Working Life

I’ve never liked government statistics that claim to measure the economy–particularly the Gross Domestic Product. GDP only tells you that stuff is being made–not who truly benefits from the growth in GDP. But, it is worth noting yesterday’s news, from The New York Times, that not only is economic growth slower but, more important, for […]

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This doesn’t surprise anymore, does it? Even though it is obscene beyond belief. After firing 3,400, Circuit City enriches CFO By Michael Rapoport, Dow Jones Newswires NEW YORK — Even as Circuit City Stores (CC) pushed 3,400 purportedly overpaid employees out the door, the company went out of its way to make the departure of […]

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     The real story bubbling within the auto industry is not the news that Toyota vaulted over General Motors in worldwide auto sales. Rather, it’s the growing ideological–not economic–drumbeat that is gathering targeting the livelihoods of tens of thousands of auto workers. And this is a direct attack against a decent standard of living for […]

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The inevitable ideological attacks against the UAW has begun. Just in time for the news that Toyota overtook General Motors in worldwide sales for the first time in history, the drumbeat has picked up in the pages of the business press: auto workers have to just buck it up and take the hit to save […]

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I don’t really find this story to be too credible. UAW Group, Tracinda Discuss Bids for Chrysler By GINA CHON and JOHN D. STOLL April 23, 2007 Representatives of billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp., which has proposed a $4.5 billion acquisition of DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group, met yesterday with United Auto Workers members who […]

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Catching up to this so you’all may know about this…busy weekend…From The Wall Street Journal yesterday: Democrats Move Ahead On Minimum-Wage Rise By DAVID ROGERSApril 21, 2007; Page A3 WASHINGTON — House and Senate Democrats reached agreement on a $4.8 billion package of business tax breaks that the party hopes will clear the way for […]

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Count me as one person not shedding too many tears about the death of Helen Walton, the matriarch of the Walton family–she of the $16 billion net worth. After all, this family, worth tens of billions of dollars, has made live a living hell for thousands of workers. And just in time to mourn dear […]

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    Smithfield Foods is a very ugly company. As the UFCW explains, “Smithfield Foods is the largest pork producer and processor in the world, the fourth largest turkey processor and fifth largest beef processor in the U.S.” It has its own police force and jail cell in its Tar Heel, North Carolina processing plant. […]

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Supporting the Employee Free Choice Act should be a no-brainer for every Democratic senator. So, we need to ask: why are four Democratic Senators not co-sponsoring the legislation (S1041)? Are they anti-union? As of today, every Democratic senator is on-board as a co-sponsor of the bill (as are the two independents, Bernie Sanders and Joe […]

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I don’t think the Democrats have gone far enough in the legislation to end the war. Having said that, there is no reason for the Democratic leadership to give an inch to the madman in the White House. The public stands behind the Democrats on the issue and, apparently, despite Bush’s attempt to use the […]

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