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Labor & Economic News Blog

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Financial Crisis and Personal Saving

The Financial Crisis and Personal Saving
The current financial crisis has had a great impact on how Americans are saving. In a presentation for the “National Forum to Encourage Lower-Income Household Savings,” Karen Dynan explained that while aggregate personal saving should be markedly higher than before the crisis, it is difficult to predict the level of saving for lower-income households.

 

Friday, October 23, 2009

S.F. hotel workers authorize strike

S.F. hotel workers authorize strike
The union representing 9,000 hospitality workers voted to authorize a strike Thursday as negotiations to renew a contract governing more than 60 San Francisco hotels remain stalled over how to pay for health care coverage.

 

Thursday, October 22, 2009

4-day workweek brings unexpected bonus

4-day workweek brings unexpected bonus
Utah's experiment with a shorter week has paid off in ways the state didn't even anticipate.

 

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Public Pensions and Saving Souls

Public Pensions and Saving Souls
Many public pension funds are now taking the lead on exploring this new avenue for investment. In August a consultant called Pension Consulting Alliance (PCA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) for infrastructure investment management services on behalf of its public pension fund clients.

 

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Case For a Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustment in 2010 Is Weak

Case For a Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustment in 2010 Is Weak
Under current law, there will be no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security in 2010 — the first time that has happened since automatic cost-of-living adjustments began in 1975. Several bills before Congress would grant a special increase in Social Security payments for 2010. The inflation data, however, do not support an increase: overall consumer prices have fallen significantly in the past year and are not expected to return to their earlier peak until …

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Teachers benefit from job-saving stimulus spending

Teachers benefit from job-saving stimulus spending
Teachers appear to have benefited most from the effort to save jobs with the $787 billion recovery package, which sent billions of dollars to states that were on the verge of ordering heavy layoffs in education. The national data on the impact of President...

 

Ford, UAW agree to tentative deal on contract

Ford, UAW agree to tentative deal on contract
Union leaders from Ford's factories voted Tuesday to recommend that members approve a deal to lower the automaker's labor costs to match those of its Detroit rivals. The deal, which runs until 2011, gives workers a bonus if they ratify the agreement and...

 

As Other Nations Rebound, Spaniards Mired In Crisis

As Other Nations Rebound, Spaniards Mired In Crisis
NPR audio
As the recession appears to level out in many countries, Spain's economy continues to slide. The 19 percent unemployment rate is getting worse, and mainstay industries are all suffering. Experts worry that as the rest of Europe recovers and interest rates rise, the many Spaniards already deep in debt will sink deeper.

 

Monday, October 12, 2009

Dairy Farmers Hit Harder By Recession

Dairy Farmers Hit Harder By Recession
NPR audio
Farmers are especially susceptible to dips in the economy, and this recession has been particularly bad for the dairy industry. We hear from John Stulp, Colorado's commissioner of agriculture, about his state's dairies. And host Liane Hansen speaks to Jim Docheff, a fourth-generation dairy farmer who declared bankruptcy last spring.

 

Jobless Mom Takes Her Act To The Blogosphere

Jobless Mom Takes Her Act To The Blogosphere
NPR audio
Being unemployed can be a lonely and challenging experience. But blogger Jayne Lytel is proof of an exception. Lytel is founder of GirlOnTheBrink.com, where she blogs under the pseudonym Ann Powers. The online community was recently featured in The Washington Post Magazine, as reported by Ylan Mui. Lytel talks about her transparency and how her "real" life compares to the more fun and eccentric personality of her cyber alter ego.

 

Hispanic Farmers Fight To Sue USDA

Hispanic Farmers Fight To Sue USDA
NPR audio
Hispanic and black farmers say for years the Agriculture Department failed to investigate their claims of discrimination. But while black farmers successfully sued the department and walked away with $1 billion, Hispanic farmers say they have been denied their chance at a similar class-action suit.

 

Friday, October 09, 2009

Six Unemployed People For Every Opening

Six Unemployed People For Every Opening
NPR audio
On the last business day of August, the number of job openings in the U.S. was just under 2.4 million. The number of unemployed people hit 14.9 million that month, then climbed to 15.1 million in September. That means there about six unemployed people for every available job.

 

Monday, October 05, 2009

Union hopes to organize Long Beach hotel workers

Union hopes to organize Long Beach hotel workers
A campaign called Hope for Housekeepers focuses on Hyatt, Hilton and others, locally as well as nationally. After a day's work cleaning one hotel room after another, Maria Valdivia says she's often too fatigued to play with her three children once she gets home.