Working Life

From my friends at the Center for Economic and Policy Research comes this troubling study: African-American workers have been particularly hard hit by the decline in U.S. manufacturing, according to a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Chrysler’s recent buyouts signal the continuing decline of the U.S. auto industry, which has had […]

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One of the most annoying and hypocritical spectacles during the Rudy Giuliani mayoral era was listening to him pontificate about the heros of the fire and police departments–yet when it came to paying them decent wages, he was the usual Republican prick (yes, this is the proper word the use). This came back to me […]

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New York has had one of the worst workers’ compensation systems in the country. For the past 15 years, New York’s maximum weekly benefit stood at $400—lower than every state except Mississippi and Arizona, not to mention the minimum benefit: $40 a week. Regionally, New York ranks last among nine states (from a high of […]

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I know this doesn’t rise to the level of war and peace…but the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Committee for Baseball Veterans announced balloting results Tuesday for its 2007 election of players, managers, executives and umpires. And Marvin Miller did not make the cut. As a life-long baseball fan (and, to be upfront, […]

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Most of the attention on hedge funds has focused on the enormous amount of money the funds control–outside any regulation. But, turns out hedge funds are no different than other employers when it comes to treating their workers. Today’s Wall Street Journal has a story that describes a number of employment lawsuits (surprise, hedge funds […]

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Just thought I’d put up an open thread here to see what people think: will the Employee Free Choice Act become law anytime soon? So far, according to the AFL-CIO website, 232 House member have signed on as co-sponsors (by the way, the AFL-CIO section on this is very comprehensible and readable). What’s your reading […]

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I tried to listen in on the webcast of the press conference unveiling the new labor-business health care coalition but it was impossible. So, here’s what I know from written materials: The founding members of the “Better Health Care Together” campaign include AT&T, the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy, the Center for […]

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This is happening today. I don’t know more than what is in this release but will report when more becomes known. WAL-MART, SEIU, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS, HOWARD H. BAKER JR. CENTER, KELLY SERVICES, CWA, AT&T, INTEL, AND COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR HEALTH CARE CAMPAIGN Wal-Mart, the Service Employees International Union, the […]

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The Fiscal Policy Institute has a report out today that shows how employers are killing the worker’s compensation system in New York. According to the report, “Between 500,000 and a million New York workers who should have workers’ compensation coverage do not, and the system’s revenues are $500 million to $1 billion lower than they […]

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This is a big deal. The UAW (my union) and the major car companies are talking about a deal that would shift the responsibility for retiree health care from the auto companies to the union. I think “Egads” and “hmmm” at the same time. Here’s what the Wall Street Journal reports today: Detroit’s auto makers […]

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