Labor Relations
Danone Sales Grow, But Layoffs In Europe Loom
February 19, 2013 8:34 am | News | CommentsFrench food and drink company Danone says revenues grew 5.4 percent in 2012 but are coming under increasing pressure in economically-struggling Europe, where the company says it will cut 900 jobs across 26 countries. The company expanded in Latin America and especially Asia, where baby food sales buoyed 2012 margins.
Tenaris To Build $1.3B Texas Plant
February 15, 2013 2:37 pm | News | CommentsArgentine energy pipeline giant Tenaris SA has announced plans to build a $1.3 billion Gulf Coast manufacturing facility, creating 600 jobs. Gov. Rick Perry said Friday that Tenaris, the world's No. 1 producer of steel tubing for the oil industry, is receiving $6 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund to close the deal.
Campbell Soup Closing Mexico Plant
February 15, 2013 7:38 am | News | CommentsThe New Jersey-based Campbell Soup Co. says it will close its plant in the town of Villagran in central Mexico. The move will eliminate about 260 positions. The company will continue to employ about 70 current Mexico staff members in research and development sales, supply, marketing and general management.
Man Burns Himself To Death Near French Job Center
February 14, 2013 10:17 am | News | CommentsFrance's labor ministry says a 43-year-old man died after setting himself on fire outside a job center in the western city of Nantes. Djamal Chaab, whom authorities believe was unemployed, had informed the job center of his plan to take his own life, but authorities were unable to intervene in time.
Unemployment Aid Applications Fall To 341,000
February 14, 2013 8:59 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications dropped to a seasonally adjusted 341,000, the lowest level in three weeks. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, ticked up to 352,500 from a five-year low of 351,000 the previous week.
Gov O'Malley: Offshore Wind Bill Would Create Jobs
February 13, 2013 4:37 pm | by Alex Dominguez, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn offshore wind farm meeting specifications of the bill would create nearly 850 manufacturing and construction jobs for five years and 160 ongoing jobs, the governor said, adding it could also help make the state a hub for the offshore wind power industry. However, Jeff Zellmer of the Maryland Retailers Association told committee members the measure would cost jobs, not create them.
Obama Pushes For Higher Minimum Wage
February 13, 2013 1:54 pm | by Josh Lederman, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe president followed up his call for the increase from $7.25 to $9 an hour in Tuesday night's State of the Union address with a trip to North Carolina, attempting to reach voters outside Washington on the plan. Canadian-based Linamar Corp. opened a former Volvo plant in Asheville that had gone dark and rehired some of its workers.
Texas Industry Leaders Cheer Training Bill
February 12, 2013 2:14 pm | by Will Weissert, Associated Press | News | CommentsIndustry leaders are praising a high-profile bill in the Texas Senate designed to give high school students more options in career and vocational training. Addressing the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, representatives from numerous firms and trade organizations told of not being able to fill high-paying jobs that require more technical skills than college smarts.
Unions Sue Again To Block Mich. Right-To-Work Law
February 12, 2013 11:38 am | News | CommentsUnions say the law can't apply to private-sector employees because it overreaches into any area controlled by the National Labor Relations Act. AFL-CIO lawyer Andrew Nickelhoff also says the law is an unconstitutional attempt to control workplace activities in federal areas such as dockyards.
Yes Virginia, We Do Have A Need For More STEM Workers
February 12, 2013 9:35 am | by Robert D. Atkinson, ITIF | Blogs | CommentsAt the heart of the “we don’t need more STEM immigration” argument is the wage argument. According to this view, American students are not enrolling in STEM because of wages are not high enough. But this ignores that STEM wages are the third highest of any occupational group, after law and medicine.
Daiichi Sankyo Accused Of Gender Discrimination
February 12, 2013 8:25 am | by Linda A. Johnson, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe lawsuit states the women are trying to end employment discrimination for themselves and several hundred other female sales reps who currently work for or have worked for the U.S. arm of Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. The Japanese pharmaceutical company makes cholesterol and blood pressure drugs.
Tire Workers Confront French Police Over Layoffs
February 12, 2013 8:07 am | News | CommentsWorkers have fired flares and French police have sprayed tear gas in a standoff over layoffs at a French plant for U.S. tiremaker Goodyear. The protest Tuesday comes amid a slowdown in Europe's car industry that has hurt automakers and their suppliers across the continent.
Ala. Plant Cited For Safety Violations
February 11, 2013 6:04 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFederal labor officials have cited a south Alabama manufacturing plant for 15 safety violations. Department of labor spokesman Michael D'Aquino says Tenax Manufacturing Alabama LLC has been cited for safety violations after an August 2012 inspection of its plant in Evergreen. The company manufactures construction netting and fencing products.
Blast At Russian Coal Mine Kills 18
February 11, 2013 11:34 am | News | CommentsA blast at a coal mine in northern Russia on Monday killed 18 people, officials said Monday. Rescuers have recovered 10 bodies at the Vorkutinskaya mine in Russia's Komi region, Vadim Kolesnikov, a duty officer at the Russian Interior Ministry, told the Associated Press.
ThyssenKrupp Cuts 2,000 Jobs In Cost-Saving Drive
February 8, 2013 7:59 am | News | CommentsGerman steelmaker ThyssenKrupp says it will slash at least 2,000 jobs by 2015 as part of a cost-saving drive as the company copes with high commodity costs and the struggling European economy. Essen-based ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe says a further 1,800 jocbs may be lost as it sells parts of the company.
U.S. Unemployment Aid Applications Decline
February 7, 2013 9:58 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsFewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, indicating companies continue to hire at a modest but steady pace. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 366,000.
U.S. Worker Productivity Shrinks
February 7, 2013 8:49 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe Labor Department says productivity contracted at an annual rate of 2 percent in the October-December quarter, the biggest drop since the first quarter of 2011. Productivity had risen at 3.2 percent rate in the July-September quarter. Labor costs rose at a 4.5 percent rate in the fourth quarter, the fastest gain since the first quarter of 2012.
Fujitsu Cutting 5,000 Jobs
February 7, 2013 7:55 am | News | CommentsStruggling Japanese electronics maker Fujitsu is slashing 5,000 jobs, or nearly 3 percent of its global workforce, as it seeks to boost profitability by reshaping its computer-chip business and its overseas operations. Fujitsu said Thursday the job cuts will be completed by the end of this fiscal year next month, and will rely on early retirement, layoffs and other methods.
Business, Unions Negotiating Guest Worker Program
February 5, 2013 2:22 pm | by Erica Werner, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO have been tasked by Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York with reaching a deal, within weeks, that Schumer and a bipartisan Senate group on immigration could incorporate into legislation now taking shape, officials say.
Bosnian Women Miners Still Go Strong
February 5, 2013 12:00 pm | by Amel Emric, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn communist Yugoslavia, authorities wanted to promote gender equality and encouraged women to attend schools and get jobs instead of staying home and raising kids. Factories filled with a new work force, and it was not uncommon to see women working as coal miners.
Stora Enso To Slash 600 Jobs
February 5, 2013 10:46 am | News | CommentsNordic paper maker Stora Enso Oyj says that despite strong fourth quarter earnings it will slash 600 jobs due to the weak European economy. The Finnish company says earnings in the last three months of 2012 reached €265.5 million ($358 million), up from €100.2 million in the same period the previous year.
Boeing Engineers Begin Vote On Strike This Week
February 4, 2013 11:11 am | by Joshua Freed, Associated Press | News | CommentsJust when Boeing really needs its engineers, they're voting on whether to strike. It's bad timing for Boeing. The aircraft maker is working around the clock to solve battery problems that have grounded its 787s around the world, and unionized engineers are a big part of that effort.
Foxconn To Widen Scope Of Union Elections
February 4, 2013 8:12 am | News | CommentsFoxconn said it will deepen employees' involvement in union elections so the unions can more effectively represent their interests. It said it hopes this will impact labor standards throughout China. Foxconn previously came under heavy scrutiny for labor policies that allegedly led a dozen workers to commit suicide.
Judge Grants Class Status To National Beef Lawsuit
February 1, 2013 1:39 pm | News | CommentsWorkers at the southwest Kansas plant are seeking unpaid wages and overtime on behalf of some 2,000 employees. At issue is the practice of paying meat-processing workers based on so-called gang time, which counts only the time the production line runs.
Unions, ACLU Sue To Block Right-To-Work Law
February 1, 2013 12:15 pm | by David Eggert, Associated Press | News | CommentsLabor unions, Democrats and others sued to block Michigan's right-to-work law Thursday, asking that the measure be struck down because people were locked out of the state Capitol while the contentious measure was debated. The Ingham County suit does not contest the substance of the law that prohibits requiring workers to pay union dues or fees.
