Labor & Economic News Blog
Compiled by Janice Kimball and the staff of the IRLE Library
Thursday, November 30, 2006
USA: Firms worry over sick workers in the office
USA: Firms worry over sick workers in the office
NY Times:
Are you the kind of employee who drags yourself to work no matter how lousy you're feeling?
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:48 PM
American says no to pilots' requests
American says no to pilot's
American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, rejected most of the contract changes proposed by its pilots union to resolve a standoff over flying a new route between Beijing and Dallas.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:30 PM
Colombia fears change in trade efforts by U.S.
Colombia fears change in trade efforts by U.S.
At the CI Jeans factory, where 3,900 people make their living turning bolts of denim into trousers bound for the United States, the American market " land of the customer" appears to be slipping away.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:29 PM
Nine unions at Philly papers extend talks
Nine unions at Philly papers extend talks
The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, which represents more than 900 editorial and other workers, was threatening to strike if it cannot reach an agreement with management before midnight.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:28 PM
Report cites lack of details on 401(k) plan fees
Report cites lack of details on 401(k) plan fees
Participants in 401(k) plans may be losing thousands of dollars in retirement savings because of sponsor fees, a report said today, in urging investors be given a clearer picture of the fees they pay.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:28 PM
Airline merger buzz has unions wary
Airline merger buzz has unions wary
Airline union leaders are keeping a wary eye out as merger speculation swirls, but they're reluctant to say how they'd react in the event of a takeover. The talk began in earnest earlier this month when US Airways made an offer to buy Delta Air Lines.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:27 PM
Mesaba unions ratify cost-cutting contracts
Mesaba unions ratify cost-cutting contracts
Ending more than a year of bruising concessionary talks, Mesaba Airlines pilots, flight attendants and mechanics ratified tentative contract agreements that reduce labor costs by 15.8 percent over four years and keep the regional carrier flying.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:24 PM
For some at Ford, it's a matter of weeks
For some at Ford, it's a matter of weeks
The last day on the job could come as early as Dec. 14 for at least a third of Ford Ranger workers. A Ford Motor Co. spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday that one shift at the St. Paul plant will be eliminated Jan. 2. About 600 to 700 workers could be out the door then. Many workers are assuming their last day will be Dec. 14 because the plant will go on furlough and then a holiday break.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:24 PM
NWA strike appeal argued
NWA strike appeal argued
The union representing flight attendants at Northwest Airlines asked an appeals court Tuesday to overturn a judge's ruling and allow them to go on strike.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:23 PM
Arizona strike could squeeze Raytheon profit
Arizona strike could squeeze Raytheon profit
By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff
A strike by 1,500 workers has stretched into its fourth week at Raytheon Co.'s missile business, and analysts warn it could slow deliveries and pinch fourth-quarter profits for the Waltham company.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:21 PM
Delta says pilot recall shows recovery is progressing
Delta says pilot recall shows recovery is progressing
Delta Air Lines says it's bringing back another wave of idled employees — this time 200 pilots — as its recovery plan proceeds despite a takeover attempt by US Airways. Delta, which has also recently announced recalls of hundreds of flight attendants, mechanics and other employees in coming months, said Wednesday it plans to gradually call the pilots back to training classes starting in January. The move comes as US Airways is expected to present its case this week to Delta executives and bankruptcy creditors for an $8.6 billion unsolicited merger proposal. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday night that the meeting will be today.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:18 PM
Generation I.O.U., the Economics of the Young
Generation I.O.U., the Economics of the Young
NPR audio:
Roughly two thirds of young people have some form of debt, and the extra financial burden has made it harder for young people to save for retirement. Guests discuss why some eighteen to thirty-four year olds are financially biting off more than they can chew.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:16 PM
Pfizer Cutting 2,000 Sales Jobs in the U.S.
Pfizer Cutting 2,000 Sales Jobs in the U.S.
NPR audio:
Drug maker Pfizer is cutting 20 percent of its U.S. sales force, in what it calls "a review" of its operations. The cuts should add up to about 2,200 jobs. Industry analysts say the job cuts are overdue and are the result of a declining market for the company.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:15 PM
Marketplace: 38,000 Ford Workers Take Buyouts
Marketplace: 38,000 Ford Workers Take Buyouts
NPR audio:
Ford has announced that 38,000 employees have accepted buyouts or early retirement offers, which the company hopes will help its financial restructuring efforts. Mike Pesca speaks with Marketplace's Amy Scott about the news.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:14 PM
Small Business: Health Care at a Premium
Small Business: Health Care at a Premium
By EVE TAHMINCIOGLU
Experts say rising health insurance costs are causing problems for start-ups and keeping some would-be entrepreneurs from starting businesses.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:02 PM
Newspaper pension freeze rejected
Newspaper pension freeze rejected
A standoff over pension funding at the St. Paul Pioneer Press escalated this week when the paper's largest union said it would not agree to a company proposal to revamp the retirement plan.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 2:25 PM
Wal-Mart workers appear in ads faulting its practices
Wal-Mart workers appear in ads faulting its practices
By Associated Press
A union-backed group is to launch two television ads today that feature Wal-Mart workers calling on their employer to improve working conditions and make company health insurance more affordable.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 2:20 PM
Hale workers, sick cities
Hale workers, sick cities
MUNICIPAL UNIONS should raise a holiday toast to gullible Massachusetts taxpayers for their willingness to absorb disproportionate pain from increases in health insurance costs. Bostonians, for example, sit by passively while city workers, who pay just 10 percent of premium costs for their HMO coverage, gobble up nearly half of the annual increase in the city's operating budget.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 2:20 PM
Off-the-job smoker sues over firing
Off-the-job smoker sues over firing
By Sacha Pfeiffer, Globe Staff
A Buzzards Bay man has sued The Scotts Co. , the lawn care giant, for firing him after a drug test showed nicotine in his urine, indicating that he had violated a company policy forbidding employees to smoke on or off the job.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 2:18 PM
Jobless claims climb to 357,000 last week (Reuters)
Jobless claims climb to 357,000 last week (Reuters)
Reuters - The number of U.S. workers applying for jobless benefits rose a higher-than-expected 34,000 to a seasonally adjusted 357,000, according to a government report on Thursday.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 9:12 AM
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