the brakes put on globalization. Many representatives have been generous in their criticism of the International Monetary Fund, as well. Brazil is one of seventeen nations at the meeting, and Anthony Faiola of the Washington Post reports on the anger and resentment that are easy to find in that country.

Court rules in favor of American Airlines, but many flights are still grounded (Thursday, 2/11/99)
A U.S. District Court Judge has told American Airlines pilots to get back in the air. Here's the story from Reuters and the Washington Post. Chris Vaughn of the Fort Worth Star Telegram has been told by some of the pilots that they cannot predict whether pilots will obey the temporary restraining order and stop phoning in sick. Meanwhile, Andrew Pollack of the New York Times says that American's pilots are supposed to be in dispute with the company's management on behalf of pilots from the recently acquired Reno Air. However, Reno's pilots are also in a dispute with American's pilots. Does that clear things up for you?

Where oh where will all those needed hi-tech workers come from? (Thursday, 2/11/99)
Prince George's County in the greater Washington, D. C. area intends to emphasize training in order to make hi-tech workers out of lo-tech workers.

Talk to them and you may not have to pay them more (Thursday, 2/11/99)
USA Today's Stephanie Armour reports via the Detroit News that many workers feel they're not getting enough feedback or guidance from their bosses and might prefer it even to a raise.

Another nudge from the UK government (Thursday, 2/11/99)
Tony Blair's government wants to reduce the welfare rolls and is developing a new plan to encourage people on the dole to prepare for and seek employment.

Is this what you think too? (Thursday, 2/11/99)
American tax laws are too complicated, among other things, according to National Taxpayer Advocate W. Val Oveson, who has prepared a report for Congress.

Clinton wants more volunteers in AmeriCorps (Thursday, 2/11/99)
On the College Park campus of the University of Maryland yesterday, President Clinton called for greatly enlarging the AmeriCorps service program.

PTSD common among bank employees where robberies have occurred (Thursday, 2/11/99)
Being on duty in a bank when it's being robbed is not pleasant, and a study reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine finds that it can have lasting psychological effects as well. Many bank employees who have gone through the experience show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Why have America's productivity numbers been good, then bad, then good again? (Thursday, 2/11/99)
'Tis a puzzle, says the editorial writers at the Minneapolis Star Tribune who say that new data from the Labor Department support the notion that Americans have finally learned out to get a lot out of hi-tech in the workplace. Some years ago, a study at MIT was unable to find any productivity increases attributable to the huge investments in computer technology over many years. However, all along, there have been those who have said that it's been more of a people problem than a technology problem. Finally, they say, we're learning how to benefit from the technology which has been largely a mystery until recently. Will the Internet itself be responsible for another round of major productivity increases with resulting increases in the standard of living? Stay tuned.

Employers optimistic in Victoria (Thursday, 2/11/99)
Morgan and Banks has conducted a survey of employers in Victoria and finds a lot of eager anticipation for increased job vacancies with few plans for layoffs. Here's the story from the Australian News Network.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: 4000 Years of Women in Science (Thursday, 2/11/99)
According to professional scientists Dr. Sethanne Howard and Dr. Deborah Crocker, women have been making scientific contributions for a very long time, particularly if we use a broad definition of "science" to include technology and scientifically-based service professions. 4000 Years of Women in Science offers dozens of very brief biographies as well as some good reasons why girls should not be steered away from scientific and technical careers simply because they are girls. In fact, while stereotypical thinking across many centuries has included the idea of general feminine inferiority, modern research shows clearly that inherent differences between the sexes are far more difficult to detect under controlled conditions than our ancestors would have presumed. Those relatively few differences that do hold up on close examination tend to be in the area of social behavior, because hormones do make a difference. With respect to abilities, however, men and women appear to be made out of almost exactly the same stuff.

Unemployment moved in the wrong direction last month in Germany (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Official joblessness in Germany went from 10.9 percent in December to 11.5 percent in January, as Didi Kirsten Tatlow reports. John Schmid of the International Herald Tribune says this has added to an already high level of stress experienced by Chancellor Schroeder and other top officials in Bonn. While there are no rock-solid political barriers separating eastern and western Germany anymore, the fact that unemployment is far higher in the former eastern sector than in the west suggests than economic integration surely has not been achieved. The huge cost of reunification hit Germany at about the same time it needed to scramble to restructure its old industrial economy for full participation in the new global information economy. Germany has suffered historically high unemployment rates in recent years. The rest of Europe watches Germany closely, as does the rest of the world. Germany has the third-largest economy in the world, and not much can succeed across the European sub-continent if it is not succeeding in Germany.

Top Brazilian politicians decide they need to talk (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Brazil's President Cardoso has been at odds with some of the state governors over that country's austerity plan. They've scheduled a meeting in order to talk things over.

Pilots are talking, but not all of them are flying at American (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
The dispute between American Airlines and its pilots over the acquisition of a regional carrier continues. The two sides are talking, but flights are still being canceled because of the pilot union's "go slow" policy.

Waste and fraud have been reduced in the Medicare system, but... (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
...improper payments still added up to $12.6 billion last year. Here's the story from Robert Pear of the New York Times.

On the road again... (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
When some persons retire, they go south...then north, then east, then west. Rene Sanchez reports on the growing RV culture of elders.

More details on that solid productivity increase (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Caren Bohan has some details from new U.S. Department of Labor statistics showing that productivity in the U.S. economy increased during the final quarter of 1998 at the fastest rate in nearly three years. John Berry of the Washington Post says that among the implications has been an increase in wages.

Some experts think Clinton's numbers don't add up on Social Security (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
President Clinton wants to use part of the surplus to strengthen the American Social Security system for the long haul, but some experts are saying that his plan could delay a substantive restructuring of the American retirement system. Here's the story from Mark Weinraub of Reuters with additional details from today's New York Times. In addition, a syndicated columnist and economic expert with a famous last name thinks President Clinton is using "funny money" to make his plans.

Democrats say some Republican numbers don't add up either (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Or, at least, the tax cut that Republicans would like to see would be fairly selective in the way it would distribute its benefits, according to a Democratic analysis.

A possible future presidential candidate says U.S. supports global family planning (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Eric Onstad reports from The Hague that the American First Lady has told leaders at a UN conference that the United States will support family planning efforts throughout the world, despite cuts in Congress. Mrs. Clinton has not revealed her political plans, if any, but some who know her well have been speculating that she may run for the U.S. Senate soon and for the U.S. presidency a bit later, and that could mean 2004 or 2008. Assuming that Elizabeth Dole runs for president in 2000, it is conceivable and intriguing that the wives of the two major candidates in the last presidential election could end up opposing each other in 2004. That would symbolize a major change in the new work world, just as last time we knew that, whoever won the presidential election, the First Lady would be a highly successful lawyer.

What are the economic experts saying about the consequences of Y2K? (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Just about everything. If you like one forecast more than another, you can choose your expert accordingly. Others are predicting that panic about Y2K could prove to be more disruptive than the computer glitch itself.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Woman Pilot (Wednesday, 2/10/99)
Woman Pilot magazine is for women who fly for work or pleasure.

American Airlines cancels more flights (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
Marcus Kabel reports that the big airline has had to cancel a major portion of its flights because of its dispute with its pilots who are concerned about the company's acquisition of Reno Air. American's pilots are dissatisfied with existing plans for integrating the new regional airline into the company and bringing Reno's pilots up to the pay level of American's pilots. Laurence Zuckerman of the New York Times provides some additional perspective on the situation.

Bill to assist disabled workers advances in the Senate (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
If passed, the bill would enable many persons with disabilities to work but keep their disability benefits.

What does it take to become a German citizen? (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
Here's an analysis from the Washington Post of the election in Hesse and what the results mean for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's plans for immigration policy. Also in Germany, a top bank official says that Germany companies are prepared to compensate persons forced into slave labor during the infamous Nazi period.

More on those tax changes affecting persons with students in the family (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
If the cost of education has been giving you headaches, here's some relief from your dear Uncle Sam. Also, residents of Minnesota will be delighted to learn that state tax law has been changed to help too, but many will miss it.

An employee who was in a fairly unreasonable conflict (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
A worker at Affiliated Computer Services had to choose between her job and the wrath of the court. She was fired when she answered the call for jury duty, and the judge is not pleased with her boss, whom he had arrested.

Insufficient language skill increases vulnerability to unemployment (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
Tim Colebatch writes from Canberra for Melbourne's The Age that an analysis of data from Australia's Bureau of Statistics finds that education and skills have a lot to do with determining whether people will be employed, and skills in the English language are particularly important.

Careful of those work-at-home offers (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
There are a lot of them, and most of them are scams, according to consumer advocates. Here's the story from Kathy Kristof of the Arizona Republic.

Sometimes crooks masquerade as home health aides, Quinn says (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says that great care should be taken in hiring home health aides, and has some horror stories to report.

The hard economic life of family farmers expressed through theater (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
Here's a play by farmers about farmers and for farmers. Chuck Haga reports in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Experimental treatments to be covered by some HMOs (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
Many participants in clinical trials will now get coverage, writes Robert Pear in the New York Times. Also in the Times today, federal welfare money is piling up in New York. Raymond Hernandez reports on the huge surplus that is accumulating because of the shrinkage of New York's welfare system.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Career Alternatives for Art Historians (Tuesday, 2/9/99)
What can you do if you're an art historian? Quite a lot, as a matter of fact. Charles M. Rosenberg describes a wide range of careers in which expertise in art history is exactly what is required. Here are Career Alternatives for Art Historians.

Germany's Schroeder hits a snag (Monday, 2/8/99)
Roger Cohen reports in today's New York Times that yesterday's election in Hesse puts an obstacle in the German chancellor's path, particularly with respect to immigration policy. Incidentally, Edmund Andrews writes in the Paris-based International Herald Tribune about how Germany's strict and often bizarre work rules may be hampering that country's full participation in the revolutionary new world economy.

Pilots cause cancellation of 200 flights at American Airlines (Monday, 2/8/99)
American Airlines pilots are in a dispute with their company over the acquisition of another carrier and are making their displeasure known through a greater than usual number of absences.

Worker productivity up in the U.S. (Monday, 2/8/99)
Despite the continuing shortage of workers in many regions of the American economy, the U.S. is doing more with fewer workers, which means higher worker productivity. That's important, because, in the long-run, a nation's standard of living depends on its productivity. Here's the story from USA Today.

Big teachers strike in Australia (Monday, 2/8/99)
Teachers are leaving their jobs for 24 hours and three-quarters of a million students will be affected. Here's the story from the Sydney Morning Herald.

Bad times for pension funds in South Africa (Monday, 2/8/99)
South Africa's Financial Mail says it has been a "terrible year" for pension funds.

Big Portuguese insurance company to cut jobs (Monday, 2/8/99)
Diario Economico reports that Companhia de Seguros Imperio SA, the second-largest insurance company in Portugal, has cut 250 staff positions since 1997 as part of its restructuring plan. Additional cuts are anticipated, although the company has not announced the intended numbers. Reductions will be made through early retirement and other voluntary means to the extent possible, according to company officials.

Ireland's economy is hot, but not for everybody (Monday, 2/8/99)
James Clarity introduces you to Ireland's nomadic underclass who are being left out of Ireland's success in the new global economy.

Forever young (in their minds) (Monday, 2/8/99)
Richard O'Mara wonders in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune why the baby boomers are so reluctant to face the inevitable. Also, the current edition of Business Week has a cover story about "generation X." another generation that is having an impact on the new economy.

Here's a major merger that isn't producing massive job cuts (Monday, 2/8/99)
Wells Fargo, with its 90,000 employees, has been acquired by Norwest, and plans are to keep most of those workers.

A lot of federal welfare money is going unused by the states (Monday, 2/8/99)
The New York Times' Robert Pear says that more than half the states are declining to use the federal welfare grants to which they are entitled. Mr. Pear describes the reasons.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Top 10 Predictions from Outlook '99 (Monday, 2/8/99)
Here's another top-ten list. This time, it's not from Mr. Letterman, but, instead, from the World Future Society. They've gathered together the Top 10 Predictions from Outlook '99.

The definition of a sweatshop (Sunday, 2/7/99)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley of the Washington Post says there has been a resurrgence of sweatshops in the U.S. and advises a correspondent who wonders whether a Maryland company is running one.

Why a five-year-old plan for slowing global population growth hasn't been a roaring success so far (Sunday, 2/7/99)
The global population explosion would slow if girls could be kept in school and if there could be an overall improvement in the status of women throughout the world. However, as Barbara Vobejda reports, the plan has been hard to implement, and she explains why.

The IRS has some pleasant surprises for some of you (Sunday, 2/7/99)
You'll welcome some of the recent tax changes. Donna Halvorsen says it's the "year of the family," and April 15 will be a bit more pleasant for some taxpayers as a result.

Here's a large labor pool that we haven't been tapping (Sunday, 2/7/99)
Wendy Brower writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that the majority of persons with disabilities aren't working, but most would like to. During a time of workers shortages, we should be bringing more of these persons into the workforce, she says.

Why the euro may be only the beginning (Sunday, 2/7/99)
The European common currency may be a signal that, after centuries of fragmentation and conflict, Europe may be about to become a highly integrated whole. For instance, on the not-to-distant horizon, expect the European Union to include 500 million people, and possibly some degree of political integration after that, according to many leaders.

Supply of home health workers has been increasing, but not meeting demand (Sunday, 2/7/99)
Despite increases in their number, there's still a national shortage of home health workers, according to Diana Block of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

It's never too early to begin planning your financial future, and probably not too late either (Sunday, 2/7/99)
Columnist Amy Joyce tells why and how the young can begin financial planning early, and the earlier the better. But, what if you're no longer all that young and haven't started to save for retirement yet? How old is to old for getting started? It may not be as late as you think, writes Paul Lim of the Los Angeles Times. Also in the Times, a correspondent is advised that employers usually have a right to require weekend work.

Republicans reaffirm their commitment to Social Security (Sunday, 2/7/99)
In the Republicans' weekly radio address, a Congressman indicates that he will introduce legislation that would guarantee the current level of Social Security benefits.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: American Association of Retired Persons (Sunday, 2/7/99)
AARP has become one of the most influential political organizations in the United States, but it also provides a variety of benefits to its members. However, many members of the American Association of Retired Persons aren't retired. You will receive an invitation to join approximately two-thirds of a nanosecond after you turn 50 years old.

Talks snag at American over Reno Air (Saturday, 2/6/99)
American Airlines pilots are ready to begin their "action," but they're not being terribly specific. A full-scale strike doesn't seem to be among their plans, however. More than 9,000 American Airlines pilots are involved.

More on January's good news (Saturday, 2/6/99)
It's harder to be right about the future when familiar underlying conditions have changed, and this surely is the case with the new economy. Forecasters had been optimistic about January job growth in the U.S., but they didn't quite get it right. Slvia Nasar of the New York Times writes that January job growth was twice what was expected.

Where do you cut after you've already cut to the bone? (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Brazil needs to make more budget cuts as a condition of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The Washington Post's Anthony Faiola says that we'll all know soon whether the Brazilian government will be able to avert a full-scale economic meltdown. Brazil isn't the only country trying to tighten its belt, though. Here's Daniel Williams Washington Post story about the Russian parliament giving final approval to that country's budget, and how, like Brazil, Russia hopes investors and lenders outside the country will be impressed.

The retirement of women vs. the retirement of men (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Gender bias persists into the late years, according to Geena Massingill, which means that women have to begin saving earlier and save more in order to cover the cost of being beyond their earning years. Incidentally, the exodus of retirees to warmer climates has been slowed. Many persons are choosing to stick close to their roots, and their families. If you're not quite to retirement but have accumulated retirement savings, you may be wondering what to do with those funds if, for whatever reason, you move on. You have a number of options, according to Vivian Marino, who offers some advice.

Haste makes accidents in Lebanon, according to writer (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Lebanon is rebuilding, and it's in a hurry. Munira Khayyat writes from Beirut for The Daily Star that this means not enough concern for safety on the job for construction workers and others.

Nike wins one in court (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Nike had been accused of lying about sweatshop conditions in its Asian plants, but a judge has thrown out the suit.

What one foreign company gives, another taketh away (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Dell Computer is building a new plant in Ireland that will result in about 1,700 new jobs, but, as the Irish Times reports, a major German clothing manufacturer is closing a plant which will result in the loss of 135 jobs. Incidentally, in just a few years, Dell Computer has become one of the world's leading producers of desktop computers, and one of its major competitors, Gateway, has come from nothing to international prominence in only a few years too. Gateway expects to add a thousand new jobs at its plant in Virginia. Outside hi-tech and in Chicago, Amoco gets set to cut 1,500 jobs.

Preparing the unprepared (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Carol Pine reports on the efforts of the St. Paul Work-Force Council in a community where tight labor conditions aren't expected to ease for more than 10 years. Along similar lines, the Midwest region needs far more technical workers than it has available, according to this story from Adam Marcus in the EE Times. Actually, as Erika Stutzman of the Binghamton Press reports, the U.S. Secretary of Labor says there is not so much of a national worker shortage as a skills shortage, and it's time to take care of the problem.

More on the problems with Asia's banks (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Part of Japan's current economic problem has to do with a very big problem with its banks. It's huge neighbor to the west also has banking problems, despite a strong economy and a totally different political system. Here's that story from Jennifer Lin writing from Haikou, China.

State trooper wins parental leave (Saturday, 2/6/99)
He's an example of a growing number of dads who are trying to balance work with family, and it's no joke, according to Maggie Jackson. Also writing in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, columnist Amy Gage concurs: finding a balance between family and work responsibilities isn't easy for anybody.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Working Stiff (Saturday, 2/6/99)
Working Stiff is an interesting online publication that apparently was destined not to last. Its originators have announced that they're shutting it down after six months, but the site will remain available for the next year or so. It's worth a look.

January job growth vigorous, as unemployment remains low (Friday, 2/5/99)
U.S. job growth was stronger than expected last month, and unemployment remained at its lowest in nearly three decades. Strong overall growth of the American economy seems in store for 1999, according to the latest data from the Labor Department.

Brazil and IMF reach agreement Thursday (Friday, 2/5/99)
Anthony Faiola reports from Sao Paulo for the Washington Post on the deal worked out between government officials in Brazil and officials of the International Monetary Fund. It will include further budget cuts. Katherine Ellison of the Detroit Free Press is in Rio de Janeiro and she reports that the one-month-old strike at the Sao Bernardo do Campo Ford assembly plant has been settled. Meanwhile, Argentina fears recession as a consequence of the Brazilian currency devaluation. President Menem announced a plan yesterday for creating 500,000 new jobs.

Hard times in the U.S. oil industry (Friday, 2/5/99)
The lowest oil prices in a generation have resulted in the loss of 25,000 energy industry jobs. Also in the Nando Times today, pilots at Federal Express have ratified their first five-year contract, the world's largest news wire service intends to cut 100 jobs in Britain, and a former Polaroid executive "retires" to running AARP, which means he's really got very much a full-time job. He doesn't get paid, though.

Is the `"mommy track's" end in sight? (Friday, 2/5/99)
Nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman seems optimistic that it's happening. Speaking of women in the work world, how about women in academic life? Mary Beth Marklein of USA Today says a new report published in Academe finds that a gender gap persists when it comes to professorial pay.

Senator disagrees with Clinton's plan to freeze veteran health care funding (Friday, 2/5/99)
U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, although a Democrat, has been at odds with President Clinton on a variety of issues. Here's one more, as reported by James Duffy in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Australian employers groups want to freeze low wages (Friday, 2/5/99)
Tom Allard writes for the Sydney Morning Herald about a move to defer a "living wage" case. Mr. Allard says it would affect 2 million low-pay workers. In Hong Kong, domestic workers protest a decision to cut their minimum wage.

Athletes aren't the only ones offered signing bonuses (Friday, 2/5/99)
Massachusetts needs teachers, and is offering $20,000 as an extra incentive to attract the right professionals. Meanwhile, Minnesota is going on line in its search for educators.

Administration tells government agencies to increase union participation in decisions (Friday, 2/5/99)
Vice-President Gore is about to tell agency heads to comply with a five-year-old executive order, but resistance is expected from some in the Cabinet.

Toyota to alter assembly procedures for older workers (Friday, 2/5/99)
Japan is anticipating an aging workforce, and Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that Toyota, which built its assembly lines with young males in mind, will change them to make it easier for older workers to do their jobs. Now's a good time to make the production changes, according to company officials, because facilities are not so busy.

Is conception too late to start the college fund? (Friday, 2/5/99)
A correspondent has questions about saving for the college education of a baby that hasn't been born yet. Also in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, columnist Janet Bodnar has advice for those who are starting to save a bit later--say, when the young person is a high school student. Incidentally, if you're terrorized by the thought that you will have to find a way to send your child to a school that costs $25,000 or more per year, you might safely relax. Keep in mind that, with sufficient commitment, it's still possibly to obtain a splendid education for nothing at the public library, if you're really interested in knowledge, that is, rather than something else, and that many of history's most productive and creative scholars never went to college at all.

Remember Oscar Wilde's wisecrack about people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The super-high price tags on college often aren't about genuine knowledge so much as parents competing with one another and showing off plus wanting their children to connect with the children of other people who are showing off for career purposes. For most ordinary students, the local community college or public university is an excellent place to begin.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Minnesota FutureWork (Friday, 2/5/99)
Here's a project sponsored by a variety of agencies in Minnesota, including the Minnesota Department of Economic Security, intended for policy makers interested in workforce trends, the impact of technology on jobs, new skill requirements, and other issues. The Minnesota FutureWork site is worth a browse.

Fed says, "Steady as she goes" (Thursday, 2/4/99)
The Federal Reserve decided yesterday to leave interest rates where they are, given the continuing remarkable condition of the American economy. As further evidence of how things are going, first-time jobless claims fell again last week. In the annual Economic Report of the President, President Clinton says the American economy is at a "pinnacle," and that it's a great time for the country to deal with major issues such as Social Security and Medicare. He calls for a "great national debate" on the budget surplus. So, is there not to be heard a single discouraging word? Oh, well, okay, here are a couple from Michael Weinstein of the New York Times who says that the President's budget hardly makes a dent in the country's social needs.

Goodyear and Sumitomo form alliance; Goodyear cuts jobs (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Edward Tobin reports that Goodyear intends to cut about 3 percent of its workforce.

If you work online, you may be hearing from AOL soon (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Here's Leslie Walker's Washington Post story about AOL's plans for serving the growing number of real people working somewhere out there in virtual space.

What's fair depends on your perspective (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about the difficulty in fixing the "marriage penalty."

Some thoughts about a former anchor's victory in court (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Should things for people who work in television be the same as for normal people who live in the real world? The Boston Globe's nationally syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman has some thoughts about how a highly publicized discrimination suit has been decided. Will it be appealed? Are there beer trucks in Germany? Stay tuned.

More on the anguish of people who get all dressed up each day but have no place to go (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Michael Zielenziger writes from Tokyo about Japan's army of well-dressed unemployed and how unaccustomed they are to their current condition.

More evidence supporting Arthur Miller's assertion (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Famed playwright Arthur Miller once remarked that, as a class, business people are the most creative in society. Columnist Amy Gage tells about the creative ways small business people are trying to hang on to needed employees.

A disturbing eye-witness account (Thursday, 2/4/99)
There have been recent reports that the famine in North Korea has been easing a bit, and, while that may be true, it's all relative. The London Times' James Pringle has had an opportunity to take a look and reports that North Korea is starving and has been descending into "medieval barbarism."

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Job Stress Help (Thursday, 2/4/99)
Job Stress Help is an on-line consultation service. We're a little nervous about on-line counseling as a substitute for the real thing, face-to-face, but persons whose judgment we respect think it can work well under the right circumstances. Also, this site provides some information without cost.

Brazilian and IMF officials meeting today following government reorganization (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
A top official in George Soros' organization has become Brazil's new Central Bank president, as Mary Milliken reports from Sao Paulo. Here's more from Anthony Faiola of the Washington Post and Diana Jean Schemo of the New York Times.

Some Republicans wouldn't want Clinton working on the census, given the way he's been counting (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Donna Smith reports that Senate Republicans think that President Clinton has been "cooking the books" a bit when it comes to the budget and Social Security.

Improved famine conditions in North Korea (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Natural disasters have greatly exacerbated a difficult food supply problem in North Korea during recent years, and famine has been the result. Food aid has been getting to the people who need it on a more regular basis recently, and this has helped ease desperation in the most regimented society on earth.

Suit claims that use of standard selection instruments is discriminatory (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Yukari Iwatani reports from San Francisco for Reuters on a discrimination lawsuit brought against the University of California at Berkeley.

Vinyl chloride workers have more liver cancer (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Here are details from a new study conducted by Applied Epidemiology, Inc. on more than 10,000 men who worked in the vinyl chloride industry between 1942 and 1972.

The wrenching experience of unemployment in Japan (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Joblessness can be traumatic and even disabling wherever it occurs, but it has a special meaning in a country in which security has been a high priority for many years. Traditionally, the "Japan, Incorporated" model has been one in which the company takes care of its employees, and the government takes care of the company. Now, though, adjustments at all levels are having to be made for life in the new world economy. The New York Times' Stephanie Strom tells what it means for individuals who have been led to expect "lifetime employment." Michael Zielenziger of the Detroit Free Press writes from Tokyo on Japanese cultural patterns that make layoffs particularly difficult.

Wrongful termination suit settled at big-time D.C. law firm (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
The suit alleging retaliation and wrongful termination had been brought against Collier, Shannon & Rill by Diana Stein.

Venezuela's new president vows to reduce social inequities (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Hugo Chavez claims that his country's oil wealth has been squandered and he intends to dissolve Congress and rewrite Venezuela's constitution.

Yesterday's Groundhog Job Shadow Day a big success (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Hundreds of thousands of young people "shadowed" mentors in workplaces all over America yesterday, greatly adding to their understanding of how America works in the new economy.

Minnensota's stay-at-home mothers not collecting money to which they are entitled (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Minnesota's legislature passed a 1997 law to provide child-care subsidies to mothers who stay at home to care for their children, but few have collected, according to Jean Hopfensperger of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

When an invitation to a party means pressure to buy (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
The Houston Chronicle's L. M. Sixel has some advice for those who are under pressure to buy at workplace "product parties."

Reality begins to leak into some college administrative offices (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
During a time when hundreds of "corporate universities" are drawing students from conventional colleges and hundreds of colleges and universities are offering courses on-line for credit, some high-priced schools are beginning to realize that fewer people may be willing to go deeply in debt in order to attend their classes. William Honan of the New York Times writes about schools that are trying to reduce their astronomical tuition levels.

Now, Eastern European divisions are economic more than political (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
Nigel Stephenson writes from Prague about the new European economic map that could be drawn. In Western Europe, many eyes on are on the new German government's struggle with unions over wage increases and what the conflict's resolution will mean for the entire European community in the new economy. This story comes from Radio Free Europe in Munich.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Tax Guide for Investors (Wednesday, 2/3/99)
A large proportion of the American population owns stock, one way or another. Here's Fairmark Press' Tax Guide for Investors. They say the site contains over 700 pages of information.

Pilots threatening to go slow at American Airlines (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Laurence Zuckerman of the New York Times reports on the continuing conflict between American Airlines and its pilots over a recent company acquisition. The pilots are threatening a work slowdown.

Republicans want more details on Clinton's plans for retirement (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Well, yes, many Republicans would like to hear the President say that he intends to retire, but, in this case, Joanne Kenen reports that many are expecting to hear much more during the weeks ahead about President Clinton's plans for putting Social Security and Medicare on a sound footing. Meanwhile, nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says to beware of statistical comparisons when it comes to the argument about what to do with Social Security. She says some of the comparisons being offered are misleading.

There's also something for fed employees (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
President Clinton has been accused of offering something for nearly everybody in his budget. Among the beneficiaries would be federal employees who would get their largest raise in nearly two decades, as well as long-term care insurance.

Few, fewer, fewest (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
The number of American farms has been declining to the point where there are now fewer farms in the U.S. than at any time since before the Civil War. Incidentally, wheat prices have gone down again and are expected to drop further.

Why we wonder why (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Why is the American economy doing so well while much of the world is doing so poorly? Nobody really knows, according to this editorial from today's Washington Post. Things aren't altogether clear in Japan either, according to Gail Marksjarvis, but the uncertainty is about whether the once-mighty Japanese economy is in the process of healing itself. Many people over a wide region are interested in this question, because the rest of Asia probably can't recover without Japan's help. Japan's economy, second largest in the world, is twice as large as most of the other Asian economies put together.

Apple slices jobs in Ireland (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Apple Computer Corporation is expected to cut 500 jobs from its plant at Cork, Ireland, but isn't willing to talk about it. Dick Hogan writes from Cork for the Irish Times. Apple is restructuring its operations around the world.

On-site day care becoming more popular (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Not just with working parents, though. An increasing number of employers are finding that it's a good investment, as well. The Chicago Tribune's nationally syndicated columnist Carol Kleiman explains why there are more than eight times as many corporate sponsored on-site day care centers now compared to 1986.

Last big batch of stay-at-home parents leaving home (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune says that research so far on welfare-to-work's impact on children is inconclusive.

Union membership in the United States (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Andrew Hacker writes in the New York Review of Books about several books that examine the current status of organized labor in the United States.

How much are YOU willing to do for one of your employees? (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
Martin Miller of the Los Angeles Times tells the astonishing story of Canadian businessman Norbert Reinhart who exchanged himself for a kidnapped employee. Mr. Miller's story comes to you via the San Jose Mercury News.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: China Today (Tuesday, 2/2/99)
China is home to a quarter of the world's population, and, during recent years, has experienced high rates of economic growth. Despite some current economic problems, there is good reason to expect that this huge country will be become an increasingly influential economic and political force in Asia and throughout the world during the 21st century, whether or not it becomes more "politically domesticated" as a consequence of open markets, increasing international trade, and so on. Surely, the world has good reason to become better informed about China, and a place to start is China Today.

Economic policy makers attempt to gain perspective from high elevation (Monday, 2/1/99)
World economic leaders have been meeting in the Alps to discuss the world economy's immediate future, and they're worried about it. However, anticipation and diagnosis are easier than prescriptions, as Geoff Kitney reports from Davos, Switzerland for the Sydney Morning Herald. In the U.S., things are still booming, and most observers expect the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates where they are at the meeting this week.

IG Metall may fire additional warning shots (Monday, 2/1/99)
IG Metall is Germany's largest union, and it's been trying to get a fairly sizable raise for its members. Two-hundred thousand workers left their jobs for a day on Friday, and additional warning strikes may be coming. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has details this morning, and the rest of Europe is watching intently.

Latin America braces for impact of Brazil's currency devaluation (Monday, 2/1/99)
The Brazilian real has slipped 40 percent since it was allowed to seek its value in the open market by the Brazilian government two weeks ago. The whole region now faces its worst recession since 1983. Anthony Faiola writes in the Washington Post from Buenos Aires about the distress being felt across all of South America.

Thirty percent workforce cut at Portuguese utility (Monday, 2/1/99)
Diario Economico reports that Gas de Portugal SA intends to cut its workforce by 30 percent, which will amount to the loss of 146 jobs.

Americans working at the UN in New York seek parity (Monday, 2/1/99)
Apparently, American workers at the UN aren't receiving the same educational benefits for their children as workers from other countries, and the Americans don't like it. Barbara Crossette of the New York Times has the details.

Short of labor? Welfare-to-work can help (Monday, 2/1/99)
Sondra Meyer Raile, writing in the Kansas City Business Journal tells how employers can find the solution to their labor shortage problems.

DC suburbs doing well (Monday, 2/1/99)
Jobs are plentiful in regions of Maryland and Virginia just outside Washington, D.C. Here's the story from Peter Behr of the Washington Post.

Clinton concerned about unintended applications of the "alternative minimum tax" (Monday, 2/1/99)
The "alternative minimum tax" was not intended to affect middle-income taxpayers, but it could end up doing just that, and President Clinton is proposing some protection, according to Curt Anderson in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The problem with bullies in the workplace (Monday, 2/1/99)
Remember those annoying bullies in the school yard when you were in elementary school? Well, some of them are still behaving in their obnoxious ways, but now they're likely to be found in the workplace. The Boston Globe's Diane Lewis tells about stress makers and stress carriers who routinely leave a trail of destruction, often with little consequence for themselves.

Groundhog Job Shadow Day is tomorrow (Monday, 2/1/99)
Tomorrow, a half million students will "shadow" mentors in workplaces throughout America in order to learn about the work world in which they will eventually spend much of their adult lives. A large number of leading companies and associations are behind the educational effort, as well as many prominent individuals.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Nursing Home Compare (Monday, 2/1/99)
Nursing Home Compare is a government database containing every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the United States. Make your comparisons here.

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