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.
NetJets Inc. to lay off 495 pilots nationwide AP (November 05, 2009) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Private air service NetJets Inc., unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, says it will lay off up to 495 pilots nationwide because of a drop in demand.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kin tells of brief call from doomed scallop boat AP (November 04, 2009) CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) - Shortly before 5 a.m. on March 24, Janet Greene's phone rang in her North Carolina home. A light sleeper, she grabbed it on the first ring, knowing it was likely to be from Royal Smith Jr., a commercial fisherman who had two sons with her daughter, Stacy.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Mountain State U, bankers group become partners AP (November 02, 2009) BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) - Mountain State University and the West Virginia Bankers Association are forming a partnership to provide continued education to workers in the banking industry.
Consol cited for training violation in 2008 death AP (November 02, 2009) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Federal investigators say they can't determine how a foreman for coal producer Consol Energy fell into the Ohio River in northern West Virginia and drowned late last year.
Retailers suspend dealings with Mich. fruit grower AP (October 30, 2009) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Wal-Mart, Kroger and Meijer are suspending business with a large southwestern Michigan blueberry grower after investigators found children as young as 6 working in the grower's fields.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Safety board to investigate Tesoro refinery fire AP (October 23, 2009) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says it is sending a three-person team to investigate a fire at the Tesoro Corp. refinery in Salt Lake City.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Texas unemployment rate jumps to 8.2 percent AP (October 16, 2009) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 percent in September and an additional 44,700 jobs were lost, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday.
514K new jobless claims; inflation remains muted AP (October 15, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - New jobless claims dropped to the lowest level since January and the prices of many household goods stayed low last month, positive signs of stability for the fledgling economic recovery.
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.
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.
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.
Job data to show stimulus aided teachers, laborers AP (October 12, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's stimulus plan spared tens of thousands of teachers from losing their jobs, state officials said Monday amid a nationwide effort to calculate the effect of Washington's $787 billion recovery package.
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.