Labor and Workforce

Position

News

• BRIEF
  Sep 6, 2010 — The Hartford Courant
  Labor Day weekend, was intended to emphasize the rights of workers to be paid for jobs performed, including overtime pay and workers' compensation, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said. "Each and every employee should receive the wages they rightfully earn," Rell said. The $7 million includes $3.2 million in unpaid wages; $1.9 million recovered by enforcing prevailing wage laws; $1.8 million in overtime pay or the minimum wage; and $150,000 in back pay owed to service workers hired by private...
• If you're seriously ill, know your rights as an employee
  Sep 6, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
  Marcia Heroux Pounds Sep. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Kara Jorud was ill with breast cancer. It has to be illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves care at a hospital or other medical office. Awards under ADA are limited to $300,000.
• Report paints bleak labor numbers for Wisconsin
  Sep 6, 2010 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  Adjusted for inflation, the wage was less than $1 per hour higher than it was in 1979. Women in 2009 earned 19% less than men. There are too many people continuing to struggle in this economy. I'm the only candidate who has a real record working with the private sector to create jobs." The report's authors recommend several steps to improve the job situation.
• Reviving workers' rights
  Sep 6, 2010 — Politico
  But they do not fit within the structure of yesterday’s unions. Given these profound shifts, labor laws must be changed to recognize the rights of new types of workers. And the new laws must allow workers to form the next generation of labor organizations. Labor has always been structured in direct relation to capital. In the 19th century, skilled trade workers formed craft unions and professional guilds, building organizations like the Knights of Labor.
• Tight job market is bane of visiting foreign students
  Sep 6, 2010 — The Virginian-Pilot
  Mussina worked briefly at an ice cream parlor until the hours dried up, sold cosmetics on commission at a mall kiosk and waited tables, but the hours weren't enough. They never came. "There were over 4,000 foreign students here in Virginia Beach last year. Now they plan to travel before returning home. The program helped Bekaeva improve her English and provided the cash for some clothes, a laptop and travel money.
• A workforce in exile on yet another Labor Day
  Sep 5, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  Louis, Jeanne Redtman found comfort in shops that sell greeting cards. So much so, that as a middle school student she had already identified her dream job. Redtman wanted to work for Hallmark. Straight out of graduation from St. But the economy being what it is, Elliott became expendable. The Elliotts say their sons help out as best they can.
• Millions are disappearing from the unemployment rolls as they stop job search
  Sep 5, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  Right now the labor force is like that emptying lock. Many of those people have left the workforce as Ian Stuart did. Mr. But when the recession started, there were 1.8 unemployed people for each job opening. Unemployment is not the only problem. Declining wages are also taking their toll. "A large number of people have taken jobs that pay less than the job they lost," Mr.
• Pittsburgh's Starkist has eye on international markets
  Sep 5, 2010 — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
  When the water is warm, fish go deep." Binotto said fuel costs on a tuna-fishing boat can total nearly 50 percent of his business costs. About 4.5 million tons of tuna are harvested annually. By the end of this month, the minimum wage on American Samoa will increase to $6 an hour, Binotto said. "The Samoans are excellent workers.