Labor Relations
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.
Unemployment Rate Rises To 7.9 Percent
February 1, 2013 8:50 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. employers added 157,000 jobs in January and hiring was stronger over the past two years than previously thought, providing reassurance that the job market held steady while economic growth sputtered. The mostly upbeat Labor Department report Friday included one negative sign: the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent.
Hawker Beechcraft Employment In Kan. Declines
January 31, 2013 11:16 am | by Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Wichita-based aircraft manufacturer — which makes general aviation and military trainers — said it had 3,372 employees in Kansas as of Dec. 31 and is currently trying to fill more than 65 open positions in Wichita. The company employs more than 5,400 people worldwide.
Obama's Jobs Council Shutting Down
January 31, 2013 10:27 am | by Josh Lederman, Associated Press | News | CommentsUnemployment remains problematical, but that isn't stopping the White House jobs council from shutting down. President Barack Obama created it in 2011 and filled it with prominent business leaders and economists. Its authority runs out Thursday, and the White House says it's not renewing the panel.
Weekly Jobless Aid Applications Rise To 368K
January 31, 2013 8:48 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring. The Labor Department says weekly applications for unemployment benefits leapt 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000. The increase comes after applications plummeted in the previous two weeks to five-year lows.
Survey Shows Stronger Job Hiring
January 30, 2013 1:54 pm | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsA private survey shows U.S. businesses increased hiring in January compared with a revised December reading. Payroll processor ADP says that employers added 192,000 jobs in January. That is more than December's revised number of 185,000, which had initially been reported at 215,000.
Ark. Gov. Announces $1.1B Steel Mill Plan
January 30, 2013 11:59 am | by Michael Stratford, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe wraps came off Arkansas' largest ever economic development project Tuesday as Gov. Mike Beebe unveiled plans for a $1.1 billion steel mill along the Mississippi River that private investors are poised to build -- so long as legislators approve millions in startup funding.
Union Backers Say Nissan Threatens Plant Closure
January 30, 2013 8:31 am | by Jeff Amy, Associated Press | News | CommentsPro-union workers said Tuesday that Nissan Motor Co. has threatened to close its Canton assembly plant if workers vote for the United Auto Workers to represent them, though the company denies such threats. Such threats would violate federal law, which bars managers from telling employees they'll close a plant in retaliation for a pro-union vote.
Daimler Truck Layoffs Coming In U.S.
January 29, 2013 5:41 pm | by Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press | News | CommentsDaimler Trucks North America said Tuesday it was warning thousands of workers that potentially large layoffs could be coming at manufacturing plants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and Mexico.The company said in a statement that it was notifying production workers about the layoffs two months in advance, in compliance with federal law.
Obsolete Industries Won’t Drive Economic Growth
January 29, 2013 1:55 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor, ECN | Articles | CommentsUltimately, this mentality serves no one, impedes economic growth, and ignores the explosive potential of new industries to create jobs (see: the Internet) ... and I don’t mean the dubious “green jobs” that were a central tenet of our president’s economic platform. I mean the industries which rise up to make “travel agent” a relic of a bygone era.
Mich. Gov Seeks Ruling On Right-To-Work Law
January 29, 2013 10:32 am | by David Eggert, Associated Press | News | CommentsGov. Rick Snyder asked the Michigan Supreme Court on Monday to rule quickly on the constitutionality of the new right-to-work law that takes effect in late March, saying questions on how it would impact 35,000 unionized state employees must be resolved before new contract talks begin this summer.
Boston Scientific Plans Job Cuts
January 29, 2013 10:31 am | by Tom Murphy, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsBoston Scientific plans to cut as many as 1,000 additional jobs this year as the medical device maker expands a push to reduce operating expenses. The company's shares jumped in morning trading Tuesday, as it also reported a fourth-quarter profit and earnings outlook that topped Wall Street expectations.
Manufacturing Revival Radio: Mike Collins Of MPC Management
January 29, 2013 9:42 am | by Manufacturing Revival Radio | Podcasts | CommentsToday we had the opportunity to speak with Mike Collins, Author and Founder of MPC Management. With over 40 years in the Manufacturing industry, authorship of 3 books and over 300 published Manufacturing focused articles Mike is a treasure-trove of Manufacturing knowledge. During our discussion today we focused on two specific topics discussed in Mike’s book Saving American Manufacturing.
6 Police Injured In Fight With Steel Workers
January 29, 2013 8:25 am | News | CommentsSix Belgian police officers have been injured in scuffles with some 2,000 steel workers protesting plans to lay off 1,300 workers at several plants in Liege. Workers seeking to get close to the regional government offices in southern Namur threw bricks at police. Authorities responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Report: States Force Jobless To Pay Needless Fees
January 29, 2013 8:03 am | by Daniel Wagner, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsJobless Americans are paying millions in unnecessary fees to collect unemployment benefits because of state policies encouraging them to get the money through bank-issued payment cards, according to a new report from a consumer group.People are using the fee-heavy cards instead of getting their payments deposited directly to their bank accounts.
AP Debate: Training Needed To Redesign Job Market
January 25, 2013 1:20 pm | News | CommentsEconomists and officials say a host of new training programs are needed to rebuild the job market after technological gains and the financial crisis wiped out millions of middle-class jobs over the past five years. IMF Deputy Managing Director Min Zhu said governments aren't paying enough attention to training amid a widespread push for austerity.
Will Smart Machines Create A World Without Work?
January 25, 2013 10:58 am | by Bernard Condon and Paul Wiseman, AP Business Writers | News | CommentsIn the U.S., California and other states are rewriting the rules of the road to make way for driverless cars. If automation can unseat bus drivers, urban deliverymen, long-haul truckers, even cabbies, is any job safe? Vardi poses an equally scary question: "Are we prepared for an economy in which 50 percent of people aren't working?"
