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Links on
these pages to commercial sites do not represent endorsement by
the University of California or its affiliates.
The opinions
expressed on this Weblog are the responsibility of the contributing
authors and do not reflect the opinion of the Institute of Industrial
Relations, The University of California, or the Regents of the
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Institute
of Industrial Relations Library
Labor and Employment Weblog
University of California, Berkeley |
Updated
5/24/2004; 11:10:26 AM
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Friday, May 07, 2004 |
Germany to create more apprenticeships in nanotechnology and biotechnology. German Minister for Education and Research, Edelgard Bulmahn, has launched her country's 'apprenticeship offensive 2004', saying that she sees particular potential for apprenticeships in the growth areas of microsystems technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
The government intends to target regions where the difference between the number of apprenticeships available and local demand is the highest, as well as those regions which have cut their number of apprenticeships by a higher than average number Cordis May 7 2004 2:01PM GMT
2:57:50 PM 
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Textile workers in Nigeria propose sector revival strategy. To revive the plummeting fortunes of the nation's textile industry, workers have called for a stakeholder's forum, to strategically map out measures, for improved business environment, on a sustainable basis. Indeed, officials of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) lamented that the ailing textile industry in the country holds dim prospect for the nation's economic recovery. Nigeria Guardian May 7 2004 3:48AM GMT
2:53:32 PM
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OECD economic indicator points up but shows signs of flagging. "Continued expansion lies ahead in the OECD area according to the latest composite leading indicators," the Paris-based organisation said in a statement Friday. "However, March data signal slightly weakening performance in the United States and the euro area but an improvement in Japan and Italy," it added. AFP via Yahoo! May 7 2004 3:40PM GMT
2:45:10 PM
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Spring hiring prospects in Texas seem somewhat improved. "We're even seeing some modest hiring in the IT (information-technology) sector. That's good news for the Plano area," said Bernard Weinstein, director of the Center for Economic Development at the University of North Texas. That doesn't mean a return to the halcyon '90s, however. Plano Star Courier May 7 2004 7:15PM GMT
2:39:26 PM
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Unifi strikes offshoring deal to protect Lloyds TSB staff. FINANCE union Unifi yesterday struck its third offshoring agreement with a UK bank as Lloyds TSB guaranteed to make alternative job offers to staff affected by the transfer of functions overseas. Lloyds TSB, which owns Scottish Widows, joins Barclays and HSBC in supporting the initiative. The agreement, which seeks to avoid large site closures and guarantee displaced staff another job if they wish to remain with the bank in the event of work going abroad, follows last year's closure of a Lloyds TSB call centre in Newcastle, with the loss of nearly 1000 jobs by the end of this year. Glasgow Herald May 7 2004 7:51AM GMT [Moreover - Textiles news]
2:33:19 PM
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TechTV lays off San Francisco staff. TechTV told 285 San Francisco employees on Thursday that their jobs are being eliminated, a move that was widely feared by workers after Comcast announced in March that it would acquire the technology cable channel. CNET May 7 2004 2:23AM GMT
2:21:18 PM
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Student activists urge Indiana University to disclose wages of workers producing apparel.
| Bloomington-AP) -- An anti-sweatshop group has asked Indiana University to force companies that make IU-licensed apparel to disclose the wages they pay workers. About 20 members of the student group No Sweat! met with Dean of Students Richard McKaig after a rally yesterday on the Bloomington campus. The I-U students believed university officials had been slow to send a letter supporting the wage-disclosure campaign to the Workers Rights Consortium. McKaig told students that he had forwarded the letter to I-U President Adam Herbert for his endorsement. The nonprofit Workers Rights Consortium is a group of schools, students and labor rights experts. The group monitors the labor practices of apparel producers, many of which have factories in developing countries where low wages and poor working conditions are common. | | | |
2:14:59 PM
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Irish laborers found an early grave in Penn. together. William Watson and John Ahtes, two professors at Immaculata University, are looking for a mass grave believed to contain the remains of approximately 57 workers who died of cholera in 1832 while building a section of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in East Whiteland Township. Their efforts have been reported in various Philadelphia and Chester County media over the past few months. The Intelligencer May 7 2004 0:42AM GMT
2:05:12 PM
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Small US towns, like Martinville Louisiana, look toward China to remedy job losses. After several trips with other officials to China, the town Mayor Eric Martin hopes to nab a Chinese auto parts manufacturer within the coming months. He also hopes the company, which he would not identify, will be just the first of other China-based companies to take up shop in the former Martin Mills plant. If all goes well, Martin expects as many as 500 jobs to be created, with thousands more possible in the future. Martin, like many other St. Martinville residents, blames the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for sweeping away 2,200 jobs at Martin Mills two years ago. But the mayor said he and other officials decided to look at NAFTA in a different way while seeking out recovery. [The Taipei Times: Business]
1:47:06 PM
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Will You Bring Your Own PC To Work?. People often have emotional attachments with their computers, even if that computer is supplied by their employers. Going one step beyond the concept of telecommuting and the so-called commoditization of IT, some are wondering if a few years from now, people will be expected to bring their own computers to work, the same way they're expected to drive their own cars to work. And, if that's the case, what will it mean for the traditional role of the IT staffer who used to have to get you set up with your computer and help you troubleshoot when things weren't working properly? The article suggests it may mean fewer IT jobs, since they won't have to manager purchasing new machines and applications. However, it could mean a shift of those jobs towards the new problem: making all of those different PC configurations work together properly. Of course, that seems like an opportunity as well. If things really do progress in this manner, there will be a greater need for automation tools that can help configure a machine to work within a specific corporate network environment. [Techdirt]
1:40:35 PM
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Tenet Hospital Chain to Move to Dallas. Tenet Healthcare Corp., the nation's second-largest for-profit hospital chain, said Thursday it will move its headquarters to Dallas from Santa Barbara, Calif. The company -- which is under federal investigation for its billing practices -- said 115 jobs will shift to Dallas. That is far fewer than the 700 corporate employees that Tenet already has in the city. AP via Newsday May 7 2004 3:27PM GMT
1:38:36 PM
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Fiat Melfi: Unions Divided On Wages.
Melfi (Pz), May 7. - Second day of negotiations between Fiat and the Rsu at the Melfi factory, which were announced as preliminary. Yesterday the Lingotto delegation showed the company's offer to overcome the double night shift and the wage inequality in line with other factories. Regarding hours, there's substantial acceptance by union reps, the problem to solve is the pay increases, which Fiat would like to stagger and apply to financial improvements. This morning's meeting was due to start at 9.30am but the delegates still hadn't shown up. 750 workers were present at the factory (1300 for each shift) who also today will produce the Lancia Y and Punto. (AGI) - 071418 MAG 04 AGI Online May 7 2004 6:20PM GMT
1:35:51 PM
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Layoffs in Minnesota drop off. New unemployment claims in Minnesota plummeted 31.5 percent in April over the same month last year, a sign that layoffs dropped steeply, according to state data released Thursday. Pioneer Planet May 7 2004 10:29AM GMT
1:25:32 PM
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Belgium set for massive pensions bill. BRUSSELS - In line with most of the rest of the developed world, Belgium is set to see spending on state pensions skyrocket over the next 30 years. Belgian Labour Minister Johan Vande Lanotte said on Friday that spending on pensions and care for the elderly would represent around 3.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2003 and 2030. Expatica Belgium May 7 2004 3:28PM GMT
1:02:02 PM
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Berkeley Bowl must respond to labor suit. Grocer accused of threatening shutdown to quash union efforts. Berkeley Bowl, lauded as an eco-friendly and liberal grocer, is headed to trial following accusations of unfair labor practices in a complaint filed last week by attorneys for the National Labor Relations Board. The complaint alleges that during a seven-month labor showdown with store employees who tried to organize last year, Berkeley Bowl owners and managers ran a fervent anti-union campaign that included employee surveillance, interrogation and a threat to close the store if employees unionized. Oakland Tribune May 7 2004 2:42PM GMT
12:58:39 PM
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Norwegian pension reform facing delay. The proposed reform of Norway’s state pension system is now unlikely to become law until after 2005’s general election, a political advisor says. “The Socialist Party, the Labour Party and the Progress Party do not want to discuss pension reform in the current parliament,” Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, political advisor to the far-right Progress Party, said in an interview with IPE. “This will be good for us because it will give use more time to prepare our case and build support.” Investment Pensions Europe May 7 2004 2:51PM GMT
12:54:25 PM
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Further lay-offs at Norway's Rieber & Son. Due to the strike and extended lockout in grocery transport sector, Rieber & Søn has been forced to make additional lay-offs. From the end of the working day today, 32 people at Toro's plant at Arna outside Bergen and 15 people at the plant at Elverum (formerly Nopal) will be laid-off. A total of 230 people have now been laid-off in Rieber & Søn. These include: Denja in Larvik (31), the sales organisation (147), the Toro plant (37), Elverum, formerly Nopal (15). The situation is being assessed day-by-day, and if the strike and lockout continue or are intensified, further lay-offs may be necessary. HUGIN Online May 7 2004 3:04PM GMT
12:53:34 PM
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3 of 10 Reconstruction Workers Leave Iraq. Roughly three out of 10 Americans and other non-Iraqis involved in U.S.-financed reconstruction projects in Iraq have left the country since early April because of a lack of security, the Bush administration official overseeing the projects said in an interview. Guardian Unlimited May 7 2004 4:54PM GMT [Moreover - Mideast news]
12:50:43 PM
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Restructuring at Hydro's aluminium plants in Norway. Annual operating costs will be reduced by NOK 350 - 400 million, with production remaining at the present level. Estimates show that this may involve a reduction of up to 800 man-years. The restructuring process will be completed early next year. Hydro's board decided today to submit the restructuring programme for final approval in Hydro's corporate assembly. The employee representatives emphasized that they agree on the need for restructuring but that they do not agree on the de-manning figure presented. HUGIN Online May 7 2004 1:10PM GMT [Moreover - Mining and metals news]
12:50:02 PM
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Ralcorp Holdings locks out workers at cookie plan in Ripon Wisconsin.
15 warehouse employees have been locked out at its cookie plant in Ripon, Wis., after unsuccessful contract negotiations. The company says it plans continue operating the facility during the lockout to meet customer orders by using managerial and administrative staff, as well as temporary replacement workers. St Louis Business Journal May 7 2004 2:37PM GMT
12:19:42 PM
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Korean Business Groups Reject Gov't Policies, Union Demands. The Executive deputy chiefs of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and the Cooperative of Small-and-Medium Businesses Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily of Seoul, South Korea fully rejected on Friday the government’s corporate policies that calls for limits on the share voting rights of financial service firms affiliated with conglomerates and the reintroduction of the right to track accounts by the Fair Trade Commission.
It also disapproved demands from the labor community, such as the union’s involvement in management and the transformation of irregular workers into regular workers, which will likely cause considerable conflict between management and the labor unions in future collective wage negotiations. [Breaking News Headlines from Around the World, Powered by Worldpress.org]
11:18:40 AM
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Copyright
2004
Janice Kimball
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