Workplace Issues Today
Daily News for Friday, July 3, 2009
Selected by the Catherwood Library Reference Staff each Monday through Friday, excluding University holidays, WIT is a free alert service, providing abstracts and links to workplace-related news stories covered in the major media. Subscribe to WIT »
Established in 1999, this service also includes a searchable archive.
AFL-CIO presidential candidate raises spirits, controversy
AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Richard Trumka has begun his campaign for the union presidency, after 14-year leader John Sweeney announced his retirement. Although he has worked in semi-obscurity under Sweeney, the coal-miner turned lawyer was well-known for his success during his 13-year presidency at the United Mine Workers, during which he organized several successful marathon strikes against the Pittston coal company. He has been recognized also for his speech urging workers to put racism aside and vote for President Obama. Mr. Trumka has long been associated with "old labor" and known for his fiery and combative approach to union-corporate struggles. Some feel that he has the best chance to rejuvenate organized labor, while others, the Teamsters in particular, feel that he is too polarizing to be an effective leader. Currently, Mr. Trumka runs unopposed, and whether or not an opponent appears, is expected to win easily.
See “Combative union leader steps from the shadows,” by Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, Jul 03 2009 (JKW)
Motion against exploitation defeated by shareholders
UK union Unite's motion to address exploitation in the grocery meat supply chain ended today when Tesco shareholders voted against the proposal. The union claimed that workers at Tesco face "harsh and divisive" conditions at the workplace, while the company maintained that it already goes above and beyond in terms of ensuring fair treatment. Unite was not optimistic about the chances of the resolution, recognizing that it was an achievement for it even to appear at the meeting, it being the first time that a UK union managed to get a resolution examined by a major company. The proposal did, however, garner greater support than expected, with 11% of shareholders voting in favor, and 7% abstaining. Unite had expected only about 5% in favor.
See “Union's Tesco challenge defeated,” BBC News Online, Jul 03 2009 (JKW)
Jobs data for June is uninspiring
The Labor Department report for June, released Thursday, showed that the U.S. economy is not out of the water yet. Though there are positive signs, employers remain wary about hiring, and concerned about cost-cutting. The data showed that 467,000 jobs were cut in June, a somewhat larger number than expected, and the unemployment rate reached its highest point in 26 years, at 9.5%. President Obama expressed concern over the report, saying that too many jobs are still being lost. 14.7 million Americans were unemployed in the month of June, and officials expect the numbers to continue rising at least through the end of the year. Additionally, weekly wages for the month fell, to their lowest point in the last year.
See “467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5%,” by Jeannine Aversa, Detroit News, The Associated Press, Jul 03 2009 (JKW)
