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American consumers lose confidence this month (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence dipped significantly in September. Here's more from Anne D'Innocenzio in New York.

Millions more uninsured (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
As an additional symptom of a health care system that's broken, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that an additional 2.4 million Americans now lack health coverage, compared to a year ago. More than 15 percent of the U.S. population is uninsured now.

Meanwhile, as employers shift more of the cost of health care to workers during a time of rapidly rising costs, a new ruling from the Internal Revenue Service increases the attractiveness of medical flexible spending accounts.

More signs of optimism in Europe (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
The dozen euro countries may see better times soon. A report just released by the European Union expresses cautious optimism about economic recovery.

Pension strike in Italy (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
Eleven million union workers will engage in a four-hour work stoppage on October 24, despite the Italian PM's speech supporting the idea of pension system overhaul.

Cuts at Ford (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
John Porretto reports from Detroit that Ford Motor Company intends to cut 1,500 contract and 50 salaried workers in North American by the end of the year.

In other Detroit news, David Runk reports that U.S. and Arab business and political leaders have been meeting to discuss trade and investment issues.

What a difference a quarter century makes (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
Women have made major gains since 1977 in managerial roles in the professions, according to a new survey. In fact, they've pulled ahead of men.

Native American groups want economic benefits of tourism if done carefully (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
John Stearns reports on a meeting of tribal representatives in Maricopa, Arizona.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Native Tourism (Tuesday, 9/30/03)
Native Tourism assists travelers and travel planners who are interested in exploring Native American attractions throughout the United States.

American spenders are spending more (Monday, 9/29/03)
It's more good news for the U.S. economy. Personal spending was up again in August, as were incomes. Here's more from Jonathan Nicholson in Washington.

Unions decide to wait and see (Monday, 9/29/03)
Organized labor doesn't want to end up betting on the wrong horse, so labor leaders have decided to wait and see which of the 135 people who would like to be the Democratic presidential nominee--oh no, wait, that's the California gubernatorial election. Well, whatever. There are so many in both cases, it's easy to become confused. At any rate, Leigh Strope reports that unions are holding off on endorsement decisions until one or two of the 10 Democratic presidential hopefuls clearly pull out ahead.

In the meantime, you can exhale. Hustler magazine's publisher Larry Flynt doesn't want to be president of the United States, only governor of California.

AIDS increases region's vulnerability (Monday, 9/29/03)
The AIDS pandemic in southern Africa is making it more difficult to deal with drought and, as a consequence, is likely to exacerbate food shortages throughout the southern part of the continent, according to aid agencies.

What it will take to deal with financial fraud (Monday, 9/29/03)
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is likely to agree that basic literacy means far more than the "3 R's" now. For one thing, the wide array of financial options presently available to Americans increases opportunities for those interested in committing fraud. The best defense is knowledge that will support quality decisions and choices. Improving financial literacy is a must, he says.

French and German representatives to meet in Trier (Monday, 9/29/03)
Trier, near Bitburg in western Germany, is the city from which Constantine, the emperor who Christianized Rome, ruled the Roman Empire. Soon, it will also be known as the location where the Franco-German economic council will meet on October 6.

Message for Arizona's jobless: you may be eligible for an extension (Monday, 9/29/03)
Eighty-three percent of America's unemployed apply for the 13-week extension of benefits available to them, while only 68 percent of similarly situated Arizonans apply. Christine Romero says it may be because they don't know that the extension is available.

Why some employers really want disabled workers (Monday, 9/29/03)
The Christian Science Monitor's Stacy Teicher reports that many companies not only welcome workers with disabilities, but are also actively recruiting them.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The 50 Most Powerful Women in Business (Monday, 9/29/03)
Here's Fortune magazine's latest list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.

The budget deficit looks fine to this official (Sunday, 9/28/03)
A top official at the Treasury Department says that taking the long view can make the federal budget deficit look much better, and he has no regrets. Here's more from Jonathan Nicholson in Washington.

State and local control (Sunday, 9/28/03)
Louis Uchitelle reports that states and cities have been stepping in to raise the minimum wage, now that the federal minimum hasn't gone up for years.

UAW stirs up abortion-related attitudes (Sunday, 9/28/03)
Furious United Auto Workers members have risen up to quash a proposal that would have included healthcare coverage for abortions. Here's more from Sarah Webster in Detroit.

China embarks on ambitious building plan (Sunday, 9/28/03)
Robert Marquand of the Christian Science Monitor reports that, if the Chinese government follows through on its intentions, a great many roads, hospitals, and colleges will be built in its resource-rich frontier region over the next fifty years.

Spitzer takes off after payday lenders (Sunday, 9/28/03)
New York's Attorney General is targeting payday lenders who make loans at annual interest rates that can take your breath away.

How it is to be un-hired (Sunday, 9/28/03)
The Boston Globe's Kimberly Blanton reports on new graduates who have been finding that job offers they thought were firm were anything but.

Consider transfer offers carefully (Sunday, 9/28/03)
Melinda Ligos says that turning down an opportunity to transfer to a different region within your company can chill a hot career.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: History of the Federal Minimum Wage (Sunday, 9/28/03)
Here's a History of the Federal Minimum Wage from the U.S. Department of Labor covering the period from 1938, when it was 25 cents per hour until 1997, when it was $5.15. According to one inflation calculator, 25 cents in 1938 had the buying power of $2.73 in 1997.

The American economy is picking up speed, but will it last? (Saturday, 9/27/03)
The latest Commerce Department report issued yesterday provides cause for optimism, according to economists, but there is still concern about whether the increased growth rate will last.

Japanese incomes slide (Saturday, 9/27/03)
On average, salaries in Japan have retreated to levels essentially equivalent to what they were ten years ago.

New contract ratified at DaimlerChrysler (Saturday, 9/27/03)
Workers at DaimlerChrysler are the first among those in the Big Three to approve their new four-year contract with the company.

Ministers say they will work together to fight poverty and unemployment throughout the Americas (Saturday, 9/27/03)
Labor ministers from across the Americas have been meeting in Salvador, Brazil. They have agreed to work to improve working conditions throughout the region as a means of combating poverty and unemployment.

Tax revenue from the rich declines (Saturday, 9/27/03)
Those Americans with incomes in the top 1 percent lost ground by 18 percent in 2001, and that reduced tax revenues from America's most-well-off by $66 billion.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: MathSciNet (Saturday, 9/27/03)
MathSciNet is an online database containing mathematical literature from the past 63 years and comes from the American Mathematical Society.

Poverty rate increases again in 2002 (Friday, 9/26/03)
It was the second year in a row that the poverty rate increased. Approximately 34 million Americans were living in poverty last year, an increase of 1.7 million over the previous year.

Bush signs executive order... (Friday, 9/26/03)
...To create volunteer opportunities overseas for highly-trained professionals. Tens of thousands of physicians, nurses, engineers, and other Americans may be sent abroad to work on development projects.

EEOC files suit on behalf of pregnant receptionist (Friday, 9/26/03)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that TIG Capital Securities Company fired Sandra Geiger because she was pregnant.

Putin decides to cut losses (Friday, 9/26/03)
Russian President Putin says that there will be no review or reversal of ill-advised privatizations conducted during the 1990s. He acknowledges that, while many of the sales of state assets were damaging to the Russian economy, attempts to reverse them would be even more damaging.

IBM cuts jobs (Friday, 9/26/03)
International Business Machines says it has sliced 400 marketing and administrative jobs from its workforce IN Armonk, N.Y. in order to cut costs.

The Turkish economy is recovering (Friday, 9/26/03)
Economists seem to agree that Turkey's economy is working its way out of recession. Here's more from Louis Meixler in Instanbul.

Nobel Laureate dies (Friday, 9/26/03)
Nobel Prize-winning economist Franco Modigliani of MIT is dead at 85.

Second thoughts about the U.S. recovery (Friday, 9/26/03)
New reports from the Department of Commerce suggest that the American economy still hasn't begun firing on all cylinders. Here's more from Sue Kirchhoff of USA Today. Nonetheless, second-quarter growth was better than originally estimates, according to the Washington Post's Martin Crutsinger.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Academic Keys (Friday, 9/26/03)
Academic Keys claims to be a major academic and career resource for engineering professionals.

Widening gaps (Thursday, 9/25/03)
Government data indicate that the richest one percent of Americans had more money in the year 2000 than the poorest 40 percent of the American population. In fact, the rich-poor gap more than doubled between 1979 and 2000.

Meanwhile, in Japan, approximately 3.3 percent of households had no savings in 1988, compared to about 20 percent now.

Don't hold your breath for healthcare reform (Thursday, 9/25/03)
According to Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor, instead of smooth sailing in Congress, the move to add a prescription-medication benefit to Medicare could be running aground.

Jobless claims hit seven-month low (Thursday, 9/25/03)
First-time jobless claims were at their lowest level in seven months last week, but Hurricane Isabel may have had something to do with it. Here's more from Joseph Rebello in Washington.

If the dollar crashes, head for cover (Thursday, 9/25/03)
Ken Moritsugu in Washington tells why so many people are concerned that a precipitous slide of the U.S. dollar could wreak havoc on the American and global economies.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The AARP Working in Retirement Study (Thursday, 9/25/03)
Here is a report on research conducted by AARP based on a telephone survey of 2001 older workers: Staying Ahead of the Curve 2003: The AARP Working in Retirement Study.

Wolfensohn criticizes the rich (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
The world's wealthy nations spend more on their militaries and farm subsidies than on helping the vast multitudes of poor people in the world, according to James Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank. Among the consequences: suffering, global tensions, conflict, and more.

How six could become 1.5 million (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
If a federal judge decides to grant class-action status to a discrimination lawsuit brought against Wal-Mart, it could suddenly turn into a big problem for the world's largest retailer, which is also the world's largest corporation as measured by total sales.

Another of the world's principal companies also faces a major lawsuit. Lawyers for the plaintiffs expect that the company's "corporate mortality file" will support their claim that IBM knew that their employees were suffering high rates of cancer. The suit claims that chemicals used in the production of computer chips caused many workers to develop cancer.

NWA gets along with fewer managers (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
Northwest Airlines has cut back on managers by about a third since the 9-11 terrorist attack, and, according to the company's CEO, will be looking for ways to make additional cuts in order to reduce costs.

Shrinkage at the UAW (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
The United Auto Workers may lose as many as 50,000 jobs at America's Big Three auto companies over the next four years, but hopes to make up some of the losses by organizing currently nonunion workers. Here's more from John Porretto in Detroit.

Standing pat at the Fed (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
Michael Wallace says that boring is good, if it refers to news coming out of the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, a high official at the Fed says there will be no full recovery of the U.S. economy until far more jobs are created.

Fewer "tech visas" to be issued for next fiscal year (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
The U.S. government has decided to cut the number of H-1B visas from 195,000 to 65,000 for the fiscal year beginning October 1.

Resume tips (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
The Arizona Republic's Christine Romero passes on some resume-writing advice from job-search and resume expert Fred Coon.

If you're a brand, what kind of brand are you? (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
To carry the metaphor a bit further, think of yourself as a retail brand. And, according to advice in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, aspire to being a premium brand rather than a commodity.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: 25 Best Employers for Workers Over 50 (Wednesday, 9/24/03)
Here's AARP's list for 2003 of the Best Employers for Workers Over 50.

New freedom ride scheduled (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
Organizers hope that hundreds of thousands of people will arrive in Washington, D. C. and New York City by early October in an effort to persuade Congress and the American public that an amnesty should be declared for illegal immigrant workers already in the United States so that they can remain here, reunify their families, and no longer fear deportation. The caravan of buses will set out this Sunday.

Goodyear struggles, cuts (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
The world's largest tire maker intends to become a bit smaller now that a new three-year contract with its 16,000 American workers has been completed. For example, the company may close an Alabama tire planet in addition to laying off 2,400 workers across ten other states.

In other labor news, Stacy Stowe reports from New Haven that the end of the strike at Yale leaves many issues unsettled, while the New York Times' Danny Hakim analyzes the concessions made by the UAW in recent negotiations with the Big Three automakers and whether they really amount to significant help for the companies.

Ex-Enron workers win one in court (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
A bankruptcy judge in Manhattan has ruled that some of the $53 million set aside for some executives can be paid to former Enron workers.

Many businesses are on their own following Isabel (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
Most of the losses incurred by businesses in the region affected by hurricane Isabel were not covered by insurance, according to Neil Irwin and Jackie Spinner of the Washington Post.

Lawson Software cuts additional jobs (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
Lawson is reorganizing, according to company spokespersons, and this will include a five-percent reduction of its workforce. Most of the 80 jobs slated for elimination will come from the company's St. Paul, Minnesota headquarters.

Small raises for those who receive raises at all (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
USA Today's Stephanie Armour says that a new survey indicates that American workers shouldn't expect large raises this year. Overall, pay will increase by less than 4 percent, and next year probably won't be much better.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Best 100 Companies for Working Mothers (Tuesday, 9/23/03)
Working Mother magazine has published its latest list of Best 100 Companies for Working Mothers. It's the eighteenth consecutive year that they have developed their list. Criteria and procedures are explained on their web site.

Opium trade could derail Afghan economic revival (Monday, 9/22/03)
The International Monetary Fund has completed the first full review of Afghanistan's economy in a dozen years and concludes that the lucrative opium trade threatens economic stability and recovery.

More election results disappoint Germany's Schroeder (Monday, 9/22/03)
Chancellor Schroeder's SPD party has suffered its worst defeat in Bavaria during the post-war period, but the Chancellor says he intends to push ahead with economic reforms anyway.

Some workers may have reimbursements coming (Monday, 9/22/03)
Kathleen Wayt reports that new rulings from the Treasury Department and the IRS mean that workers who have been using pretax health-care spending accounts to purchase over-the-counter medications may soon have money coming back.

California judge to rule on whether cancer patients' case will go to trial (Monday, 9/22/03)
About 250 worker health suits have been filed against IBM. One of these is about to reach a critical point, as a California court prepares to rule on whether a case brought by several cancer patients will proceed to trial.

Unemployment may be worse than official statistics indicate (Monday, 9/22/03)
The latest Labor Department unemployment data may be providing an underestimation of the reality. Here's more from Justin Bachman.

The U.S. Army is benefiting from the civilian jobs scarcity (Monday, 9/22/03)
Eric Schmitt writes from Fort Knox, Kentucky that Army recruiting efforts are helped by the weak civilian job market. On the other hand, as the civilian economy grows, women job seekers are likely to benefit, particularly in information technology and health care sectors.

Help for those who fear they'll outlive their money (Monday, 9/22/03)
The Wall Street Journal's John Hechinger says that financial firms are finding a new market helping aging workers plan so that their retirement income won't run out. Speaking of retirement, Jonathan Stempel in New York says that people with retirement money tied up in mutual funds may be feeling particularly vulnerable now as more light is being shed on mutual funds.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: GenderNet (Monday, 9/22/03)
GenderNet has been set up by the World Bank as part of its effort to reduce gender disparities in both rich and poor countries around the globe.

Economic reforms in Iraq (Sunday, 9/21/03)
The new economic reform package announced by Iraq's U.S.-backed finance minister encourages foreign investment and will allow 100 percent foreign ownership in all sectors of the Iraqi economy except oil.

What a major hurricane and the nation's biggest power outage have in common (Sunday, 9/21/03)
It appears that the huge power outage that afflicted much of the eastern U.S. a few weeks ago did not have a permanent effect on the economy of the region, and, as Barbara Hagenbaugh and Sue Kirchhoff of USA Today report, it appears that Isabel's economic impact will be similar. For individuals and families affected by both, the effects may be traumatic and long-lasting, but with respect to the broader economy, we can safely moan about something else.

Among the first-laid-off (Sunday, 9/21/03)
Jane Von Bergen writes from Philadelphia that the economic downturn has hit African Americans harder, including educated professionals.

How California really compares (Sunday, 9/21/03)
Michael Liedtke writes from San Francisco that, while it may be political expedient for candidates with a realistic hope of replacing Gray Davis to emphasis California's economic mess, the mess really may not be so messy, compared to the rest of the country.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations (Sunday, 9/21/03)
Former Harvard University President Derek Bok heads The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, which is part of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

The earth's economic engine may be revving up (Saturday, 9/20/03)
G7 ministers seem to agree that global economic recovery is underway. "G7" may be one of the world's most exclusive clubs. It is made up of the seven richest industrial nations.

At least two of the major Western European economies still need more momentum--France and Germany. German Chancellor Schroeder says that Germany, France, and Britain have agreed to work together to bring it about.

In the United States, Comerica Bank's chief economist thinks Michigan's economy will get a boost from the $300 bonuses in the new tentative UAW contracts with the Big Three automakers.

On the other hand, some plants will close because of the new agreements. For example, a GM plant in Baltimore that employs about 1,100 workers is scheduled to shut down. Here's more from Steven Gray of the Washington Post.

Hertz sued for overtime pay (Saturday, 9/20/03)
Nine of Hertz' branch managers claim that they were misclassified so that the company could avoid paying them overtime.

Argentina gets IMF board approval (Saturday, 9/20/03)
However, two-dozen members abstained from voting, indicating that they don't like the economic agreement that Argentina has been seeking, according to Lesley Wroughton in Dubai.

Labor shifts priorities (Saturday, 9/20/03)
Organized labor has been giving more emphasis to helping to keep employers in business in order to preserve jobs than in the past. Here's more from Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: United Auto Workers (Saturday, 9/20/03)
The UAW has been in the news a lot lately. Here's the United Auto Workers on the web.

August indicators up (Friday, 9/19/03)
The Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose in August. The Index has had a lengthy history of effectiveness in forecasting economic activity several months ahead.

Success at the last of the Big Three (Friday, 9/19/03)
The United Auto Workers has reached tentative agreement on a new contract with General Motors. Deals were struck earlier with DaimlerChrysler and Ford.

Southwest asks for federal mediator (Friday, 9/19/03)
Representatives of Southwest Airlines and its flight attendants have been wrestling for sixteen months, according to Bill Hensel. Now, they're asking for help from a federal mediator.

Bubble warning in Australia (Friday, 9/19/03)
To borrow concepts from meteorology, the watch has become a warning in Australia, as housing prices inflate and threaten the country's economy.

IMF official pleased with Turkey's progress (Friday, 9/19/03)
Michael Deppler believes that Turkey will get good marks from the International Monetary Fund, and that is likely to help in the country's efforts to join the European Union.

Careful...don't blame us (Friday, 9/19/03)
China isn't willing to have blame pinned on it for America's economic problems. According to Alan Wheatley in Dubai, China has sent out advance word that they won't accept the role of scapegoat because of their choosing not to re-value the yuan. American Treasury Secretary John Snow, who recently made a trip to China, is saying that the U.S. is doing what it can, but will need help from other countries to stimulate global economic growth.

Waiting, waiting (Friday, 9/19/03)
Louis Uchitelle of the New York Times examines what may appear to be an economic paradox, but probably isn't. When will increased prosperity kick in, particularly for those who are seeking full-time jobs? Speaking of the unemployed, Karen Alexander tells why being jobless can put people at a long-term career disadvantage that can persist even after they're working again.

Non-profit pain (Friday, 9/19/03)
Sue Kirchhoff reports that America's non-profit sector is feeling increasingly squeezed as budgets tighten at a time that demand for services is on the increase.

Are you on the new list? (Friday, 9/19/03)
Forbes magazine has released its latest list of the richest Americans, many of whom are also among the richest persons in the world. "Guess-who" is still number one, with assets greater than last year, but still a bit less than half of what they were for a brief period a few years ago before the dot-com-motion and before the Justice Department suit slammed Microsoft stock. Overall, the Forbes 400 are better off this year than last, which may be an indication of an improving American economy.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Forbes 400 (Friday, 9/19/03)
Here's Forbes magazine's latest list of the 400 richest people. It's the 21st year that the magazine has been compiling the list.

Grasso resigns (Thursday, 9/18/03)
There doesn't seem to be any reason to believe that Richard Grasso didn't do his job effectively as head of the New York Stock Exchange, but an apparent tone-deaf insensitivity to PR and appearances, including what many might perceive as potential conflict of interest situations, has resulted in his leaving his post at the Exchange. Gretchen Morgenson and Landon Thomas have more about the aftermath of a pay package that has left many feeling breathless.

First-time jobless claims decline (Thursday, 9/18/03)
Jobless claims increased three weeks in a row, but, last week, they declined, according to Jeannine Aversa in Washington. Three-hundred-ninety-nine thousand people applied for initial unemployment benefits last week.

Too soon for policy-makers to relax, according to the IMF (Thursday, 9/18/03)
International Monetary Fund officials are saying that the global economy seems to be picking up some speed, but policy-makers shouldn't drop their guard quite yet.

Expect 80 million unnecessary deaths, according to aid agencies (Thursday, 9/18/03)
Jeremy Lovell reports from London that aid agencies expect more than 80 million mothers and their children to die over the next decade or so because of failed health policies.

Are we being ruled by banana Republic-ans? (Thursday, 9/18/03)
Princeton economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has a new book which is a collection of his newspaper columns, so he's been on TV quite a lot lately expressing fears that the Bush administration's economic policies could result in the U.S. coming to resemble Argentina. Here's his latest New York Times column in which he compares the "cartoon and the reality."

He wants another term as president (Thursday, 9/18/03)
John Sweeney intends to seek another four-year term as president of the AFL-CIO. Here's more from Steven Greenhouse in Washington.

Unintended humor? (Thursday, 9/18/03)
Steven Pearlstein says that the Administration's plan for rescuing American manufacturing is a joke which many people may not feel is particularly funny.

More advice for the unemployed (Thursday, 9/18/03)
If you're jobless and searching, Michael Laskoff has some hints for increasing your odds.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: African Americans in the Sciences (Thursday, 9/18/03)
Princeton University offers profiles of a collection of African Americans in the sciences.

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R.J. Reynolds to cut thousands of jobs (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
The R. J. Reynolds tobacco company plans to cut 40 percent of its workforce as part of its effort to reduce costs by a billion dollars. That amounts to 2,600 jobs.

Fed holds steady (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
The Federal Reserve decided yesterday to leave a key short-term interest rate at its 45-year low, rather than making further reductions, given indications that the economy may finally be gathering some momentum. Here's more from Jeannine Aversa in Washington.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England may be preparing to raise interest rates in Britain before long. Here's more from London.

UAW adjusts its strategy to accommodate industry hard times (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
Danny Hakim in Detroit says that the United Auto Workers have been giving ground on some issues in order to make deals with the major America auto manufacturers within the context of a weak economy.

Grasso under fire from pension funds (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
Dick Grasso is Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, and his breathtaking income has left many people gasping for air. Among the latest are leaders of three major public pension funds, according to Anna Oberthur in Sacramento. Meanwhile, leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are expected to try to push through a streamlined version of pension legislation that could provide some relief to many businesses.

New opposition to globalization (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
Peter Grier and Faye Bowers in Washington report that there is growing resistance to further economic integration of the earth's nations, which is what the term "globalization" usually is taken to mean. However, whether or not there are deliberate efforts on the part of nations to integrate their economic activities, technology already has made the world a highly-interconnected place and is likely to continue doing so. Going back to the world of even only ten years ago will be about as unlikely as returning to the period before the Renaissance. The horse is already out of the barn, the toothpaste is already out of the tube...oh, well, you know.

Worker kills self and two others in fire (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
A fire in Nagoya, Japan has killed three persons and injured another 41. The blaze was started by a delivery company employee who was demanding that he receive his pay. Here's more from Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

Why so many bankruptcies? (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren says that as many as six million families with children will have declared bankruptcy by the end of this decade. She believes that the high cost of housing and education is to blame by making families more vulnerable to disaster when hard times strike. Her ideas are controversial, according to the Christian Science Monitor's Marilyn Gardner.

Does less pessimism equal more optimism? (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
It may be going a bit far at this point to say that Hong Kong's business leaders are optimistic about the former British colony's economy, but pessimism may be on the wane, at least. A new survey of business leaders has been conducted by an organization of accountants.

More good reasons for school (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
Access to education could break the cycle of poverty for tens of millions of children throughout the world, according to a UNICEF study.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Rebuilding Iraq (Wednesday, 9/17/03)
The Iraq Reconstruction Task Force at the United States Department of Commerce offers this report on the economic and other issues associated with the rebuilding of Iraq.

Will rich and poor ever get together? (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
For many centuries, unspeakable poverty was an expected way of life for all but a few members of the ruling aristocracy. Over the past couple of centuries, and particularly during the past few decades, broad segments of several national populations have become fabulously wealthy by historical standards, while the majority of people on the plant have remained in poverty, or even have seen their situations worsen.

At this point, the difference between the richest nations and the poorest nations isn't just a little bit, but, instead, is cosmic. Approximately half of the world's population lives on the equivalent of two American dollars per day or less, while many European farmers are paid more than that by their governments for each of their cows. For many people in the world, being "hard up" is a matter of not having sufficient food or safe drinking water. For some in the richest countries, it's a matter of not having broadband Internet access, Tivo, or a Class A motorhome. What sort of trade agreement will be politically feasible now, given such a huge gap, not only in real economic terms, but also with respect to expectations?

Traci Carl has been in Cancun watching efforts by delegates to the World Trade Organization meeting and reports on what the second major failure in four years means. Meanwhile, U.S. officials say they will push ahead on the creation of a "coalition of the economically willing."

Two down, one to go (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
As we reported yesterday, the United Auto Workers reached agreement with DaimlerChrysler, and the big news today is that tentative agreement also has been reached with Ford Motor Company. Talks continue with General Motors.

"Core" vs. "main" (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
The main "untinkered" version of the Consumer Price Index increased in August by its greatest amount in five months. However, when the more volatile food and energy prices are removed, the "core" CPI is at its lowest level in 37 years. Overall, it means that inflation won't top anybody's worry list for a while, but whether or not we should still worry about the possibility of deflation depends more on whom you ask.

Generation warfare in Germany? (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
Hard economic times can make people less generous and more concerned about their own survival and well-being. Jack Ewing in Frankfurt, with John Rossant in Paris write for Business Week about the furor over what a young politician said in public and what many German young people may be thinking.

Many older people are hoping to obtain drug benefits, while others are afraid they'll lose the ones they have (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
Robert Pear reports from Washington that members of Congress are receiving worried messages from retirees who are afraid they might lose the prescription medication benefits they already receive from former employers.

Unemployment declines in Finland (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
The unemployment rate in Finland fell to 7.7 percent in August, compared to 8.1 percent a year earlier.

New York City teachers may be willing to give up rigid work rules (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
David Herszenhorn reports that union leaders are saying that many previously-protected work rules are now negotiable. In return, teachers are hoping to gain more say in how their schools are run.

"Meaningless" improvement? (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
The August unemployment numbers look better for Silicon Valley, but is it just a matter of some people giving up and stopping the search for work? Well, yes and no. Choose the expert who is willing to tell you what you would like to hear. Here's more from the San Jose Mercury News.

How "instant messaging" is used in the workplace (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
It appears that there are differences among workers in the UK as opposed to workers in the United States.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Luxembourg Income Study (Tuesday, 9/16/03)
Much of the information in the searchable database presented by the Luxembourg Income Study is from the early 1990s, but with updated material added. Much of the funding has come from the Human Capital and Mobility Programme of the European Commission and the Norwegian Research Council.

WTO talks collapse (Monday, 9/15/03)
The World Trade Organization talks in Cancun have fatally snagged on the farm subsidies issue, among others. Patrick Lannin and Richard Waddington report on the biggest setback for the WTO since their meeting in Seattle four years ago. Here's more from Elizabeth Becker on the most recent breakdown of negotiations.

UAW makes a deal...really (Monday, 9/15/03)
Despite earlier premature reports, it appears that the United Auto Workers have reached tentative agreement on a new contract with DaimlerChrysler. Danny Hakim reports from Detroit that talks with the other two of the Big Three are continuing.

Experts say job growth will come...eventually (Monday, 9/15/03)
The National Association for Business Economics is saying that economic growth will result in the creation of large numbers of new jobs beginning fairly soon. Job creation is a lagging indicator, meaning that it follows rather than leads a recovery. Employers have to be sure that the rebound is real and will be sustained before they are willing to incur the costs and take the considerable risks of hiring new workers.

What to do about domestic violence (Monday, 9/15/03)
Employers have a role when their employees are in violent domestic situations, according to experts. Workers don't leave the effects of their destructive personal situations at home when they arrive on the job.

Are you covered? (Monday, 9/15/03)
If you use a vehicle insured for personal use in your work, you're probably not. Here's more from Shannon Buggs in the Houston Chronicle.

Don't tip the waiters; they can hardly stand as it is (Monday, 9/15/03)
Okay, so the old joke was irresistible. But, how much do you tip, and why? Researchers have been looking into it, and if we reach a point of genuine understanding, we may also know more about other aspects of economic functioning as well. Here's more from Michele Melendez.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Learning Without Limits (Monday, 9/15/03)
Learning Without Limits is a "a blueprint for the federal role in postsecondary education." The report comes from the United States Department of Education.

Strength in numbers? (Sunday, 9/14/03)
The United States and the nations of the European Union are among the world's richest countries, but that doesn't mean they will always have things their way. For example, while the U.S. remains the world's only superpower with earth's largest economy and most powerful military, it has only about 5 percent of the world's population. Poor countries have been combining in order to take on the EU and the U.S. at the WTO meeting in Cancun. Here's more from James Cox of USA Today. Naomi Koppel reports that negotiators worked through the night in search of an agreement on free trade, with rich-country farm subsidies the principal stickler issue.

Whoops! No agreement quite yet (Sunday, 9/14/03)
For a while, it appeared that the UAW and Detroit's Big Three automakers were about to reach agreement; then it appeared that they HAD made a deal and it would be announced soon. But, that deal still hasn't happened. United Auto Workers head President Ron Gettelfinger describes what he sees as the remaining obstacles to success in the negotiations.

Working harder as well as smarter (Sunday, 9/14/03)
It appears that a major reason for the loss of 2.7 million jobs during recent years is that labor productivity has been heading toward the stratosphere. More work is being done by fewer workers. Increasingly effective use of technology is part of the reason, but workers who survive layoffs having to work longer and harder is another part, and that may be the "penny-wise, pound-foolish" part. Will employees loyally remain on their jobs once other options become available, if they feel that their bosses have been overworking them? Here's more from Amy Joyce of the Washington Post.

Meanwhile, the New York Times' Louis Uchitelle discusses the general question of how much demand it will take to create new jobs for all of the persons continually displaced by increasing productivity.

Yale's labor strife attracts big names (Sunday, 9/14/03)
One-hundred-fifty-two demonstrators have been arrested in New Haven, Connecticut because they blocked traffic as they marched in support of two striking unions. One of those arrested was John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.

Bush isn't getting all the help he would like from Congress (Sunday, 9/14/03)
Leigh Strope reports from Washington that Congressional Republicans are concerned about the continual bleeding of jobs from the American economy during the Bush administration. As a consequence, they're been helping to provide organized labor with victories that they usually don't expect from Republicans.

Chinese biz leaders train in Arizona (Sunday, 9/14/03)
Arizona State University's School of Business has worked out a partnership with the world's most populous nation, which also has the world's fastest-growing economy. The university will train new MBAs for China. Sixty-five high-ranking business officials start studying this week.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Productivity and Costs (Sunday, 9/14/03)
Here's an analysis of Productivity and Costs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor.

Something historic may be brewing (Saturday, 9/13/03)
Edmund Andrews says a disparity unlike any during the past half century may arrive just in time for the presidential election, and isn't expected to be helpful to the Bush administration. Soon, we may see a time when GDP growth will be at about 5 percent with unemployment remaining at about 6 percent. The political implications are significant.

More work is being done with fewer workers, according to Mr. Andrews, and, as is often the case, the economy we have coming out of the recession and period of stagnation is a different economy from the one we had going in. For the time-being, at least, we may have too many people chasing too few jobs, and that may last until demographic trends produce another labor shortage in a few years, according to many forecasters.

An improved picture may be developing in Japan (Saturday, 9/13/03)
Makoto Ushida reports from Tokyo that the latest Monthly Economic Report says that the long-struggling Japanese economy seems to be showing "movements toward incipient recovery."

Progress reported in Cancun (Saturday, 9/13/03)
According to reports, some progress toward agricultural reform has resulted from three days of talks at the World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Here's more from Traci Carl.

Nike will pay $1.5 million to settle suit (Saturday, 9/13/03)
William McCall is in Beverton, Oregon and writes about the commercial free speech case that ended up in the Supreme Court. The case has been settled, but not the core issues, he says.

Continental pumps up its pension funding (Saturday, 9/13/03)
Continental Airlines will shove an additional $103 million into its pension plan. Here's more from Bill Hensel in Houston.

Speaking of pensions, Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that Japanese government ministries are not speaking with one voice. The Health Minister and the Finance Minister have different views on how pensions should be calculated.

Mobilization turns chaotic (Saturday, 9/13/03)
No, this story is not about Iraq. Instead, the Washington Post's Sara Kehaulani Goo writes about the very large task of hiring thousands of airport screeners to be trained by the federal government following the 9-11 terrorist attack and how that effort has turned out.

The "privatizing" of German welfare (Saturday, 9/13/03)
The concept of the modern "welfare state" began in Germany during the latter half of the 19th century and reached a fairly high level of development as the German economy recovered from the Second World War. However, with "globalization," the once-"miraculous" German economy is having to respond to competition with nations throughout the world in which a far more limited view of government's role in protecting or supporting its citizens predominates. Germany has been trying to cut back on taxation in order to leave more money to operate in the private sector. That means that many supports and services that Germans have long taken for granted are beginning to starve. Isabelle de Pommereau in Franfurt tells how private organizations and individual citizens are trying to take up the slack.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Association of American Colleges and Universities (Saturday, 9/13/03)
The Association of American Colleges and Universities has more than 850 member institutions and was founded in 1915.

It's a deal (Friday, 9/12/03)
It appears that the United Auto Workers have reached tentative agreements on new contracts with General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.

Curing inflation? (Friday, 9/12/03)
IMF official Kenneth Rogoff says that inflation rates are falling worldwide, not just in the major industrial countries, and he believes that free-market policies deserve the credit. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow will promote global economic growth at a Group of Eight meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

August wasn't good for retail sales (Friday, 9/12/03)
Here's Anna Willard's story about the new report from the Commerce Department showing weak retail sales last month.

Two of Europe's major economies attract attention because of their deficits (Friday, 9/12/03)
Various euro-zone countries are concerned that France and Germany's budget deficits could have a destabilizing affect on the whole region, and are exerting increasing pressure on the two big Western European nations to get things under better control. Here's more from ABC News.

One-time deal in Argentina (Friday, 9/12/03)
Financially-troubled Argentina has managed to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund without having to undergo a full slate of fiscal reforms. Other nations are likely to say, "If them, why not us?," but Tony Smith in San Paulo explains why this is likely to be a one-shot deal.

A 117-hour work week? (Friday, 9/12/03)
A study from the National Low Income Housing Coalition finds that a worker earning minimum wage would have to work 117 hours per week in order to afford the typical two-bedroom apartment in Arizona . That's up from 113 hours last year.

Why manufactured homes are having a hard time selling during a real estate boom (Friday, 9/12/03)
Conventional homes are still selling at a high rate, even though mortgage rates have increased significantly from their recent historic lows. However, manufactured home sales are in a serious slump because Fannie Mae has made it more difficult for people to qualify for loans, according to Genaro Armas in Washington.

Financially-strapped law grads flee from low-pay positions (Friday, 9/12/03)
It's becoming more difficult to fill public defender and legal aid positions now that so many young lawyers are graduating with major student loan debts to pay. Here's more from Jonathan Glater.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: BLS on Inflation (Friday, 9/12/03)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics at the United States Department of Labor has several indexes for measuring different aspects of inflation.

Bush wants continuity at the Fed (Thursday, 9/11/03)
President Bush has decided that Alan Greenspan isn't the only top official he would like to remain at the Federal Reserve.

Cotton subsidies get major attention at WTO meeting (Thursday, 9/11/03)
The United States is among the wealthy countries that subsidize their farmers in order to keep them in business during a time of extremely low market prices. Western European countries also have had a long history of supporting their agricultural sectors. In the U.S., supporters of the subsidies say that they're necessary in order to insure that there will be a stable supply of safe, quality food for Americans, whatever happens internationally, which makes it a national security issue. Of course, the political clout in several key agricultural states has something to do with it. For example, sparsely-populated agricultural states have as many U.S. Senators as California or New York.

Nonetheless, many people around the world see the subsidies as being inconsistent with the Administration's often-stated commitment to free trade. In particular, many of the world's poorest countries claim that continuing subsidies for cotton farmers in wealthy regions such as the American South threaten to wreck their economies entirely, pushing their populations deeper into poverty. Here's more from Naomi Koppel in Cancun.

Telemarketing jobs threatened by do-not-call list (Thursday, 9/11/03)
Telemarketing organizations have been referred to as a "white-collar sweatshop" operations, and many people regard the jobs as among the least attractive in the American economy. However, for many, they are the best currently available, and they are seen as better than no jobs. Paul Davidson reports that the FTC's "do-not-call" list may throw many telemarketers out of work.

Job searching is still tough (Thursday, 9/11/03)
Anna Willard reports from Washington that job-seekers are still finding that they're having a hard time, despite growing indications of overall economic strength. Along similar lines, Tim Ahmann reports that first-time jobless claims were up again for the third consecutive week. If new jobs were available, many burned-out workers would be prepared to quit the ones they have, according to USA Today's Stephanie Armour.

It's beginning to seem like 1990, and it may simply make you sick (Thursday, 9/11/03)
Health insurance premiums increased this year by their greatest amount since 1990, according to Julie Appleby. The increase of 13.9 percent in a single year makes health coverage inaccessible for more people. In a system that increasingly seems broken, more Americans find that their prescription medication bill is their biggest monthly expense. For those who have to choose between medicines and food, the problem can be life-threatening.

Flat tax in Romania (Thursday, 9/11/03)
As part of an effort to reduce tax evasion, the Romanian government has established a single income tax rate: 23 percent.

Job cuts at ailing 3Com (Thursday, 9/11/03)
For the most part, corporations still aren't investing heavily in technology, and the market for networking equipment is particularly weak. This has put 3Com in a bad spot. Laurie Flynn reports that the company plans to close its Dublin plant and eliminate 1,000 jobs.

What's changed in Argentina? (Thursday, 9/11/03)
The country's structural economic problems remain, apparently, even though the deal with the International Monetary Fund is seen as a political victory for the Argentine President.

Union pushes for arbitration (Thursday, 9/11/03)
The Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union, which represents workers at Exxon Mobil's plant in Baton Rouge, is asking the federal government to force the company into arbitration in order to settle a dispute involving pay raises and other issues.

In other labor news, John Porretto reports that analysts believe that employees of the Big Three American automakers may not have sufficient bargaining power in the current climate to retain what amounts to nearly free health care or the current ban on plant closings. Negotiations have been going on since mid-July, and the current contract expires at the end of the day on Sunday.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Complaint Form (Thursday, 9/11/03)
Here's the form you will need for filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Bush plan to change overtime rules may not be finished after today (Wednesday, 9/10/03)
Even though the Senate has voted to reject the Administration's plan to discontinue overtime pay for large numbers of white-collar workers, as Alan Fram in Washington writes, that might not be the end of the idea.

Food fight at the WTO (Wednesday, 9/10/03)
The question of rich-country farm subsidies and their effect on poor countries tops the agenda at the World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun. Here's more from Alan Wheatley on the scene. Traci Carl also is in Cancun and reports that large-scale protests are expected.

The House votes to give federal employees a raise (Wednesday, 9/10/03)
The House of Representatives voted yesterday to provide a 4.1 percent pay raise for civilian employees of the federal government, but turned aside the Bush administration's plan to require federal workers to compete for their jobs with people in the private sector.

Employees hit by increased health care costs (Wednesday, 9/10/03)
A new study finds that workers in employer-sponsored health coverage plans are paying nearly half again as much for the coverage as only three years ago. Here's more from Milt Freudenheim of the New York Times about the study from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust.

Doctor receives $1.4 million jury award (Wednesday, 9/10/03)
According to Harvey Rice of the Houston Chronicle, when HealthSouth Corporation insisted that Dr. Helen Schilling violate the law, she refused, so she was fired. She sued, and a jury has awarded her $1.4 million for her trouble.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: WTO Bibliography Database (Wednesday, 9/10/03)
The World Trade Organization has assembled this bibliography database of research reports, books, working papers and other documents having to do with its work. In some cases, links to full-text versions of the articles are included.

New poll shows President's ratings have slipped (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
A new Zogby International poll finds that President Bush's approval ratings have dropped nine points since May, with barely a majority of Americans surveyed now responding positively. Analysis indicates that the economy has more to do with the slippage than the situation in Iraq. Alicia Henry says that frustrated unemployed young people and their boomer parents could spell trouble for Bush in the 2004 election.

Why aren't more companies hiring? (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
The economy seems to be picking up speed, but job-creation still lags. David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor examines the reasons. Richard Dunham tells why officials at the National Association of Manufacturers are alarmed by the latest employment statistics. Actually, not everyone is convinced that the much-talked-about recovery of the American economy really has started in earnest. Former BusinessWeek chief economist William Wolman says danger signs seem plentiful and are widely ignored, he says.

Disabled workers are underrepresented in many Japanese companies (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has issued a new report indicating that 70 percent of Tokyo companies are missing mandated employment targets for persons with disabilities.

Why America may need skilled immigrants (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
A new study from the American Immigration Law Foundation's Immigration Policy Center concludes that cutting back on visas for foreign professionals will hurt the U.S. economy, rather than help it. Here's more from Suzanne Gamboa in Washington.

The World Trade Organization's race (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
WTO delegates meeting in Cancun will be trying to make up for lost time, according to Guy de Jonquieres and Frances Williams of the New York Times. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Becker says that European and American farmers, among others, have reason to be concerned about the move on the part of less affluent agricultural producers to get rich countries to reduce or eliminate their farm subsidies.

Finally, not everyone gathering in Cancun this week are there to promote freer trade. In fact, some would like to see the World Trade Organization shut down altogether.

What it takes to break the cycle (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
The New York Times' Louis Uchitelle examines the situation of the 26 million Americans who earn $8.23 per hour or less. Also, a new survey examines the circumstances of people who have recently have had to exchange salaried careers for hourly jobs.

Patchwork pensions (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
Every now and then, a movement surfaces in the United States to promote pension portability. Similarly, as David Fairlamb in Frankfurt reports, with growing European integration, there are many persons who would like to see workers able to take their pensions with them across international borders.

How older workers are doing (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
As a group, fairly well, actually. In fact, older workers now make up 12 percent of the American workforce, compared to 10.2 percent in 2000.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Farm Subsidy Database (Tuesday, 9/9/03)
You will be able to see where the government subsidies to American agriculture have gone during recent years by consulting the Farm Subsidy Database from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

Slow, sluggish, and in a slump (Monday, 9/8/03)
Those are the U.S., European, and Japanese economies, respectively, according to Alistair Bell in Cancun where many are hoping that the WTO talks will result in the global economy's receiving a boost. Meanwhile, there is widespread skepticism about the highly-publicized plan to make critical medications more widely accessible to people in poor countries. Here's more from the BBC in the United Kingdom.

More aid needed, but not with equal desperation by everybody (Monday, 9/8/03)
The World Bank says that the $16 billion per year that rich countries have pledged to reduce poverty is too small by half, but some countries need additional aid far more than others.

Auto negotiators push for early agreement on new contracts (Monday, 9/8/03)
John Porretto reports from Detroit that negotiators representing the UAW and the Big Three American automakers are hoping to reach agreement before the current contract expires next week.

Despite layoffs in August, unemployment was slightly lower (Monday, 9/8/03)
August was a fairly big month for layoffs, reports Kenneth Gilpin, but the overall unemployment rate declined a bit to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent the month before.

What adds up to $29 billion in California? (Monday, 9/8/03)
No, that's not the deficit; it's the total cost of workers compensation. Michael Kahn reports from San Francisco on efforts to fix a system that seems to be spinning out of control.

Is Argentina about to default? (Monday, 9/8/03)
Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a big three-year loan are down to the wire. Here's more from Alistair Scrutton in Buenos Aires.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Bureau of the Public Debt (Monday, 9/8/03)
Yes, there IS a Bureau of the Public Debt, and it is located at the United States Department of the Treasury.

Waiting to hear from consumers (Sunday, 9/7/03)
Toni Vorobyova reports from London that many interested observers are waiting for next Friday's report on retail sales. Other indications are that the American economy may finally be embarking on a vigorous recovery, but do consumers believe it, and are they willing to help? Consumer spending accounts for approximately two-thirds of the U.S. economy.

The underground economy (Sunday, 9/7/03)
Daniel Akst says that the unemployment rate wouldn't look so bad if it reflected the large number of Americans who are "working off the books."

The case for some re-regulation of the economy (Sunday, 9/7/03)
The Washington Post's Steven Pearstein thinks that there is growing evidence that federal deregulation went too far.

China's confusion over John Snow's trip (Sunday, 9/7/03)
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow has been in Beijing attempting to convince the Chinese government to revalue its currency. Mark Clifford of Business Week says that one reason that Chinese officials may have found his visit puzzling is that it had more to do with domestic almost-election-year politics than with the yuan. The Bush administration would like voters to believe that the huge loss of American jobs during the past three years is China's fault.

The costy campaign to convince parents to send their children into harm's way (Sunday, 9/7/03)
The Department of Defense is spending $1.7 million to help parents decide that they should encourage their children to join the U.S. military. Here's more from Alicia Henry.

Surprise! You qualify (Sunday, 9/7/03)
Mary Sit-DuVall says that many people are surprised to find that they qualify for a home mortgage.

Managing informational interviews (Sunday, 9/7/03)
Michael Laskoff has been on both sides of informational interviews and tells what he thinks you need to do in order to make it a successful experience.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: International Tax Avoidance and Evasion (Sunday, 9/7/03)
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development studies international tax avoidance and evasion and how it deprives national governments of revenue.

Some of the latest cuts, and how they're adding up (Saturday, 9/6/03)
Layoffs continued in August for the seventh month in a row. Payrolls were reduced by 93,000 workers last month. Among the recent cuts: Del Monte Foods, Champion, a major manufacturer of prefabricated homes, and Meijer of Michigan, one of the pioneers of modern large-scale discount retailing with it's "Meijer's Thrifty Acres." Meanwhile, Barbara Wieland of the Lansing State Journal reports that thousands of Meijer's employees will receive raises under the terms of a new contract just ratified by union membership.

AFL-CEO streamlining (Saturday, 9/6/03)
The big labor confederation's President John Sweeney intends to overhaul the AFL-CIO's governance structure in order to increase the organization's focus and increase membership growth.

In other labor news, according to the Boston Globe, Verizon is trying to counteract claims that it conceded too much to labor during its recent contract negotiations.

Twenty countries to push for freer trade in agriculture (Saturday, 9/6/03)
Twenty relatively poor countries contain about 60 percent of the world's farmers, and they believe that government subsidies for farmers in the U.S., Europe, and Japan place their agricultural products at a considerable disadvantage. The intend to make their case at a major international WTO meeting in Cancun. Here's more from the Hindustan Times. Meanwhile, Business Week's Paul Magnusson says that the WTO has handed the U.S. several major losses recently in its role of arbitrator of disputes.

After a century, disabled veterans still don't receive all of their retirement pay (Saturday, 9/6/03)
Hundreds of retired generals and admirals have petitioned President Bush to change the rule.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Corporate Ethics (Saturday, 9/6/03)
Here's the Washington Post's special report on Corporate Ethics.

Most lost jobs won't be back, according to the Federal Reserve (Friday, 9/5/03)
Nearly three million jobs have been lost since the last recession began in 2001. A new study conducted by the Federal Reserve bank of New York concludes that most of these jobs are gone for good because of structural changes that have been occurring in the American economy.

Bush's six-point plan (Friday, 9/5/03)
The President seems to be feeling increasingly vulnerable as the 2004 election approaches. Iraq hasn't been turning out well, and, while economic growth seems to be accelerating, nine million Americans continue to look for full-time work that mostly isn't available. Elisabeth Bumiller is in Kansas City and reports on President Bush's six-point plan for economic recovery.

Unsustainable boom in China? (Friday, 9/5/03)
Debt has been accumulating in China, and as U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow visits to talk about the yuan, among other things, there is general concern that the Chinese economy might be overheating.

Europe expected to lag behind U.S. and Japan for the year (Friday, 9/5/03)
French budget minister Alain Lambert expects the French economy to grow at an annualized rate of 0.5 percent during the year, about the same as the entire euro region. Meanwhile, Germany's unemployment rate remained at 10.4 percent during the month of August.

Global economy may be set to pick up a bit during 2004 (Friday, 9/5/03)
Although the World Bank has downgraded its estimates of global economic growth for this year, things are expected to improve somewhat next year. Here's more from Larry Dunphy in Washington.

Rising rates not discouraging home buyers (Friday, 9/5/03)
The rush to refinance seems to have cooled a bit, but, as Thomas Fogarty reports, American home buyers haven't been dissuaded by rising mortgage rates which are adding to the monthly cost of buying a house.

What rising productivity means (Friday, 9/5/03)
Among other things, it means that fewer people are doing more work, which is good for the economy and the long-term standard of living in American society, but it isn't so good for people who need but can't find jobs. During the second quarter when productivity reached an annual rate of 6.8 percent, 170,000 jobs were sliced from the economy. Ninety-three thousand jobs were cut during August, but the U.S. unemployment rate fell a bit to 6.1 percent.

Housing vouchers may not be renewed (Friday, 9/5/03)
Housing advocates fear that 100,000 low-income Americans could lose their housing subsidies under a new spending bill passed by a Senate committee and the House.

Maybe no "affluenza" epidemic after all (Friday, 9/5/03)
According to new research, both the political left and the political right may be wrong about the American standard of living. Here's more from Jeff Madrick in the New York Times.

New verses of the same song? (Friday, 9/5/03)
Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh thinks that AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has a good grasp of the economy's problems, but fewer new ideas about what should be done.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Forming a Union (Friday, 9/5/03)
Here's the AFL-CIO's advice on how to form a union.

NLRB Clears Wal-Mart (Thursday, 9/4/03)
Unfair labor charges against the world's largest retailer have been dropped by the National Labor Relations Board.

Second-quarter productivity growth greater than first estimated (Thursday, 9/4/03)
The Labor Department's latest figures show that worker productivity grew at an annual rate of 6.8 percent during the second quarter of 2003.

Jobless claims up last week (Thursday, 9/4/03)
Despite increasing signs that the U.S. economy finally is beginning to accelerate significantly, jobs continue to lag. Tim Ahmann in Washington reports that first-time jobless claims were up last week.

Big blackout didn't dim the U.S. economy (Thursday, 9/4/03)
American history's worst blackout appears to have had virtually no permanent effect on the American economy. Here's more from the Houston Chronicle.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Beloit College Mindset List (Thursday, 9/4/03)
Do the young people in your life look blankly at you when you mention Roosevelt, or Reagan...or Clinton? The Beloit College Mindset List can help you keep in touch with young people who were born about the time you bought your shoes.

Proposed Bush overtime changes stimulate reaction (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
Congressional Democrats and labor leaders are preparing to do what they can to block Administration plans to change the rules determining who is eligible for overtime pay. Opponents say the new rules would deprive 8 million workers of pay they presently receive.

Lieberman describes his health care plan (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
Senator and presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman says his proposed health care plan would insure that all American children would be covered and would be one of the least expensive plans proposed by Democratic presidential candidates.

Agreement at Verizon (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
Tentative agreement has been reached on a new contract between Verizon's largest union and the company.

WTO talks snag on farm subsidy question (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
South African President Mbeki fears that World Trade Organization talks in Mexico are likely to fail if wealthy countries are unwilling to compromise on farm subsidies issue.

A new union is in the works (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
The AFL-CIO intends to form a national union called "Working America" to represent workers who presently have no representation. However, the new union will not have bargaining power. Here's an explanation from Sarah Webster of the Detroit Free Press.

Increasing desperation among the long-term unemployed (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
Christopher Stewart of the New York Times quotes Labor Department data indicating that a quarter of the nine million unemployed have been seeking work for more than 27 weeks.

Ericsson cuts more jobs in Sweden (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
The big electronics firm plays to lay off more than 1,700 people in Sweden, according to Matt Moore in Stockholm.

Politicians remember that many unemployed persons are preparing to vote (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
Leigh Strope says that job losses, particularly in manufacturing, have been getting the attention of politicians now that we're only a bit more than a year away from a presidential election. President Bush is among them, and, according to Jonathan Weisman, seems to be shifting his priorities a bit. However, the Washington Post's Steven Pearlstein says that all the recent talk about a manufacturing jobs crisis is partly mirage.

More than a million additional people slipped below the poverty line last year (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 1.3 Americans fell into poverty last year. Here's more from Lynette Clemetson in Washington.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: American Community Survey (Wednesday, 9/3/03)
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey provides information to communities and their planners every year.

The latest Bush push (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
The continual bleeding of manufacturing jobs has been draining the U.S. economy and also jeopardizing President Bush's re-election chances. Scott Lindlaw reports from Richfield, Ohio that the President announced yesterday that he is creating a "manufacturing czar" position as part of his administration's effort to turn the trend around. As Mr. Lindlaw reports, when the President said "thousands," he should have said "millions."

Preparing for the coming labor shortage (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
During a time when 9 million Americans are searching for full-time work, it may seem strange to worry about how well-prepared we are for a worker shortage. Nonetheless, many experts are saying that it's coming, if, for no other reason than that the huge baby-boom generation will start retiring soon, and there aren't enough younger people in the pipeline to replace them. Within a few years, say the forecasters, there will be an abundance of jobs available, but you'd better have the necessary skills.

No H1-B visa extension expected (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
The three-year-old increase in the number of so-called "hi-tech visas" will not be extended, it appears. On October 1, the H1-B quota is set to drop back from a yearly level of 195,000 to 65,000, where it had been previously.

New York was hit harder than the rest of the country (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
New York State suffered a higher rate of job loss during the latest U.S. economic slump than the rest of the country. Here's more from Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times.

Help from the Greek government (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
Greece's government is providing 1.7 billion euro to help low-income individuals and others in order to bring the country's living standard more in line with that of other European nations.

Deflation on their minds (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
Many of the world's central bankers are concerned about cross-national deflationary pressures and what to do about them. Here's more from Barbara Hagenbaugh of USA Today.

The decline of inheritance (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
If you're expecting to inherit money from the generation that precedes you, you may be in for a surprise. Steve Friess writes that more and more members of the older generation are either unable or unwilling to leave much behind for their children.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Migration and Geographic Mobility (Tuesday, 9/2/03)
Here's a new report from US Census data that examines migration and geographic mobility in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of the United States from 1995 to 2000.

The President on Labor Day (Monday, 9/1/03)
President Bush is visiting with union members in Ohio today in celebration of the American worker. Here's more from Leigh Strope in Washington.

The U.S. economy is beginning to flex its muscles, honest (Monday, 9/1/03)
The signs seem to be clear, according to a growing number of analysts. Andrea Hopkins reports from Washington that more and more experts seem convinced that the world's economic giant is getting to its feet at long last.

Secretary Snow likes Japan's reforms (Monday, 9/1/03)
The American Secretary of Treasury, John Snow, praised Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi's economic reform plans in Tokyo, telling how much he likes economic growth wherever it can be found.

The world's largest military gets a bit smaller (Monday, 9/1/03)
China's shutdown of its giant, money-losing, state-run factories, plus economic policies which are squeezing people in the countryside and encouraging them to flood into the major cities looking for work, has resulted in a vast multitude of unemployed that exceeds the total populations of most of the world's countries. Apparently, there's no job security in the military either. Benjamin Kang Lim reports from Beijing that 200,000 jobs will be cut from the People's Liberation Army.

A weak economy favors employers in the power game (Monday, 9/1/03)
But, what lies in the future? Katherine Reynolds Lewis reports that many experts are saying that the long-term trend will be toward serious labor shortages, meaning that there will come a time again when the power balance will have shifted back in the direction of workers.

IG Metall delegates choose a new leader (Monday, 9/1/03)
Juergen Peters will spend four years as head of Germany's largest labor organization.

A solution to Italy's pension mess is sought (Monday, 9/1/03)
Italy's pension system consumes 15 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Government ministers are meeting to find ways of reducing the cost by encouraging people to stay at their jobs longer. One of Italy's neighbors to the north wants to put more money into its economy too. Here's more on France's plans for cutting taxes.

And the winner in the productivity sweepstakes is... (Monday, 9/1/03)
The UN's International Labor Organization says that American workers are the most productive in the world. Among the reasons, according to the new report, Americans work longer hours.

No, that's not right. Everybody's hours are the same length. But, Americans do work more of them, more work is done by fewer workers, and Americans are making effective use of available technologies. The new data have attracted the attention of leaders in many European Union countries, given the persistent sluggishness of many European economies.

Worker productivity is important because a society's overall standard of living depends on it, as well as its economic clout in relation to the rest of the world.

Testing the testers (Monday, 9/1/03)
Federal law will require teachers to demonstrate that they are competent to teach what they've been teaching, and many of them don't like it. Here's more from Ben Feller in Washington.

It's never too late to start (Monday, 9/1/03)
Well, on the other hand, if you're already dead, it's probably too late. However, people who have been putting off saving for retirement probably shouldn't wait any longer. The Baltimore Sun's Eileen Ambrose writes about starting late and catching up in order to prepare for a day when your aging body will tell you it's time to go fishin'.

Why many people don't mind that they don't get "sick days" (Monday, 9/1/03)
An increasing number of employers are allowing employees to build up "paid time off" days in lieu of sick days, vacation days, or personal leave days. This way, they can use the days however they like and for whatever reason. Harry Wessel of the Orlando Sentinel says that the approach seems to be popular with both employees and employers.

Help in paying off college loans (Monday, 9/1/03)
Various leaders over the years, "conservatives" as well as "liberals," have suggested that all able-bodied young Americans be required to fulfill a mandatory national service requirement--which could take a variety of forms; e.g., military, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, etc.--in exchange for money for college. Like national health insurance, it's a sweeping idea whose time still hasn't come. But, there are pieces of the plan already in place, and many young people voluntarily are taking advantage of the opportunities.

Franchise organizations want minority owners (Monday, 9/1/03)
Yvette Armendariz of the Arizona Republic reports on efforts to diversify franchisees.

More help from parents (Monday, 9/1/03)
It's common for parents to help their children get through college, but, as Anita Lienert of the Detroit News reports, many are having to help them find jobs afterwards too.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Global Gateway (Monday, 9/1/03)
The Library of Congress offers Global Gateway, which is filled with information and resources relating to the world's cultures.

Here are NewWork News stories from previous months

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