IWS Documented News DAILY POSTINGS: September 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 23 October 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
****************************************

# posted by SBasefsky : 3:57 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
________________________________________________________________________

Hewitt

2008 Presidential Election: Candidates' Health Care Proposals (updated 09/22/08)
< http://www.hewittassociates.com/Lib/MBUtil/AssetRetrieval.aspx?guid=FA07FA32-6DD3-4695-8901-33215071A305 >
or
http://www.hewittassociates.com/_MetaBasicCMAssetCache_/Assets/Legislative%20Updates/2008/2008_Election_Health_092208.pdf
[full-text, 6 pages]

2008 Presidential Election: Candidates' Retirement and Related Policies (updated 09/22/08)
< http://www.hewittassociates.com/Lib/MBUtil/AssetRetrieval.aspx?guid=82FF0D87-D9CE-4E93-A82B-C0B7B0BBFCC4 >
or
http://www.hewittassociates.com/_MetaBasicCMAssetCache_/Assets/Legislative%20Updates/2008/2008_Election_Retirement_092208.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]

2008 Presidential Election: Candidates' Employment Proposals (updated 09/22/08)
< http://www.hewittassociates.com/Lib/MBUtil/AssetRetrieval.aspx?guid=3577F7A8-1FDF-47C8-97BC-AFE0C4640DB0 >
or
http://www.hewittassociates.com/_MetaBasicCMAssetCache_/Assets/Legislative%20Updates/2008/2008_Election_Employment_092208.pdf
[full-text, 8 pages]

Press Release 23 September 2008
Health Care, Immigration, and Other HR-Related Issues Dominate 2008 U.S. Presidential Election Campaigns
http://www.hewittassociates.com/Intl/NA/en-US/KnowledgeCenter/LegislativeUpdates/LegislativeUpdatesDetail.aspx?cid=4767

2008-09-23
Hewitt Associates is closely tracking developments in the 2008 U.S. presidential election that may ultimately have an impact on employers. A number of proposals already included in candidates' campaigns have the potential to affect employer-provided health benefits, hiring practices, leave of absence policies, payroll, and employer-sponsored retirement plans.

AND MUCH 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 : 1:44 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
________________________________________________________________________

Mercer

Millions in value lost in M&A deals due to cultural integration issues, according to Mercer survey
Nearly 60 percent of respondents report that cultural integration issues had a negative impact
http://www.mercer.com/summary.htm?idContent=1323305

United States
City , 29 September 2008

Cultural integration issues in M&A transactions have direct financial implications on deal value, according to the results of Mercer's Cultural Integration Snapshot Survey. The survey, which included 119 organizations from across the Americas and Europe, found that more than half of respondents reported that the success of recent M&A transactions was negatively impacted by cultural integration issues.

Asked to estimate the financial impact of cultural integration issues, respondents differed only slightly between the American and European surveys. In the American survey, forty-four percent of respondents reported that between US$1 million and US$5 million was lost or not realized in a significant transaction their organisation had recently undertaken, with nearly one quarter estimating that it was over US$5 million. In the European survey, forty-three percent of respondents reported that between 1 and 5 million was lost or not realized in a recent significant transaction, with nearly 30 percent estimating that it was over 5 million.

"Cultural integration has a significant impact on the benefits of deals for organizations," said Elisa Hukins, the leader for cultural integration in Mercer's M&A global consulting business. "According to several of our clients, the impact of cultural integration can be much greater when the synergies lost, as a result of cultural misalignments over time, are factored in. We are working with one organization that estimated that it's failure to quickly manage conflicting cultures early on "cost" them hundreds of millions of dollars of lost revenue over a three year period."

"Our research confirms that organizations are starting to turn this tide by developing processes, tools and capabilities aimed at reducing the risks and taking advantage of the opportunities presented by organization culture before, during and after a deal closes. Significantly, organizations citing a more positive impact of culture in recent major transactions were those that had invested in implementing structured cultural integration processes and programs from as early as the due diligence phase."

According to Bob Bundy, Mercer's M&A global leader, the key is to start making assessments of cultural differences that will affect deal value as early as possible during the initial consideration of a deal. "It is remarkable just how much information we are able to gather and analyze even without 'touching' the target," said Mr. Bundy. "Using non-invasive methods, we are able to inform senior teams about just how differently the two organizations operate and behave, and identify potential challenges and risks to deal success. This information is invaluable to factor into purchase considerations, including the purchase price and the cost of successful integration."

Although 72 percent of survey respondents cited culture as an important contributor to creating value in M&A transactions (with nearly one third stating that it is critical), the survey highlighted the fact that many organizations were not well-prepared to effectively manage cultural integration issues. While nearly one quarter of companies are moving towards developing a more formal cultural integration process, 68 percent still do not regularly use a systematic approach to identify gaps between organizational cultures.

Another challenge identified by survey respondents was the lower levels of executive engagement in leading M&A-related cultural change. Only 37 percent of organizations surveyed said that they had invested to some extent in developing managers with the expertise to understand and lead cultural change, with 28 percent indicating that they have invested very little or not at all. Additionally, many organizations may not have the right people leading the changes required for cultural integration. While HR professionals were viewed as being key culture change champions, only a quarter of senior executives were reported as co-leaders of cultural integration efforts in their organizations.

Mercer's survey showed several positive developments in the M&A cultural integration arena. "Some organizations that are focused on driving higher levels of value faster from their transactions are taking actions to address cultural integration issues more proactively," said Ms. Hukins. "In fact, over half indicated that they plan to invest more heavily to improve the management of cultural issues in deals in the short term. As our survey shows, not doing so can have a tangible and dramatic negative financial impact, and especially in the current climate, maximizing and accelerating value from each and every transaction is critical."

Notes for Editors

The survey was conducted among 119 companies across more than 17 industry groups, with 76 percent of respondents headquartered in the US and 19 percent in Europe. A full copy of the survey report is available upon request via email at GLOBALM&A@mercer.com.
______________________________
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 : 11:13 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
________________________________________________________________________

Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS)

FORM T-1 INFORMATION
http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/t1_intro.htm

On October 2, 2008, the Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) will publish a Final Rule implementing the Form T-1, Trust Annual Report. The Form T-1 is an annual financial disclosure report filed by labor unions about certain "trusts" in which they are interested. These trusts include, for example, building and redevelopment corporations, educational institutes, credit unions, labor union and employer joint funds, and job targeting funds. Labor unions will use the Form T-1 to disclose financial information about the trust, such as assets, liabilities, receipts and disbursements.

Not all labor unions with trusts will be required to file a Form T-1. Labor unions with total annual receipts of $250,000 or more will file this report. These are the labor unions that are currently required to file a "Form LM-2" labor union annual financial report.

For an organization or fund to be a labor union's trust, the organization or fund must meet the following conditions. It must be established by the labor union or have a governing body that includes at least one member appointed or selected by the labor union. A primary purpose of the trust must be to provide benefits to the members of the labor union or their beneficiaries.

Not all labor union trusts are covered by the Form T-1 filing obligations. A labor union must file a report if one of the following conditions is met. The labor union, alone or in combination with other labor unions, appoints or selects a majority of the members of the trust's governing board or the labor union's contribution to the trust, alone or in combination with other labor unions, represents more than 50% of the trust's receipts. Contributions by an employer under a collective bargaining agreement are considered contributions by the labor union.

The Form T-1 final rule will take effect on January 1, 2009. The fiscal year of both the labor union and its trust must therefore begin on or after January 1, 2009 for a Form T-1 report to be owed. The Form T-1 covers the trust's most recently completed fiscal year, that is, the fiscal year ending on or before the closing date of the labor union's fiscal year. The labor union must file the T-1 report within 90 days of the close of its fiscal year.

The following example illustrates how the Form T-1's effective date works. A labor union's fiscal year begins January 1, 2009 and ends December 31, 2009. Its trust's fiscal year begins on October 1, 2009 and ends September 30, 2010. The first fiscal year for which the labor union must file a Form T-1 is fiscal year January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. That report would be due 90 days later, on March 31, 2011. The T-1 report would cover the trust's October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010 fiscal year.

The rule also provides that unions will not be required to file a Form T-1 under certain circumstances, such as when the trust is a political action committee, if publicly available reports on the committee are filed with appropriate federal or state agencies; an independent audit has been conducted for the trust, in accordance with standards set forth in the final rule; or the trust is required to file a Form 5500 with the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

The final rule enhances financial reporting and provides union members with more complete information about union finances. Additionally, it will better protect union members' rights to transparency and accountability under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA).

More Information

Form T-1 Final Rule < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/T1_FinalRule.pdf> PDF

Form T-1 Instructions < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/form_t1_instructions_0908.htm > HTML | < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/Form_T1_Instructions_0908.pdf > PDF

Facsimile of Form T-1 < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/T1_Facs_0908.pdf> PDF Note: The facsimile may not be used for filing Form T-1.

< http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/t1093008.pdf> Download Form T-1 Beta Filing Software This is beta software and may not be used for filing Form T-1. Users are encouraged to download the software, examine its functions and features, and provide comments to OLMS. OLMS will subsequently provide a version of the Form T-1 filing software that can be downloaded and used to submit the completed Form T-1.

Please DO NOT use Adobe Reader versions 8 or above to use Form T-1 beta filing software.

Labor organizations may choose to complete the Form T-1 by two methods: Data entry or electronic transfer. For electronic transfer, the Department has provided < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/dsd.htm> technical specifications to assist unions in converting their financial data into a format supported by the software.

< http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/dsd.htm> The Data Specifications Document (DSD) provides the specifications and guidance for developing formatted import files that can be imported or attached to the form.

The DSD will be used only by those unions that choose to create these import files. These data files may be imported directly into the form or imported into the form as attachments. Unions with large data files should import these files as attachments, rather than importing the data into the form. The attachment method significantly decreases the size, and enhances the manageability, of the form.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is prepared to offer compliance assistance to help filers create the file formats described in this document.

Fact Sheet: Filing Form T-1 < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/t1_FR_0908.htm> HTML | < http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/t1_FR_0908.pdf> PDF

< http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/FormT1_093008.pps> Form T-1 PowerPoint Presentation: Filing Form T-1 - (PPS Format - 1MB). If you are unable to view PowerPoint presentations, download a free viewer from Microsoft, < http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=428d5727-43ab-4f24-90b7-a94784af71a4&displaylang=en/&exitTitle=Microsoft&fedpage=no > here.
______________________________
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 : 10:42 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
________________________________________________________________________

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Status and Trends in the Education of American Indians and Alaska Natives: 2008 [30 September 2008]
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008084
or
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/2008084.pdf
[full-text, 203 pages]

Description:
This report examines both the educational progress of American Indian/Alaska Native children and adults and challenges in their education. It shows that over time more American Indian/Alaska Native students have gone on to college and that their attainment expectations have increased. Despite these gains, progress has been uneven and differences persist between American Indian/Alaska Native students and students of other racial/ethnic groups on key indicators of educational performance.

______________________________
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
________________________________________________________________________

METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT: AUGUST 2008 [30 September 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/metro.pdf
[full-text, 21 pages]
and
Supplemental Files Table of Contents
http://www.bls.gov/web/metro.supp.toc.htm

Unemployment rates were higher in August than a year earlier in 354
of the 369 metropolitan areas, lower in 13 areas, and unchanged in 2
areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today. Eleven areas recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0
percent, while five areas registered rates below 3.0 percent. The
national unemployment rate in August was 6.1 percent, not seasonally
adjusted, up from 4.6 percent a year earlier.

Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

   In August, 89 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least
7.0 percent, up from 19 areas a year earlier, while 34 areas posted rates
below 4.0 percent, down from 119 areas in August 2007. El Centro, Calif.,
and neighboring Yuma, Ariz., continued to record the highest unemployment
rates, 24.7 and 22.7 percent, respectively. Joblessness in these two areas
is typically higher during summer months due to the effect of extreme heat
on agricultural activity. Sioux Falls, S.D., again registered the lowest
jobless rate, 2.6 percent. Bismarck, N.D., Morgantown, W.Va., and Rapid
City, S.D., reported the next lowest rates, 2.8 percent each. Overall,
152 areas posted unemployment rates above the U.S. figure of 6.1 percent,
209 areas reported rates below it, and 8 areas had the same rate. (See
table 1.)

   Elkhart-Goshen, Ind., recorded the largest jobless rate increase from
August 2007 (+4.5 percentage points), followed by Cape Coral-Fort Myers,
Fla. (+3.7 points). Seventy-six additional areas registered over-the-
year unemployment rate increases of 2.0 percentage points or more, and
another 195 areas had rate increases of 1.0 to 1.9 points. Two Arkansas
areas experienced the largest jobless rate decreases from a year earlier:
Jonesboro and Hot Springs (-1.4 and -1.1 percentage points, respectively).

   Of the 49 metropolitan areas with a Census 2000 population of 1 mil-
lion or more, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., reported the high-
est unemployment rate in August 2008, 9.2 percent, followed by Detroit-
Warren-Livonia, Mich., at 8.8 percent. Nine additional large areas posted
rates of 7.0 percent or more. The large area with the lowest jobless rate
in August was Oklahoma City, Okla., at 3.8 percent. Washington-Arlington-
Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va., had the next lowest rate, 4.1 percent.
Forty-eight large areas registered higher unemployment rates than in August
2007, and one had a lower rate. The areas with the largest jobless rate in-
creases from August 2007 were Providence-Fall River-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.
(+3.2 percentage points), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (+2.8
points), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (+2.6 points). Nine
additional large areas recorded over-the-year unemployment rate increases of
2.0 percentage points or more, and 30 other areas had rate increases of at
least 1.0 point. The only large area to record a jobless rate decrease in
August 2008 from a year earlier was Oklahoma City, Okla. (-0.4 percentage
point).

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 10:22 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
________________________________________________________________________

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Skilling the Pacific: Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Pacific [online 29 September 2008]
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Skilling-Pacific/default.asp
or
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Skilling-Pacific/Skilling-Pacific.pdf
[full-text, 262 pages]

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) means the acquisition of competencies, know-how, and attitudes necessary to perform an occupation in the labor market. While TVET is important for socio-economic development, it constantly needs to be transformed so that what it offers reflects the reality of the labor market in the Pacific region. This study document has highlighted strengths and weaknesses of TVET initiatives in the 13 Pacific Islands countries and provides future scope for strategic planning. The document also captures many good practices from around the world, which are applicable to the Pacific context of TVET.

Executive Summary
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Skilling-Pacific/Skilling-Pacific-summary.pdf

Contents

Abbreviations and Acronyms, Glossary and Definitions, Preface, and Acknowledgments [ PDF: 63kb | 11 pages ]

Highlights [ PDF: 193kb | 2 pages ]

Chapter Summary [ PDF: 207kb | 10 pages ]

Introduction [ PDF: 106kb | 8 pages ]

   1. Socioeconomic Background [ PDF: 148kb | 10 pages ]

          1.1 Overview
          1.2 Introduction

   2. Skills Gaps in the Pacific [ PDF: 181kb | 12 pages ]

          2.1 Overview
          2.2 Emigration
          2.3 Skills Gaps by Country Group

   3. Landscape and Architecture of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Pacific [ PDF: 226kb | 30 pages ]

          3.1 Overview
          3.2 Organization and Administration
          3.3 Prevocational Education
          3.4 Vocational Training
          3.5 Postsecondary Technical Training Institutes
          3.6 Apprenticeship and Enterprise-Based Training
          3.7 Maritime and Fisheries Training
          3.8 Private Training Providers
          3.9 Trade Testing
          3.10 Rural and Informal Sector Training
          3.11 TVET Costs, Financing, and Expenditures

   4. Analysis of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Systems in the Pacific [ PDF: 295kb | 52 pages ]

          4.1 Overview
          4.2 Analytical Framework
          4.3 Economic Relevance
          4.4 Quality of Skills Provision
          4.5 Equity
          4.6 Organizational and Management Effectiveness
          4.7 Finance and Internal Efficiency

   5. Priorities and Strategic Options [ PDF: 156kb | 12 pages ]

          5.1 Priorities
          5.2 Strategic OptionsA Guide for TVET Decision Makers

   6. Conclusions and Recommendations from the Analysis [ PDF: 109kb | 12 pages ]

          6.1 Overview
          6.2 Relevance to Economic Requirements
          6.3 Quality and Effectiveness of Training Provision
          6.4 Standards, Outputs, and Monitoring
          6.5 Equity
          6.6 Organization and Management
          6.7 Changing Management Incentives
          6.8 Finance and Internal Efficiency
          6.9 Priorities by Country Group
          6.10 Strategic Interventions

   7. Regional Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project Proposals [ PDF: 143kb | 22 pages ]

          Priority Interventions
          Project 1: Strengthening TVET Organization and Management
          Project 2: Creating a Capital Development and Innovation Fund
          Project 3: Expanding Service Delivery through Open and Distance Learning
          Project 4: Strengthening TVET Programs in Rural Areas
          Project 5: Developing Outreach Training in Atoll Economies

   8. Appendixes [ PDF: 303kb | 78 pages ]

          1. Socioeconomic Background: Country Groups
          2. Methodology of Employer and Employee Surveys in Pacific Island Countries
          3. Labor Markets and Skills Shortages by Country Group
          4. Training for the Rural and Informal Sector
          5. Donor Funding for Pacific TVET
          6. Summary of Country Priorities and Projects
          7. Summary of Main Points from the Final Workshop
______________________________
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 : 8:47 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
________________________________________________________________________

Towers Perrin

Press Release 24 September 2008
Towers Perrin Health Care Cost Survey Shows Average Annual Per-Employee Cost of $9,660 in 2009 -- And the Health Care Affordability Gap Widens

High-Performing Companies Again Beat Low Performers on Costs by Double-Digit Percentages Informing Policy Debate With Insights Into What Works In Health Care
http://www.towersperrin.com/tp/showdctmdoc.jsp?country=global&url=Master_Brand_2/USA/Press_Releases/2008/20080924/2008_09_24b.htm

STAMFORD, CT, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 New data from Towers Perrin indicate that the business and social impacts of rising health care costs still loom large, but also that leading companies are successfully mitigating that threat through a variety of health-focused management techniques that are paying off in significant ways and point toward broader solutions to the cost crisis.

"The most striking result of our survey is the contrast between the high- and low-performing companies, said Dave Guilmette, Managing Director of the Towers Perrin Health and Welfare practice. "The high performers will pay, on average, 14% less in 2009 a differential that quickly adds up to millions of dollars in annual savings for companies and for their employees. While high-performing companies spend almost $1,500 less per employee overall, $350 of those savings, on average, are shared with employees in the form of lower contributions. This shared 'health dividend' also creates important workforce performance advantages, as reported by these organizations such as high employee engagement. Overall, the high performers are reaping a health dividend that can be a source of true competitive advantage and a model for the health care reform debate."

According to Towers Perrin's annual Health Care Cost Survey, the average corporate health benefit expenditure in 2009 will be $9,660 per employee-an increase of 6% over 2008 figures. The 6% growth rate will make 2009 the fifth consecutive year of single-digit percentage increases. However, many companies and their employees will still face record-high dollar costs in 2009, which is sure to deepen concerns about affordability, particularly for lower-wage workers and pre-65 retirees. Underscoring the growing affordability gap, the Towers Perrin survey database shows that total health care costs have increased by 33% since 2004, with the employee share increasing by 42% during the same period. (see Exhibit 1)

AND MUCH MORE...including CHARTS & 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
****************************************

# posted by SBasefsky : 11:48 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
________________________________________________________________________

Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

High Stakes, More Meaning: An Overview of the Process of Redesigning the U.S. Citizenship Test [29 September 2008]
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BR6_NatzTest_092908.pdf
[full-text, 18 pages]

Press Release 29 September 2008
MPI Backgrounder Examines Redesigned Citizenship Test
Taking Effect October 1st
Report Details Redesign Process, Examines Whether the Government Met Its Goals
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/2008_09_29.php

WASHINGTON -- More than a decade in the making, the redesigned citizenship test that becomes mandatory for all applicants effective Oct. 1, 2008, has two main goals: Provide a more meaningful opportunity for would-be Americans to demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and civics, and allow greater standardization in test administration.

A new MPI Backgrounder, High Stakes, More Meaning: An Overview of the Process of Redesigning the U.S. Citizenship Test, details the process to redesign the test (which had not substantively changed since 1986) and offers some policy recommendations. The report also examines whether the federal government met its goals with the redesign.

The most significant change to the test is the new civics portion. As before, applicants must correctly answer six out of 10 questions drawn from a master list of 100 civics questions. However, the 100 questions have undergone a significant overhaul with new questions emphasizing core concepts of American democracy and new items about geography, Native Americans and women.

It remains unclear whether U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was able to fully reconcile its desire to ask questions about complex U.S. civics concepts with the requirement that applicants need only speak, read and write English at the "ordinary usage" level.

A full assessment cannot be made until the data are released on the actual performance of limited English proficient applicants taking the old and the revised citizenship test, the Backgrounder found.

The report is available online at: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BR6_NatzTest_092908.pdf

______________________________
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 : 11:35 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
________________________________________________________________________

White House

Executive Order: To Authorize Certain Noncompetitive Appointments in the Civil Service for Spouses of Certain Members of the Armed Forces [25 September 2008]
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080926-8.html
or
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/print/20080926-8.html

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 3301 and 3302 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It shall be the policy of the United States to provide for the appropriately expedited recruitment and selection of spouses of members of the Armed Forces for appointment to positions in the competitive service of the Federal civil service as part of the effort of the United States to recruit and retain in military service, skilled and experienced members of the Armed Forces and to recognize and honor the service of such members injured, disabled, or killed in connection with their service.

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this order:

(a) the term "agency" has the meaning specified for the term "executive agency" in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, but does not include the Government Accountability Office;

(b) the term "Armed Forces" has the meaning specified for that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code;

(c) the term "active duty" means full-time duty in an armed force and includes full-time National Guard duty, except that, for Reserve Component members, the term "active duty" does not include training duties or attendance at service schools.

(d) the term "permanent change of station" means the assignment, detail, or transfer of a member of the Armed Forces serving at a present permanent duty station to a different permanent duty station under a competent authorization or order that does not:

(i) specify the duty as temporary;

(ii) provide for assignment, detail, or transfer, after that different permanent duty station, to a further different permanent duty station; or

(iii) direct return to the present permanent duty station; and

(e) the term "totally disabled retired or separated member" means a member of the Armed Forces who:

(i) retired under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code, with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 per cent; or

(ii) retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 3. Noncompetitive Appointment Authority.Consistent with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order and such regulations as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe, the head of an agency may make a noncompetitive appointment to any position in the competitive service, for which the individual is qualified, of an individual who is:

(a) the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, is performing active duty pursuant to orders that authorize a permanent change of station move, if such spouse relocates to the member's new permanent duty station;

(b) the spouse of a totally disabled retired or separated member of the Armed Forces; or

(c) the unremarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while performing active duty.

Sec. 4. Administrative Provisions. The heads of agencies shall employ, as appropriate, appointment authority available to them, in addition to the authority granted by section 3 of this order, to carry out the policy set forth in section 1.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency or the head thereof; and

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative functions.

(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

September 25, 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
****************************************

# posted by SBasefsky : 9:10 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 Budget Office (CBO)

Cost Estimate on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 [28 September 2008]
Letter to the Honorable Barney Frank
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/98xx/doc9829/09-28-HonorableFrank.pdf
[full-text, 7 pages]

[excerpt]
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has reviewed the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as released by the House Committee on
Financial Services on September 28, 2008. The legislation would, among other
provisions, create a Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), under which the
Secretary of the Treasury would be authorized to purchase, insure, hold, and
sell a wide variety of financial instruments, particularly those that are based on
or related to residential or commercial mortgages issued prior to March 14,
2008. Under the legislation, the authority to enter into agreements to purchase
such troubled assets would initially be set to expire on December 31, 2009, but
could be extended through two years from the date of enactment upon
certification by the Secretary that such an extension is necessary.

The bill would appropriate such sums as are necessary, for as many years as
necessary, to enable the Secretary to purchase or insure troubled assets and to
cover all administrative expenses of purchasing, insuring, holding, and selling
those assets. The purchase price of all such assets outstanding at any one time
could not exceed $700 billion (though cumulative gross purchases could
exceed $700 billion as previously purchased assets are sold). Purchases would
be limited as follows:

AND MUCH 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 : 9:01 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
________________________________________________________________________

PERSONAL INCOME AND OUTLAYS: AUGUST 2008 [29 September 2008]
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2008/pi0808.htm
or
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2008/pdf/pi0808.pdf
[full-text, 13 pages]
or
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2008/xls/pi0808.xls
[spreadsheet]
and
Highlights
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2008/pdf/pi0808_fax.pdf

Personal income increased $61.5 billion, or 0.5 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI)
decreased $93.3 billion, or 0.9 percent, in August, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $3.9 billion, or less than 0.1 percent. In July,
personal income decreased $69.0 billion, or 0.6 percent, DPI decreased $91.0 billion, or 0.8 percent, and
PCE increased $14.2 billion, or 0.1 percent, based on revised estimates. The pattern of changes in
income primarily reflects the pattern of payments associated with the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
(see page 2).

Real DPI decreased 0.9 percent in August, compared with a decrease of 1.5 percent in July. Real
PCE increased less than 0.1 percent, in contrast to a decrease of 0.5 percent.

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 8:41 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
________________________________________________________________________

Employment and wage profile of the Louisiana and Texas counties affected by Hurricane Ike [26 September 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/bls/hurricaneike.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ils/pdf/opbils69.pdf
[full-text, 9 pages]

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike swept across much of the east coast of Texas and portions of coastal Louisiana. The Category 2 hurricane made landfall over Galveston around 2 a.m., affecting dozens of counties in the region. On that day, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued disaster declarations for 29 counties in Texas and 14 parishes in Louisiana due to the storm�s widespread devastation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has prepared a profile of Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data for 2007 for the 43 counties in Louisiana and Texas affected by Hurricane Ike. (QCEW data for the fourth quarter of 2008, which will reflect the impact of Hurricane Ike, will be available in July 2009.) See "Employment and wage profile of the Louisiana and Texas counties affected by Hurricane Ike," at www.bls.gov/opub/ils/pdf/opbils69.pdf

______________________________
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 : 2:13 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
________________________________________________________________________

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 2007 [26 September 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/prod4.nr0.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/prod4.pdf
[full-text, 16 pages]

Manufacturing labor productivity increased in 2007 in 14 of the 16
economies compared by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics. (See chart 1.) The Republic of Korea and Taiwan had the
largest productivity increases of 8.7 percent each, while Germany followed
with an increase of 5.0 percent. The United States productivity increase
of 4.1 percent was the fourth largest among the 16 economies compared.
Italy and Norway both had declines in productivity (-0.5 and -0.2 percent,
respectively).

Over the 2000-2007 period, of the 16 economies studied, only Korea,
Taiwan, and Sweden had greater productivity growth in manufacturing than
the United States. Average annual growth rates for selected measures
over various time periods are shown in tables A and B.

The data presented for the United States differ from those
appearing in BLS Productivity and Costs news releases. (See technical
notes.)

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

# posted by SBasefsky : 2:06 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
________________________________________________________________________

Kaiser Family Foundation
www.heath08.org

2008 Presidential Candidates Health Care Proposals -- New Side-by-Side Comparison and Video Clips
http://www.health08.org/sidebyside.cfm
or
http://www.health08.org/healthissues_sidebyside.cfm
or
http://www.health08.org/candidates/healthissues_both_candidates.pdf
[full-text, 10 pages]

The Kaiser Family Foundation has added two new resources on its health08.org Web site detailing presidential candidates Sen. John McCain's and Sen. Barack Obama's stance on key health care issues, building upon health08.org's existing comparison of the candidates' health reform proposals.

-- A new, interactive tool ( http://www.health08.org/healthissues_sidebyside.cfm) allows users to compare the candidates proposals and positions on a range of health care issues -- biomedical research, care coordination and prevention, health information technology, HIV/AIDS, long-term care, Medicaid and SCHIP, medical malpractice, Medicare, mental health parity, prescription drugs, racial and ethnic disparities, transparency and comparative effectiveness, veterans' health and women's health issues not necessarily addressed in the candidates' health care reform proposals. These comparisons are based on information compiled from the candidates' Web sites and speeches and campaign debates. A separate side-by-side comparison of the candidates' health reform proposals is also available on health08.org ( http://www.health08.org/sidebyside.cfm).

-- The site now features a new compilation of video clips ( http://www.health08.org/ontheissues/healthreform) of the candidates speaking about various aspects of health reform including expanding coverage, employer-sponsored coverage, costs of coverage, the government's role in health care, the insurance market, preventive care and tax subsidies for health insurance. The clips are drawn from health08.org's extensive webcast library.

Health08.org also will offer a series of election briefs, with facts and background information on important health care issues, as well as broad policy options and questions to help evaluate the candidates' proposals. The first brief, Covering the Uninsured: Options for Reform is available now at http://www.kff.org/uninsured/h08_7813.cfm . Briefs on health care costs and other health issues will be posted in the coming weeks.

The Foundation's health08.org Web site serves as a hub of information about health and the election, providing original polling and analysis produced by Kaiser, news summaries and videos and podcasts from the campaign trail, and easy access to health-related resources from the campaigns, other organizations and news outlets.

______________________________
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 : 12:52 PM

IWS Documented News DAILY POSTINGS

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

[IWS] NO MESSAGES until 23 October 2008

[IWS] Hewitt: 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE POSITIONS on WORKPLACE ISSUES (Updated 22 September 2008)

[IWS] Mercer: CULTURAL INTEGRATION ISSUES in M&A COST MILLIONS (Survey) [29 September 2008]

[IWS] OLMS: FINAL RULE IMPLEMENTING FORM T-1, TRUST ANNUAL REPORT [30 September 2008]

[IWS] NCES: AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKA NATIVES 2008: EDUCATION STATUS & TRENDS [30 September 2008]

[IWS] BLS: METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT: AUGUST 2008 [30 September 2008]

[IWS] ADB: SKILLING THE PACIFIC: Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Pacific [online 29 September 2008]

Monday, September 29, 2008

[IWS] Towers Perrin: HEALTH CARE COST SURVEY [24 September 2008]

[IWS] MPI: OVERVIEW of NEW U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST (in effect 1 Oct. 2008) [29 September 2008]

[IWS] Exec. Order: CIVIL SERVICE JOBS for ARMY SPOUSES [25 September 2008]

[IWS] CBO: COST ESTIMATE on EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008 [28 September 2008]

[IWS] BEA: PERSONAL INCOME AND OUTLAYS: AUGUST 2008 [29 September 2008]

Friday, September 26, 2008

[IWS] BLS: Hurricane Ike & LA/TX Counties EMPLOYMENT & WAGE PROFILES [26 September 2008]

[IWS] BLS: 2007 INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS [26 September 2008]

[IWS] Kaiser: 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS - New Side-by-Side Comparison and Video Clips

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