-
-
Cinderella Arrested in Labor Protest
Disneyland hotel workers banned together in a protest opposing unfair, nonliving wages and drops in benefits. Compared to comparable companies, Disneyland hotel workers make $2-$3 less an hour, on average, the article reports. The 32 protesters donned Disney costumes and sat in the road in front of Disneyland, sending a message not only to their employers and Disney as a whole but to the thousands of Disneyland visitors who continue to put money into a machine that exploits its workers.
There has been much needed attention lately to labor conditions in foreign countries, mostly controlled by American corporations, but what about what is happening right here in our own country? Corporations like Wal-Mart and Disney, among many others, do not offer provide their employees with living wages, enough benefits and often take measures to prevent them from joining unions, as has most recently been seen with Wal-Mart.
Read the story above for more information.
Thoughts on this? Disneyland hotel workers banned together in a protest opposing unfair, nonliving wages and drops in benefits. Compared to comparable c... more -
Georgians doing forced labor in South Ossetia
"Teams of ethnic Georgians, some under armed guard, were being forced to clean the streets of South Ossetia's capital on Saturday. It was the first apparent evidence of humiliation or abuse of Georgians in the Russian-controlled breakaway republic.
Three teams of ethnic Georgians, men in their 40s and 50s, were seen cleaning the streets of Tskhinvali, which was badly damaged in the fighting. When approached, one worker confirmed that he was being forced to work.
One group of about two dozen men was escorted through the streets by armed Ossetians and a Russian officer.
"Labor even turns monkeys into humans," the Russian officer said. He threatened to arrest an AP photographer if he took pictures.
The city was bombed and hit by heavy rocket fire when Georgia launched an offensive Aug. 7 to retake the separatist republic, and it saw fierce street battles after Russia responded to the Georgian attack by sending in hundreds of tanks." "Teams of ethnic Georgians, some under armed guard, were being forced to clean the streets of South Ossetia's capital on Sat... more -
Joe Biden awarded 'Best of Congress' by working moms
The latest issue of Working Mother Magazine features a story about Senator Joe Biden, the recipient of the magazine's parent company's "Best of Congress" award. Biden got the honor from Working Mother Media and Corporate Voices for Working Families for improving the quality of life through family-friendly work policies.
The award spotlights Biden's congressional leadership in supporting working families through legislation, and for employing family-friendly policies in his own office. Biden says that as a parent and grandparent, he understands the challenges facing American families.
full report: http://www.workingmother.com/web?service=direct/1/ViewA... The latest issue of Working Mother Magazine features a story about Senator Joe Biden, the recipient of the magazine's parent comp... more -
Pot Friendly Jobs are available Nationwide!
It is fair to say that a good percentage of the people of this country use cannabis. Whether it be for medicinal, recreational or religious purposes, marijuana users have never conceded to the government's claim that the herb is dangerous. Cannabis has been illegal in the US for over seventy years, with nearly 20 million arrests made since 1937. Surprisingly, this has not swayed the millions of Americans who chronically partake in the chronic.
So where do these people work? There are thousands of companies who treat the employee use of cannabis outside of the workplace the same as employee alcohol use outside of work. Since alcohol contributes to over 100,000 deaths annually, it is ridiculous for an employer to discriminate against an individual based on their decision to a use a healthier alternative. Yet, many still do.
If there were no "pot friendly" jobs, the nation would no doubt be slowed to a crawl, with no one to teach our children, staff our hospitals, entertain us or build our highways. (Just to name a few) How is it that while cannabis remains illegal, it also remains in the top cash crops of the US? It is the resilience of the true spirit of America. We are not all sheep. Some of us would rather live our lives based on our own set of morals and beliefs than a set of morals and beliefs handed down by a government who enslaved blacks, committed genocide on Native Americans and uses the globe as its nuclear playground.
The trillion dollar toilet flush we call the war on drugs has been an obvious failure. We, as a people, have no other choice than to Outgrow Big Bro. We all need to stand up to and overcome the adversity imposed on us by Big Brother and society in general. This mockery of justice has gone on for so long, because people have long thought that legalization is just a "pot-head" issue. It's not. The positive effects that would spring forth from a legalization of cannabis for medicinal, recreational and industrial purposes would be unimaginable.
We could lower gas prices, create jobs, heal the sick and even save the trees. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that we could all get high, which is actually the least important factor. Remember? People do that already. So, one day we may live in a Utopian society, where all jobs are "pot friendly", but until then, we are still engaged in a struggle to free the weed.
Are you looking for a pot friendly job?
Check out http://www.potfriendlyjobs.com!
Danks for reading!
Hector X.
OPERATION: Outgrow Big Bro
www.OutgrowBigBro.org It is fair to say that a good percentage of the people of this country use cannabis. Whether it be for medicinal, recreational or rel... more -
A Message to Undocumented Workers
Celso Mena addresses undocumented workers, saying they must speak out against being mistreated in the workplace.
A year ago, Celso Mena was hurt on a jobsite and denied workers compensation by his employer after they falsely classified him in order to avoid paying for insurance. After a court battle that lasted for several months, Celso Mena finally won a settlement from the company.
The New England Regional Coucil of Carpenters assisted Celso Mena in drawing attention and support for his case. Celso Mena addresses undocumented workers, saying they must speak out against being mistreated in the workplace. ... more -
The end of freedom and privacy in the workplace?
Former presidential candidate George McGovern cuts through the BS and deception contained in the ironically named 'Employee Free Choice Act'- proposed legislation that sounds like an effort to impart fairness to unionizing elections but of course it is the opposite. McGovern calls on his fellow Democrats to protect workers' rights to unionize and vote on union matters in privacy:
"As a congressman, senator and one-time Democratic nominee for the presidency, I've participated in my share of vigorous public debates over issues of great consequence. And the public has been free to accept or reject the decisions I made when they walked into a ballot booth, drew the curtain and cast their vote. I didn't always win, but I always respected the process.
Voting is an immense privilege. That is why I am concerned about a new development that could deny this freedom to many Americans. As a longtime friend of labor unions, I must raise my voice against pending legislation I see as a disturbing and undemocratic overreach not in the interest of either management or labor.
The legislation is called the Employee Free Choice Act, and I am sad to say it runs counter to ideals that were once at the core of the labor movement. Instead of providing a voice for the unheard, EFCA risks silencing those who would speak.
The key provision of EFCA is a change in the mechanism by which unions are formed and recognized. Instead of a private election with a secret ballot overseen by an impartial federal board, union organizers would simply need to gather signatures from more than 50% of the employees in a workplace or bargaining unit, a system known as "card-check." There are many documented cases where workers have been pressured, harassed, tricked and intimidated into signing cards that have led to mandatory payment of dues.
Under EFCA, workers could lose the freedom to express their will in private, the right to make a decision without anyone peering over their shoulder, free from fear of reprisal.
There's no question that unions have done much good for this country. Their tenacious efforts have benefited millions of workers and helped build a strong middle class. They gave workers a new voice and pushed for laws that protect individuals from unfair treatment. They have been a friend to the Democratic Party, and so I oppose this legislation respectfully and with care.
To my friends supporting EFCA I say this: We cannot be a party that strips working Americans of the right to a secret-ballot election. We are the party that has always defended the rights of the working class. To fail to ensure the right to vote free of intimidation and coercion from all sides would be a betrayal of what we have always championed.
Some of the most respected Democratic members of Congress -- including Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, George Miller and Pete Stark of California, and Barney Frank of Massachusetts -- have advised that workers in developing countries such as Mexico insist on the secret ballot when voting as to whether or not their workplaces should have a union. We should have no less for employees in our country.
I worry that there has been too little discussion about EFCA's true ramifications, and I think much of the congressional support is based on a desire to give our friends among union leaders what they want. But part of being a good steward of democracy means telling our friends "no" when they press for a course that in the long run may weaken labor and disrupt a tried and trusted method for conducting honest elections.
While it is never pleasant to stand against one's party or one's friends, there are times when such actions are necessary -- as with my early and lonely opposition to the Vietnam War. I hope some of my friends in Congress will re-evaluate their support for this legislation. Because as Americans, we should strive to ensure that all of us enjoy the freedom of expression and freedom from fear that is our ideal and our right." Former presidential candidate George McGovern cuts through the BS and deception contained in the ironically named 'Employee Free ... more -
Jobless claims surge to highest level in 6 years
"The number of newly laid off people signing up for jobless benefits last week climbed to its highest point in more than six years as companies cut back given the faltering economy.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that new applications filed for unemployment insurance rose by a seasonally adjusted 7,000 to 455,000 for the week ending Aug. 2. The increase left claims at their highest level since late March 2002.
A program to locate people eligible for jobless benefits played a role in the increase, a Labor Department analyst said. However, the analyst couldn't say how much of a role.
The latest snapshot of layoff filings was worse than analysts expected. They were forecasting new claims to drop to around 430,000." "The number of newly laid off people signing up for jobless benefits last week climbed to its highest point in more than six year... more -
US: Wal-Mart fearful of Democratic win
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the worlds largest corporation, is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies - including Wal-Mart.
In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.
According to about a dozen Wal-Mart employees who attended such meetings in seven states, Wal-Mart executives claim that employees at unionized stores would have to pay hefty union dues while getting nothing in return, and may have to go on strike without compensation. Also, unionization could mean fewer jobs as labor costs rise.
The actions by Wal-Mart - the nation's largest private employer - reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership. That could lead to higher payroll and health costs for companies already being hurt by rising fuel and commodities costs and the tough economic climate.
The Wal-Mart human-resources managers who run the meetings don't specifically tell attendees how to vote in November's election, but make it clear that voting for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama would be tantamount to inviting unions in, according to Wal-Mart employees who attended gatherings in Maryland, Missouri and other states.
"The meeting leader said, 'I am not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill will pass and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union,'" said a Wal-Mart customer-service supervisor from Missouri. "I am not a stupid person. They were telling me how to vote," she said.
"If anyone representing Wal-Mart gave the impression we were telling associates how to vote, they were wrong and acting without approval," said David Tovar, Wal-Mart spokesman. Mr. Tovar acknowledged that the meetings were taking place for store managers and supervisors nationwide.
Wal-Mart's worries center on a piece of legislation known as the Employee Free Choice Act, which companies say would enable unions to quickly add millions of new members.
Business-backed organizations are also running ads aimed at building opposition to the bill, including the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which counts several hundred industry associations as members.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has made defeat of the legislation a top priority. In the past six months, it has flown state and local Chamber members to Washington to lobby members of Congress. On Thursday, the Chamber began airing a television ad in Minnesota and plans to run ads in other states as part of a broader campaign.
The bill was crafted by labor as a response to more aggressive opposition by companies to union-organizing activity. The AFL-CIO and individual unions such as the United Food and Commercial Workers have promised to make passage of the new labor law their No. 1 mission after the November election.
The November election could bring that extra support in Congress, as well as the White House if Sen. Obama is elected and Democrats extend their control in the Senate. Sen. Obama co-sponsored the legislation, which also is known as "card check," and has said several times he would sign it into law if elected president. Sen. John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, opposes the Employee Free Choice Act and voted against it last year.
Wal-Mart's labor-relations meetings are led by human-resources managers who received training from Wal-Mart on the implications of the Employee Free Choice Act. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the worlds largest corporation, is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country t... more -
10 ways to make your employees love you
Keeping your employees happy is the key to success. For any organisation to run successfully, you must understand that whether your employees are satisfied with the working conditions or not. Below are 10 best ways to make your employees love you.
Confining myself to 10 turned out to be hard—there are so many ways to manage badly and so many things that is important to do well. So here are 10 to start off with, and I hope people will add more:
1. Let’s open with the big one: Don’t be a jerk. Yelling, disparaging people, defensiveness, shooting the messenger, and publicly berating someone are all off limits. Good people have options, and few of them will want to work for a jerk.
2. Be reasonable. Yes, you want to hold people to high standards, but that doesn’t mean you should demand the truly impossible or insist that an employee work all weekend for something that easily could wait.
3. Keep your word. Do what you say you’re going to do, in whatever timeline you committed to—whether it’s giving feedback on a project, liaising with another department, or making a raise come through. (A subset of this: Be responsive. If people have to follow up with you to get a response, you’re not being responsive enough. It only takes 30 seconds to write, “I won’t have time to look at this until next week.” If nothing else, let people know where things stand.)
4. Make sure your staff feels respected and valued: Act in ways that show you care about their quality of life. And don’t underestimate the impact of regularly making sure great employees know you think they’re great.
5. Solicit feedback. Ask for input on everything from how the staffer thinks last week’s event went to what you could be doing to make her job easier. Good managers know their employees have a different perspective to share, and they value it, rather than ignoring it or feeling threatened by it.
6. Stay focused on results. Don’t have rules and policies for their own sake; make sure each is connected to an actual business need, and be willing to bend the rules if it makes sense overall.
7. Figure out what people need to do their job better, and help them get it. This can range from training and better equipment to the elimination of a counterproductive policy, your intervention with a problem coworker or another department, advice on handling a sticky situation, and more targeted feedback. Keeping your employees happy is the key to success. For any organisation to run successfully, you must understand that whether your em... more -
US unemployment highest in 20 years
The US labor department reported Wednesday that consumer prices rose 1.1 percent in June, the highest one month rise in 26 years, and the 12 month inflation rate at 5.0% the highest since may 1991. Testifying before Congress, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested that inflation would go higher.The Fed last month broke a string of reductions by leaving interest rates unchanged, a recognition that lower rates had weighed on the US dollar and led to increases in commodities such as oil and food. The so called downturn is also being fueled by the turmoil and bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the collapse of IndyMac. The troubled economy is having direct effects on people’s everyday lives. US home prices have fallen 17 percent over the past year, foreclosure filings surged 53 percent in June with 252,363 homes receiving at least one foreclosure-related notice and More than 71,000 properties were repossessed by lenders nationwide in June. In addition, access to health care is increasingly out of reach, In 2007, more than 75 million or 42% of all working age Americans either had no health insurance during the year or were under insured, up from 35% in 2003 and almost 16 percent of Americans or 47 million people have no health insurance at all. The jobless rate stayed at 5.5% percent in June after soaring in May to the highest rate in 20 years, and is expected to reach 6% next year. Meanwhile, consumers are taking drastic steps in changing their eating habits to adjust to rising food prices. To add to the economic woes, The Auto Industry, traditionally one of the largest employers in North America as well as offering some of the best wages and benefits is also in a financial tailspin. The Real News Senior Editor Paul Jay spoke to Canadian Auto Workers' Union Economist Jim Stanford. The US labor department reported Wednesday that consumer prices rose 1.1 percent in June, the highest one month rise in 26 years, and ... more
-
Interview 2.0 - Employers switching to interrogation tactics
In today’s ultra-competitive business environment, people have the resources available online to present their qualifications and knowledge in the best light. They can learn through experience or research what questions will be asked and how best to answer them. For today’s top executives needing to hire managers and leaders for their organization, it is important to have some questions that cut through the normal responses like a scalpel.
They need to master Interview 2.0 techniques.
It’s okay to get personal
One of the biggest mistakes that employers make is that they do not get personal enough in an interview. There are boundaries depending on the law of the land that define what one can ask — anything that stinks of discrimination has to be avoided. Still, it’s possible to get personal without asking “What church do you attend?”
When starting with personal questions, always precede it with a disclaimer. “The questions I am about to ask you may get personal. If at any time you feel that you do not want to answer, just let us know and we will skip the questions.”
Once the disclaimer is out of the way, find out what you can about the person. What do they like to do when not at work? Do they have a blog? Do they prefer to cook or go out to eat? What did they do last weekend?
These questions may seem frivolous, but it isn’t in these answers that you are judging them. From their responses, you will find something that you can latch onto. It’s the follow-up question that makes the difference.
Say, for example, that they like to play video games when not at work. What is their favorite game? Have them describe the game to you. Ask them how often they play it? Do they play online?
What about cooking? Does someone else cook for them? What is their favorite meal? Favorite restaurant? How do they handle it when their order doesn’t come out properly?
Blogging - do they have one? Many? Do they read blogs? What are some of their favorites? Do they write for any others? Share photos? Are they involved with social media or social network sites? Do they have a Facebook account? LinkedIn? Digg? YouTube?
Now, you’re probably wondering, what’s the point of all of this knowledge? If they’re into solo RPG’s, they’re likely more into strategy and independent. This guy will likely do well with a project that he’s solely responsible for. What if they always eat ready-made meals or have mom do all their cooking? They’ll likely lean on their teammates and be good at some things, but without a supporting team they aren’t going to shine. What does maintaining your own blog say about you? If you have a blog, I want to read it before giving the thumbs up. Bloggers tend to be passionate, team players and want to share, help others and connect.
When you get someone talking about something that is part of their daily lives, you have a better chance of gleaning how they will handle particular situations in their professional lives. Life happens every day. Interviews happen once in a while. Get them out of interview mode and make them talk about something they do normally. The way they react to normal situations is a closer representation of how they will respond in normal work situations.
Unrelate them In today’s ultra-competitive business environment, people have the resources available online to present their qualifications and know... more -
Lockheed Martin wins $1.2 billion TSA contract
The Transportation Security Administration this month inked an eight-year, $1.2 billion deal with Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide TSA with comprehensive human resources support. The contract could expand into a $3 billion project if the Homeland Security Department decides to use it for human resources support at its headquarters operations.
The unprecedented deal is being viewed by many as a bellwether of things to come. Many expect a fast-paced outsourcing of HR services by federal agencies in the months and years ahead.
The outsourcing trend is fueled by a recognition that in-house HR methods are behind the times and unresponsive to growing needs. Agencies across government are seeing large-scale turnover of their staffs because of retirements, and that means accelerated recruiting, hiring and training. The move, proponents say, will enable agencies to employ smaller HR staffs that can focus on crafting strategic hiring plans and pay-for-performance systems. Meanwhile, contractors will handle the day-to-day operations of processing pay and benefits, recruiting and hiring, and managing personnel files, experts say.
“The role of HR has changed,” said Solly Thomas, associate partner for human capital management services at IBM, one of the contractors added to the government’s HR Line of Business program. “It’s gone from just processing, to looking at how they recruit and hire, and [considering things like] performance management practices.”
The White House is pressing agencies to consolidate their HR operations under a handful of service providers, both federal and private sector, under HR Line of Business. The program started in 2004, but officials overseeing it expect to win congressional support in coming weeks to greatly expand it.
The HR Line of Business program currently includes five federal HR service providers: the Defense, Health and Human Services and Treasury departments, the Agriculture Department’s National Finance Center, and the Interior Department’s National Business Center. Those agencies provide payroll processing services, process employee benefits and manage employee personnel files. Some also provide training, labor relations and strategic analysis. Actual hiring decisions remain with the customer agency, and agencies set their own goals and strategies.
Lockheed Martin said it’s getting increased interest from federal agencies. “Some agencies that have previously done everything in-house are starting to put feelers out, and see what benefits the private sector can offer,” Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Emily Simone said. She would not say which agencies she was referring to.
The reason for the increased interest, experts say, is that the private sector is way ahead of the government in offering innovative Web-based personnel systems and other cutting-edge services.
Kelley of Ameriben/IEC said HR work at intelligence and national security agencies should probably remain in-house to avoid security breaches. And agencies should specifically spell out what it expects from contractors to avoid confusion, sloppy work and wasted money, he said.
Because of the urgency with which it was created shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, TSA has always relied extensively on contractors to run its HR operation. The Lockheed Martin contract consolidates work previously done by Accenture, CPS Human Resource Services and Avue Technologies. TSA spokesman Greg Soule said the deal will streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Homeland Security now relies on Northrop Grumman Corp. to provide many of its HR services at its headquarters and has no plans to drop the company, said DHS spokesman Larry Orluskie. But if DHS adds a new division or suddenly needs to ramp up hiring, it will turn to Lockheed Martin, he said. The Transportation Security Administration this month inked an eight-year, $1.2 billion deal with Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide TSA... more -
AFL-CIO endorses Obama
The largest U.S. labor federation endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday and promised to launch a huge effort to get union voters to the polls on his behalf in November.
The general board of the AFL-CIO, an umbrella group representing 56 labor unions, voted without opposition to back the Illinois senator in the White House race against Republican John McCain.
"We'll work our hearts out for Barack Obama," said Gerald McEntee, chairman of the AFL-CIO political committee and president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"Our program is going to be worker to worker and neighbor to neighbor. We're ready to mobilize," said McEntee, who originally supported Obama's Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
The labor federation has budgeted about $54 million for get-out-the-vote operations on behalf of Obama, and will focus on mobilizing 13 million union members in 24 priority states.
The effort will provide critical grass-roots muscle that could help Obama in blue-collar battleground states, where he had difficulty during the Democratic primaries winning over white working-class voters.
The effort specifically targets the battleground states of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the labor group promised to deploy more than 250,000 volunteers for the operation.
All of the unions in the federation expect to spend a total of more than $200 million on behalf of Democratic candidates at all levels of the 2008 election.
The endorsement was no surprise, as the AFL-CIO already had started an information campaign against Arizona Sen. McCain and many of the member unions already had backed Obama -- including unions like AFSCME that had backed Clinton.
The full AFL-CIO declined to make an endorsement in the Democratic race last year, but Clinton's withdrawal earlier this month cleared the way for the move. The group requires the support of union presidents representing two-thirds of the federation's members. The largest U.S. labor federation endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday and promised to launch a huge ef... more -
Actors' strike threatens to bring Hollywood to a standstill
To have one trade union paralyse Hollywood was strange; two doing it in quick succession feels like carelessness. A threatened walkout by actors, which could begin as early as next week, is throwing major film and television studios into chaos.
The contract dispute, this time between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and their white-collar bosses, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), is causing what industry experts have called a "virtual strike".
Production deadlines for dozens of major projects have been scrapped amid growing signs that the SAG, which has 120,000 members, will fail to resolve its dispute before a deadline for industrial action on Tuesday next week.
Most major film shoots are now either being put on hold, or wrapping-up early to avoid disruption. "No one is doing anything that finishes after 30 June, and nobody's starting anything now," one lawyer representing actors told The Hollywood Reporter. "This is the impact of a strike already."
Victims of the crisis include Sir Ridley Scott, who has delayed filming his Robin Hood remake, Nottingham, until late summer. Martin Scorsese, Peter Jackson and Steven Soderbergh are meanwhile rushing to finish their current projects by 1 July. Those films are Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, The Lovely Bones and The Informant.
Other stars who are likely to have a busy week include Will Ferrell (currently working on Land of the Lost), together with Seth Rogen (Observe and Report), and the James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
The entire cast of High School Musical 3; GI Joe; When in Rome and Disney's Race to Witch Mountain are also racing to complete shoots before any picket lines appear.
At issue in the SAG dispute are almost 70 elements of a proposed new contract with the major studios that is being haggled over at AMPTP's headquarters in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Bones of contention are said to include payments for film and video clips screened online, the issue that was at the heart of the previous writers' dispute.
Several major projects are planning to suspend actual filming and work on special effects for however long it takes to resolve the dispute. The Transformers sequel is about to begin a planned hiatus, along with Angels & Demons, the follow up to The DaVinci Code.
On television, the autumn season for dozens of network shows, which was already knocked out of schedule by the 100-day writers' crisis, now faces renewed chaos. The hit show Gossip Girl is in the middle of filming its second series. Army Wives, Saving Grace, The Closer and Monk are also mid-production, while 24 has decided not to chance its arm and cancelled an entire year of shows.
The Milken Institute, a Californian economic think- tank, recently estimated that the state would already lose about $2.1bn (£1.07bn) in output as well as 37,000 jobs by the end of the year.
"Even if the actors strike doesn't happen, there is already an economic impact going on which is currently affecting production schedules," said the study's author, Kevin Klowden. "Even a smaller strike would slow down the recovery."
Whatever happens, those worst hit by any disruption will be actors and technical staff. The Actors Fund, a charity that assists film-industry employees who have fallen on hard times, said yesterday that it has received 800 requests for support already this year, more than four times its usual level.
"Usually we give out $250-$350,000 a year in emergency financial assistance in Los Angeles," said a spokesman. "This year, we've already given out $1.2m. If this new strike happens, it will be devastating for people."
The turmoil may also spill over into the political arena. California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger – who is a SAG member – was the subject of a heated editorial in yesterday's Los Angeles Times criticising his failure to intervene in the dispute. "We saw how you handled the writers' strike... It was, frankly, kind of a girlie- man performance," it read. To have one trade union paralyse Hollywood was strange; two doing it in quick succession feels like carelessness. A threatened walkout... more -
Things you’d love to say aloud at work
1. I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of sh*t.
2. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
5. I’m really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.
6. I’ll try being nicer if you’ll try being smarter.
7. I’m out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don’t work here, I’m a consultant.
9. It sounds like English, but I can’t understand a word you’re saying.
10. Ahhh…I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.
11. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.
12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don’t give a damn.
14. I’m already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
15. I’m not being rude. You’re just insignificant.
16. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
17. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be…?
18. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
19. If I throw a stick, will you leave?
20. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
21. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
22. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
23. Chaos, panic, and disorder — my work here is done.
24. I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a salary.
25. Who lit the fuse on your tampon? 1. I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of sh*t. ... more -
Time for French people to "roll up their sleeves"
While the average American workers' union was vying for higher wages, European unions were fighting for shorter hours. Americans now work an average of 25 hours a week, while our French counterparts work 18. The average American takes off 6 weeks of vacation time each year, compared to the 12 Frenchmen take. And Americans' happiness and health clearly reflect that. But now France's Finance Minister Christine Lagarde plans to instill a more American-inspired work-ethic in the French people. While the average American workers' union was vying for higher wages, European unions were fighting for shorter hours. Americans... more
-
Freedom of business speech
Some of the most sensible decisions of the Supreme Court's centrist majority have concerned business law, and yesterday the Justices handed down another good one. The decision will protect the free-speech rights of all parties – companies and unions – during labor negotiations.
At issue in Chamber of Commerce v. Brown was a 2000 California law that prohibited businesses from using state grants or program funds to "assist, promote or deter union organizing." That sounds neutral enough, even fair. However, at the behest of the labor lobby, the law was designed as an elaborate sleight-of-hand to use taxpayer money to prevent businesses from communicating with their employees about labor policies or problems.
In practice, the recordkeeping requirements made it nearly impossible for businesses to certify that they hadn't used state funds for union-related activities. Then it imposed huge compliance and litigation costs. The law also contained broad exemptions to the general spending ban, including allowing state funds to promote certain types of unionization, such as voluntarily recognizing unions without secret ballots, i.e., "card check." How convenient.
Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the 7-2 majority, ruled that California "plainly could not directly regulate noncoercive speech about unionization by means of an express prohibition." So despite the state's legal cunning, its restrictions were pre-empted by Congress's intent in the 1935 Wagner Act (and its subsequent revisions) to leave labor policy neutral.
At least 20 other states have rules similar to California's on the books or plans to pass them. Chamber of Commerce v. Brown should shut down such antibusiness targeting, and the U.S. will be fairer for it. Some of the most sensible decisions of the Supreme Court's centrist majority have concerned business law, and yesterday the Justi... more -
Starbucks fires another barista for union activity
Starbucks terminated a barista active in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union today as part of its ongoing effort to combat a growing movement of employees pushing for a living wage and secure work hours. The barista, Cole Dorsey, was fired after two years of service while he was coordinating a union recruitment drive at Starbucks stores in Grand Rapids. Starbucks' pretext for the illegal anti-union firing was that Dorsey was guilty of some months-old attendance infractions.
Appears to be a violation of the US National Labor Relations Act, but who even enforces that anymore? Starbucks terminated a barista active in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union today as part of its ongoing effort to combat a growing movem... more -
Modern office distractions cost billions
According to the received wisdom, computers are a godsend for productivity. Word processors relieve us of the burdens of flawless typing; digital files zip onscreen faster than the paper kind can be found and are easily mined for the smallest detail; and the Internet, with its document sharing and virtual conferencing, offers new paths to smooth workplace collaboration.
But the practical experience of working in a modern office can be remarkably frazzled. Instant-communications technology and the natural impatience of co-workers and bosses can create an unholy alliance designed, it seems, to rob the workday of any sustained interval of unbroken attention to a particular task. Social life, allegedly enhanced as networks of acquaintances wire themselves over networks of computer hardware, can be equally jumpy, with constant "friend requests" and "status updates." From email to instant messaging to Twitter - an update service devoted to what-are-you-doing-at-this- moment inanity – the interval between interruptions appears to be approaching zero.
In "Distracted," the free-lance writer Maggie Jackson takes a searching look at this trend, especially the distractions that technology has helped to bring about. The result is a scattershot tour that ranges from anthropology and neuroscience to fast food and the rites of meditating monks. Along the way, Ms. Jackson samples from the thinking of a series of experts – often described as visionaries or mavericks – who study our habits of attentiveness and diversion. The result is more reverie than argument, but "Distracted" does concentrate the mind on a real problem of modern life.
In the workplace, a distracted knowledge worker is a fallow asset. Thus current research into worker habits is especially valuable. In the spirit of Fredrick W. Taylor's scientific management, Ms. Jackson reports, researchers have found that workers "typically change tasks every three minutes" and "take about twenty-five minutes to return to an interrupted task . . . usually plugging into two other work projects in the interim." By one estimate, "interruptions take up to 2.1 hours of an average worker's day and cost the US economy $588 billion a year." Many distractions turn out to be self-initiated: It appears that we just can't wait to read the next email or blog entry or check to see what might be happening in an online discussion.
So what to do? In "Distracted," self-discipline proves the key to the attention puzzle. Martin Seligman and Angela Lee Duckworth, two psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania, recently adapted a famous experiment that tested the willingness of young children to defer gratification: If you put them in a room with some prize – a toy, a marshmallow, an envelope full of money – will they take the prize immediately or hold out for a greater future reward?
In the end, Ms. Jackson makes her way to a Buddhist monastery, where people are learning to practice samatha – that is, to exercise voluntary control over their attention. Mountain retreats may not be for everyone, but the spirit of such an effort makes obvious sense in an era of information glut and tech-driven interruptions. Of course, if samatha – or something like it – turns out to be a good idea, it will be blogged about, praised in group emails, discussed online and debated in instant messages. Work will just have to wait. According to the received wisdom, computers are a godsend for productivity. Word processors relieve us of the burdens of flawless typi... more -
I'm too sexy for your oil
Graduates are turning away from the oil industry because it is "not sexy enough", it was claimed today.
The suggestion came from KBC Advanced Technologies Chief Executive George Bright at the Asia Oil and Gas Conference. He said the oil sector was the "bogeyman for everything that goes wrong in the world", adding that it struggles with an "image problem" amidst links with climate change.
Fields such as banking, biomedicine and information technology are far more alluring to the newly qualified, he claimed. The recruitment issue creates major hurdles in expanding operations and tapping reserves.
BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward stuck a different spin on the topic, however, claiming that many of the people leaving university did not have the "right qualifications" to work for the UK supermajor.
He said the problem is compounded by the fact that many of the best people in the industry are now closing in on retirement. Graduates are turning away from the oil industry because it is "not sexy enough", it was claimed today. ... more
-
related topics
Labor
Contributors (378)
Labor
