IWS Documented News DAILY POSTINGS

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 RL34439

Former NFL Players: Disabilities, Benefits, and Related Issues
April 8, 2008
L. Elaine Halchin, Analyst in American National Government, Government and Finance Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34439_20080408.pdf
[full-text, 145 pages]

Summary
Professional football is a very popular sport, and the physical nature of the
game of football is part of its appeal, but, at the same time, playing the game can
exact a physical and mental toll on players. Violent collisions, as well as other
aspects of the sport, can and do cause injuries. Each week during the season, the
National Football League (NFL) releases an injury report that lists, for each team,
players who are injured, the type or location of the injury (for example, "concussion,"
"knee," or "ribs"), and the players' status for the upcoming game. During the 2007
season, aside from weeks one and eight, at least 10% of NFL players were identified
each week as being injured. Players' injuries and current health conditions (for
example, excess weight and sleep apnea) might have long-term consequences for
their health, meaning that today's injury might become a chronic health problem or
disability during retirement from the NFL. The issue has received considerable
attention from Congress, including hearings in both chambers.

Through collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations and other
discussions, the NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have established a
number of benefits, including retirement benefits (that is, a pension), severance pay,
total and permanent disability benefits, and an annuity program. Some benefits are
available to all players, while other benefits are available only to players who played
in the NFL during certain years. Additionally, some benefits have eligibility
requirements. Funds for benefits that are included in the CBA come from the portion
of the league's total revenues that is allocated to the players. Apparently, the NFL
and the NFLPA determine how to fund other benefits.

The NFL and the NFLPA have taken steps to promote the health and safety of
players. The league has established several committees, such as the Mild Traumatic
Brain Injury (MTBI) Committee, and, through NFL Charities, awards grants for
medical and scientific research related to health and safety issues. The NFLPA has
a medical advisor and a performance consultant, and there is an NFL-NFLPA joint
committee on player safety.

The subject of injuries, disabilities, and benefits is a complex one, and there are
a variety of issues surrounding this subject. For example, it has been argued that the
way compensation is structured within the NFL might induce an individual to play
while injured instead of seeking medical treatment. The oldest retired players might
make up a subset with exceptional financial and medical needs, because they (1)
might not have been protected as well as current players are; (2) might have received
medical care that, while the best available at the time, was not as effective as the care
available today; and (3) are not eligible for all of the benefits available to current
players. Another issue involves MTBI research and whether multiple concussions
might have long-term effects. The NFLPA proposed three legislative options in
2007. Other possibilities include establishing one or more ombudsman offices or
taking steps to mitigate the economic risk of injuries and disabilities.

This report will be updated as events warrant.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Game of Football and the Health of Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Nature of the Game of Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Health Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
NFL and NFLPA Benefit Programs and Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
History of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
How Benefits Are Funded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Benefits for Former Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
NFLPA Retired Players Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Players Assistance Trust (PAT) Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Other Efforts to Aid Former Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Selected Organizations and Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Active Players' Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
NFL and NFLPA Health and Safety Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
NFL Injury and Safety Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
NFL Cardiovascular Health Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
NFL Medical Research Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
NFL Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
NFL and NFLPA Education Efforts for Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
NFLPA Medical Consultant and Performance Consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
NFL and NFLPA Joint Committee on Player Safety and Welfare . . . . . . . 56
Discussion of Selected Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Injuries and Financial Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Selected Challenges for Some Retired Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Total and Permanent (T&P) Disability Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Is There a Subset of Former Players with Exceptional Needs? . . . . . . . . . . 86
What Is Known about Injuries and Possible Long-Term Consequences? . . 92
Studies on Possible Long-Term Effects of MTBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Susceptibility to an Additional MTBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
NFL's Approach to MTBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Funding for the Retirement Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
What Is the Extent of the NFLPA's Capacity? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Medical Care for Active Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Access to Medical Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Arrangements for Medical Care and Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Workers' Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Possible Courses of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
NFLPA's Suggestions for Legislative Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Establish Federal Standards for Workers' Compensation . . . . . . . . . 120
Permit Unions to Manage Their Benefit Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Eliminate the Requirement for the Disability Initial Claims
Committee (DICC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Other Suggestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Mitigation of Economic Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Independent Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Data: Collection, Quality, and Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Establish an Ombudsman Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Concluding Observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Appendix A. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Appendix B. NFL and NFLPA Studies Concerning Players' Health . . . . . . . . 134
Planned or Ongoing Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Appendix C. Members of the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and
Retired Player Study Investigators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
MTBI Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Retired Player Study Investigators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Appendix D. Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

List of Tables
Table 1. The NFL's Major Television Rights Contracts, 2006-2013 . . . . . . . . . . 1
Table 2. Number of Players Listed on the NFL's Injury Report, 2007 Season . . . 7
Table 3. NFL Players' Injuries by Type of Injury, 1997-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Table 4. Selected NFL-NFLPA Benefits as of October 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Table 5. Players Assistance Trust Fund Grants, by Grant Type, 1991-2007 . . . . 43
Table 6. Players Assistance Trust Fund Grants, by Year, 1991-2007 . . . . . . . . . 43
Table 7. NFL Charities' Grants for Research Related to Players' Health, 2003-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Table 8. Signing Bonuses Among NFL Players, 1993-1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Table 9. Signing Bonuses Among NFL Players, 1998-2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Table 10. Signing Bonuses Among NFL Players, 2003-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Table 11. Range of Percentage of Total Players Who Received a Signing Bonus, by Signing Bonus Amount . . . . . . . . . 70
Table 12. Total and Permanent Disability Payments by Category . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Table 13. Selected Criteria for Football Degenerative and Inactive Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Table 14. Effect of 15-Year Threshold on Eligibility for "Football Degenerative" Benefits . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Table 15. Number of Players Who Are Receiving or Have Received T&P Benefits, as of October 23, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . 83
Table 16. Benefits Available to Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Table 17. Recipients of NFL Charities Grants for MTBI and Related Research, 2003-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106


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

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 RL34524

International Trade: Rules of Origin
June 10, 2008
Vivian C. Jones, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Michael F. Martin, Analyst in Asian Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34524_20080610.pdf
[full-text, 21 pages]

Summary
Determining the country of origin of a product is important for properly
assessing tariffs, enforcing trade remedies (such as antidumping and countervailing
duties) or quantitative restrictions (tariff quotas), and statistical purposes. Other
commercial trade policies are also linked with origin determinations, such as country
of origin labeling and government procurement regulations.

Rules of origin (ROO), used to determine the country of origin of merchandise
entering the U.S. market, can be very simple, noncontroversial tools of international
trade as long as all of the parts of a product are manufactured and assembled
primarily in one country. However, when a finished product's component parts
originate in many countries, as is often the case in today's global trading
environment, determining origin can be a very complex, sometimes subjective, and
time-consuming process.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency responsible for
determining country of origin using various ROO schemes. Non-preferential rules
of origin are used to determine the origin of goods imported from countries with
which the United States has most-favored-nation (MFN) status. They are the
principal regulatory tools for accurate assessment of tariffs on imports, addressing
country of origin labeling issues, qualifying goods for government procurement, and
enforcing trade remedy actions and trade sanctions.

Preferential rules are used to determine the eligibility of imported goods from
certain U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) partners and certain developing country
beneficiaries to receive duty-free or reduced tariff benefits under bilateral or regional
FTAs, trade preference programs (such as the Generalized System of Preferences),
and other special import programs. Preferential rules of origin are specific to each
FTA, which means that they vary from agreement to agreement and preference to
preference.

This report deals with ROO in three parts. First, we describe in more detail the
reasons that country of origin rules are important and briefly describe U.S. laws and
methods that provide direction in making these determinations. Second, we discuss
briefly some of the more controversial issues involving rules of origin, including the
apparently subjective nature of some CBP origin determinations, and the effects of
the global manufacturing process on ROO. Third, we conclude with some
alternatives and options that Congress could consider that might assist in simplifying
the process.

This report will be updated as events warrant.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rules of Origin in U.S. Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Non-Preferential Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
International Agreements on ROO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Preferential Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Pros and Cons of U.S. Rules of Origin Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Proliferation of Preferential ROO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Concerns about Inefficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Influence of Domestic Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CBP Country of Origin Determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Proposed Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Subsequent Hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Global Manufacturing and Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The Case of the Apple iPod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Effects on Rules of Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Counter to U.S. Policy Objectives? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Quotas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Trade Embargoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
"Yarn Forward" Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Food Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
"Buy American" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Conclusion and Options for Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
______________________________
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                  
****************************************

# posted by SBasefsky : 3:36 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

Issues in Labor Statistics
Summary 08-06/ June 2008

The Unemployment Rate and Beyond: Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization [30 June 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ils/pdf/opbils67.pdf
[full-text,2 pages]

[excerpt]
While the official unemployment rate remains the primary measure of changes in labor underutilization, the alternative measures discussed in this paper provide different views of the extent to which the economy is not fully utilizing its labor resources.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 3:20 PM

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-Executive Commission on China

----------
What Will Drive China's Future Legal Development? Reports from the Field
http://www.cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/index.php

Wednesday, June 18 from 10:30 PM to 12 PM in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China held a hearing entitled "What Will Drive China's Future Legal Development? Reports from the Field" on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, from 10:30 to 12 PM in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Chairman Sander Levin and Co-Chairman Byron L. Dorgan presided.


Statements of Members
U.S. House of Representatives
Representative Sander M. Levin - Chairman (2001)*
   * < http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Levin.php>
   * Representative Michael M. Honda (2005)
   * Representative Christopher H. Smith (2007)
Representative Joseph
   * < http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Pitts.php>
R. Pitts (2001)
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Pitts.php>

U.S. Senate
Senator Byron L. Dorgan - Co-Chairman (2001)
   * < http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/Dorgan.php>
* Year of Appointment to the Commission.

Statements of Witnesses

Han Dongfang
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/han.php>
Executive Director
China Labour Bulletin

Xiao Qiang
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/xiao.php>
Director
China Internet Project University of California-Berkeley

Wang Tiancheng
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/wang.php>
Beijing scholar and Founder
Liberal and Democratic Party of China and the Free Labour Union of China

Bob Fu
< http://cecc.gov/pages/hearings/2008/20080618/fu.php>
Director
China Aid Association

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 10:29 AM

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-Executive Commission on China (CECC)

CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law Update
June 2008 Newsletter
http://cecc.gov/pages/virtualAcad/newsletterListing.phpd?NLdate=20080625&show=ALL
or
http://cecc.gov/pages/general/newsletters/CECCnewsletter20080625.pdf

From the Chairmen

Announcements
CECC Translation of Hu Jia's Indictment
CECC Translation: Lu Gengsong's Criminal Appeal Judgment

CECC Updates
Harassment of Beijing-based Activists During the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue
China's Earthquake Coverage More Open But Not Uncensored
China Continues to Crack Down on HIV/AIDS Web Sites and Activists
Communication Disruptions in Tibetan Areas Impede Flow of Information
North Korea Executes 15 Attempting Escape, China Arrests 40 Refugees
Family Questions Hu Jia's Medical Treatment; CECC Translation of Criminal Judgment
Government Grants Exit Visas to Seven North Koreans, Pressures UNHCR in Pre-Olympic Crackdown
Authorities Take Measures To Prevent Pilgrimage to Catholic Shrine
Officials To Watch for "Negative Content" in Supplements About Earthquake
Zhejiang Court Affirms Lu Gengsong Sentence; CECC Translation of Decision
Mongolian Rights Advocate Released From Detention, Placed Under House Arrest

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 10:15 AM

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
________________________________________________________________________

AARP Policy & Research


Condition Critical: A Survey of Washington Businesses about the Future of Employee Health Care Benefits
Research Report
Jennifer H. Sauer, M.A., AARP Knowledge Management
June 2008
http://www.aarp.org/research/work/benefits/wa_benefits_07.html
or
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/wa_benefits_07.pdf
[full-text, 29 pages]


An AARP telephone survey of employers in Washington State in March and April 2008 indicates that Washington employers have experienced substantial increases in employee health insurance premiums over the past 3 years, and most of the respondents anticipate that it will be challenging to provide such coverage over the next 3 years.

The survey findings indicate that:

   * The cost of single-coverage employee health insurance has increased overall in the past 3 years by about 32 percent, and among smaller companies, the cost has nearly doubled.

   * If current cost trends continue, most Washington employers are likely to maintain an employee health insurance plan but will consider passing the cost burden on to employees, particularly through higher premiums.

   * The employers indicated a limit of what they can afford before dropping employee health coverage altogether­27 percent of the respondents said they would stop providing it if the cost increased by 15 percent; 40 percent would stop if the costs increased by 25 percent.

   * Many respondents indicated that the rising cost of employee health coverage has reduced profits and raised consumer prices; however, many also view the health benefit as having a major positive impact on factors such as employee recruitment and retention, employee health, and the overall success of their business.

   * Among employers who currently do not offer employee health coverage, one-third have done so in the past. Nearly half offered a plan up until just 3 years ago. At least half of these employers said their major reasons for no health plan include the company cannot afford it, their revenues are uncertain, and employees cannot afford it.

AARP commissioned Woelfel Research, Inc., to conduct the interviews with businesses drawn at random from the population of Washington State businesses. Government offices were excluded. A total of 407 businesses participated. For more information, contact Jennifer H. Sauer at 202-434-6207. (25 pages)
______________________________
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                  
****************************************

# posted by SBasefsky : 9:26 AM

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
________________________________________________________________________

AARP Policy & Research


Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Research Report
David Neumark, Department of Economics, University of California at Irvine
June 2008
http://www.aarp.org/research/work/agediscrim/2008_09_adea.html
or
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/2008_09_adea.pdf
[full-text, 55 pages]

This AARP Public Policy Institute report by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine reviews the existing research on age discrimination in employment and assesses how successful the ADEA has been in achieving its goals, along with how well it might support the continued employment of older adults in the future. Given that ADEA enforcement has tended to focus on terminations, which typically arise in cases of layoffs or "reductions-in-force," the ADEA's impact in recent years has been more on the continued employment of those under age 65. If age discrimination plays any role in suppressing the employment of those older than age 65, then figuring out how the ADEA can contribute to rooting out discrimination against these older individuals becomes of prime policy importance.


In Brief: How Is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act Working? A Look Back and Into the Future
Research Report
June 2008
http://www.aarp.org/research/work/agediscrim/inb159_adea.html
or
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/inb159_adea.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]

This In Brief summarizes Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, written for the AARP Public Policy Institute by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine. The paper examines how effective the ADEA has been and the challenges that lie ahead for older adults who want or need to work.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 9:21 AM

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
________________________________________________________________________

AARP International

Aging Everywhere [DATABASE]
http://www.aarpinternational.org/
[scroll to bottom of page]
or
http://www.aarpinternational.org/map/

Aging Everywhere: AARP International's resource featuring quick facts, research, and events around the world.

The Aging Everywhere interactive world map serves as a "one-stop" international clearing house of the most relevant and timely information on aging populations worldwide. This site is updated regularly with newly published regional and country specific research, reports, and resources. We intend for it to serve as a useful tool for policymakers, researchers, students, media, and all others interested in the issues of global aging.

The database provides for

Comparative Data Search
< http://www.aarpinternational.org/map_search/>

Country Profiles
< http://www.aarpinternational.org/map_country/>

Worldwide Resources
< http://www.aarpinternational.org/map_world/map_world_show.htm?doc_id=531132 >


See also WHAT'S NEW IN GLOBAL AGING on this page.
http://www.aarpinternational.org/map/

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 9:11 AM

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
________________________________________________________________________

Compensation and Working Conditions Online [27 June 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/home.htm

Coal Mining Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities in 2006 [27 June 2008]
by James B. Rice and Jill A. Janocha
Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20080623ar01p1.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/print/sh20080623ar01p1.htm

Abstract:
In the coal mining industry, which has higher incidence rates for both fatalities and nonfatal injuries and illnesses than the private sector as a whole, the rate of nonfatal incidents declined from 2003 to 2006; the rate of fatalities in the industry declined from 2004 to 2005, but then increased in 2006. In addition, coal miners were more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury requiring days away from work in 2006 than were all private industry workers, and fatal incidents in coal mining were more likely to involve multiple fatalities than similar incidents in other industries.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 3:54 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

PRESENT LAW AND ANALYSIS RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Scheduled for a Public Hearing Before the SELECT REVENUE MEASURES SUBCOMMITTEE of the HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS on June 26, 2008
Prepared by the Staff of the JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION June 24, 2008
JCX-53-08
http://www.house.gov/jct/x-53-08.pdf
[full-text, 56 pages]

CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
I. OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 2
II. ECONOMICS OF IRAS..................................................................................................... 3
III. PRESENT LAW AND ADDITIONAL ISSUES ............................................................. 16
A. Individual Retirement Arrangements.......................................................................... 16
1. Tax Treatment of Contributions............................................................................ 16
2. Investment, Regulation and Protection of IRA funds........................................... 19
3. Tax Treatment of Distributions............................................................................. 22
4. Deemed IRAs........................................................................................................ 25
5. Payroll deduction IRAs......................................................................................... 26
6. Incentives for Roth IRA contributions.................................................................. 28
B. Employer Provided and Assisted Retirement Savings................................................ 30
1. Overview of employer sponsored qualified retirement plans ............................... 30
2. Tax qualified retirement plans .............................................................................. 32
3. Employee retirement annuities ............................................................................. 37
4. Employer retirement plans using IRAs................................................................. 38
5. Special plans for governmental and tax exempt employers.................................. 39
C. Other Savings Vehicles............................................................................................... 41
1. Education savings ................................................................................................. 41
2. Health savings....................................................................................................... 42
D. Saver's Credit.............................................................................................................. 43
1. In general .............................................................................................................. 43
2. Tax credit as an incentive for low income taxpayers............................................ 44
E. Auto-Enrollment ......................................................................................................... 45
1. In general .............................................................................................................. 45
2. Pension Protection Act of 2006 ............................................................................ 46
IV. AUTOMATIC IRA PROPOSALS................................................................................... 48
A. Proposals Relating to Automatic Enrollment in Payroll Deduction IRAs.................. 48
B. State Government-Sponsored Investment Opportunities............................................ 50
C. Discussion of Issues.................................................................................................... 51

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 2:54 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

Milliman�s Client Action Bulletin: EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

 �U.S. Supreme Court�s Rulings on Employee Benefits, Employment Practices� [25 June 2008]
http://www.milliman.com/expertise/employee-benefits/publications/cab/pdfs/CAB06-25-08-Supreme-Court-2008.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]

Summary:
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 19 handed down employee benefits-related decisions, along with rulings affecting employment practices. The Court's decisions involve dual-role benefit pan administrators, age discrimination, and speaking out against union organizing.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 2:47 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)
EBRI Issue Brief #318

The Impact of PPA on Retirement Savings for 401(k) Participants [27 June 2008]
http://www.ebri.org/publications/ib/index.cfm?fa=ibDisp&content_id=3948
or
http://www.ebri.org/pdf/briefspdf/EBRI_IB_06-20081.pdf
[full-text, 24 pages]

Press Release 27 June 2008
New Research from EBRI:
Analysis Shows "Automatic" 401(k) Features Likely to Be Big Help in Generating New Retirement Savings
http://www.ebri.org/pdf/PR_806_27June082.pdf

WASHINGTON—New analysis by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute
(EBRI) finds that the "automatic" 401(k) features in the Pension Protection Act of 2006
(PPA)—such as auto-enrollment of workers and auto-escalation of their savings
contributions—are likely to have a very significant positive impact in generating additional
retirement savings for many workers, especially for low-income workers.
Using its Retirement Security Projection Model,® EBRI simulates (under several
assumptions) the likely impact of 401(k) plan sponsors switching from voluntary enrollment
systems to automatic enrollment designs with automatic escalation. The full report, published
in the June EBRI Issue Brief, "The Impact of PPA on Retirement Savings for 401(k)
Participants," available online at www.ebri.org It is the first report of its kind to quantify
how the PPA's 401(k) provisions will affect a wide variety of workers based on various
income and participation factors.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 2:21 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

EBRI NOTES
June 2008, Vol. 29, No. 6
Benefit Cost Comparisons Between State and Local Governments and Private-Sector Employers [17 June 2008]
http://www.ebri.org/pdf/EBRI_Notes_06-2008.pdf
[full-text, 12 pages]


Press Release 17 June 2008
New Research from EBRI:
Compensation Costs 51 Percent Higher for State-Local Employers Than for Employers in Private Sector, Study Reports [17 June 2008]
Composition of Two Work Forces Has Major Impact on Pay and Benefits
http://www.ebri.org/pdf/PR_805_17June08.pdf

WASHINGTON.Total compensation costs for workers were 51.4 percent higher among state
and local government employers than among private-sector employers in September 2007, a
reflection of the different composition of the two work forces, according to a study published
today by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

Total compensation costs consist of two major categories: wages and salaries, and employee
benefits. For both of these categories, state and local government employers' costs were higher
than those of private-sector employers: 42.6 percent higher for wages and salaries, and 72.8 percent
higher for employee benefits, the study said, based on the latest available data.

As of September 2007, the total compensation costs among state and local government
employers were $39.50 per hour worked, compared with $26.09 among private-sector
employers. The study is published in the June EBRI Notes, available at www.ebri.org.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 2:09 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

COUNTY BUSINESS PATTERNS 2006 [27 June 2008]
http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html

The Census site is being updated to include 2006 for all forms of searching. At this time, the 2006 North American Industry Classification System (since 1998) is functioning [see link below].

County Business Patterns is an annual series that provides subnational economic data by industry. The series is useful for studying the economic activity of small areas; analyzing economic changes over time; and as a benchmark for statistical series, surveys, and databases between economic censuses. Businesses use the data for analyzing market potential, measuring the effectiveness of sales and advertising programs, setting sales quotas, and developing budgets. Government agencies use the data for administration and planning.

County Business Patterns covers most of the country's economic activity. The series excludes data on self-employed individuals, employees of private households, railroad employees, agricultural production employees, and most government employees. The County Business Patterns program has tabulated on a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis since 1998. Data for 1997 and earlier years are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System.

AND MORE...

North American Industry Classification System (since 1998)
http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml


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

# posted by SBasefsky : 1:57 PM

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
________________________________________________________________________

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Self-Regulation in the Alcohol Industry: Report of the Federal Trade Commission (June 2008)
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2008/06/080626alcoholreport.pdf
[full-text, 86 pages]

Press Release 26 June 2008
FTC Reports on Alcohol Marketing and Self-Regulation [26 June 2008]
Study Finds High Levels of Compliance with Voluntary Placement Standard
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/06/alcoholrpt.shtm

A new Federal Trade Commission report on alcohol marketing and youth examines industry efforts to reduce the likelihood that alcohol advertising will target those under the legal drinking age of 21. It also announces a new system for monitoring alcohol industry compliance with self-regulatory programs. The report explains where alcohol suppliers spend their promotional dollars, provides data on compliance with the industry's advertising placement standard, discusses the status of external review of advertising complaints, and provides information about the Commission's education program to reduce teen access to alcohol.

This is the third FTC report on the status of alcohol industry self-regulation. The Commission's first report in 1999 criticized the voluntary guidelines, which at times permitted alcohol ads to appear in media for which up to half the audience consisted of children and youth, and for failing to provide for third-party consideration of complaints about compliance with the guidelines. The FTC's 2003 report announced that the alcohol industry had agreed to obtain audience data before placing ads, and required that at least 70 percent of the audience for print, radio, and television ads consist of adults over 21. Noting that one industry group had adopted third-party review of advertising, the report continued to urge the remaining two groups to follow suit.

The new report, based on data provided by 12 major alcohol suppliers in response to FTC orders, is the first to present detailed information about how alcohol companies allocate their promotional dollars. It finds that about 42 percent of such expenditures are used for traditional television, radio, print, and outdoor advertising; about 40 percent are used to help wholesalers and retailers promote alcohol; about 16 percent are used for sponsorships; and two percent are directed to other efforts, such as Internet and digital advertising.

AND MORE.....
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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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# posted by SBasefsky : 11:45 AM

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
________________________________________________________________________

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Underage Alcohol Use: Findings from the 2002-2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health [26 June 2008]
http://oas.samhsa.gov/underage2k8/toc.htm


Press Release 26 June 2008
New Nationwide Report Estimates that 40 Percent of Underage Drinkers Received Free Alcohol from Adults Over 21
http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0806250013.aspx

Survey reveals that 650,000 underage drinkers in the past month were given alcohol by their parents or guardians

More than 40 percent of the nation's estimated 10.8 million underage current drinkers (persons aged 12 to 20 who drank in the past 30 days) were provided free alcohol by adults 21 or older, according to a nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  The study also indicates that one in 16 underage drinkers (6.4 percent or 650,000) was given alcoholic beverages by their parents in the past month.

 "In far too many instances parents directly enable their children's underage drinking ­ in essence encouraging them to risk their health and wellbeing," said Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service. "Proper parental guidance alone may not be the complete solution to this devastating public health problem ­ but it is a critical part."

The report is based on a nationwide study which for the first time asked detailed questions about the behavior and social situations involved in underage drinking ­ a problem responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people under the age of 21 every year in the United States. The survey asked persons aged 12 to 20 about the nature and scope of their drinking behavior as well as the social conditions under which they drank.

"This report provides unprecedented insight into the social context of this public health problem and shows that it cuts across many different parts of our community," said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. "Its findings strongly indicate that parents and other adults can play an important role in helping influence ­ for better or for worse -- young people's behavior with regard to underage drinking."

Among the report's more notable findings:

• More than half (53.9) of all people aged 12 to 20 engaged in underage drinking in their lifetime, ranging from 11.0 percent of 12 year olds to 85.5 percent of 20 year olds.

• An average of 3.5 million people aged 12 to 20 each year (9.4 percent) meet the diagnostic criteria for having an alcohol use disorder (dependence or abuse).

• About one in five people in this age group (7.2 million people) have engaged in binge drinking ­ consuming five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past month.

• The vast majority of current underage drinkers (80.9 percent) reported being with two or more people the last time they drank.  Those who were with two or more people consumed an average of 4.9 drinks on that occasion, compared with 3.1 drinks for those who were with one other person and 2.9 drinks for those who were alone.

• Among youths aged 12 to 14 the rate of current drinking was higher for females (7.7 percent) than males (6.3 percent), about equal for females and males among those aged 15 to 17 (27.6 and 27.3 percent, respectively), and lower for females than males among those aged 18 to 20 (47.9 vs. 54.4 percent).

• Over half (53.4 percent) of underage current alcohol users were at someone else's home when they had their last drink, and 30.3 percent were in their own home; 9.4 percent were at a restaurant, bar or club.

• Rates of binge drinking are significantly higher among young people living with a parent who engaged in binge drinking within the past year.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 11:37 AM