Working Life

    Two quick hits on strike news. Last week, I wrote about the UAW strike at American Axle, in the context of how African-American workers, in particular, are being hurt in the attack on decent manufacturing jobs. There seems to be some talking going on, according to The Detroit News: American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings […]

Read the full story

    Unless you plan on buying the winning ticket in Friday’s $270 million mega-millions jackpot, you, and probably most people in the country, will continue to be on the front-lines of the economic quakes ahead. Every time I write about the economic nastiness brewing, I always say this: for most Americans, it’s been bad times […]

Read the full story

    Unless you plan on buying the winning ticket in Friday’s $270 million mega-millions jackpot, you, and probably most people in the country, will continue to be on the front-lines of the economic quakes ahead. Every time I write about the economic nastiness brewing, I always say this: for most Americans, it’s been bad times […]

Read the full story

    Though not surprising, here’s a report that puts some facts behind a grim picture: Low wages, inadequate benefits, and limited work supports leave one-in-five people (nearly 41 million) in working families struggling to make ends meet. According to a study released today by the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC, and […]

Read the full story

    So, if you’re wondering why some pundits and analysts are starting to worry that consumers may be thinking about pulling back from opening up their wallets, you can take the two obvious reasons–none of which are surprising to anyone with their eye on real people, as opposed to Wall Street hype and free market […]

Read the full story

    One of the things that is amusing to me is the way the mainstream media is perplexed by how Americans think about the economy. Today’s Wall Street Journal gives a classic example: Americans are feeling decidedly sour about the economy and those in charge of it, fueling Democratic efforts to target business interests in […]

Read the full story

    So, nice to be back home and I hope to get a better report out on the Edwards poverty tour. But, since it will take a little time to look at my video results, here’s something for now: Tom Friedman has written a lot of dumb things in the past. It’s worth separating the […]

Read the full story

    We learn from The Wall Street Journal today that Vietnam is growing as a country of choice when it comes to outsourcing jobs. Why? No surprise:     Industrial land here is cheaper than in China. Wages are about a third lower than in China’s industrial coastal regions. And with a population of almost 90 […]

Read the full story

Now, here’s an interesting story: L.A. gang members go union A rising number of gangbangers are moving into well-paid futures as members of the region’s building trade unions. By Sam Quinones, Times Staff Writer Shortly after his release from prison four years ago, Julio Silva entered the apprenticeship program in the Ironworkers Union Local 433 […]

Read the full story

    I can hear the thunder of feet as people rush to Maryland…just kidding. But it is nice to see that the governor of Maryland, Martin O’Malley, signed a statewide living wage bill–the first in the nation. From Steve Greenhouse’s piece in The New York Times: Nationwide, 145 cities and counties have enacted living-wage bills, […]

Read the full story