States with jobless rates of 8.5 percent and above AP (November 06, 2009) (AP) - Legislation President Barack Obama is set to sign Friday would extend unemployment insurance benefits by 14 weeks for jobless people in all states who have exhausted their benefits. The jobless living in 27 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, that have unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher would receive an additional six weeks. States receiving the additi
Governor: New proposal in Philly transit strike AP (November 06, 2009) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell said Friday a new proposal has been sent to the union in an effort to end the strike by Philadelphia transit workers, now entering its fourth day.
Obama to sign extension of jobless benefits AP (November 06, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is set to sign a bill extending jobless benefits 20 weeks and prolonging the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit.
Canada's unemployment rate rises AP (November 06, 2009) TORONTO (AP) - Canada's unemployment rate rose to 8.6 percent in October from 8.4 percent a month earlier as the economy shed 43,200 jobs, the government said Friday.
Former Iowa slaughterhouse manager testifies AP (November 06, 2009) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The former manager of a kosher Iowa slaughterhouse that was the site of a massive immigration raid says he never intentionally violated federal laws.
Opel workers across Germany protest GM move AP (November 05, 2009) RUESSELSHEIM, Germany (AP) - Fearing widespread layoffs, thousands of Opel workers walked off the job across Germany on Thursday to protest General Motors Co.'s decision to abandon the unit's sale to new owners.
CVS Caremark 3Q profit up but loses big contracts AP (November 05, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - CVS Caremark Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter profit jumped 39 percent, but shares plunged after the company said its struggling Caremark pharmacy benefits management unit lost $2 billion in business over the last few months.
Jump in productivity puts job creation in doubt AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Companies across the economy are finding ways to do more with fewer workers, dimming hopes that hiring will take off anytime soon.
States with jobless rates of 8.5 percent and above AP (November 05, 2009) (AP) - Legislation passed by the Senate Wednesday would extend unemployment insurance benefits by 14 weeks for jobless people in all states who have exhausted their benefits. The jobless living in 27 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, that have unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher would receive an additional six weeks. States receiving the additional benefits:
Congress set to clear aid to jobless, homebuyers AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is one vote away from sending the president legislation that continues aid to more than a million jobless people and extends tax breaks to hundreds of thousands of prospective homebuyers and struggling businesses.
STIMULUS WATCH: Salary raise counted as saved job AP (November 04, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's economic recovery program saved 935 jobs at the Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, an impressive success story for the stimulus plan. Trouble is, only 508 people work there.
ADP posts higher 1Q profit despite revenue decline AP (November 04, 2009) ROSELAND, N.J. (AP) - Rising unemployment and the struggles of the U.S. auto industry were both evident as payroll and benefits outsourcer Automatic Data Processing Inc. reported a slim 3 percent profit rise in its first quarter. Cost controls offset lower revenue.
Mont. high court: Retirees can lose workers' comp AP (November 04, 2009) HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of a state law that allows insurance companies to cut off workers' compensation payments for those suffering permanent total disability when the disabled party is eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.
Schools reopen as Philly transit strike continues AP (November 04, 2009) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The first day of a transit strike caused widespread delays and frustrated thousands of commuters who had to find other ways to get around Pennsylvania's largest city.
Bank HSBC cutting 1,700 UK jobs AP (November 03, 2009) LONDON (AP) - HSBC Holdings PLC says it is cutting 1,700 positions from its British work force.
Buses, subways halted by Philly transit strike AP (November 03, 2009) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Philadelphia transit system's largest union went on strike early Tuesday, stalling the city's bus, subway and trolley operations a day after the World Series shifted to New York and forcing thousands of commuters to find other ways to get to work.
Banks face Feb. 1 deadline from Fed on pay plans AP (November 03, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's biggest banks face a February deadline for submitting employee compensation plans to the Federal Reserve, according to people with knowledge of the process.
NC appellate judges reject public records lawsuit AP (November 03, 2009) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The North Carolina Court of Appeals has sided with the state treasurer's office in a public records lawsuit that accused officials of withholding documents about the state's pension fund.
Medco Health 3Q profit jumps 13.5 percent AP (November 03, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Medco Health Solutions Inc., the largest U.S. pharmacy benefits manager, said Tuesday its profit rose 13.5 percent as the company gained new clients and benefited from price inflation of brand-name drugs.
Nokia Siemens Networks to lay off up to 5,700 AP (November 03, 2009) HELSINKI (AP) - Nokia Siemens Networks said Tuesday it will lay off up to 5,700 workers globally as part of a move to cut annual costs by euro500 million ($740 million).
J&J says it could cut more than 8,000 jobs AP (November 03, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday it will trim layers of management, cut thousands of jobs, and set other restructuring moves in order to save up to $900 million next year.
Flex spending accounts face hit in health overhaul AP (November 02, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Those tax-free spending accounts that you and your co-workers use to help pay for dental work, insurance copayments or over-the-counter drugs face a hit under the health overhaul bills in Congress - unless a coalition that includes a powerful union, insurers and others can stop it.
Wall Street losses hurt Montana state pensions AP (October 30, 2009) HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana's state pensions systems reeling from big losses in the stock market face a projected shortfall of more than $2 billion three decades from now.
Pfizer shareholders to get vote on executive pay AP (October 29, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Drugmaker Pfizer Inc. said Thursday its shareholders will have input on compensation for company executives starting in 2010.
Mass. gov. credits stimulus with 23,000 jobs AP (October 29, 2009) BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday that the federal stimulus program has created or saved more than 23,000 jobs in Massachusetts since February.
AP IMPACT: Stimulus jobs overstated by thousands AP (October 29, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A Colorado company said it created 4,231 jobs with the help of President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan. The real number: fewer than 1,000.
Fla. man says Home Depot fired him over God button AP (October 28, 2009) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A former cashier for The Home Depot who has been wearing a "One nation under God" button on his work apron for more than a year has been fired, he says because of the religious reference. The company claims that expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed.
Sen. Murray asking Boeing, machinists to talk AP (October 28, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Patty Murray's office says she's trying to arrange talks Wednesday in Washington, D.C., between Boeing and the Machinists union.
Ex-Letterman writer claims hostile environment AP (October 28, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former writer for David Letterman said she quit his NBC talk show in part because of alleged sexual favoritism and a hostile work environment.
NFL to aid ex-players who reported mental problems AP (October 28, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - When a recent study conducted for the NFL suggested that retired pro football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer's disease or other memory afflictions, the NFL was quick to point out that the study did not prove a link between concussions and memory disorders.
Worsening job picture fuels slide in confidence AP (October 27, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - Consumers' confidence about the U.S. economy fell unexpectedly in October as job prospects remained bleak, a private research group said Tuesday, fueling speculation that an already gloomy holiday shopping forecast could worsen.
Groups call for balance in labor, immigration laws AP (October 27, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Workplace immigration raids during the Bush administration interfered with ongoing labor investigations and allowed employers to exploit workers who complained about conditions on the job, labor groups said in a report released Tuesday.
Ariz. official warns of 'massive' teacher layoffs AP (October 27, 2009) PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona faces the prospect of large-scale layoffs of school teachers next year due to the state's budget problems, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said.
Former Mets GM fired by ESPN AP (October 26, 2009) (AP) - Baseball analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN on Sunday night, less than a week after he admitted having an affair with a production assistant at the cable network.
Survey: Hiring, spending pickup seen in next 6 mos AP (October 26, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - Results from a new economic survey may ease concerns about rising unemployment and its effect on consumer spending, as forecasters say more employers appear willing to hire in the coming months.
Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names AP (October 26, 2009) TAOS, N.M. (AP) - Larry Whitten marched into this northern New Mexico town in late July on a mission: resurrect a failing hotel.
Morton: Ala. teachers should help with budget cuts AP (October 23, 2009) MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama schools Superintendent Joe Morton unveiled a plan to deal with budget cuts for fiscal year 2011 partly by making teachers pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits.
Law firms pay new hires to work for public good AP (October 23, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - If things had gone according to plan, Lindsay Murphy would be a big-city tax lawyer by now. Instead, the recent law school graduate found herself doing legal aid, listening to complaints about raw sewage bubbling up into the bathtubs of a Mississippi Delta housing project.
NY delays state workers' retirement fund payment AP (October 23, 2009) ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York officials are forgoing an 8 percent discount on their nearly $1 billion payment to the pension fund for state workers, opting instead to pay later.
Education chief calls for teacher prep overhaul AP (October 22, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is calling for an overhaul of college programs that prepare teachers, saying they are cash cows that do a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the classroom.
Judge: Notices must be in formats blind can read AP (October 22, 2009) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Social Security Administration must provide information on benefits in a way that is accessible to blind people.
Treasury to order bailed-out firms to slash pay AP (October 22, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Treasury Department is expected in the next few days to order companies that received huge government bailouts last year to slash the base salaries of their top executives by an average of 90 percent and cut their total compensation in half, according to a person familiar with the matter.
New jobless claims rise more than expected to 531K AP (October 22, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week, as employers remain reluctant to hire even with the economy showing signs of recovery.
Utah's 4-day workweek brings some dividends AP (October 22, 2009) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Closing Utah state offices on Fridays has delivered an unexpected bonus: a big saving on overtime pay.
TARP figure confirms substantial pay cuts looming AP (October 22, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the panel that oversees the $700 billion federal bailout fund said Thursday the Obama administration is insisting on slashing the salaries of executives of companies that took money from the government.
Officials: 250,000 teaching jobs aided by stimulus AP (October 19, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration says spending aimed at boosting the economy has created or saved 250,000 teaching or other education jobs this year.
Spanish workers reject Magna offer AP (October 19, 2009) MADRID (AP) - A Spanish labor representative says unions have rejected Magna's latest offer concerning the future of an Opel plant targeted for job cuts and will vote on calling a strike.
Watchdog: Treasury wasn't prepared for AIG bonuses AP (October 14, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The fierce debate over bonuses for bailed-out executives was revived on Capitol Hill Wednesday as a government watchdog explained how some executives nearly brought down the financial system - then pocketed millions.
Pratt & Whitney battles Conn. official over jobs AP (October 14, 2009) HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is fighting the Connecticut attorney general's legal effort to help workers block the move of 1,000 jobs from the state.
Ford, UAW reach tentative deal on contract AP (October 13, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - The United Auto Workers union says it has reached a tentative deal with Ford Motor Co. on contract concessions.
Teachers benefit from job-saving stimulus spending AP (October 13, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Teachers appear to have benefited most from the effort to save jobs with the $787 billion recovery package, which sent billions of dollars to states that were on the verge of ordering heavy layoffs in education.
Job losses mar recovery, create woes for Dems AP (October 12, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A distressed economy is widely blamed for President George H.W. Bush's re-election defeat in 1992, and a decade earlier, for the loss of 26 House seats in midterm elections by Ronald Reagan's Republicans. Yet in both instances recession had already ended or was winding down.