Workplace Issues Today: Clorox joins the fight for equal workplace rights
The Clorox Company announced Tuesday that it has joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness. The Coalition comprises a group of US employers who support improving workplace fairness for LGBTQ employees. The coalition supports the Employment Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would establish workplace protections similar to those that exist for other groups, for LGBTQ employees. Essentially, the Coalition would like to establish federal standards that treat all employees the same, and protect them from ‘irrational discrimination.’ Clorox CEO Don Knauss calls the decision to join the Coalition “one of our key social responsibilities” and also a vital business imperative.
See “The Clorox Company joins the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness,” by Aileen Zerudo, CNN Money, Nov 04 2009 (JKW)
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Workplace Issues Today: Southwest pilots ratify new agreement
After rejecting the new contract put forth this summer, 5,900 pilots at Southwest Airlines, represented by the Southwest Airline’s Pilots Association (SWAPA) have approved a new five-year agreement. The contract includes a pay increase, an 401K increase, and changes in scheduling. The contract also allows for only 4% codeshare by pilots, which they feel increases their job security. The original contract allowed 10%. Union spokespeople expressed satisfaction with the agreement, though they also claimed to be ‘looking forward to’ a chance to renegotiate compensation in 2011. The contract ratification comes at a crucial time, as Southwest agreed on terms with almost all other employee divisions earlier this year.
See “Southwest pilots approve five-year contract,” by Jonathan Heckman, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Nov 03 2009 (JKW)
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Learning, training, and development in organizations (Book of the Month)
Learning, training, and development in organizations, edited by Steve W.J. Kozlowski and Eduardo Salas, is Catherwood’s Book of the Month.
This scholarly book in the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s (SIOP) Organizational Frontiers series looks at research on enhancing knowledge acquisition and its application in organizations. It concentrates on training, design and delivery given the changing nature of work and organizations. Now that work is increasingly complex, there is greater emphasis on expertise and cognitive skills. Advances in technology such as computer simulations and web-based training are necessitating a more active role for the learner in the training process. In the broad context of the organization systems, this book promotes learning and development as a continuous lifelong endeavor. [from publisher web site]
New York: Routledge. 517 pages
ISBN 978-0-8058-5559-3
Call Number: HD58.82 .L43 2010
Workplace Issues Today: New Boeing line to be located in South Carolina
Boeing announced that the new production line for the 787 will be located in South Carolina, rather than with the first line in Washington. Boeing cited factors like natural disasters and terrorism as well as the International Association of Machinists (IAM) among its reasons for locating the plant in South Carolina. The IAM had offered Boeing a ten year no strike commitment in return for the line and job security, but were turned down. Critics say that locating the new line away from experienced workers could cause further complications in the already late aircraft, while others say that the past history of strikes in the Washington plant make the choice a smart one. The new line could result in around 4,000 new jobs.
See “Boeing’s Shift to S.C. Raises Union Ire,” by Wendy Kaufman, NPR Morning Edition, Oct 29 2009 (SD)
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The Office (Season 5) is here! – DVD
The Office (Season 5) is now available on DVD from the Catherwood Library. Ask for it by call# (PN1992.77 .O34 2009) at the Circulation Desk to check it out.
And, yes, Season 5 also has its very own Wikipedia page, but don’t look at it, if you want to be surprised.
Workplace Issues Today: Ford employees continue to stand against concessions
1,712 workers at Ford Motor Co.’s plant in Claycomo, Kansas voted yesterday to reject concessions put forth by the company. Despite favorable reviews from the UAW Vice President, only 147 union members voted in favor of concessions. Two other plants, both in Michigan, rejected the concessions as well, but one in Michigan and one in Ohio voted overall in favor. Voting continues this week across the country, so the final outcome of the concession vote will not be known until Saturday at the earliest. Ford Co. continues to push for the concessions, saying they are necessary in order to remain competitive with GM, etc. The concessions include a six-year ban on strikes over wages and a pay freeze for all new/recent hires. The UAW national bargaining team managed to negotiate for a $1000 bonus for approval of the concessions, and new products or repairs at some locations.
See “Claycomo workers reject concessions,” by Greg Hack, Kansas City Star, Oct 26 2009 (JKW)
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Workplace Issues Today: Boeing and IAM in talks over new assembly line
Boeing and the International Association of Machinists have been talking for weeks in Washington about where the companies new manufacturing line for 787s will be placed. Their two options are Everett, Washington or Charleston, South Carolina. Boeing representatives cite the frequent strikes that occur in the Puget Sound area as a deterrent for the placement of the new assembly line, as the Charleston workforce voted to get rid of their union. Questions have arisen over the feasibility of placing the new line in Charleston because an entirely new plant would have to be built, while in Everett equipment would only have to rearranged and an experienced workers could be used. Insiders say that the talks are strained due to the lack of trust on either side, leading to a deadlock only a week before the board meeting that will decide the assembly line’s future.
See “Boeing, union deadlocked in secret talks over new 787 line,” by Dominic Gates, The Seattle Times, Oct 22 2009 (SD)
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Find Company Profiles Before Your Interview!
The web site is: http://guides.library.cornell.edu/interview
Best viewed in full screen! Click the full screen icon before you click play.
The steps demonstrated are:
1. Go to http://guides.library.cornell.edu/interview
2. Click the ‘Company Profiles’ tab.
3. Select ‘Business Source Complete”.
4. Enter the name of the company you are interested in and click ‘Search’.
5. On the left hand side, click ‘Company Profiles’.
6. If available, there will be a Datamonitor profile of the company in PDF format.
Workplace Issues Today: Mandated vaccinations for hospital staff causes dissent
Amid growing concerns about the swine flu pandemic, hospitals and employees are increasingly at odds over mandatory vaccinations for nurses and staff. More and more hospitals around the country are requiring employees to receive seasonal flu shots, a step many health administrators say is vital to preventing transmission of the flu virus. Many hospital employees, however, view the mandating of flu shots as an invasion of privacy, and are afraid staff will be fired if they refuse to be vaccinated. Recent studies have shown that the ratio of vaccinated health care workers mirrors that of the general population at around 33 percent.
See “Hospitals, workers at odds over flu shots,” by Kelly Brewington, Baltimore Sun, Oct 19 2009 (SBG)
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Workplace Issues Today: Healthcare reform takes a step forward
A victory was gained for Democrats in the Senate yesterday when the Senate Finance Committee approved a healthcare reform measure. The measure was approved by a 14-9 vote, with Republican Senator Olympia Snowe voting in favor. As the first Republican in the Senate to endorse a healthcare reform measure, Senator Snowe said that her vote was made with reservations, and does not necessarily reflect the way she will vote in the future. Most Republicans continue to lambast the bill, calling it too costly, and too heavy-handed (i.e. too much government intervention). Several private health insurance stocks fell after the committee’s vote was announced.
See “Senate panel backs healthcare reform,” by John Whitesides & Donna Smith, Reuters, Reuters, Oct 14 2009 (JKW)
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