Friday, February 27, 2009
[IWS] Dublin Foundation: DYNAMICS OF EUROPEAN SECTORAL SOCIAL DIALOGUE [24 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Dynamics of European sectoral social dialogue [24 February 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0898.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2008/98/en/1/EF0898EN.pdf
Author: Pochet, Philippe; Peeters, Anne; Léonard, Evelyne; Perin, Emmanuelle
Summary: European sectoral social dialogue has its roots in the creation of the European Union. Over the last decade, there have been numerous changes to its institutional foundations, structures and scope. This report gives an overview of the current state of play regarding European sectoral social dialogue. It focuses on three main aspects: recent developments and outcomes, the interactions between parties either directly or indirectly involved in this dialogue, and the implementation and impact of the social dialogue texts in EU Member States. < http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef08981.htm> An executive summary is available
CONTENTS
Foreword v
Executive summary 1
Introduction 5
Background and objectives 5
Methodology 6
Structure 7
1 Analytical framework 9
2 Recent institutional developments 15
Role of sectoral social dialogue committees 15
Type of outcome 17
Issues covered 22
Activities of the textiles sector 27
Conclusion 28
3 Coordination of multi-level actors 31
Coordination between sectors and with cross-industry social dialogue 31
Coordination with national members 32
Diversity of sectoral domains 33
Role of sectoral industrial relations structures in Member States 39
Involvement of national players in the committees 45
Factors influencing level of involvement 49
Role of European secretariats 50
Conclusion 51
4 Implementation and impact of texts 53
Implementation processes 53
Follow-up procedures 56
Implementation of the texts at national level 58
Level 1: Policy orientation 59
Level 2: Guidelines 60
Level 3: Framework of actions 61
Conclusion 63
5 Conclusions 65
Development and outcomes 65
Dynamics among the players and sectors 66
Implementation and impact of texts 67
Bibliography 71
Annex 1 List of organisations interviewed 79
Annex 2 Keywords in sectoral social dialogue work programme 80
Annex 3 Number of jobs per sector 89
Annex 4 Process-oriented texts (19992007) 91
Annex 5 List of abbreviations 95
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Dynamics of European sectoral social dialogue [24 February 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0898.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2008/98/en/1/EF0898EN.pdf
Author: Pochet, Philippe; Peeters, Anne; Léonard, Evelyne; Perin, Emmanuelle
Summary: European sectoral social dialogue has its roots in the creation of the European Union. Over the last decade, there have been numerous changes to its institutional foundations, structures and scope. This report gives an overview of the current state of play regarding European sectoral social dialogue. It focuses on three main aspects: recent developments and outcomes, the interactions between parties either directly or indirectly involved in this dialogue, and the implementation and impact of the social dialogue texts in EU Member States. < http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef08981.htm> An executive summary is available
CONTENTS
Foreword v
Executive summary 1
Introduction 5
Background and objectives 5
Methodology 6
Structure 7
1 Analytical framework 9
2 Recent institutional developments 15
Role of sectoral social dialogue committees 15
Type of outcome 17
Issues covered 22
Activities of the textiles sector 27
Conclusion 28
3 Coordination of multi-level actors 31
Coordination between sectors and with cross-industry social dialogue 31
Coordination with national members 32
Diversity of sectoral domains 33
Role of sectoral industrial relations structures in Member States 39
Involvement of national players in the committees 45
Factors influencing level of involvement 49
Role of European secretariats 50
Conclusion 51
4 Implementation and impact of texts 53
Implementation processes 53
Follow-up procedures 56
Implementation of the texts at national level 58
Level 1: Policy orientation 59
Level 2: Guidelines 60
Level 3: Framework of actions 61
Conclusion 63
5 Conclusions 65
Development and outcomes 65
Dynamics among the players and sectors 66
Implementation and impact of texts 67
Bibliography 71
Annex 1 List of organisations interviewed 79
Annex 2 Keywords in sectoral social dialogue work programme 80
Annex 3 Number of jobs per sector 89
Annex 4 Process-oriented texts (19992007) 91
Annex 5 List of abbreviations 95
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 1:19 PM
[IWS] Dublin Foundation: WORKING CONDITIONS in the EU: WORK ORGANISATION [25 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Working conditions in the European Union: Work organisation [25 February 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0862.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2008/62/en/1/EF0862EN.pdf
[full-text, 74 pages]
Author: Valeyre, Antoine; Lorenz, Edward; Cartron, Damien; Csizmadia, Péter; Gollac, Michel; Illéssy, Miklós; Makó, Csaba
Summary: The quality of the working lives of European citizens is strongly dependent upon the forms of work organisation within which they operate. This report examines the four main types of work organisation that exist in Europe, outlines the characteristics that distinguish them, and looks at their prevalence in terms of sector, occupation, company size and from a cross country perspective. The analysis is based on findings from the fourth European Working Conditions Survey carried out across 31 countries, including the 27 EU Member States. < http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0868.htm >An executive summary is available
CONTENTS
Foreword v
EWCS Survey methodology ix
Executive summary 1
Introduction 5
1 Forms of work organisation in the European Union 7
Work organisation variables 9
Main dimensions of work organisation 11
Typology of forms of work organisation 12
Summary 14
2 Structural characteristics of work organisation forms 17
Economic sector 17
Company size 18
Occupational category 18
Demographic characteristics 19
3 Differences between EU Member States in forms of work organisation 21
National differences in forms of work organisation 21
National diversity across the EU15 and NMS 23
4 Human resource management complementarities 27
Further training 28
Employment contracts 28
Payment systems and formal work assessment 29
Work-related discussion and consultation 30
5 Work organisation forms and quality of work and employment 33
Physical risk factors 33
Work-related health or safety risks 35
Working time 36
Intensity of work 37
Worklife balance 38
Intrinsic motivation 38
Psychological working conditions related to HRM or social integration
at work 40
Satisfaction with working conditions 41
Summary 41
Contents
6 Work organisation in micro-enterprises and the non-market sector 43
Micro-enterprises in the market sector 43
Non-market sector 45
7 Conclusions 49
Bibliography 53
Annex 1 57
Annex 2 58
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Working conditions in the European Union: Work organisation [25 February 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0862.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2008/62/en/1/EF0862EN.pdf
[full-text, 74 pages]
Author: Valeyre, Antoine; Lorenz, Edward; Cartron, Damien; Csizmadia, Péter; Gollac, Michel; Illéssy, Miklós; Makó, Csaba
Summary: The quality of the working lives of European citizens is strongly dependent upon the forms of work organisation within which they operate. This report examines the four main types of work organisation that exist in Europe, outlines the characteristics that distinguish them, and looks at their prevalence in terms of sector, occupation, company size and from a cross country perspective. The analysis is based on findings from the fourth European Working Conditions Survey carried out across 31 countries, including the 27 EU Member States. < http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0868.htm >An executive summary is available
CONTENTS
Foreword v
EWCS Survey methodology ix
Executive summary 1
Introduction 5
1 Forms of work organisation in the European Union 7
Work organisation variables 9
Main dimensions of work organisation 11
Typology of forms of work organisation 12
Summary 14
2 Structural characteristics of work organisation forms 17
Economic sector 17
Company size 18
Occupational category 18
Demographic characteristics 19
3 Differences between EU Member States in forms of work organisation 21
National differences in forms of work organisation 21
National diversity across the EU15 and NMS 23
4 Human resource management complementarities 27
Further training 28
Employment contracts 28
Payment systems and formal work assessment 29
Work-related discussion and consultation 30
5 Work organisation forms and quality of work and employment 33
Physical risk factors 33
Work-related health or safety risks 35
Working time 36
Intensity of work 37
Worklife balance 38
Intrinsic motivation 38
Psychological working conditions related to HRM or social integration
at work 40
Satisfaction with working conditions 41
Summary 41
Contents
6 Work organisation in micro-enterprises and the non-market sector 43
Micro-enterprises in the market sector 43
Non-market sector 45
7 Conclusions 49
Bibliography 53
Annex 1 57
Annex 2 58
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 12:36 PM
[IWS] 2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT [27 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of State
2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report [27 February 2009]
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2009/index.htm
The 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2008. Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes.
Volume I: DRUG and CHEMICAL CONTROL
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2009/vol1/index.htm
or
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/120054.pdf
[full-text, 638 pages]
Volume II: MONEY LAUNDERING and FINANCIAL CRIMES
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2009/vol2/index.htm
or
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/120055.pdf
[full-text, 558 pages]
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of State
2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report [27 February 2009]
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2009/index.htm
The 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2008. Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes.
Volume I: DRUG and CHEMICAL CONTROL
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2009/vol1/index.htm
or
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/120054.pdf
[full-text, 638 pages]
Volume II: MONEY LAUNDERING and FINANCIAL CRIMES
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2009/vol2/index.htm
or
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/120055.pdf
[full-text, 558 pages]
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 11:53 AM
[IWS] ETUI: DATABASE on EUROPEAN WORKS COUNCILS AGREEMENTS
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
DATABASE on EUROPEAN WORKS COUNCILS AGREEMENTS
http://www.ewcdb.eu/
Welcome to ewcdb.eu
[In the left margin you will find many options for searching as well as supportive documentation]
Looking for up-to-date information on European Works Councils?
The EWC database is a specific service by the European Trade Union Institute.
The database contains the details and texts of agreements that have established < http://www.ewcdb.eu/ewc.php> European Works Councils, as well as agreements negotiated by EWCs on specific topics (substantive agreements).
In delivering this service the ETUI co-operates with the < http://www.ewcdb.eu/eifs.php> European Industry Federations and with the < http://www.sda-asbl.org/> Social Development Agency (SDA) which offers further analysis of these documents.
The database also contains (brief) information on < http://www.ewcdb.eu/companies.php> multinational companies falling within the scope of the EWC Directive including records and reference to < http://www.ewcdb.eu/search_results_companies.php?listMode=4> European Companies and their SE Works Council agreements.
The database has been widely used as a reference source by assorted EU and national institutions as well as research and academic centres.
It also represents a useful tool for all practitioners dealing with EWCs and employee participation in their daily work (e.g. European Industry Federations, trade unions, shop stewards, employee representatives, EWC members).
Apart from the database service on the ewcdb.eu you can find information on some legal aspects of functioning of EWCs ('< http://www.ewcdb.eu/legal_provisions.php> Legal provisions' section).
In addition to that, in the legal area of ewcdb.eu ('Jurisprudence') you can find a recent list of legal cases (< http://www.ewcdb.eu/list_other_documents.php?webchapter_ID=6&type=European%20Court%20of%20Justice&sort=jurisprudence > ECJ and < http://www.ewcdb.eu/list_other_documents.php?webchapter_ID=7&type=National%20Case%20Law&sort=jurisprudence > national courts) in which EWCs were involved, or where a decision had an impact on their functioning.
Further information on EWCs in a broader context of employee participation in the EU can be found on another specific website created by the ETUI: www.worker-participation.eu.
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
DATABASE on EUROPEAN WORKS COUNCILS AGREEMENTS
http://www.ewcdb.eu/
Welcome to ewcdb.eu
[In the left margin you will find many options for searching as well as supportive documentation]
Looking for up-to-date information on European Works Councils?
The EWC database is a specific service by the European Trade Union Institute.
The database contains the details and texts of agreements that have established < http://www.ewcdb.eu/ewc.php> European Works Councils, as well as agreements negotiated by EWCs on specific topics (substantive agreements).
In delivering this service the ETUI co-operates with the < http://www.ewcdb.eu/eifs.php> European Industry Federations and with the < http://www.sda-asbl.org/> Social Development Agency (SDA) which offers further analysis of these documents.
The database also contains (brief) information on < http://www.ewcdb.eu/companies.php> multinational companies falling within the scope of the EWC Directive including records and reference to < http://www.ewcdb.eu/search_results_companies.php?listMode=4> European Companies and their SE Works Council agreements.
The database has been widely used as a reference source by assorted EU and national institutions as well as research and academic centres.
It also represents a useful tool for all practitioners dealing with EWCs and employee participation in their daily work (e.g. European Industry Federations, trade unions, shop stewards, employee representatives, EWC members).
Apart from the database service on the ewcdb.eu you can find information on some legal aspects of functioning of EWCs ('< http://www.ewcdb.eu/legal_provisions.php> Legal provisions' section).
In addition to that, in the legal area of ewcdb.eu ('Jurisprudence') you can find a recent list of legal cases (< http://www.ewcdb.eu/list_other_documents.php?webchapter_ID=6&type=European%20Court%20of%20Justice&sort=jurisprudence > ECJ and < http://www.ewcdb.eu/list_other_documents.php?webchapter_ID=7&type=National%20Case%20Law&sort=jurisprudence > national courts) in which EWCs were involved, or where a decision had an impact on their functioning.
Further information on EWCs in a broader context of employee participation in the EU can be found on another specific website created by the ETUI: www.worker-participation.eu.
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:25 AM
[IWS] BEA: GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: 4th Qtr. 2008 (PRELIMINARY) [27 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: FOURTH QUARTER 2008 (PRELIMINARY) [27 February 2009]
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/gdp408p.htm
or
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/pdf/gdp408p.pdf
[full-text, 13 pages]
or
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/xls/gdp408p.xls
[spreadsheet]
and
Highlights
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/pdf/gdp408p_fax.pdf
Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property
located in the United States -- decreased at an annual rate of 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008,
(that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to preliminary estimates released by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP decreased 0.5 percent.
The GDP estimates released today are based on more complete source data than were available for
the advance estimates issued last month. In the advance estimates, the decrease in real GDP was 3.8
percent (see "Revisions" on page 3).
The decrease in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected negative contributions from
exports, personal consumption expenditures, equipment and software, and residential fixed investment
that were partly offset by a positive contribution from federal government spending. Imports, which are
a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased.
Most of the major components contributed to the much larger decrease in real GDP in the fourth
quarter than in the third. The largest contributors were a downturn in exports and a much larger
decrease in equipment and software. The most notable offset was a much larger decrease in imports.
Final sales of computers subtracted 0.01 percentage point from the fourth-quarter change in real
GDP, the same contribution as in the third quarter. Motor vehicle output subtracted 2.04 percentage
points from the fourth-quarter change in real GDP after adding 0.16 percentage point to the third-quarter
change.
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: FOURTH QUARTER 2008 (PRELIMINARY) [27 February 2009]
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/gdp408p.htm
or
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/pdf/gdp408p.pdf
[full-text, 13 pages]
or
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/xls/gdp408p.xls
[spreadsheet]
and
Highlights
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/pdf/gdp408p_fax.pdf
Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property
located in the United States -- decreased at an annual rate of 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008,
(that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to preliminary estimates released by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP decreased 0.5 percent.
The GDP estimates released today are based on more complete source data than were available for
the advance estimates issued last month. In the advance estimates, the decrease in real GDP was 3.8
percent (see "Revisions" on page 3).
The decrease in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected negative contributions from
exports, personal consumption expenditures, equipment and software, and residential fixed investment
that were partly offset by a positive contribution from federal government spending. Imports, which are
a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased.
Most of the major components contributed to the much larger decrease in real GDP in the fourth
quarter than in the third. The largest contributors were a downturn in exports and a much larger
decrease in equipment and software. The most notable offset was a much larger decrease in imports.
Final sales of computers subtracted 0.01 percentage point from the fourth-quarter change in real
GDP, the same contribution as in the third quarter. Motor vehicle output subtracted 2.04 percentage
points from the fourth-quarter change in real GDP after adding 0.16 percentage point to the third-quarter
change.
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 5:35 AM
Thursday, February 26, 2009
[IWS] EXPLANATION OF U.S. VOTE AGAINST UN Resolution to STOP GLORIFICATION OF NAZISM [26 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of State
United States Vote Against Resolution (Taken Question) [to stop glorification of Nazism + ]
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/02/119837.htm
Bureau of Public Affairs
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
QUESTION TAKEN FROM THE FEBRUARY 25, 2009 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
[ORIGINAL QUESTION: Robert, recently, a commission was established on preventing genocide as being co-chaired by William Cohen, Madeleine Albright, with Stuart Eizenstat and Tom Pickering. And since there is a great interest in that and it's extremely important, why did the United States vote against a resolution which was adopted recently at the General Assembly of the UN on the inadmissibility of the glorification of Nazism and on the this is to prohibit the description of Nazi collaborators during World War II as national liberation movements? I mean, that's Orwellian.
February 26, 2009]
Question: Why did the United States vote against a resolution which was adopted recently at the General Assembly of the U.N. on the inadmissibility of the glorification of Nazism and to prohibit the description of Nazi collaborators during World War II as national liberation movements?
Answer: In November 2008 Benin, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe put forward the draft resolution
Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to the General Assembly, which passed with 122 yes votes. The United States and the Marshall Islands voted against, with 54 abstentions.
The United States shares the repugnance at any attempt to glorify or otherwise promote Nazi ideology. However, this resolution fails to distinguish between actions and statements that, while offensive, should be protected by freedom of expression, and actions that incite violence, which should be prohibited.
The United States remains convinced that governments should not punish speech, even that which is deemed offensive or hateful. In a free society hateful ideas fail on account of their own intrinsic lack of merit. Curtailing expression is not a viable or effective means of eliminating racism and related intolerance.
PRN: 161
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of State
United States Vote Against Resolution (Taken Question) [to stop glorification of Nazism + ]
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/02/119837.htm
Bureau of Public Affairs
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
QUESTION TAKEN FROM THE FEBRUARY 25, 2009 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
[ORIGINAL QUESTION: Robert, recently, a commission was established on preventing genocide as being co-chaired by William Cohen, Madeleine Albright, with Stuart Eizenstat and Tom Pickering. And since there is a great interest in that and it's extremely important, why did the United States vote against a resolution which was adopted recently at the General Assembly of the UN on the inadmissibility of the glorification of Nazism and on the this is to prohibit the description of Nazi collaborators during World War II as national liberation movements? I mean, that's Orwellian.
February 26, 2009]
Question: Why did the United States vote against a resolution which was adopted recently at the General Assembly of the U.N. on the inadmissibility of the glorification of Nazism and to prohibit the description of Nazi collaborators during World War II as national liberation movements?
Answer: In November 2008 Benin, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe put forward the draft resolution
Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to the General Assembly, which passed with 122 yes votes. The United States and the Marshall Islands voted against, with 54 abstentions.
The United States shares the repugnance at any attempt to glorify or otherwise promote Nazi ideology. However, this resolution fails to distinguish between actions and statements that, while offensive, should be protected by freedom of expression, and actions that incite violence, which should be prohibited.
The United States remains convinced that governments should not punish speech, even that which is deemed offensive or hateful. In a free society hateful ideas fail on account of their own intrinsic lack of merit. Curtailing expression is not a viable or effective means of eliminating racism and related intolerance.
PRN: 161
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 10:16 AM
[IWS] WHAT'S THE POINT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS? - Statement by British Universities Industrial Relations Association
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Institute of Social Studies
http://www.iss.nl/Portals/Work-Employment-and-Globalisation-at-the-ISS/Research-in-WEG
WHAT'S THE POINT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS?
A Statement by the British Universities Industrial Relations Association
[DRAFT prepared by Linda Clarke, Eddy Donnelly, Richard Hyman, John Kelly, Sonia McKay and Sian Moore]
http://buira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=&task=doc_download&gid=86
[full-text, 11 pages]
Includes Bibliography...
[excerpt]
" [...] It is as fatuous to speak of an 'end of industrial relations' as it was, over a decade ago, to write of an 'end of history'. Though the traditional field of industrial relations field may have been transformed, our teaching and research have adapted to the new realities, as we explain below. Indeed, industrial relations scholars are at the forefront of making sense of the changing nature of work and employment relationships, in the process often challenging the oversimplified accounts prevalent in popular discourse. "
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Institute of Social Studies
http://www.iss.nl/Portals/Work-Employment-and-Globalisation-at-the-ISS/Research-in-WEG
WHAT'S THE POINT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS?
A Statement by the British Universities Industrial Relations Association
[DRAFT prepared by Linda Clarke, Eddy Donnelly, Richard Hyman, John Kelly, Sonia McKay and Sian Moore]
http://buira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=&task=doc_download&gid=86
[full-text, 11 pages]
Includes Bibliography...
[excerpt]
" [...] It is as fatuous to speak of an 'end of industrial relations' as it was, over a decade ago, to write of an 'end of history'. Though the traditional field of industrial relations field may have been transformed, our teaching and research have adapted to the new realities, as we explain below. Indeed, industrial relations scholars are at the forefront of making sense of the changing nature of work and employment relationships, in the process often challenging the oversimplified accounts prevalent in popular discourse. "
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:33 AM
[IWS] SPLC: FOREIGN GUESTWORKERS ABUSED--REFORM NEEDED [23 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
Court Ruling Against Foreign Guestworkers Highlights Need for Reform [23 February 2009]
http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=365
A recent federal appeals court ruling in an SPLC < http://www.splcenter.org/legal/docket/files.jsp?cdrID=61&sortID=0 > lawsuit involving fees paid by foreign guestworkers illustrates the need for reform of a program that results in widespread exploitation, workers and their advocates said.
In reversing a lower court's ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Feb. 11 that a New Orleans hotel company was not required to reimburse guestworkers for thousands of dollars in fees they paid to obtain jobs in luxury hotels in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The 5th Circuit's decision which relies on a statement issued by the Department of Labor in the Bush administration's last days conflicts with a ruling in the 11th Circuit and every other lower federal court that has ruled on the issue.
"This court's ruling supports employers like Decatur Hotels who are looking for indentured servants," said Daniel Castellanos-Contreras, the named plaintiff in the litigation, who paid more than $5,000 to obtain a low-wage, temporary job with Decatur Hotels.
As documented in the SPLC's 2007 report < http://www.splcenter.org/legal/guestreport/index.jsp> Close to Slavery, the charging of exorbitant fees to obtain low-paying jobs is one of the worst abuses of the H-2B guestworker program, under which U.S. businesses bring in tens of thousands of workers each year for low-skill jobs that last less than one year.
Because they are prohibited by law from finding other work, guestworkers are highly vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous employers who hold the power to send them home, in debt, if they complain about pay or working conditions.
"We mortgaged our homes, sold property and plunged our families into debt to pay the fees," Castellanos said. "Then we found out we could not even earn enough to cover our living expenses and pay off our loans. Our crushing debts block us as guestworkers from protecting our fundamental labor rights, including our right to organize."
The Bush administration's new H-2B regulations, which took effect Jan. 18, further erode worker protections and make it easier for U.S. businesses to bring in guestworkers.
"Instead of reforming the guestworker program, the Bush administration has given more tools to employers who are shopping for the most exploitable workforce," said Mary Bauer, director of the SPLC's < http://www.splcenter.org/legal/ijp.jsp> Immigrant Justice Project. "This hurts workers in the United States as well as those who come here from other countries."
The SPLC and the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice are urging the U.S. Senate to confirm U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis as labor secretary. A new labor secretary could put the new Bush regulations on hold and could write new regulations to overhaul the program.
Saket Soni, director of the New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice, noted that the Decatur Hotels case illustrates how some employers use the guestworker system to undermine worker rights. The company hired about 300 guestworkers after certifying to the Department of Labor that U.S. workers were not available.
"Decatur Hotels hired exploitable guestworkers just after Katrina, at a time when its rooms were filled with displaced African-American workers desperate for employment," Soni said. "Instead of hiring those workers, the company imported guestworkers at a lower wage, under worse conditions."
In the context of the current economy, Soni said, "the guestworker program holds foreign workers hostage to exorbitant recruitment fees and uses them to undermine U.S. workers."
The new Bush rules prohibit employers or recruiters from collecting fees as a condition of employment but rely on the employer to vouch no such fees have been collected. There is also no requirement that employers reimburse transportation costs, passports and visa and inspection fees. Further, no process is provided for workers or their advocates to intervene when there are fee abuses.
"At a time of global economic despair, we need Congress and the administration to lead the way in enacting sound policies that do not undermine the labor rights of temporary workers or of U.S. workers," said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. "This is an opportunity for the Obama administration to help create jobs in the U.S. that pay a living wage and prioritize labor protections for all workers in the U.S. regardless of their immigration status."
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
Court Ruling Against Foreign Guestworkers Highlights Need for Reform [23 February 2009]
http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=365
A recent federal appeals court ruling in an SPLC < http://www.splcenter.org/legal/docket/files.jsp?cdrID=61&sortID=0 > lawsuit involving fees paid by foreign guestworkers illustrates the need for reform of a program that results in widespread exploitation, workers and their advocates said.
In reversing a lower court's ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Feb. 11 that a New Orleans hotel company was not required to reimburse guestworkers for thousands of dollars in fees they paid to obtain jobs in luxury hotels in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The 5th Circuit's decision which relies on a statement issued by the Department of Labor in the Bush administration's last days conflicts with a ruling in the 11th Circuit and every other lower federal court that has ruled on the issue.
"This court's ruling supports employers like Decatur Hotels who are looking for indentured servants," said Daniel Castellanos-Contreras, the named plaintiff in the litigation, who paid more than $5,000 to obtain a low-wage, temporary job with Decatur Hotels.
As documented in the SPLC's 2007 report < http://www.splcenter.org/legal/guestreport/index.jsp> Close to Slavery, the charging of exorbitant fees to obtain low-paying jobs is one of the worst abuses of the H-2B guestworker program, under which U.S. businesses bring in tens of thousands of workers each year for low-skill jobs that last less than one year.
Because they are prohibited by law from finding other work, guestworkers are highly vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous employers who hold the power to send them home, in debt, if they complain about pay or working conditions.
"We mortgaged our homes, sold property and plunged our families into debt to pay the fees," Castellanos said. "Then we found out we could not even earn enough to cover our living expenses and pay off our loans. Our crushing debts block us as guestworkers from protecting our fundamental labor rights, including our right to organize."
The Bush administration's new H-2B regulations, which took effect Jan. 18, further erode worker protections and make it easier for U.S. businesses to bring in guestworkers.
"Instead of reforming the guestworker program, the Bush administration has given more tools to employers who are shopping for the most exploitable workforce," said Mary Bauer, director of the SPLC's < http://www.splcenter.org/legal/ijp.jsp> Immigrant Justice Project. "This hurts workers in the United States as well as those who come here from other countries."
The SPLC and the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice are urging the U.S. Senate to confirm U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis as labor secretary. A new labor secretary could put the new Bush regulations on hold and could write new regulations to overhaul the program.
Saket Soni, director of the New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice, noted that the Decatur Hotels case illustrates how some employers use the guestworker system to undermine worker rights. The company hired about 300 guestworkers after certifying to the Department of Labor that U.S. workers were not available.
"Decatur Hotels hired exploitable guestworkers just after Katrina, at a time when its rooms were filled with displaced African-American workers desperate for employment," Soni said. "Instead of hiring those workers, the company imported guestworkers at a lower wage, under worse conditions."
In the context of the current economy, Soni said, "the guestworker program holds foreign workers hostage to exorbitant recruitment fees and uses them to undermine U.S. workers."
The new Bush rules prohibit employers or recruiters from collecting fees as a condition of employment but rely on the employer to vouch no such fees have been collected. There is also no requirement that employers reimburse transportation costs, passports and visa and inspection fees. Further, no process is provided for workers or their advocates to intervene when there are fee abuses.
"At a time of global economic despair, we need Congress and the administration to lead the way in enacting sound policies that do not undermine the labor rights of temporary workers or of U.S. workers," said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. "This is an opportunity for the Obama administration to help create jobs in the U.S. that pay a living wage and prioritize labor protections for all workers in the U.S. regardless of their immigration status."
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 6:29 AM
[IWS] Conference Board: EURO AREA (Leading Economic Indicators) [26 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Conference Board
Press Release
Global Business Cycle Indicators
Euro Area [26 February 2009]
http://www.conference-board.org/economics/bci/pressRelease_output.cfm?cid=10
or
http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/economics/bci/nobother.pdf
[full-text, 3 pages]
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.5 percent in January to 92.8 (2004 = 100), following a 1.7 percent fall in December and a 1.8 percent drop in November. The widening interest rate spread and increasing business expectations in services more than offset a negative contribution from the Economic Sentiment Index.
Download a PDF of < http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/economics/bci/toolate.pdf > the technical notes for underlying detail, diffusion indexes, components, contributions and graphs.
Download a PDF of the press release with graph and summary table in
French
< http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/translations/ringOne.pdf >
German
< http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/translations/ringTwo.pdf>
Spanish
< http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/translations/ringThree.pdf >
"If sustained, the 0.5 percent rise in The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area in January may signal an inflection point in the recession, but still not a turning point," said Jean-Claude Manini, The Conference Board Senior Economist for Europe. "The expansionary policy mix currently in place may favor a rebound during the second half of 2009, but history suggests that the combination of traditional recessions and financial crises often lead to subdued recoveries."
Despite the increase in January, The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area remains on a general downtrend since June 2007, falling by more than 14.0 percent since then. A previous decline of this magnitude preceded the region's 1992-93 recession. Meanwhile, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the Euro Area, a measure of current economic activity, rose by 0.2 percent in January to 104.5 (2004 = 100), according to preliminary estimates, after falling 0.4 percent in December and 0.3 percent in November. The Conference Board CEI for the Euro Area has been trending downward since February 2008.
The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area: Still No Trough in Sight
The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area aggregates eight economic indicators that measure activity in the Euro Area as a whole (rather than indicators of individual member countries), each of which has proven accurate on its own. Aggregating individual indicators into a composite index filters out so-called "noise" to show underlying trends more clearly.
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Conference Board
Press Release
Global Business Cycle Indicators
Euro Area [26 February 2009]
http://www.conference-board.org/economics/bci/pressRelease_output.cfm?cid=10
or
http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/economics/bci/nobother.pdf
[full-text, 3 pages]
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.5 percent in January to 92.8 (2004 = 100), following a 1.7 percent fall in December and a 1.8 percent drop in November. The widening interest rate spread and increasing business expectations in services more than offset a negative contribution from the Economic Sentiment Index.
Download a PDF of < http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/economics/bci/toolate.pdf > the technical notes for underlying detail, diffusion indexes, components, contributions and graphs.
Download a PDF of the press release with graph and summary table in
French
< http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/translations/ringOne.pdf >
German
< http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/translations/ringTwo.pdf>
Spanish
< http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/translations/ringThree.pdf >
"If sustained, the 0.5 percent rise in The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area in January may signal an inflection point in the recession, but still not a turning point," said Jean-Claude Manini, The Conference Board Senior Economist for Europe. "The expansionary policy mix currently in place may favor a rebound during the second half of 2009, but history suggests that the combination of traditional recessions and financial crises often lead to subdued recoveries."
Despite the increase in January, The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area remains on a general downtrend since June 2007, falling by more than 14.0 percent since then. A previous decline of this magnitude preceded the region's 1992-93 recession. Meanwhile, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the Euro Area, a measure of current economic activity, rose by 0.2 percent in January to 104.5 (2004 = 100), according to preliminary estimates, after falling 0.4 percent in December and 0.3 percent in November. The Conference Board CEI for the Euro Area has been trending downward since February 2008.
The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area: Still No Trough in Sight
The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area aggregates eight economic indicators that measure activity in the Euro Area as a whole (rather than indicators of individual member countries), each of which has proven accurate on its own. Aggregating individual indicators into a composite index filters out so-called "noise" to show underlying trends more clearly.
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 6:04 AM
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
[IWS] 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES [25 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of State
2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES [25 February 2009]
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/c1470.htm
or
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/index.htm
Country Reports submitted annually to the Congress by the Department of State regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights practices.
Human Rights
The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are submitted annually by the U.S. Department of State to the U.S. Congress in compliance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended, and section 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. The law provides that the Secretary of State shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, by February 25 "a full and complete report regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights, within the meaning of subsection (A) in countries that receive assistance under this part, and (B) in all other foreign countries which are members of the United Nations and which are not otherwise the subject of a human rights report under this Act." Reports on several countries are included that do not fall into the categories established by these statutes and that thus are not covered by the congressional requirement.
The reports cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/60372.htm
For workplace issues, the following is pertinent --
Article 23
* Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
* Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
* Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
* Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
The following can be found at -
http://www.unac.org/rights/question.html
Q: Who are the signatories of the Declaration?
A: Since the Declaration is not legally binding technically, there are no signatories to the Declaration. Instead, the Declaration was ratified through a proclamation by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948 with a count of 48 votes to none with only 8 abstentions. This was considered a triumph as the vote unified very diverse, even conflicting political regimes.
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of State
2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES [25 February 2009]
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/c1470.htm
or
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/index.htm
Country Reports submitted annually to the Congress by the Department of State regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights practices.
Human Rights
The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are submitted annually by the U.S. Department of State to the U.S. Congress in compliance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended, and section 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. The law provides that the Secretary of State shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, by February 25 "a full and complete report regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights, within the meaning of subsection (A) in countries that receive assistance under this part, and (B) in all other foreign countries which are members of the United Nations and which are not otherwise the subject of a human rights report under this Act." Reports on several countries are included that do not fall into the categories established by these statutes and that thus are not covered by the congressional requirement.
The reports cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/60372.htm
For workplace issues, the following is pertinent --
Article 23
* Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
* Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
* Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
* Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
The following can be found at -
http://www.unac.org/rights/question.html
Q: Who are the signatories of the Declaration?
A: Since the Declaration is not legally binding technically, there are no signatories to the Declaration. Instead, the Declaration was ratified through a proclamation by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948 with a count of 48 votes to none with only 8 abstentions. This was considered a triumph as the vote unified very diverse, even conflicting political regimes.
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 10:31 AM
[IWS] Dublin Foundation: EUROPE IN RECESSION: EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES AT COMPANY AND MEMBER STATE LEVEL--BACKGROUND PAPER [24 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Europe in recession: Employment initiatives at company and Member State level - Background paper [24 February 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0920.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2009/20/en/2/EF0920EN.pdf
[full-text, 10 pages]
Author: Foundation
Summary: There are increasingly alarming predictions about the employment impact of the most severe crisis in the developed world economies since the great depression of the 1930s. The ILO predicted in January 2009 that global unemployment could increase by up to 50 million in a worst case scenario. Already, most of the developed world has succumbed to recession. Forecasts for future growth have been repeatedly revised downwards and it is unlikely that the EU economy will begin to recover before late 2009 at the earliest.
Contents
Context
Reduced hours in the auto and steel sectors
Short-time working schemes
Concession bargaining: your wages or your jobs
Recession sabbaticals
Conclusions
References
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Europe in recession: Employment initiatives at company and Member State level - Background paper [24 February 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0920.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2009/20/en/2/EF0920EN.pdf
[full-text, 10 pages]
Author: Foundation
Summary: There are increasingly alarming predictions about the employment impact of the most severe crisis in the developed world economies since the great depression of the 1930s. The ILO predicted in January 2009 that global unemployment could increase by up to 50 million in a worst case scenario. Already, most of the developed world has succumbed to recession. Forecasts for future growth have been repeatedly revised downwards and it is unlikely that the EU economy will begin to recover before late 2009 at the earliest.
Contents
Context
Reduced hours in the auto and steel sectors
Short-time working schemes
Concession bargaining: your wages or your jobs
Recession sabbaticals
Conclusions
References
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:48 AM
[IWS] New! THE 85% NICHE: THE POWER OF WOMEN OF ALL COLORS--LATINA, BLACK, AND ASIAN [February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Paramount Books
The 85% Niche: The Power of Women of All Colors--Latina, Black, and Asian [February 2009]
by Miriam Muley
http://www.paramountbooks.com/prodpage.cfm?cat_selected=43&product_selected=291&startrow=1
or via Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/85%25-Niche-Power-Women-Colors-Latina/dp/0980174554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235577423&sr=1-1
Women of color generate nearly $1 trillion in consumer spending and another $230 billion as entrepreneurs. Yet most companies market to women as a monolithic group, aiming primarily at White women.
With groundbreaking proprietary research, Miriam Muley explores how cultural and ethnic differences shape the way women respond to life experiences. She encourages companies to embrace the cultural and ethnic identity of women of all colors with the same tenacity, commitment to grow, and deployment of economic resources that are given to other consumer audiences.
The result is a concise and practical guide to what drives women of diverse backgrounds to consider brands for future purchase decisions. Muléy takes this discussion to a new level, delving deeply into the "who" of the women's market. She provides practical insights on what it means to be a Latina, a Black woman, or an Asian woman and effectively translates these insights into compelling marketing best practices that business leaders can quickly integrate into planning efforts.
Top takeaways from The 85% Niche:
-- Supported correctly with the right business strategies, women of color will re-invigorate your business for years to come with brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth endorsement.
-- Women of color are a vital source of employment and entrepreneurial energy.
-- Marketing to women of color requires expert understanding of gender marketing, diversity marketing, and the bridge between the two disciplines.
-- Unleashing the power of women and diversity in your organization is the fastest track to sales growth, share dominance, and profit improvement.
The women-of-color opportunity will succeed only if it is measured and tracked and carries the executive sanction and consistent attention of top-level management.
(approx. 250 pages, hardcover, ISBN 978-09801745-5-7; February 2009)
Editorial Reviews
Review
A highly credible analysis of what it takes to grow market share among consumers in general and among diverse consumers in particular. ----Patricia J. Roberts, Former Director Women's Retail Initiative, General Motors Corporation
Finally, someone has stepped forward with the leadership, vision, and business knowledge to shed light on the diversity that exists among women. ----Dr. Marta Vega, Founder & CEO, The Caribbean Cultural Center
The 85% Niche integrates classical brand management principles with diversity and gender marketing expertise...Kudos to Miriam for using smarts, savvy, and creative thinking to push the envelope on the subject of marketing to women. ---Christopher J. Fraleigh, CEO, Sara Lee Beverage & Foods
Meet the author:
Learn more about Miriam: Welcome to the 85% Niche
http://www.85percentniche.com/
See also LEADING VOICES Women's Diversity Marketing Model
http://www.85percentniche.com/services_model.asp
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Paramount Books
The 85% Niche: The Power of Women of All Colors--Latina, Black, and Asian [February 2009]
by Miriam Muley
http://www.paramountbooks.com/prodpage.cfm?cat_selected=43&product_selected=291&startrow=1
or via Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/85%25-Niche-Power-Women-Colors-Latina/dp/0980174554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235577423&sr=1-1
Women of color generate nearly $1 trillion in consumer spending and another $230 billion as entrepreneurs. Yet most companies market to women as a monolithic group, aiming primarily at White women.
With groundbreaking proprietary research, Miriam Muley explores how cultural and ethnic differences shape the way women respond to life experiences. She encourages companies to embrace the cultural and ethnic identity of women of all colors with the same tenacity, commitment to grow, and deployment of economic resources that are given to other consumer audiences.
The result is a concise and practical guide to what drives women of diverse backgrounds to consider brands for future purchase decisions. Muléy takes this discussion to a new level, delving deeply into the "who" of the women's market. She provides practical insights on what it means to be a Latina, a Black woman, or an Asian woman and effectively translates these insights into compelling marketing best practices that business leaders can quickly integrate into planning efforts.
Top takeaways from The 85% Niche:
-- Supported correctly with the right business strategies, women of color will re-invigorate your business for years to come with brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth endorsement.
-- Women of color are a vital source of employment and entrepreneurial energy.
-- Marketing to women of color requires expert understanding of gender marketing, diversity marketing, and the bridge between the two disciplines.
-- Unleashing the power of women and diversity in your organization is the fastest track to sales growth, share dominance, and profit improvement.
The women-of-color opportunity will succeed only if it is measured and tracked and carries the executive sanction and consistent attention of top-level management.
(approx. 250 pages, hardcover, ISBN 978-09801745-5-7; February 2009)
Editorial Reviews
Review
A highly credible analysis of what it takes to grow market share among consumers in general and among diverse consumers in particular. ----Patricia J. Roberts, Former Director Women's Retail Initiative, General Motors Corporation
Finally, someone has stepped forward with the leadership, vision, and business knowledge to shed light on the diversity that exists among women. ----Dr. Marta Vega, Founder & CEO, The Caribbean Cultural Center
The 85% Niche integrates classical brand management principles with diversity and gender marketing expertise...Kudos to Miriam for using smarts, savvy, and creative thinking to push the envelope on the subject of marketing to women. ---Christopher J. Fraleigh, CEO, Sara Lee Beverage & Foods
Meet the author:
Learn more about Miriam: Welcome to the 85% Niche
http://www.85percentniche.com/
See also LEADING VOICES Women's Diversity Marketing Model
http://www.85percentniche.com/services_model.asp
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:03 AM
[IWS] ILO: LABOR MARKET REGULATION:MOTIVES, MEASURES, EFFECTS (2009)
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Conditions of Work and Employment Programme
Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 21
Labour market regulation: Motives, measures, effects (2009)
by Professor G. Bertola
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/publ/21cwe.htm
or
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/pdf/21cws.pdf
[full-text, 55 pages]
Abstract:
Labour market regulation is the subject of much theoretical work as well as of extensive measurement and empirical assessment efforts. In this paper, Professor Bertola reviews this work from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. His review clearly points to the critical importance of a "balanced" theoretical framework of labour regulation which takes into account how historical, political and economic structural factors shape the motivation and effects of labour market policies. He concludes by outlining directions for future research, particularly concerning empirical work on the determinants of labour market institutions in rapidly changing environments.
Contents
Page
Preface................................................................................................................................... iv
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1
1. What regulation aims to do........................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Wages, labour costs and employment........................................................................... 7
1.2 Labour market imperfections........................................................................................ 9
1.3 Unemployment and insurance...................................................................................... 10
1.4 Mobility, hiring and firing............................................................................................ 11
1.5 Efficiency and policy interactions................................................................................ 13
1.6 Activation and flexicurity............................................................................................. 14
1.7 Training....................................................................................................................... 14
1.8 Financial market imperfections and social policies...................................................... 15
2. Measuring institutions................................................................................................................... 19
2.1 EPA: Rules, surveys, court decisions........................................................................... 19
2.2 Wage setting................................................................................................................. 21
2.3 UI, taxes and activation................................................................................................ 22
2.4 Institutional co-variation and welfare state "models"................................................... 23
2.5 Non-OECD countries.................................................................................................... 24
3. Institutions and empirical outcomes.............................................................................................. 27
3.1 Interpreting cross-country evidence.............................................................................. 27
3.2 Unemployment and wage dynamics............................................................................. 28
3.3 Wage inequality and labour income stability................................................................ 29
3.4 Employment protection................................................................................................. 30
3.5 Financial market imperfections.................................................................................... 32
3.6 Training....................................................................................................................... 32
4. Dynamics and reforms................................................................................................................... 35
4.1 Structural change.......................................................................................................... 36
4.2 The international dimension......................................................................................... 38
5. Concluding comments................................................................................................................... 43
References....................................................................................................................................... 45
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Conditions of Work and Employment Programme
Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 21
Labour market regulation: Motives, measures, effects (2009)
by Professor G. Bertola
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/publ/21cwe.htm
or
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/pdf/21cws.pdf
[full-text, 55 pages]
Abstract:
Labour market regulation is the subject of much theoretical work as well as of extensive measurement and empirical assessment efforts. In this paper, Professor Bertola reviews this work from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. His review clearly points to the critical importance of a "balanced" theoretical framework of labour regulation which takes into account how historical, political and economic structural factors shape the motivation and effects of labour market policies. He concludes by outlining directions for future research, particularly concerning empirical work on the determinants of labour market institutions in rapidly changing environments.
Contents
Page
Preface................................................................................................................................... iv
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1
1. What regulation aims to do........................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Wages, labour costs and employment........................................................................... 7
1.2 Labour market imperfections........................................................................................ 9
1.3 Unemployment and insurance...................................................................................... 10
1.4 Mobility, hiring and firing............................................................................................ 11
1.5 Efficiency and policy interactions................................................................................ 13
1.6 Activation and flexicurity............................................................................................. 14
1.7 Training....................................................................................................................... 14
1.8 Financial market imperfections and social policies...................................................... 15
2. Measuring institutions................................................................................................................... 19
2.1 EPA: Rules, surveys, court decisions........................................................................... 19
2.2 Wage setting................................................................................................................. 21
2.3 UI, taxes and activation................................................................................................ 22
2.4 Institutional co-variation and welfare state "models"................................................... 23
2.5 Non-OECD countries.................................................................................................... 24
3. Institutions and empirical outcomes.............................................................................................. 27
3.1 Interpreting cross-country evidence.............................................................................. 27
3.2 Unemployment and wage dynamics............................................................................. 28
3.3 Wage inequality and labour income stability................................................................ 29
3.4 Employment protection................................................................................................. 30
3.5 Financial market imperfections.................................................................................... 32
3.6 Training....................................................................................................................... 32
4. Dynamics and reforms................................................................................................................... 35
4.1 Structural change.......................................................................................................... 36
4.2 The international dimension......................................................................................... 38
5. Concluding comments................................................................................................................... 43
References....................................................................................................................................... 45
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 7:23 AM
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
[IWS] New IMMIGRATION STATISTICS Releases [24 February 2009]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Department of Homeland Security
Office of Immigration Statistics
New IMMIGRATION STATISTICS Releases [February 2009]
http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/statistics/
Estimates of the Legal Permanent Resident Population in 2007
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/lpr_pe_2007.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]
This report provides estimates of the legal permanent resident population and population eligible to naturalize as of January 2007.
The Foreign-born Component of the Uninsured Population
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/uninsured_fs_2007.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]
This report provides information on the trends in the population without health insurance coverage by nativity and citizenship status.
Characteristics of Major Metropolitan Destinations of Immigrants
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/metro_fs_2006.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]
The report provides information on leading metropolitan destinations of immigrants ranked by immigrant population growth rates and selected economic and social indicators.
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Department of Homeland Security
Office of Immigration Statistics
New IMMIGRATION STATISTICS Releases [February 2009]
http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/statistics/
Estimates of the Legal Permanent Resident Population in 2007
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/lpr_pe_2007.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]
This report provides estimates of the legal permanent resident population and population eligible to naturalize as of January 2007.
The Foreign-born Component of the Uninsured Population
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/uninsured_fs_2007.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]
This report provides information on the trends in the population without health insurance coverage by nativity and citizenship status.
Characteristics of Major Metropolitan Destinations of Immigrants
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/metro_fs_2006.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]
The report provides information on leading metropolitan destinations of immigrants ranked by immigrant population growth rates and selected economic and social indicators.
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 1:33 PM
[IWS] New! THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NEW DEAL: THE LIFE OF FRANCES PERKINS, FDR'S SECRECTARY OF LABOR AND HIS MORAL CONSCIENCE
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Random House
The Woman Behind the New Deal
The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR'S Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience
Written by Kirstin Downey
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385513654
or via Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Behind-New-Deal-Conscience/dp/0385513658/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235509963&sr=8-1
Format: Hardcover, 480 pages On Sale: March 3, 2009 Price: $35.00 ISBN: 978-0-385-51365-4 (0-385-51365-8)
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Frances Perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Based on eight years of research, extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to Perkins's family members and friends, this biography is the first complete portrait of a devoted public servant with a passionate personal life, a mother who changed the landscape of American business and society.
Frances Perkins was named Secretary of Labor by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. As the first female cabinet secretary, she spearheaded the fight to improve the lives of America's working people while juggling her own complex family responsibilities. Perkins's ideas became the cornerstones of the most important social welfare and legislation in the nation's history, including unemployment compensation, child labor laws, and the forty-hour work week.
Arriving in Washington at the height of the Great Depression, Perkins pushed for massive public works projects that created millions of jobs for unemployed workers. She breathed life back into the nation's labor movement, boosting living standards across the country. As head of the Immigration Service, she fought to bring European refugees to safety in the United States. Her greatest triumph was creating Social Security.
Written with a wit that echoes Frances Perkins's own, award-winning journalist Kirstin Downey gives us a riveting exploration of how and why Perkins slipped into historical oblivion, and restores Perkins to her proper place in history.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"No individual--not even Eleanor Roosevelt--exerted more influence over the formulation of FDR's New Deal or did more to implement the programs than Frances Perkins (1880-1965). As former Washington Post staff writer Downey makes plain in this deeply researched biography, the first female Cabinet member was the primary shaper of such new concepts as unemployment insurance, the 40-hour work week and--last but not least--Social Security. At a time when the United States stands at the brink of another economic meltdown calling for sweeping federal interventions, Downey provides not only a superb rendering of history but also a large dose of inspiration drawn from Perkins's clearheaded, decisive work with FDR to solve urgent problems diligently and to succeed in the face of what seemed insurmountable odds. Confronting family issues-a frequently institutionalized husband with severe psychiatric problems; a deeply secret lesbian relationship with Mary Harriman Rumsey (sister of Averell Harriman); a daughter from whom she was often estranged-Perkins nevertheless exhibited tireless grace under pressure again and again, always rising to the occasion in the name of every and any progressive cause."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Kirstin Downey has given us a rich, nuanced portrait of one of the most significant figures of the Age of Roosevelt. Frances Perkins has fallen out of the popular imagination; this fine book should do much to rectify that, and bring the first female member of a president's Cabinet to vivid life once more."
-Jon Meacham, author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
"The New Deal was a big deal for America -- and, as Kirstin Downey shows in this illuminating and sparkling book, Frances Perkins, my predecessor as Labor Secretary, was the moving force behind much of it. Her legacy included Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other initiatives that have improved the lives of generations of Americans. With wit and insight, Downey recounts this singular woman and invites us to celebrate her life."
Robert B. Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
"Kirstin Downey gives Frances Perkins the biography she deserves, the story of a fierce advocate who put people first, a public servant who was actually worthy of the name, and a bracing reminder of what inspired government can do. Perkins ignored the glass ceiling and change America. This book is a joy!"
Nick Taylor, author of American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to Work
"For all of her apparent modesty and fierce sense of privacy, Frances Perkins wanted to be known by posterity for her contributions to FDR and his New Deal, particularly Social Security. An investigative reporter, Kirstin Downey has uncovered Frances Perkins's extraordinary strengths in shaping and securing the central domestic accomplishments of the New Dealers. Despite continuing impediments, Perkins, a social worker, successfully broke into a man's world and was a major player for all 12 years of FDR's administration. Downey deftly links the Progressive movement of the early 1900's with the reforms Perkins helped FDR achieve, particularly in his first two terms. In Downey's skilled hands, Frances Perkins at last emerges as a pivotal figure in the most transformative twelve years of 20th century American history."
Christopher N. Breiseth, President and CEO of The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
"Prize-winning journalist Downey deconstructs the life of a passionate labor advocate who became the nation's first female Cabinet member. Frances Perkins (1880-1965) had clearly delineated goals: reasonable working hours and wages, fire safety, improved working conditions and the end of child labor. Displaying the fortitude and prescience that carried her through three decades of public service, she outlined these during her first meeting with FDR. After being named his Secretary of Labor, she went on to accomplish reform of unprecedented scope. The 40-hour workweek, unemployment insurance and Social Security are but a few of her legacies; her storied relationship with FDR is another. Making excellent use of personal papers and of archival materials that include a 5,000-page oral history, Downey allows Perkins to narrate much of the text, giving new life to this often overlooked historical figure. FDR saw something special in Perkins, and his confidence and support helped her endure years of sexism from fellow Cabinet members and unwarranted criticism from the press. She developed keen insight into the process of successful lawmaking and established a deliberately staid work persona as a 'plain, sturdy, dependable woman' that allowed her to exert authority and demand respect on her own terms. Married to a man institutionalized with mental illness, she kept her unhappy personal life out of the papers and away from Washington, stifling her emotions and dedicating herself fully to the country's problems. At times it seemed that FDR involved her in every major policy decision. Perkins essentially authored the New Deal; she handled immigration during the onset of World War II, bending rules to harbor German Jews; she worked to establish fair hearings against suspected communists. Her entire career was devoted to the principals she espoused in 1913: 'It is human life and happiness which we are trying to save . . . this is the most important thing.' As a progressive president again takes office in a time of economic crisis, Perkins offers a vital role model."
-Kirkus Reviews
About
Kirstin Downey
http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=71685&view=full_sptlght
______________________________
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
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Random House
The Woman Behind the New Deal
The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR'S Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience
Written by Kirstin Downey
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385513654
or via Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Behind-New-Deal-Conscience/dp/0385513658/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235509963&sr=8-1
Format: Hardcover, 480 pages On Sale: March 3, 2009 Price: $35.00 ISBN: 978-0-385-51365-4 (0-385-51365-8)
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Frances Perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Based on eight years of research, extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to Perkins's family members and friends, this biography is the first complete portrait of a devoted public servant with a passionate personal life, a mother who changed the landscape of American business and society.
Frances Perkins was named Secretary of Labor by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. As the first female cabinet secretary, she spearheaded the fight to improve the lives of America's working people while juggling her own complex family responsibilities. Perkins's ideas became the cornerstones of the most important social welfare and legislation in the nation's history, including unemployment compensation, child labor laws, and the forty-hour work week.
Arriving in Washington at the height of the Great Depression, Perkins pushed for massive public works projects that created millions of jobs for unemployed workers. She breathed life back into the nation's labor movement, boosting living standards across the country. As head of the Immigration Service, she fought to bring European refugees to safety in the United States. Her greatest triumph was creating Social Security.
Written with a wit that echoes Frances Perkins's own, award-winning journalist Kirstin Downey gives us a riveting exploration of how and why Perkins slipped into historical oblivion, and restores Perkins to her proper place in history.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"No individual--not even Eleanor Roosevelt--exerted more influence over the formulation of FDR's New Deal or did more to implement the programs than Frances Perkins (1880-1965). As former Washington Post staff writer Downey makes plain in this deeply researched biography, the first female Cabinet member was the primary shaper of such new concepts as unemployment insurance, the 40-hour work week and--last but not least--Social Security. At a time when the United States stands at the brink of another economic meltdown calling for sweeping federal interventions, Downey provides not only a superb rendering of history but also a large dose of inspiration drawn from Perkins's clearheaded, decisive work with FDR to solve urgent problems diligently and to succeed in the face of what seemed insurmountable odds. Confronting family issues-a frequently institutionalized husband with severe psychiatric problems; a deeply secret lesbian relationship with Mary Harriman Rumsey (sister of Averell Harriman); a daughter from whom she was often estranged-Perkins nevertheless exhibited tireless grace under pressure again and again, always rising to the occasion in the name of every and any progressive cause."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Kirstin Downey has given us a rich, nuanced portrait of one of the most significant figures of the Age of Roosevelt. Frances Perkins has fallen out of the popular imagination; this fine book should do much to rectify that, and bring the first female member of a president's Cabinet to vivid life once more."
-Jon Meacham, author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
"The New Deal was a big deal for America -- and, as Kirstin Downey shows in this illuminating and sparkling book, Frances Perkins, my predecessor as Labor Secretary, was the moving force behind much of it. Her legacy included Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other initiatives that have improved the lives of generations of Americans. With wit and insight, Downey recounts this singular woman and invites us to celebrate her life."
Robert B. Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
"Kirstin Downey gives Frances Perkins the biography she deserves, the story of a fierce advocate who put people first, a public servant who was actually worthy of the name, and a bracing reminder of what inspired government can do. Perkins ignored the glass ceiling and change America. This book is a joy!"
Nick Taylor, author of American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to Work
"For all of her apparent modesty and fierce sense of privacy, Frances Perkins wanted to be known by posterity for her contributions to FDR and his New Deal, particularly Social Security. An investigative reporter, Kirstin Downey has uncovered Frances Perkins's extraordinary strengths in shaping and securing the central domestic accomplishments of the New Dealers. Despite continuing impediments, Perkins, a social worker, successfully broke into a man's world and was a major player for all 12 years of FDR's administration. Downey deftly links the Progressive movement of the early 1900's with the reforms Perkins helped FDR achieve, particularly in his first two terms. In Downey's skilled hands, Frances Perkins at last emerges as a pivotal figure in the most transformative twelve years of 20th century American history."
Christopher N. Breiseth, President and CEO of The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
"Prize-winning journalist Downey deconstructs the life of a passionate labor advocate who became the nation's first female Cabinet member. Frances Perkins (1880-1965) had clearly delineated goals: reasonable working hours and wages, fire safety, improved working conditions and the end of child labor. Displaying the fortitude and prescience that carried her through three decades of public service, she outlined these during her first meeting with FDR. After being named his Secretary of Labor, she went on to accomplish reform of unprecedented scope. The 40-hour workweek, unemployment insurance and Social Security are but a few of her legacies; her storied relationship with FDR is another. Making excellent use of personal papers and of archival materials that include a 5,000-page oral history, Downey allows Perkins to narrate much of the text, giving new life to this often overlooked historical figure. FDR saw something special in Perkins, and his confidence and support helped her endure years of sexism from fellow Cabinet members and unwarranted criticism from the press. She developed keen insight into the process of successful lawmaking and established a deliberately staid work persona as a 'plain, sturdy, dependable woman' that allowed her to exert authority and demand respect on her own terms. Married to a man institutionalized with mental illness, she kept her unhappy personal life out of the papers and away from Washington, stifling her emotions and dedicating herself fully to the country's problems. At times it seemed that FDR involved her in every major policy decision. Perkins essentially authored the New Deal; she handled immigration during the onset of World War II, bending rules to harbor German Jews; she worked to establish fair hearings against suspected communists. Her entire career was devoted to the principals she espoused in 1913: 'It is human life and happiness which we are trying to save . . . this is the most important thing.' As a progressive president again takes office in a time of economic crisis, Perkins offers a vital role model."
-Kirkus Reviews
About
Kirstin Downey
http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=71685&view=full_sptlght
______________________________
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
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 1:18 PM
