Thursday, April 28, 2005
[IWS] CANADA: THE PAINS OF PRIVATIZATION: How Contracting Out Hurts Health Support Workers, Their Families, and Health Care [26 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)
The Pains of Privatization
How Contracting Out Hurts Health Support Workers, Their Families, and Health Care
by Jane Stinson, Nancy Pollak & Marcy Cohen
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/index.cfm?act=news&do=Article&call=1088&pA=BB736455&type=5
or
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/documents/BC_Office_Pubs/bc_2005/pains_privatization.pdf
[full-text, 53 pages]
SUMMARY
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/documents/BC_Office_Pubs/bc_2005/pains_priv_summary.pdf
[full-text, 5 pages]
Appendix 2
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/documents/BC_Office_Pubs/bc_2005/pains_priv_app2.pdf
[full-text, 13 pages]
[excerpt]
This study investigates the experiences of 24 of these workers using qualitative, interview-based methods.
The workers are employed in housekeeping and food service jobs in the Greater Vancouver area and
represent the demographics of the workforce.
This study raises pointed questions about privatization: What does a society give up and take on
when cleaning, laundry, food, and security services in health care facilities are outsourced to transnational
corporations? What are the implications for the individual workers and their families? Are there
hidden costs for patients, workers, and communities? If so, what are these costs, and where and how
are they likely to surface?
The study concludes that conditions of work for these privatized workers are unacceptably harsh. In
most cases, income from the job leaves families living below the poverty line. Contracting out not only
endangers the health of these workers, but the well-being of their families and the patients they serve.
Press Release 26 April 2005
Wage cuts and contracting out of health support jobs harming workers and health care system: reports
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/index.cfm?act=news&call=1087&pa=BB736455&do=Article
[excerpt]
The Pains of Privatization: How Contracting Out Hurts Health Support Workers, their Families, and Health Care, by Jane Stinson, Nancy Pollak and Marcy Cohen, follows up on the contracting out of approximately 8,500 health support jobs and the resulting pay cut of more than 40%. It used in-depth interviews with 24 workers (cleaning and food preparation staff) now employed by private firms but working in public hospitals and long-term care facilities.
This study finds their working conditions to be unacceptably harsh and sub-standard in all respects: low pay, meagre benefits, heavy workloads, poor training, and no job security. Among the key findings:
* A privatized health support job in BC is virtually synonymous with poverty. More than three-quarters of those surveyed and all those with children have incomes below Statistics Canadas Low Income Cut-Off.
* Most of the people in this sample are immigrant women, the majority of whom (71%) have post-secondary educational credentials that would qualify them for better-paying jobs if not for the barriers that limit opportunities for internationally-trained professionals.
* Over 40% have at least one other job to help make ends meet.
* Understaffing, poor supervision and management policies result in nearly all participants describing their workload as hectic, exhausting and stressful. They often feel too rushed to work safely. Over four-fifths of participants report that their physical health is negatively affected by the job.
* Quality of care is being compromised. Participants in the study detail examples of inadequate training and supervision, and improper cleaning (including of rooms with antibiotic-resistant infections). Participants report that excessive workloads have eliminated time for contact with patients/residents, and in some facilities, the company prohibits talking with patients.
Good quality care depends on a well-trained and well-supported staff,says Marcy Cohen. Contracting-out is jeopardizing the health and well-being of workers, their families, and patients and residents in BC facilities.
Wage cuts and contracting out impact a group of peoplemainly womenwho are already economically vulnerable,says Marc Lee. Why do we require these workers to support families on less than $16 an hour, when the government itself admits that a higher wage is needed to provide a decent income in BC?
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] ECJ: GERMANY FAILS EU RACE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW [28 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
European Court of Justice (ECJ)
Germany has failed to implement EU race anti-discrimination law [28 April 2005]
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2005/apr/courtruling_en.html
or
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/502&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Brussels 29/04/2005. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) today ruled that Germany had breached EU law by failing to transpose fully a European Directive prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (Directive 2000/43/EC). The deadline for EU Member States to transpose this Directive was 19 July 2003 except for the 10 new Member States, who had to ensure that their legislation complied with the Directives by their accession to the EU on 1 May 2004.
Commenting on the ECJ ruling, European Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner, Vladimir Spidla, said: "This Directive was agreed unanimously by the Member States and adopted in 2000. Member States have now had five years to put this EU law into their national legislation. I urge Germany to move quickly to meet their obligations in this area, which is vital for the protection of fundamental rights in the EU".
The 'Racial Equality Directive' prohibits direct and indirect discrimination in a wide range of areas including employment, vocational training, education, social security and healthcare, access to goods and services and housing. It also requires Member States to designate a body to promote equal treatment and provide practical and independent support to victims of racial discrimination.
Draft legislation to implement the Directive is being discussed by the German Parliament, but has not yet been adopted.
See also--
http://www.stop-discrimination.info/index.php?english
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/index_en.htm
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
[IWS] ILO: PREVENTION: A GLOBAL STRATEGY (Report) for WORLD DAY for SAFETY & HEALTH [27 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO)
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work
28 APRIL 2005
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/index.htm
Prevention: A global strategy
Promoting Safety and Health at Work
The ILO Report for World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Geneva, 2005
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/products05/report05_en.pdf
[full-text, 20 pages]
This year's report, entitled "Prevention: A global strategy" provides background information about the Day as well as technical information about a preventive safety and health culture and the subthemes chosen this year: the construction sector and occupational safety and health for younger and older workers.
Contents
Page
Prevention: a global strategy ........................................................................................................... 1
World Day for Safety and Health at Work, 28 April 2005.............................................................. 3
The construction industry................................................................................................................ 4
Safety and health risks for construction workers .................................................................. 5
Management, planning and coordination through social dialogue ....................................... 6
ILO standards and guidance.................................................................................................. 7
Prevention programmes for the construction industry .......................................................... 7
Younger and older workers ............................................................................................................. 9
Safety and health issues for younger workers....................................................................... 9
Safety and health issues for older workers.......................................................................... 10
ILO standards and guidance................................................................................................ 11
Prevention programmes for younger and older workers..................................................... 12
Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 13
Useful references.......................................................................................................................... 14
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Monday, April 25, 2005
[IWS] EIROnline: WORKING TIME DEVELOPMENTS 2004 (COMPARATIVE STUDY) [25 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) Online
Working Time Developments--2004 (COMPARATIVE STUDY) [25 April 2005]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2005/03/update/tn0503104u.html
Abstract:
This review of the length of working time in 2003 and 2004 finds that average collectively agreed weekly working time in the European Union as a whole remained at around 38.6 hours - 0.7 hours shorter in the old EU 15 (plus Norway), and 0.9 hours longer in the new Member States. Agreed normal annual working time averages around 1,740 hours - under 1,700 in the old EU 15 (plus Norway), and over 1,800 in the new Member States. Of three sectors examined, agreed weekly hours are highest in chemicals, followed by retail and the civil service. Average collectively agreed paid annual leave entitlement stood at 26.0 days in 2004.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Friday, April 22, 2005
[IWS] THE SERVICE ECONOMY IN OECD COUNTRIES (2005)
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
OECD
STI WORKING PAPER 2005/3
Statistical Analysis of Science, Technology and Industry
THE SERVICE ECONOMY IN OECD COUNTRIES
Anita Wölfl
http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2005doc.nsf/43bb6130e5e86e5fc12569fa005d004c/6583b6e114e5c0ccc1256fa50050c7e1/$FILE/JT00178454.PDF
[full-text, 81 pages]
Abstract
Improving the performance of the services sector is important to enhance aggregate economic growth. This is primarily since the service sector has become the quantitatively most important sector in all OECD
economies. The growing role of services is not only the result of a resource re-allocation towards services, as the sector with low productivity growth. It is also related to demand side factors, such as a high income
elasticity of demand for some services, demographic developments, the provision of certain services as public goods, and the growing role of services as providers of intermediate inputs. The empirical evidence
points to several areas where employment and productivity growth in services is held back. For example, labour-intensive production in many services industries may reduce the potential for productivity growth.
Innovation is held back by obstacles that are particularly relevant for services industries. The evidence also shows that the regulatory environment for services in product and labour markets may affect the scope for
employment and productivity growth. However, policy should not necessarily look at services separately from manufacturing industries. In contrast, several services industries show characteristics and problems
similar to those of manufacturing industries and the blurring of the two sectors is becoming more and more prevalent. Moreover, addressing some of the problems faced by services may also improve the performance of other industries, since services provide key intermediate inputs to such sectors.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Thursday, April 21, 2005
[IWS] THE DNA OF WOMEN LEADERS: a research study [21 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
THE DNA OF WOMEN LEADERS: a research study by Aurora and Caliper
21 April 2005
http://www.wherewomenwanttowork.com/dna.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]
See Press Release at-
http://www.work.auroravoice.com/news/news.asp?articleid=85
About the study
The DNA of Women Leaders study was undertaken to identify
whether women leaders possess common qualities that
distinguish them and to determine whether these competencies
differ between women leaders in the United Kingdom and the
United States. The main research questions underpinning the
study were:
- What are the common traits that women leaders exhibit?
- Are there major differences between UK and US women leaders?
- Are there notable differences between male and female leadership qualities?
The study was undertaken by Aurora, an organization that
advances women and provides gender management software to
industry, and Caliper, an international management consulting firm
that has assessed the potential of more than two million
applicants and employees for over 25,000 companies.
[excerpt from CONCLUSION]
Women leaders may rise to the top of their careers based on their
differences, however there are also some specific qualities that
women leaders are more likely to demonstrate. Data from the
women leaders demonstrated that they clearly possessed strong
leadership profiles and an open, consensus building, collegial
approach to leading. Their predominant leadership style was
centered around being assertive, persuasive, empathic, willing to
take risks, outgoing, flexible and needing to get things done.
Overall, the women leaders tended to share the view that they
strengthen themselves by strengthening others and that this was
a defining attribute of their leadership.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] EIROnline: COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS & CHANGE IN WORK ORGANISATION [21 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) Online
EIRO Thematic Feature
Collective agreements on changes in work organisation [20 April 2005]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/thematicfeature9.html
With work organisation playing an increasingly important role in European Union employment policy, in September 2004 the EIRO national centres in 17 European countries were asked, in response to a questionnaire, to give a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of the topic, looking at: the extent to which collective agreements introduce changes in work organisation that take into account productivity demands and flexibility and security at the workplace in an integrated way; the main areas in which changes are being introduced; the overall success or otherwise of bargaining on the topic; and the prospects for the future. Their responses, or thematic features, are available below (along with the questions asked).
Contributing articles:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] EIROnline: Pay Developments, 2004 (COMPARATIVE STUDY) [20 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) Online
Pay developments, 2004 (COMPARATIVE STUDY) [20 April 2005]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2005/03/update/tn0503103u.html
Abstract:
This review of trends in pay in 2003 and 2004 finds that average collectively agreed nominal wage increases across the EU 25 fell from 4.2% in 2003 to 4.0% in 2004 (though with major variations between countries), continuing a steady downward trend. Taking into account inflation, the rate of real increase fell more sharply, from 1.8% in 2003 to 1.0% in 2004. In the oldEU 15, the average agreed nominal wage increase remained unchanged in 2004 at 3.1%, while in the 10 new Member States that joined in May 2004, it fell from 5.9% in 2003 to 5.4% in 2004. The overall picture is of a continuing trend towards wage moderation. This review also looks at collectively agreed pay increases in selected sectors (chemicals, retail and the civil service), increases in average earnings and minimum wages (plus minimum wage rates), and the gender pay gap.
Includes numerous TABLES and CHARTS....
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
[IWS] Deloitte: OUTSOURCING SURVEY (79% Negative Experiences) [20 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Deloitte
Calling a Change in the Outsourcing Market
The Realities for the World's Largest Organizations [20 April 2005]
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_outsourcing_callingachange.pdf
[full-text, 34 pages]
[excerpt]
While outsourcing has become a dominant trend, emerging evidence indicates that results have
been mixed, and there are few in-depth studies that can help senior executives recognize the
inherent complexities and common pitfalls of outsourcing. Deloitte Consulting LLP conducted a
study to help fill this gap and provide a fresh point of view on outsourcing.
Press Release
Calling a Change in the Outsourcing Market
New Study Reveals Outsourcing Falling from Favor [20 April 2005]
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/research/0%2C1015%2Ccid%25253D80376%2C00.html
While outsourcing has become a dominant trend in the marketplace, there are few in-depth studies available to help senior executives recognize its inherent complexities and common pitfalls. This study fills that gap.
Deloitte Consulting LLP is pleased to announce the release of a new study based on personal interviews with 25 of the largest organizations across eight industry sectors. This study uncovers what few studies report: outsourcing is not delivering its expected value to large organizations.
The study reveals that:
* Seventy percent of participants have had significant negative experiences with outsourcing projects and are now exercising greater caution in approaching outsourcing.
* One in four participants have brought functions back in-house after realizing they could be addressed more successfully and/or at a lower cost internally.
* Forty-four percent of participants did not see cost savings materialize as a result of outsourcing.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] Wal-Mart's Pay Gap: CEO Compensation 871 times higher than U.S. Wal-Mart Workers [15 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Institute for Policy Studies
Wal-Mart's Pay Gap
CEO Compensation 871 times as high as
U.S. Wal-Mart Workers, 50,000 times as much as Chinese Workers [15 April 2005]
http://www.ips-dc.org/projects/global_econ/walmart_pay_gap.htm
or
http://www.ips-dc.org/projects/global_econ/Wal-mart_pay_gap.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]
Wal-Mart company documents released April 15 reveal that CEO H. Lee Scott, Jr., made $17,543,739 in total compensation last year nearly twice the average of $9.6 million for leading U.S. CEOs as a whole, according to Business Week. Thomas Coughlin, the Vice Chair of the board who recently was accused by Wal-Mart officials of spending company money on personal items such as alligator skin cowboy boots, has had some of his compensation suspended, but not his $1 million-plus salary.
Wal-Marts generous compensation for top executives contrasts sharply with the wages of the people who produced or sold the goods that earned the company $10.3 billion in profits on sales of $285 billion last year.
Pay for American Wal-Mart Workers
Currently, according to Wal-Mart, the firms full-time U.S. employees earn on average $9.68 per hour. (The firm has not released pay figures for the 26 percent of its employees that, according to Wal-Mart, work part-time. Some analysts estimate that actual average pay is considerably lower.) Wal-Marts full-time pay rate of $9.68 is about 37 percent lower than the national average wage of $15.35 for production and non-supervisory workers. As a result of Wal-Marts low wages, many employees of the worlds largest company must rely on government healthcare, food, housing and other aid. A study by Congressional Democratic staff estimated that Wal-Mart workers receive on average $2,103 per year in federal subsidies alone.
AND MUCH MORE...including TABLES....
Sources: CEO: Wal-Mart proxy statement, April 15, 2005; U.S. employees: Wal-Mart, <http://www.walmartfacts.com/>; Subcontractors: Information for Indonesia, Nicaragua, Swaziland, and Bangladesh based on interviews with garment workers conducted in 2004 by the International Labor Rights Fund. Data for China from National Labor Committee, Toys of Misery 2004,February 2004.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] EIROnline: Social partner involvement in the 2002/2003 National Action Plans [20 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) Online
EIRO Thematic Feature
Social partner involvement in the 2002/2003 National Action Plans [20 April 2005]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/other_reports/ef04144en.pdf
[excerpt]
This article provides an overview of the role of the social partners in the definition, implementation and evaluation
phases of the 2002 and 2003 National Action Plans (NAPs) on employment in the EU15.
It aims to give both a historical and comparative analysis of the degree and quality of involvement of the social partners
in defining the national employment policy and their contribution to developments in the two years specified. The article
also focuses on the procedural, implementation and evaluation aspects, and considers matters of policy content, before
addressing the nature and scope of collective bargaining at different levels.
Background information for the article was provided by the EIRO national centres in each of the EU15 Member States,
in response to a detailed questionnaire submitted during the three-month period May to June in 2002 and again in 2003.
Since data from this feature stem from the years 2002 and 2003, the analysis is limited to the EU15. The situation in the
new Member States (NMS) could not, unfortunately, be taken into account.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
[IWS] Prudential: GLOBAL MOBILITY TOPICS LIBRARY (RELOCATION ISSUES)
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Prudential Relocation Reference Library
http://www.presentationselect.com/prudential/reference.asp
[excerpt]
This is a complimentary resource for you to locate articles and reports on a variety of global mobility topics. Whether you are new to relocation or a seasoned pro, this section will stimulate new ideas and provide the detail needed to keep your program running smoothly.
The documents are organized by the following categories:
HR & Relocation Tips and Trends
Global Mobility
Policy & Programs
Moving Forward Newsletters
Cost Corner
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] BEA: MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES: EMPLOYMENT, SALES, & CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 2003 [19 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Summary Estimates for Multinational Companies:
Employment, Sales, and Capital Expenditures for 2003 [19 April 2005]
http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrelarchive/2005/mnc2003.htm
or
http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrelarchive/2005/mnc2003.pdf
[full-text, 9 pages]
and
http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrelarchive/2005/mnc2003.xls
[spreadsheet]
U.S. multinational companies (MNCs) employed 30.1 million workers worldwide
in 2003, of which 21.8 million were employed in the United States by U.S. parent
companies and 8.4 million were employed abroad by majority-owned foreign affiliates.
The employment of U.S. parents accounted for about one-fifth of total U.S. employment
in private industries. Capital expenditures by U.S. MNCs totaled $435.7 billion; U.S.
parents accounted for $319.3 billion and majority-owned foreign affiliates accounted for
$116.4 billion. Sales by U.S. parent companies totaled $6,614.3 billion, and those by
majority-owned foreign affiliates totaled $2,948.5 billion.
Majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign MNCs employed 5.2 million workers in
2003, accounting for 5 percent of total U.S. employment in private industries. Capital
expenditures by these affiliates totaled $109.0 billion and their sales totaled $2,130.7
billion.
For both U.S. MNCs and the majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign MNCs,
employment decreased for the third consecutive year in 2003. Employment by U.S.
MNCs decreased 1.2 percent in 2003, following a 1.9-percent decrease in 2002 and a 3.0-
percent decrease in 2001. U.S. parent companies more than accounted for the decreases
in all three years; their employment decreased 2.1 percent in 2003, following a 3.0-
percent decrease in 2002 and a 4.1-percent decrease in 2001. Employment by
majority-owned foreign affiliates of U.S. MNCs increased 1.2 percent in 2003, following
a 1.0-percent increase in 2002 and a 0.1-percent increase in 2001. Employment by
majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign MNCs decreased 3.5 percent in 2003, following
a 3.0-percent decrease in 2002 and a 1.1-percent decrease in 2001. During the same
period, total U.S. employment in private industries decreased 0.4 percent in 2003,
following decreases of 1.3 percent in 2002 and 0.4 percent in 2001.
AND MUCH MORE...including TABLES....
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Monday, April 18, 2005
[IWS] IADB: LATIN AMERICA: Do UNIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE? [released Mar
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
What Difference Do Unions Make? Their Impact on Productivity and Wages in Latin America.
Published: March 2005
http://www.iadb.org/res/index.cfm?fuseaction=Publications.View&pub_id=B-610
[It is not clear how to order this volume from the page on which it is listed at this time]
Language: English
The subject of labor unions in Latin America provokes a varity of diverse and strongly held views. While some see unions as a way to protect workers's rights and ensure an equitable distribution of income, others see unions as a drain of productivity or an intrusion of politics into the workplace. In spite of these strong oponions, the effects of unions in Latin America have received little empirical attention.
What Difference Do Unions Make? represents one of the first attempts to obtain evidence on union effects in the region. Following an examination of union density across countries, the studies in this volume evaluate the impact of unions on private-sector firm performance, agricultural productivity, and educational outcomes in public school systems. Unions effects are considered in detail for Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay, as well as the less-studied case of Guatemala. Some of the findings are surprising and may help provide a basis for policies that better address the concerns of workers, employers and the public at large.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Friday, April 15, 2005
[IWS] [BRAZIL] BENEFIT SURVEY 2004 [6 April 2005]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Towers Perrin
[BRAZIL] BENEFIT SURVEY 2004 [6 April 2005]
http://www.towersperrin.com/hrservices/webcache/towers/Brazil/publications/Reports/Employee_Benefits/2004/Benefit_Survey.pdf
[full-text, 40 pages]
This report presents the results of the 23rd
Benefits Survey, conducted by Towers
Perrin in 2004. The survey involved
the participation of 234 companies
representing different business segments of
the Brazilian market.
The purpose of the survey is to identify the
main trends in employee benefits offered
in Brazil and to provide the participating
companies with information to help them
manage increasingly efficient benefit
packages.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (Free Search and Full-text Docs Available)
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (Free Search and Full-text Docs Available)
United Nations Official Document System (ODS)
http://documents.un.org/welcome.asp?language=E
ODS covers all types of official United Nations documentation, beginning in 1993. Older UN documents are, however, added to the system on a daily basis. ODS also provides access to the resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council from 1946 onwards. The system does not contain press releases, UN sales publications, the United Nations Treaty Series or information brochures issued by the Department of Public Information. Please click on Help for more detailed information.
The ODS is a multilingual system. Therefore, it requires UNICODE-based Internet browsers, such as MS Internet Explorer 5.5, Netscape 6.21 or higher versions. For access to the ODS, please ensure that your Internet browser complies with this requirement.
See FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
http://documents.un.org/faq_E.htm
To search for UN PRESS RELEASES see-
http://www.un.org/News/Press/full.htm
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004 (March 2005)
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004
(released March 2005)
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2004-2005/asia/index.html
[Scroll down to find individual countries in PDF]
or
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2004-2005/asia/ssptw04asia-1.pdf
[full-text, 211 pages]
[excerpt]
This second issue in the current four-volume series of Social Security Programs Throughout the
World reports on the countries of Asia and the Pacific. The combined findings of this series,
which also includes volumes on Europe, Africa, and the Americas, are published at 6-month
intervals over a 2-year period. Each volume highlights features of social security programs in the
particular region.
The information contained in these volumes is crucial to our efforts, and those of researchers
in other countries, to review different ways of approaching social security challenges that will
enable us to adapt our social security systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households,
and families. These efforts are particularly important as each nation faces major demographic
changes, especially the increasing number of aged persons, as well as economic and fiscal issues.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World is the product of a cooperative effort
between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the International Social Security
Association (ISSA). Founded in 1927, the ISSA is a nonprofit organization bringing together
institutions and administrative bodies from countries throughout the world. The ISSA deals with
all forms of compulsory social protection that by legislation or national practice are an integral
part of a country's social security system.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
