Labor & Economic News Blog


Thursday, July 31, 2008

United Airlines Sues Pilots Union Over Sick Days

United Airlines Sues Pilots Union Over Sick Days
NPR audio:
United Airlines is suing the pilots union, claiming that pilots are taking unlawful sick days.

 

Minimum Wage For 200,000

Minimum Wage For 200,000
Schwarzenegger orders steep pay cuts, axes 22,000 jobs in a desperate bid to save cash.

 

Unions, airlines at odds over merger's effect on pensions

Unions, airlines at odds over merger's effect on pensions
Union officials warned Congress on Wednesday that a Delta Air Lines-Northwest Airlines merger would threaten workers' pensions – a scenario the airlines said was flat wrong. Northwest's 12,500 employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have a traditional pension plan that pays a monthly benefit. "

 

Employment costs post moderate gain in 2nd-qtr

Employment costs post moderate gain in 2nd-qtr
AP - Wages and benefits paid to U.S. workers rose by a moderate amount in the spring that should not set off any inflation concerns at the Federal Reserve.

 

Jobless claims hit 2003 high, linked to outreach

Jobless claims hit 2003 high, linked to outreach
AP - The number of people filing claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level in five years, reflecting in large part a new government outreach effort to locate people eligible for benefits.

 

Ex-postal worker settles lawsuit

Ex-postal worker settles lawsuit
A longtime Postal Service employee who claimed he was fired because he complained about discrimination against Filipinos has settled his lawsuit for $175,000 and lifetime retirement benefits, his lawyers said Wednesday

 

San Francisco Plan To Help Workers' Commutes

S.F. Plan To Help Workers' Commutes
Businesses with more than 20 employees working in city would be required to help workers ditch cars, get to work on transit or in vanpools under a proposal being considered.

 

California bill would require paid sick days for most

California bill would require paid sick days for most
As many as 5.4 million working Californians don't get any paid sick days - and they tend to be both sicker and poorer than employees who do receive sick leave, according to a report released Wednesday.

 

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

United accuses pilots union of work slowdown

United accuses pilots union of work slowdown
United Airlines on Wednesday asked a federal judge to stop four pilots and their union from abusing sick time and refusing to fly extra hours, saying illegal job actions have caused hundreds of cancellations.

 

Can manufacturer to close Forest Park plant, lay off workers

Can manufacturer to close Forest Park plant, lay off workers
Beverage can manufacturer Rexam said Wednesday it plans to close a plant and lay off 100 workers in Forest Park by the end of the year. Greg Brooke, a spokesman for the London-based company, said declining demand for 12 oz. cans prompted the move.

 

China trade costs jobs in every state

China trade costs jobs in every state
Unbalanced U.S. trade with China since 2001 has had a devastating effect on U.S. workers. Between 2001 and 2007, the trade deficit lost or displaced 2.3 million jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. See the impact on states in today?s Economic Snapshot.

 

The Summit for American Prosperity Presentations

The Summit for American Prosperity Presentations
The Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution recently launched an ambitious, multi-year initiative to promote the health and vitality of America's urban clusters. In these presentations, Bruce Katz and Rob Puentes present policy ideas for improving the federal partnership with states and cities.

 

Private sector gains 9,000 jobs in July: report

Private sector gains 9,000 jobs in July: report
Reuters - Private employers added 9,000 jobs in July, according to a private report by ADP Employer Services released on Wednesday.

 

More seniors drawing paychecks from retail jobs

More seniors drawing paychecks from retail jobs
Seniors flock to retail for its flexible hours and relatively low-skilled entry requirements. Although they'll likely need to learn how to operate ...

 

Retiring Boomers Prompt Increased Employer Interest in Phased Retirement Programs

Retiring Boomers Prompt Increased Employer Interest in Phased ...
What many companies will find is that their existing flexible work arrangements may be easily adaptable to their retirement-eligible employees

 

Emeryville firm pays employees to bike

Emeryville firm pays employees to bike
Siegel & Strain, an Emeryville architecture firm, reimburses employees who use their bikes to get to work-related meetings away from the office. The firm pays them the same amount it would pay for personal auto use - the IRS rate of 58.5 cents per mile.

 

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Tracing Patterns In Politicized Hiring At Justice Dept.

Tracing Patterns In Politicized Hiring At Justice Dept.
NPR audio:
A Justice Department report finds that aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales illegally discriminated against job applicants who weren't Republican or conservative loyalists. The report concludes that politics illegally influenced the hiring of career prosecutors and immigration judges.

 

Starbucks cuts 1,000 nonstore jobs

Starbucks cuts 1,000 nonstore jobs
Starbucks will cut 1,000 jobs. It also plans to close 61 of its 84 stores in Australia by Sunday.

 

Dockworkers, shippers reach deal

Dockworkers, shippers reach deal
The union representing thousands of West Coast dockworkers has reached a tentative contract deal with shippers that promises to keep ports - and the economy -running.

 

Analysis of UI Benefits in Ohio

Analysis of UI Benefits in Ohio
By paffairs@urban.org ( Wayne Vroman)
This report examines benefit payments in Ohios unemployment insurance (UI) program. The report compares average recipiency rates and replacement rates with national averages over the past four decades. It then reviews detailed aspects of benefit recipiency including monetary eligibility, first payment rates, benefit duration and replacement rates. The report identifies four areas where access to benefits could be broadened: reduced base period earnings requirements, enhanced eligibility for part-time workers, establishment of worksharing and establishment of self-employment assistance.

 

Monday, July 28, 2008

Why Do Sick People Go To Work? Unhealthy Fear

Why Do Sick People Go To Work? Unhealthy Fear
NPR audio:
In a survey of people in Florida and Ohio, about half of the people polled reported they'd gone to work while sick during the past year because they feared the financial consequences of staying home.

 

Restaurant chain forcing waiters to share tips with others

Restaurant chain forcing waiters to share tips with others
With the cost of everything from air conditioning to whipped cream rising, many restaurants have been raising prices. LongHorn Steakhouse is passing on part of the tab to its servers.

 

Gender Split on Retirement Worries

Gender Split on Retirement Worries
The complexity of preparing financially for retirement can make anyone nervous -- but a new survey finds women are more worried than men about the challenges ahead, particularly inflation, health-care costs and outliving retirement savings.

 

Friday, July 25, 2008

Comparing State's Jobless Benefits

Comparing State's Jobless Benefits
NPR audio:
Lawrence, Mass. and Salem, N.H. are just seven miles apart. But if you're out of work and trying to get jobless benefits, they're very different. We visit people coping with unemployment in both places.

 

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Job Market for Aging Boomers Will Favor Brains Over Brawn

Job Market for Aging Boomers Will Favor Brains Over Brawn
By paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute )
The occupations that already employ above-average shares of workers age 55 and older rely on an educated workforce and are expected to grow at least 20 percent by 2016, double the 10 percent rate forecast for the national labor force. A new study examines how changes in the nature of work, different occupations, the characteristics of older workers, and overall labor force growth might affect future job prospects for older Americans.

 

Will Employers Want Aging Boomers?

Will Employers Want Aging Boomers?
Boomers will probably want to work longer than earlier cohorts, but their continued work requires that employers hire and retain them. Employers value older workers for their maturity, experience and work ethic, but worry about out of date skills and high costs. Slower overall labor supply growth will increase demand for older workers and occupations with higher shares of older workers will increase modestly as a share of all jobs. Future jobs will require less physical demands and more cognitive and interpersonal skills, trends that favor educated older workers, but job opportunities for less educated older workers may remain limited.

 

Infrastructure: Time to Compete to Win

Infrastructure: Time to Compete to Win
The Olympic development boom in China showcases the results of years of rapid growth in China’s economy and mirrors that of many other emerging markets. One of the Olympic lessons for the U.S. should be to reverse its ailing infrastructure trend and begin investing for the long-term to stay competitive, according to Lael Brainard.

 

Thursday, July 17, 2008

New York Extends Benefits for Jobless

New York Extends Benefits for Jobless
New York State began notifying out-of-work residents on Monday that they may be eligible to collect an additional 13 weeks of unemployment checks.

 

Petrobras presents counteroffer to striking workers

Petrobras presents counteroffer to striking workers
The offer responds to workers' claims for a minimum interval between workdays and to four other demands, the Rio de Janeiro- based company said in a statement Wednesday, without specifying what the demands were.

 

Jobless claims rise to 366,000 last week

Jobless claims rise to 366,000 last week
Reuters - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose by a less-than-expected 18,000 last week to 366,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis, a Labor Department report showed on Thursday.

 

College degree doesn't pay?

College degree doesn't pay?
A four-year college degree, seen for generations as a ticket to a better life, is no longer enough to guarantee a steadily rising paycheck.

 

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

US Airways pilots say they're pressured to cut fuel

US Airways pilots say they're pressured to cut fuel
The pilots union for US Airways said Wednesday the airline is pressuring pilots to use less fuel than they feel is safe in order to save money.

 

GM's pain hits Baltimore retirees

GM's pain hits Baltimore retirees
Automaker drops health coverage for ex-workers 65 and older, affecting hundreds in Baltimore

 

California's Workers' Compensation Program Could Model Pay-for-Performance

California's Workers' Compensation Program Could Model Pay-for-Performance
California's workers' compensation group health program is suitable for three models of a pay-for-performance initiative that include agreed on performance measures, expandable data-collection infrastructure, and incentives in order to ensure physician buy-in.

 

Protecting and Strengthening Retirement Savings

Protecting and Strengthening Retirement Savings
Fully half of America’s working families lack any employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. Testifying before a Senate panel, J. Mark Iwry and David C. John called for a common strategy to preserve and expand retirement savings in a manner that transcends partisan differences, an approach that includes preserving employer-sponsored retirement plans and broadening participation and coverage options.

 

Sun workers criticize Tribune Co. in protest over layoffs

Sun workers criticize Tribune Co. in protest over layoffs
Employees of The Baltimore Sun are bracing for layoffs Friday, and they say management hasn't been forthcoming about how many people will lose their jobs or how the layoffs will be handled.

 

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Cuts may limit options for some at soon-to-close Doraville plant

Cuts may limit options for some at soon-to-close Doraville plant
Workers at General Motors' Doraville plant are used to gloomy news — after all, the plant is closing in 10 weeks. But plans to cut white-collar salary costs by 20 percent, trim truck production and limit retiree health care costs gave the workers pause Tuesday when considering their own future. For one thing, the cutbacks limit opportunities for as many as 250 Doraville employees hoping to land at a plant elsewhere because the company is retrenching.

 

Maryland Montgomery County domestic worker measure approved

Maryland Montgomery County domestic worker measure approved
Regional Digest Montgomery County lawmakers unanimously approved legislation yesterday to require residents to negotiate a written employment contract spelling out working conditions for domestic workers.

 

American Airlines to cut 200 pilot jobs

American Airlines to cut 200 pilot jobs
American Airlines is cutting 200 pilot jobs as it sheds 8 percent of its work force to cope with higher fuel costs. American gave its pilots union a plan yesterday that includes incentives for senior pilots to leave voluntarily. A spokesman for the pilots said the union needed time to review the proposal.

 

U.S., Canadian workers can expect pay hikes: survey

U.S., Canadian workers can expect pay hikes: survey
Reuters - Even as companies in the auto, airline and financial sectors slash jobs in the face of a slowing economy, most U.S. and Canadian workers who escape the cost-cutting ax can expect their paychecks to get a little fatter next year.

 

Monday, July 14, 2008

Five-day Brazilian oil strike begins

Five-day Brazilian oil strike begins
Brazil's Oil Workers Confederation began a five-day strike against Petroleo Brasileiro SA, an action that may cut the country's daily crude production by more than 50 percent.

 

As jobs dwindle, some take work that's not ideal

As jobs dwindle, some take work that's not ideal
By day, Devone Kelly is a hairdresser. At night, she dances nude under the stage name of "Caramel" because her hairdressing business has nose-dived. Delta Air Lines employees JoAnn Bullard and John Mahoney work nights at the airline so they can go to other jobs during the day to make up for the two pay cuts at the carrier in the past five years. Bullard cleans houses.

 

Mothers head back to work, like it or not

Mothers head back to work, like it or not
Women who left jobs for children find economy reverses the trade

 

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Jobless claims dip but labor market still weak

Jobless claims dip but labor market still weak
AP - Fewer people signed up for unemployment benefits last week, but the dip was not enough to overcome continuing weakness in the country's labor market.

 

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

May hires rate slowest pace since June 2003

May hires rate slowest pace since June 2003
Reuters - Employers hired workers in May at the slowest pace in nearly five years as a fragile economy apparently sapped enthusiasm for adding staff, a government report showed on Wednesday.

 

Monday, July 07, 2008

Jobs market in for weak spell

Jobs market in for weak spell
Reuters - The Conference Board said on Monday there was little reason to expect the U.S. labor market to recover in the months ahead after its jobs index fell in June to its lowest since late 2004.

 

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Four-Day Workweek Gaining Ground In U.S.

Four-Day Workweek Gaining Ground In U.S.
NPR audio
Casual Fridays take on a whole new meaning in Utah starting next month. Utah state employees will not go in on Fridays. It's a move meant to save on commuting and energy costs.

 

American may cut over 6,800 workers

American may cut over 6,800 workers
Many more job cuts, likely totaling more than 6,000, are likely at American Airlines as the nation's biggest airline hunkers down and tries to survive record high fuel costs.

 

New York cabbies struggle as fuel costs hack pay

New York cabbies struggle as fuel costs hack pay
Reuters - Tired of pumping his cash right back into his gas tank, New York City taxi driver Mohammed Kalair says he is considering quitting his job and going back to his native Pakistan.

 

Employers cut jobs for sixth straight month

Employers cut jobs for sixth straight month
Employers cut payrolls by 62,000 in June, the sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, underscoring the economy's fragile state. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent.

 

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

India truckers strike over fuel

India truckers strike over fuel
BBC
Nearly four million trucks go off India's roads after their owners begin an indefinite strike to protest against rising fuel bills.

 

Hauliers in Britain head to fuel price demo

Hauliers in Britain head to fuel price demo
BBC
Hundreds of lorry drivers are travelling to London for another protest against the rising cost of fuel.

 

Newspapers Make Cuts At Home, Hire Abroad

Newspapers Make Cuts At Home, Hire Abroad
NPR audio
More and more U.S. companies are outsourcing jobs overseas to cut costs, and that includes newspaper groups. Employees in India are doing everything from writing ad copy to copy editing to writing weekend supplements for U.S. and British newspapers.

 

Starbucks Store Closures To Affect 12,000 Workers

Starbucks Store Closures To Affect 12,000 Workers
NPR audio
Starbucks will close more than 600 shops in the U.S. in the coming months, which analysts say is a consequence of the chain spreading too far, too fast. About 12,000 workers, or 7 percent of its global work force, will be affected by the closings.

 

Rising Fuel Prices Keep Fishermen On Dry Land

Rising Fuel Prices Keep Fishermen On Dry Land
NPR audio
High fuel prices are keeping many New England fishing boats in the docks. Economists predict that if fuel prices stay this high, many fishermen will be forced out of business.

 

AirTran plans 5% to 15% pay cuts; furloughs also expected

AirTran plans 5% to 15% pay cuts; furloughs also expected
AirTran Airways plans to cut employee pay by 5 percent to 15 percent, the company said Wednesday. Orlando-based AirTran, which has its largest hub in Atlanta, said officers will take 15 percent pay cuts, and most employees will see pay cuts of 5 percent or 8 percent.

 

Cargo moves smoothly at West Coast ports

Cargo moves smoothly at West Coast ports
Cargo is moving without interruption at 29 West Coast ports despite the expiration of a contract that covered more than 25,000...

 

Children's Hospital Oakland lays off 84 staff

Children's Hospital Oakland lays off 84 staff
In a move that stunned the medical staff at Children's Hospital Oakland, hospital officials abruptly laid off 84 people Tuesday, including doctors, nurses and clinical workers who were escorted out of the facility by security.

 

Merger forms transatlantic labor union

Merger forms transatlantic union
BBC
Britain's biggest union, Unite, is merging with the US-based United Steelworkers union to create a new "global" body.

 

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Birmingham Cuts Work Week To Save Energy Costs

Birmingham Cuts Work Week To Save Energy Costs
NPR audio
Birmingham, Ala., is the latest to switch to a four-day, 10-hour work week for city employees in order to save energy costs. Chris Hartzell, Birmingham's chief of operations, says the plan will benefit workers and the city, which has seen its fuel costs increase by 50 percent.

 

Hollywood actors mull pay offer

Hollywood actors mull pay offer
BBC
Hollywood producers make a final offer to actors in their pay dispute, warning the industry is already on de facto strike.

 

Nonprofits add jobs in Maryland

Nonprofits in Maryland add jobs
Outpacing for-profit firms in hiring, construction. Nonprofits - especially big ones - are continuing to drive employment growth in Maryland, a new report suggests.

 

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