Tuesday, February 26, 2008

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[IWS] NO MESSAGES until 6 March 2008

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
________________________________________________________________________

NO MESSAGES will be sent until 6 March 2008.
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] BLS: Producer Price Indexes - January 2008 [26 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Producer Price Indexes - January 2008 [26 February 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ppi.nr0.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ppi.pdf
[full-text, 20 pages]
and
Supplemental Files Table of Contents
http://www.bls.gov/web/ppi.supp.toc.htm


The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods rose 1.0 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This increase followed a decline of
0.3 percent in December and a 2.6-percent advance in November.  At the earlier stages of processing, prices for
intermediate goods moved up 1.4 percent after falling 0.2 percent in the prior month, and the crude goods index
increased 2.5 percent following a 1.1-percent advance in December.  (See table A.)

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                  
****************************************


Monday, February 25, 2008

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[IWS] CRS: LARGEST MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS by CORPORATIONS in 2007 [14 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34375
Largest Mergers and Acquisitions by Corporations in 2007
February 14, 2008
John Williamson, Information Research Specialist, Knowledge Services Group
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34375_20080214.pdf
[full-text, 17 pages]

Summary
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity has continued to increase, and has
grown in each of the past four years. This reports provides a listing of the largest
M&A transactions worldwide (value equivalent to US$ 2.0 billion or more) that were
proposed during 2007. The report includes the dates on which transactions were
completed and showing M&A deals that were still pending as of December 31, 2007.
These data have been drawn from publicly available sources and have not been
otherwise verified by CRS. This report will not be updated.

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] USITC: RECENT TRENDS in U.S. SERVICES TRADE (ANNUAL REPORTS) 1998 to date

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
________________________________________________________________________

United States International Trade Commission (USITC)

Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade (Annual Reports) 1998 to date
http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/research_ana/Ongoing_Inv/recent_trends.htm

[excerpt from 2007]
The report highlights the services and geographic markets that contributed most substantially
to recent services trade performance. Separate chapters on particular services—architectural,
engineering, and construction (A/E/C), audiovisual, computer and related, electricity, health
care, retail, securities, and telecommunication services—describe how each service is traded,
compare recent trade performance to historical trends, identify trends and issues affecting
competitive conditions in the industry, and summarize WTO members' positions on the
selected services as submitted for consideration at WTO negotiations.

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] U.K. Unions & AFL-CIO Join Against UNION BUSTER CONSULTANTS [22 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. Anti-Union Consultants: A Threat to the Rights of British Workers
John Logan
Employment Relations and Organizational Behavior Group, Department of Management, London School of Economics and Political Science
http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/loganreport.pdf
[full-text, 28 pages]

[excerpt]
This report provides an overview of the impact of union avoidance consultants in
the US and discusses their recent activities in the UK. The first section of this
report summarizes the development of the union avoidance industry in the US in
the past few decades, describes the activities of consultants during counterorganizing
campaigns, provides brief details of two anti-union campaigns, and
discusses the negative impact that consultants have had on the character of labormanagement
relations in the United States. The second section discusses the extent
of anti-union activity in the UK and describes some recent UK organizing
campaigns orchestrated by US consultants. It concludes with an analysis of why
of how to stop this unwanted US import from flourishing in the UK. While recent
consultant activity in the UK pales in comparison with the scale and intensity of
consultant activity in the US, it nonetheless represents a development that should
concern anyone who believes in workers' right to organize and bargain
collectively.


AFL-CIO, U.K. Unions Join Forces Against Union-Busters
by James Parks, Feb 22, 2008
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/22/afl-cio-uk-unions-join-forces-against-union-busters/


Protocol between AFL-CIO and the TUC [12 February 2008]
http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/protocolagreement.pdf


[excerpt from AFL-CIO blog]
U.S. corporations are exporting more than consumer goods these days­they're increasingly exporting their anti-workers practices as well. In countries such as the United Kingdom, which still enjoys a high rate of union membership, more and more employers there are beginning to use American union-busters.

In one of the first concrete steps to continue the global solidarity of the historic < http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/12/06/afl-cio-hosting-historic-global-summit-on-organizing > Global Organizing Summit in December, the AFL-CIO and the British Trades Union Congress (< http://www.tuc.org.uk/> TUC) are joining forces to try to eliminate the vicious intimidation practices employers use to prevent workers from seeking a better quality of life.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber signed a < http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/protocolagreement.pdf> joint agreement Feb. 12 to work together to eliminate the intimidation of workers who want to improve the quality of their families' lives by forming a union.

The two union federations agreed to share information about the activity of union-busting firms in the United States and Britain, develop a shared database of union-busting activity and create "Busting the Union-Busters" training materials. Both will jointly lobby governments and relevant international bodies to restrict the activities of the union-busters. Click < http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/protocolagreement.pdf>here to read the agreement.

AND MORE....
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] CRS: EU - U.S. TRADE & INVESTMENT RELATIONS: KEY ISSUES [14 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34381

European Union­U.S. Trade and Investment Relations: Key Issues
February 14, 2008
Raymond J. Ahearn, Coordinator, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
John W. Fischer, Charles B. Goldfarb, and Charles E. Hanrahan, Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Walter W. Eubanks, Government and Finance Division
Janice E. Rubin, American Law Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34381_20080214.pdf
[full-text, 39 pages]

Summary
The United States and EU share a huge, dynamic, and mutually beneficial
economic relationship. Not only are trade and investment ties between the two
partners huge in absolute terms, but the EU share of U.S. global trade and investment
flows has remained high and relatively constant over time, despite the rise of Asian
trade and investment flows. These robust commercial ties provide consumers on
both sides of the Atlantic with major benefits in terms of jobs and access to capital
and new technologies.

Agreements between the two partners in the past have been critical to making
the world trading system more open and efficient. At the same time, the commercial
relationship is subject to a number of trade disputes and disagreements that
potentially could have adverse political and economic repercussions.

Washington and Brussels currently are working to resolve a number of issues,
including a dispute between the aerospace manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, and
conflicts over hormone-treated beef, bio-engineered food products, and protection of
geographical indicators. The Airbus-Boeing dispute involves allegations of unfair
subsidization while the other disputes are rooted in different U.S.-EU approaches to
regulation, as well as social preferences. Simultaneously, the two sides have
cooperated to liberalize the transatlantic air services market and are working on
harmonizing and/or liberalizing financial markets. Competition agencies in the U.S.
and EU are also moving towards substantial convergence in some areas of antitrust
enforcement. A new institutional structure, the Transatlantic Economic Council
(TEC), was established in 2007 to advance bilateral efforts to reduce regulatory and
other barriers to trade.

Congress has taken a strong interest in many of these issues. By both proposing
and passing legislation, Congress has supported the efforts of U.S. industrial and
agricultural interests to gain better access to EU markets. Congress has pressured the
executive branch to take a harder line against the EU in resolving some disputes, but
has also cooperated with the Administration in crafting compromise solutions.
Primarily through oversight in the second session of the 110th Congress, many
Members of Congress can be expected to support efforts to resolve existing disputes
and to maintain an equitable sharing of the costs and benefits of the commercial
relationship with the EU.

This report starts with background information and data on the commercial
relationship and then discusses selective issues associated with trade in agricultural
products, trade in services, and foreign direct investment. A concluding section
assesses prospects for future cooperation and conflict. The report will be updated as
events warrant.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Trade and Investment Ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Regulatory Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Trade in Manufactured Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Airbus-Boeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Trade in Agricultural and Primary Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Meat Hormones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Approvals of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Trade in Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Air Transport Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Financial Services Dialogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
U.S.-EU Accounting Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Antiterrorism Financing and Personal Financial Data Protection . . . . 20
Opening EU Markets to U.S. Financial Services Companies . . . . . . . 21
Other U.S.-EU Financial Services Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Foreign Direct Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
U.S. and EU Perspectives on Antitrust and Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
"Monopolization" in the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
"Dominance" in the EU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Impact of different laws and philosophies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Prospects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Forces for Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Integration of Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Institutional Arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Shared Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Forces for Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Intractable Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
WTO Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Rivalry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

List of Figures
Figure 1. World GDP in Trillions of U.S. Dollars, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Figure 2. World Exports and Imports of Goods, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

List of Tables
Table 1. U.S. Current Account Balance with EU, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 2. U.S. Merchandise Trade Balance with the EU 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 3: Top U.S.-EU Exports and Imports by 2-digit Commodity Classification, 2006 . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 9
Table 4: Foreign Direct Investment in the United States on a Historical Cost Basis, Percentage Share . . . . . . . 23
Table 5: U.S. Direct Investment Position Abroad on a Historical Cost Basis, Percentage Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] World Bank: Is AFRICA's ECONOMY at a TURNING POINT? [February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

World Bank
Policy Research Working Paper 4519

Is Africa's Economy At A Turning Point? [February 2008]
Jorge Arbache, Delfin S. Go, John Page
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2008/02/15/000158349_20080215130614/Rendered/PDF/wps4519.pdf
[full-text, 57 pages]

Abstract:

In this paper, Arbache, Go, and Page examine the recent acceleration of growth in Africa. Unlike the past, the performance is now registered broadly across several types of countries—particularly the oil-exporting and resource-intensive countries and, in more recent years, the large- and middle-income economies, as well as coastal and low-income countries. The analysis confirms a trend break in the mid-1990s, identifying a growth acceleration that is due not only to favorable terms of trade and greater aid, but also to better policy. Indeed, the growth diagnostics show that more and more African countries have been able to avoid mistakes with better macropolicy, better governance, and fewer conflicts; as a result, the likelihood of growth decelerations has declined significantly. Nonetheless, the sustainability of that growth is fragile, because economic fundamentals, such as savings, investment, productivity, and export diversification, remain stagnant. The good news in the story is that African economies appear to have learned how to avoid the mistakes that led to the frequent growth collapses between 1975 and 1995. The bad news is that much less is known about the recipes for long-term success in development, such as developing the right institutions and the policies to raise savings and diversify exports, than about how to avoid economic bad times.

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] Census: MATERNITY LEAVE & EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS of FIRST-TIME MOTHERS: 1961 to 2003 [25 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Census
Household Economic Studies
Issued February 2008
P70-113

Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns of First-Time Mothers: 1961­2003 [25 February 2008]
http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p70-113.pdf
[full-text, 20 pages]


Press Release
Women More Likely to Work During Pregnancy [25 February 2008]
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/employment_occupations/011536.html

     Two-thirds of women who had their first child between 2001 and 2003 worked during their pregnancy compared with just 44 percent who gave birth for the first time between 1961 and 1965, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

     The report, < http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p70-113.pdf> Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns: 1961­2003, [PDF] analyzes trends in women's work experience before their first child, identifies their maternity leave arrangements before and after the birth and examines how rapidly they returned to work.

     Women are more likely to work while pregnant than they were in the 1960s, and they are working later into their pregnancies. Eighty percent who worked while pregnant from 2001 to 2003 worked one month or less before their child's birth compared with 35 percent who did so in 1961-1965.

     Women are also returning to work more rapidly after having their first child. In the early 1960s, 14 percent of all mothers with newborns were working six months later, increasing to 17 percent within a year. By 2000-2002, the corresponding percentages had risen to 55 percent and 64 percent. (The period of analysis is restricted to women who gave birth by 2002 because some who gave birth in 2003 did not have one full year of employment data by the time of the interview in 2004.)

     Other highlights:
   * In 2001-2003, 49 percent of first-time mothers who worked during pregnancy used paid leave before or after their child's birth, while 39 percent used unpaid leave. Twenty-five percent quit their jobs: 17 percent while they were pregnant and another 8 percent by 12 weeks after the child's birth.
   * Forty-three percent of women in 2001-2003 used paid leave after their child's birth compared with 22 percent before their child's birth.
   * Sixty percent of mothers with a bachelor's degree or more received paid leave benefits compared with 39 percent of mothers with a high school diploma and 22 percent of those who had less than a high school education.
   * Eighty-three percent of mothers who worked during pregnancy and returned to work within a year of their child's birth returned to the same employer. Seven in 10 of these women returned to jobs at the same pay, skill level and hours worked per week.
- x -
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY PROFILE: FEDS FIT THE BILL [19 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Telework Exchange

Telework Eligibility Profile: Feds Fit the Bill [19 February 2008]
http://www.teleworkexchange.com/eligibility/
[PowerPoint Slides]


Press Release
Study Reveals $13.9 Billion Annual Federal Telework Deficit
Feds Can Telework and Spare the Environment 21.5 Billion Pounds of Pollutants
Or Plant 32 Million Trees Annually to Offset CO2 Emissions
http://www.teleworkexchange.com/pdfs/Telework-Eligibility-Profile-Feds-Fit-the-Bill-Press-Release.pdf
[full-text, 3 pages]

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 19, 2008  Telework ExchangeSM, a public-private partnership focused on telework in government, today announced the results of the "Telework Eligibility Profile: Feds Fit the Bill" study. Underwritten by TANDBERG, a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing, and mobile video products and services, the study reveals that Feds are telework friendly, based on responses to the Telework Exchange Online Telework Eligibility Gizmo, a quiz-based calculator that helps employees determine telework eligibility. An overwhelming majority  96 percent  of respondents should be teleworking, yet only 20 percent currently do. Extrapolating from the Online Telework Eligibility Gizmo participants to the total Federal workforce, the study reveals that if all Federal employees who are eligible to telework full time were to do so, Feds could realize $13.9 billion savings in commuting costs annually and eliminate 21.5 billion pounds of pollutants out of the environment each year.
Key study findings include:
..
Knowledge is Power: One in three Federal employees is still not aware of their agency's telework program. Study participants cite reducing commuting time/costs, maintaining work/life balance, and continuity of operations (COOP) as top telework benefits
..
Ideal Telework World: Feds are telework friendly  out of 96 percent of respondents who are eligible to telework, 79 percent are eligible to telework full time
"Telework Eligibility Profile: Feds Fit the Bill" Study 2-2-2
..
Eligibility Deficit: Forty-two percent of respondents are not aware if they are eligible to telework. Ninety percent of these respondents are, in fact, eligible to telework. If Feds who are unaware of their telework status could telework full time, they would collectively save $5 billion in commuting costs and spare the environment 7.7 billion pounds of pollutants annually
..
Fitting the Profile: To telework effectively, candidates identified the following requirements  communicating via e-mail and phone, remote access to an organization's IT infrastructure, a safe alternative work environment, and the ability to control one's schedule to a significant degree

AND MORE.....
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] CRS: PRIVACY & CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD: NEW INDEPENDENT AGENCY STATUS [20 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34385

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board: New Independent Agency Status
February 20, 2008
Harold C. Relyea, Specialist in American National Government, Government and Finance Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34385_20080220.pdf
[full-text, 11 pages]

Summary
Recommended by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
United States (9/11 Commission), the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
(PCLOB) was initially established as an agency within the Executive Office of the
President (EOP) in 2004. Critics, however, maintained that the board appeared to be
a presidential appendage, devoid of the capability to exercise independent judgment
and assessment or to provide impartial findings and recommendations. This
viewpoint gained acceptance in the 110th Congress when the PCLOB was
reconstituted as an independent agency within the executive branch by the
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act (IR9/11CA), signed
into law on August 6, 2007. Monitoring the transition of the PCLOB to, and its
initial operations in, its new independent status, this report will be updated as events
warrant.

Contents
Initial Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Reconstitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
PCLOB Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] CRS: CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS on HATE CRIME LEGISLATION [20 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RS22812

February 20, 2008
Constitutional Limits on Hate Crime Legislation
Alison M. Smith, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22812_20080220.pdf
[full-text, 6 pages]

Summary
Federal and state legislators recognize the special concerns and effects of hate
crimes. Although there is some federal legislation in place, many states have enacted
some form of ethnic intimidation law or bias-motivated sentence-enhancement factors
in attempts to curtail hate crimes. Several United States Supreme Court cases provide
the framework in which states must legislate to ensure the constitutionality of hate crime
legislation. After these landmark cases, the real questions for states involve identifying
permissible ways to curtail hate crimes without infringing on any constitutionally
protected rights. On the federal level, in light of U.S. Supreme Court cases, the question
remains as to what extent Congress can broaden the classes of individuals subject to hate
crime legislation. This report discusses constitutional considerations facing both
individual states and Congress in enacting hate crime legislation. It will be updated as
events warrant.

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] CRS: TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE (TAA) for WORKERS: Current Issues and Legislation [20 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34383

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers: Current Issues and Legislation
February 20, 2008
John J. Topoleski, Analyst in Income Security, Domestic Social Policy Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34383_20080220.pdf
[full-text, 12 pages]

Summary
Trade Adjustment Assistance consists of several programs: Trade Adjustment
Assistance for Workers (TAA), Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA),
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers,
and a Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). This report addresses the TAA and
ATAA programs, as well as the HCTC. TAA and ATAA provide income support
and other assistance to qualifying workers who lose their jobs directly due to
increased imports or shifts in production out of the United States. The HCTC
provides a refundable tax credit to offset 65% of the health insurance premiums of
TAA- and ATAA-eligible workers.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance programs were set to expire on September 30,
2007. P.L. 110-89 extended the programs through December 31, 2007. H.R. 4341,
which would further extend the programs through March 31, 2008, was passed by the
House on December 11, 2007. As of February 20, 2008, the Senate has not acted on
the measure. However, P.L. 110-161, signed by President George W. Bush on
December 26, 2007, fully funds TAA and ATAA through September 30, 2008. The
Department of Labor has indicated that this is sufficient to continue the programs
through the end of the fiscal year, including issuing new certifications of eligible
workers.

This report provides background on TAA and ATAA, summarizes key issues
related to reauthorization, and briefly describes bills in the 110th Congress that affect
the TAA and ATAA programs. These bills are H.R. 3920, H.R. 2764, H.R. 4341,
H.R. 3375, H.R. 3943, H.R. 3801, H.R. 910, S. 1848, S. 122, H.R. 1729, S. 1652, S.
1739, H.R. 3589, and H.R. 3843. This report will be updated as legislative activity
warrants.

Contents
Background on Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
TAA and ATAA Reauthorization Issues in the 110th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
TAA and ATAA Legislation in the 110th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bills to Temporarily Extend TAA and ATAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bills to Reauthorize TAA and ATAA in the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bills to Reauthorize TAA and ATAA in the Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Other Related Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9


______________________________
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                  
****************************************


Friday, February 22, 2008

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[IWS] IILS: ARGENTINA's NEW ECONOMIC & LABOUR POLICY DIRECTIONS & THEIR IMPACT [2007]

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 Institute for Labour Studies (IILS) at the ILO
Research Series 114

In the wake of the crisis: Argentina's new economic and labour policy directions and their impact [2007]
Marta Novick, Carlos Tomada, Mario Damill, Roberto Frenkel and Roxana Maurizio
Introduction by Juan Somavia
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/download/114e.pdf
[full-text, 144 pages]

Also in Spanish (en Español )
Tras la crisis: El nuevo rumbo de la política económica y laboral en Argentina y su impacto
http://www.ilo.org/public/spanish/bureau/inst/download/114.pdf



Preface by Gerry Rodgers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Introduction by Juan Somavia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix

Argentina 2003-2006: Economic growth with decent work A new model for Latin America?
by Marta Novick and Carlos Tomada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The European debate and its relevance for Latin America . . . . . . 6
The Argentine experience prior to 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Macro-economic policy and the role of labour . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Labour policies: objectives and strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
The agenda of unresolved issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Macroeconomic policy changes in Argentina at the turn of the century
by Mario Damill, Roberto Frenkel and Roxana Maurizio . . . . 51
Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
1. The convertibility regime and the Argentine economy in the nineties . . . . . . . . . . . 57
2. The labour market in the nineties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
3. The post-convertibility macroeconomic regime and performance 74
4. The evolution of employment and unemployment in the recovery phase . . . . . . . . . 105
Bibliography and references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] IILS: CSR in MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES: MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES or NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS? [2007]

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 Institute for Labour Studies (IILS) at the ILO
Discussion Paper 185/2007

Corporate social responsibility in multinational companies: Management initiatives or negotiated agreements?
by Tony Edwards, Paul; Marginson, Paul; Edwards, Anthony; Ferner, Olga Tregaskis
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/download/dp18507.pdf
[full-text, 27 pages]

[excerpt]
Using new data from a 2005 telephone survey of 665 senior respondents (Human Resources
(HR) Personnel Directors, Senior Managers or Senior Officers) in foreign-owned, UK-owned
and joint-owned multinational companies operating in the UK, the paper assesses: i) the
incidence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among the respondents, and ii) whether these
codes have been the outcome of negotiations with international union federations or European
Works Councils ­or else whether the codes were imposed by management, with employee
representatives having little influence.

The authors' findings indicate that most MNCs in the UK are covered by a corporate code
which includes CSR provisions. Most of these codes (80 percent) are international in scope,
covering both UK and non-UK operations. Among them about 20 percent have been negotiated
with an international trade union organisation and/or a European Works Council. USheadquartered
MNCs are the most likely to have a code but are the least likely to have negotiated
it with workers, whereas German and Nordic firms are the most likely to have negotiated a code
but are among the least likely to have a code in the first place. The paper also underlines other
determinants of the existence of a code and its nature, such as i) the visibility of codes vis-à-vis
consumers and other stakeholders; ii) the extent to which they trade on a brand name; and iii) the
extent to which their supply networks encompass operations in developing countries. Finally, the
findings suggest that, when trade unions are relatively weak, there is less pressure to negotiate
codes with workers' representatives and a greater likelihood that they will be developed
unilaterally.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface.........................................................................................................................................................v
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................1
1. Literature review .....................................................................................................................................1
2. Method and data ......................................................................................................................................4
3. Findings...................................................................................................................................................5
The existence and nature of CSR codes....................................................................................................5
Estimation ................................................................................................................................................6
Results .....................................................................................................................................................7
4. Discussion and conclusion .......................................................................................................................8
Bibliography..............................................................................................................................................14
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] Watson Wyatt: BENEFITS ENROLLMENT: ENGAGING EMPLOYEES by LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY [21 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Watson Wyatt

Navigating Enrollment - Leveraging Technology To Engage Employees
Executive Summary
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/research/resrender.asp?id=2007-WT-0007&page=1
or
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/research/deliverPDF.asp?catalog=2007-WT-0007&amp;r=x.pdf
[full-text, 7 pages] [FREE REGISTRATION may be necessary]


Press Release
Employers Using Benefits Enrollment Systems To Drive Employee Behavior Change, Watson Wyatt Survey Finds [21 February 2008]
Employers Most Satisfied When Enrollment Systems, Related Resources Are Integrated
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/news/press.asp?ID=18678

WASHINGTON, February 21, 2008 ­ Employers are using their benefits enrollment systems to encourage employees to adopt healthier behaviors, a new survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading global consulting firm, has found.

The survey of 117 U.S. companies conducted in December 2007, at the end of the annual enrollment process, found that more than half (53 percent) have incorporated health risk assessments into their enrollment systems or will incorporate these programs by 2009. More than one-third (36 percent) use enrollment systems to encourage employees to sign up for disease management programs or will do so by 2009.

"Open enrollment marks the one time each year in which most employees' attention is focused on their benefits programs," said Jeri Stepman, Watson Wyatt's national leader for health and welfare administration. "Including behavior-change information and decision-support tools directly in the enrollment process can make a big difference in the number of people who sign up for wellness programs and take them seriously. Sending out information on healthy behaviors and asking employees to take the initiative is not nearly as effective."


AND 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                  
****************************************


Thursday, February 21, 2008

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[IWS] DOL: RETIREMENT PLANNING GUIDE [21 February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Press Release
U.S. Labor Department unveils online resource to help Americans chart retirement finances [21 February 2008]
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/ebsa20080224.htm
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today released a new online resource that makes it easier for Americans to prepare for a financially secure retirement. A series of interactive worksheets were developed as a companion to a 2006 publication entitled "Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning." Using the worksheets, individuals who are 10 to 15 years from retirement can calculate their income and savings as well as their projected expenses in retirement.
AND MORE....


Taking The Mystery Out Of Retirement Planning [21 February 2008]
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/nearretirement.html
[each chapter separately with interactive charts]
or
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/nearretirement.pdf
[full-text, 34 pages]

Table Of Contents

Chapter 1
Tracking Down Today's Money

Chapter 2
Tracking Down Future Money At Retirement & After

Chapter 3
Tracking Down Future Expenses

Chapter 4
Comparing Income And Expenses

Chapter 5
Five Ways To Close The Gap

Chapter 6
Making Your Money Last

Chapter 7
Tracking Down Help For Retirement

Resources

This online version of Taking The Mystery Out Of Retirement Planning includes interactive worksheets that you complete as you read each chapter. You can download the fully illustrated 62-page Adobe PDF narrative or call toll free 1.866.444.EBSA (3272) to order copies
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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[IWS] STATISTICAL PROFILE of OLDER AMERICANS AGED 65+ [February 2008]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Administration on Aging

A Statistical Profile of Older Americans Aged 65+ [February 2008]
http://www.aoa.gov/PRESS/fact/pdf/ss_stat_profile.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]

[excerpt]
Living Arrangements

• Older men were much more likely to be married than older women--72% of men, 42% of women in 2006. 43% of all older women in 2006 were widows.

• About 30 percent (10.7 million) noninstitutionalized older persons live alone (7.8 million women, 2.9 million men).

• Half of older women age 75+ live alone.

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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