On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 07:43:18 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.

American people with the bill."

Of course, Kerry has the problem solved, according to today's
Washington Post:

snipped

"Kerry's speech, however, underscored the challenge for Democrats on
the issue. The only new proposal he offered would do nothing to stop
companies from moving jobs overseas, but would give government and
workers more advance notification.

Kerry said he would require companies to give three months' notice
before moving jobs abroad; the notice would go to workers and
government agencies tasked with offering laid-off employees assistance
and training. He said he would also require the Labor Department to
gather statistics on the number of jobs that have gone abroad, by
company, and to report them to Congress on an annual basis.

The Kerry campaign estimated that about 1 million jobs have moved
overseas since President Bush took office. Gene Sperling, a top
economic adviser in the Clinton White House, who briefed reporters,
acknowledged that the steps Kerry proposed Wednesday would not, by
themselves, do much to change the behavior of such companies. "

snipped

Wow, three months notice and gathering statistics. That ought to solve
all our job problems. What a joke!


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!