I am pleased to send you our web-based e-mail "Alert" prepared by Baker
& McKenzie's Global Labour, Employment & Employee Benefits Practice
Group("GLEEB"). The Alert's purpose is to provide our clients and friends
with timely updates - in a short "user friendly" fashion with hyperlinks to
articles with more detailed information on employment law developments from
around the world. Hence, the descriptive title of Global Employment Law
Alert. The July 2001 issue of the Global Employment Law Alert is included
below.

The Alert is organized into six sections - Global, Asia Pacific, Europe,
Africa/Middle East, South America, and North America. The Alert consists of
short, one-paragraph "blurbs," organized by country and region.  You can
quickly scan the Alert for items of particular interest, and then click on
the hyperlinks provided for each blurb for additional information.

Please email me back if you would like to be removed from my email list, or
if you would like to receive further information.

If you are not on our mailing list for our quarterly publication, The Global
Employer, which summarizes cutting-edge developments in labor and employment
law around the world, and would like to be, please email me your physical
address and I'll be glad to send you a copy of our latest edition.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Jordan W. Cowman
  Board Certified, Labor & Employment Law
  Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Baker & McKenzie
2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 2300
Dallas, Texas 75201
214/978-3015
214/978-3099 fax
jordan.w.cowman@bakernet.com





top
This email contains the latest Global Employment Law Alert!
 <http:\\www.bakernet.com\gel>

Baker & McKenzie

 <http://www.bmck.com/gel/current.asp?submitbtn=Show+Alerts&area=calert>
GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT LAW ALERT
Baker Events   Global   Asia Pacific   Europe & CIS   Africa/Middle East
South America   North America

Baker_EventsBaker Events	 top
VISIT OUR GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT LAW ALERT WEBSITE: To access our Alert program,
including current and past editions of the GEL Alert, please visit our
dedicated website at http://www.bakernet.com/gel. Readers can search the
current GEL Alert by category, or access our complete archive search engine
to review past GEL Alerts by topic, country, region, or date. In addition,
readers can search our Knowledge Base (K-Base) for surveys, resources, and
articles by members of our Global Labour, Employment & Employee Benefits
Practice Group.   Alert Date: 7/1/01

NEW PUBLICATION SCHEDULE: Based on feedback of our readership, the GEL Alert
will be disseminated twice per month (on the 1st and 15th day of each month)
beginning in mid-July. This will ensure that our readership receives the
most timely and up-to-date information possible on breaking developments.
Alert Date: 7/1/01

Baker Events: Mexico - On July 12, 2001 a seminar entitled "The Labor
Environment Today: Challenges and Perspectives" will be held in Guadalajara,
Mexico. For further information, contact Laura Garc?a-Cruz at
laura.garcia-cruz@bakernet.com <mailto:laura.garcia-cruz@bakernet.com> .
Alert Date: 7/1/01


GlobalGlobal	 top
** - INCREASE IN SPENDING ON AGING POPULATIONS: The Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development recently released a report on the
fiscal implications of aging. The report concludes that the world's
industrialized countries may have to spend an additional 6 to 7 percent of
gross domestic product on pensions and healthcare by 2050 for older workers.
See " OECD  <http://www.oecd.org/media/release/ChapIV-EO69a.htm> Calls For
Fiscal And Other Reforms To Offset Higher Spending On Aging Populations."
<mailto:guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com> guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

** - AFRICAN UNION LEADERS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING WORKERS: On June
5, 2001, union leaders from fourteen African countries signed a solidarity
message expressing disappointment over protracted salary negotiations with
their governments. The message urges African governments to keep promises
made to union workers in prior negotiations. Chief Government spokesman and
Information and Broadcasting Minister Vernon Mwaanga of Zambia described the
message as "irresponsible," explaining that union leaders should not comment
on matters in other countries. See " Union Solidarity In Africa
<http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200106050201.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - PENSION REFORM BECOMING A PRESSING GLOBAL ISSUE: On June 7, 2001, the
World Bank reported that pension reform is becoming an increasingly
important global issue for developing and high-income countries. Many
countries have basic pension plans in place; however, most only cover 10% to
30% of the working population and impose a heavy strain on economic
development. The World Bank favors a multi-pillar pension plan consisting of
minimal contribution by the lifetime poor, access to various financial
instruments for the large informal sector, and a diversified sector for
formal workers.  <mailto:david.w.ellis@bakernet.com>
david.w.ellis@bakernet.com or  <mailto:robert.west@bakernet.com>
robert.west@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

** - INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE OPENS AND SECRETARY OF LABOUR ELECTED:
On June 5, 2001, the 89th session of the International Labour Conference
opened and elected Ms. Patricia A. Sto. Tomas as President. Ms. Sto. Tomas
is currently the Secretary of Labour and Employment for Philippines. She
emphasized major agenda items of the conference, including adoption of new
international standards on safety and health of workers. See " International
Labor Conference Opens
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2001/18.htm> ."
<mailto:william.watson@bakernet.com> william.watson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jorge.de.regil@bakernet.com> jorge.de.regil@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - ICFTU REPORT FINDS DISCRIMINATION AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT TO
STRIKE IN SIX CARIBBEAN STATES: Recently, in a report on six members of the
Organisation of East Carribbean States (OCES), the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) found excessive limitations on
the right to strike for many employees, evident workplace discrimination,
and non co-operation with the ILO. The report coincides with a review of
OECS trade policy by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and focuses on
respect for internationally recognised core labour standards in Antigua and
Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent
and the Grenadines. See " ICFTU Strike Report
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991212906> ."
<mailto:Richard.tuschman@bakernet.com> richard.tuschman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com> neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - ICFTU LAUNCHES REPORT ON FORCED LABOUR IN PRISONS: Prison labour is one
of the five exceptions stipulated in ILO Convention 29 concerning the
prohibition of forced labour. The issue, which is at the top of the agenda
at the current ILO annual conference, is also the subject of a new ICFTU
report. The ICFTU report states that from joint ventures of private
companies and public authorities to complete privatisation of the prison
system, penal institutions are increasingly being managed like fully-fledged
businesses to the detriment of their inmates, whose basic rights are
regularly violated. See " ICFTU Prison Labour Report
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991212917> ."
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991212917>
<mailto:Robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com> robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - WORKWEEK IN SOUTH KOREA LONGEST, FRANCE SHORTEST: On June 5, 2001,
Roper Reports Worldwide 2001 Global Consumer Study released its findings of
international labour statistics. The average full-time workweek for the 32
countries surveyed is 44.6 hours, with workweeks in South Korea the longest
and France with the shortest. See "International Labour Statistics."
<mailto:Gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com> gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carole.a.spink@bakernet.com> carole.a.spink@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS AGREE ON MEASURE TO REQUIRE CONSULTATION WITH
WORKERS: On June 11, 2001, the European Union (EU) member states came to a
political agreement requiring companies with 50 employees or less to consult
with workers before implementing lay-offs, decisions related to relocation,
or other economic restructuring. EU ministers also agreed on directives
addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Finally, EU member states
also approved legislation to set noise limits in the workplace. See "
76/207/EEC
<http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/OM-Europarl?PROG=REPORT&L=EN&PUBREF=> ."
<mailto:Christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com or
<mailto:alex.valls@bakernet.com> alex.valls@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

** - ICFTU INSISTS THAT "CHILD LABOUR" BE RECOGNISED: On June 15, 2001,
global trade union organisations condemned governments who are beginning to
accept the exploitation of child labour. Activitsts complain that
governments have become increasingly supportive of weakening international
commitments to eliminate child labour, by leaving millions of children in
the workforce and seeking trivial improvements in their working lives. The
global union movement is now urging all governments to recognize the
importance of child labour. See " Global Unions Group
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991212987> ."
<mailto:Stewart.saxe@bakernet.com> stewart.saxe@bakernet.com or
<mailto:alex.valls@bakernet.com> alex.valls@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

** - EU COMMITTEE COMPROMISES ON PENSION PROPOSALS: On June 19, 2001, the
European Commission's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs agreed to a
series of amendments to open up pan-European occupational pension markets to
"pay as you go" schemes. The compromise was reached between those who prefer
to guarantee the security of pensions and those who support opening up
national markets and offering consumers more freedom of choice. See "
Compromise On Pension Proposals
<http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/OM-Europarl?PROG=PRESS-NEWSRP&L=EN&PUBREF=-
//EP//TEXT+PRESS-NEWSRP+NR-20010620-1+0+DOC+SGML+V0//EN&LEVEL=1> ."
<mailto:maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com> maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com or
<mailto:robert.west@bakernet.com> robert.west@bakernet.com  Alert Date:
7/1/01

** - EXXONMOBIL SUED OVER ACEH RIGHTS ABUSES: On June 20, 2001, human rights
groups accused ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, of human rights
abuses allegedly committed by security forces in Indonesia. Eleven villagers
allege that ExxonMobil was complicit in murders, rape, torture, and
kidnapping. See " ExxonMobil Sued Over Human Rights Abuses
<http://news.excite.com/news/r/010621/17/rights-indonesia-exxon> ."
<mailto:william.r.watson@bakernet.com> william.r.watson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:duane.gingerich@bakernet.com> duane.gingerich@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - IUF/COLSIBA AND CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL SIGN AGREEMENT ON TRADE
UNION RIGHTS FOR BANANA WORKERS: On June 14, 2001, an agreement on "Freedom
of Association, Minimum Labour Standards and Employment in Latin American
Banana Operations" was signed at the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
in Switzerland. The agreement, signed by representatives from the
International Union of Food (IUF), the Latin American Coordinating Committee
of Banana Workers Unions (COLSIBA), and Chiquita Brands International,
addresses worker health issues, environmental issues, and minimal labour
standards. See " Freedom  <http://www.iuf.org/iuf/Press/010614.htm>
Agreement."  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or  <mailto:kevin.coon@bakernet.com>
kevin.coon@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

** - ILO REPORTS ON CHILD TRAFFICKING IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: On June
15, 2001, the International Labour Organisation released a report focusing
on the rising concerns of child trafficking in West and Central Africa. The
report is the result of the first phase of a project to combat trafficking
in children for labour exploitation in nine countries of West and Central
Africa. See " Child Trafficking Report
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2001/21.htm> ."
<mailto:andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com> andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carole.a.spink@bakernet.com> carole.a.spink@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - BUSINESSES WAKE UP TO THE THREAT OF HIV/AIDS: On June 23, 2001, the
United Nations Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) published a
third report in a series of five special features to coincide with the UN
General Assembly's Special Session on HIV/AIDS. The report reveals that
HIV/AIDS threatens to adversely affect the economic and social progress
achieved to date in Southern Africa. Several large employers have initiated
responses to the issue through programs of prevention and care in Africa.
See " HIV/AIDS Threat
<http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106230015.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.bowling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - ILO APPROVES GLOBAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AGRICULTURAL STANDARDS: On June
21, 2001, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) approved a new
international convention setting out the first global standards on safety
and health for agricultural workers. The convention sets out certain rights
for agricultural workers, including the rights to be informed on safety and
health matters, select safety and health representatives, and participate in
workplace inspections through the selected representatives. The standards
also address the handling and transport of materials and the sound
management of chemicals. The convention will take effect once it has been
adopted by two ILO member states. See " Proposed Convention Concerning
Safety
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc89/rep-iv-2b.htm> &
Health In Agriculture."  <mailto:gina.l.knight@bakernet.com>
gina.l.knight@bakernet.com or  <mailto:mary.maher@bakernet.com>
mary.maher@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

** - EMPLOYER SUED IN WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION WITH INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS:
In a recent wrongful death suit filed in the United States, an employer has
been joined in an action against its employee who allegedly struck and
killed a teenager while driving and making cell phone calls on company
business. In the first case of its kind, the victim's family sought to
extend an employer's liability to the actions of its employees while talking
on a cell phone about company business after business hours. The employer in
this case did not have a internal policy on cell-phone use. Cases such as
this and increased reliance on cell-phones and other remote technology are
prompting many employers to address this issue on an international basis.
See " Wrongful Death Suit Over Cell Phone Use
<http://www.law.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=law/Vie
w&c=Article&cid=ZZZQ61SKAOC&live=true&cst=1&pc=0&pa=0> ."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - ILO ADOPTS CODE ON PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WORKERS WITH
HIV/AIDS: On June 22, 2001, the International Labour Organisation adopted a
new voluntary global code aimed at stopping discrimination in the workplace
against employees infected with HIV/AIDS. The code sets out guidelines on
the prevention of HIV/AIDS and managing and mitigating the impact of the
disease in the workplace. Additionally, the code addresses the support of
HIV/AIDS infected employees. See " ILO To Launch New Code Of Practice On
HIV/AIDS And The World
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2001/24.htm> Of Work."
<mailto:Carlos.dodds@bakernet.com> carlos.dodds@bakernet.com or
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OFFERING US$9 MILLION IN GRANTS TO FUND
HIV/AIDS WORKPLACE EDUCATION EFFORT ABROAD: On June 27, 2001, the U.S.
Department of Labor announced that it was making available approximately
US$9 million to fund HIV/AIDS workplace education programs in other
countries. The DOL plans to award grants to qualified organizations in up to
10 countries. See " Global Workplace Prevention And Education Program
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&doc
id=01-16131-filedJill> ."  <mailto:Gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com>
abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

** - ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS FOR PERSONAL DATA TRANSFER: The European
<http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm> Commission recently adopted a
decision outlining contractual clauses to ensure adequate safeguards for
personal data transferred from the European Union to countries outside the
EU. The decision requires Member States to recognise that companies or
organisations using standard clauses in contracts concerning personal data
transfers to countries outside the EU are offering protection to the data in
compliance with the Data Protection Directive. See " Safeguard For Personal
Data <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/dat/1995/en_395L0046.html> ."
<mailto:Andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com> michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

** - HARMONIZING PENSION SYSTEMS: Commissioner Bolkenstein of the European
Commission recently announced several measures to harmonize the different
pension systems of the 15 Member States of the European Union. Currently 11
Member States apply the fiscal "omkeer-regel," a tax rule meaning that
pension premiums are tax deductible, whilst pension benefits are taxed at
the time of payment. Bolkenstein argues that the Member States that apply
other fiscal rules (Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Luxembourg) should
also apply the "omkeer-regel" rule in order to harmonize the different
European pension systems.  <mailto:joseph.f.van.vlijmen@bakernet.com>
joseph.f.van.vlijmen@bakernet.com or  <mailto:mirjana.maric@bakernet.com>
mirjana.maric@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

** - GYPSIES PLAN SUIT AGAINST IBM: On June 21, 2001, an attorney for the
Gypsy International Recognition and Compensation Action (GIRCA) announced
that GIRCA is planning to file a civil suit against IBM, alleging that its
machines helped Hitler identify and send 600,000 members of the group to
their death in slave labour camps during the Holocaust. See " Gypsies Plan
Suit <http://news.findlaw.com/news/s/20010531/holocaustswissibmdc.html> ."
<mailto:markus.berni@bakernet.com> markus.berni@bakernet.com or
<mailto:alain.stehle@bakernet.com> alain.stehle@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01


Asia_PacificAsia Pacific	 top
AU - LABOUR ASKED TO OUTLINE IMMIGRATION DETENTION POLICY: Phillip Ruddock,
the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs recently announced
that the Labour Government was compelled to outline plans for housing
illegal boat arrivals. Labour is trying to be firm on illegal workers and
those over-staying their visas, but they are sending mixed messages in
planning facilities to detain these over-stayers. See " Labor Outlines
Detention Policy
<http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media_releases/media01/r01067.htm> ."
<mailto:spiro.mellos@bakernet.com> spiro.mellos@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.michalandos@bakernet.com> michael.michalandos@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

AU - LABOUR PARTY OFFICIALS INTERFERE WITH UNION BUSINESS: On June 14, 2001,
two senior Labour Party members, John Della Bosca and Senator Stephen
Hutchins, were accused of interfering in a union election battle to reclaim
power in their party. The president of the Australian Worker's Union
believes the interference was part of a plan to involve the Transport
Workers Union in taking control of the ruling right-wing faction of the
union movement and Australian Labour Party. See " Labor Party Interferes
<http://www.smh.com.au/news/0106/14/national/national24.html> ."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com or
<mailto:spiro.mellos@bakernet.com> spiro.mellos@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

AU - UNION BOSS CHALLENGES T.V. STATION OWNER: On June 13, 2001, Union
leader Dean Mighell challenged Channel 7 owner, Kerry Stokes, to pursue him
for $1500 for breach of federal industrial relations laws. Mighell was fined
for breaching the Workplace Relations Act by using unlawful coercion against
Channel 7. Mighell calls the fine inappropriate and says he will not be
rushing to pay it. See " Union Boss Fined For Breach Of Workplace Relations
<http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/printpage/0,5481,2108751,00.html> Act."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com or
<mailto:mary.maher@bakernet.com> mary.maher@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

AU - AUSTRALIAN INTERNET STANDARDS TO FOLLOW EUROPE: On June 5, 2001,
Australia's Internet Industry Association (IIA), its national body for
internet content, commerce, and connectivity, announced that it intends to
target compliance with the EU Privacy Directive as one of the key areas its
privacy code would address. The head of the IIA, Peter Coroneos, said that
the new standard IIA Privacy Code would establish industry benchmarks that
go beyond current Australian privacy legislation. He explained that the IIA
had foreseen EU compliance as a major issue for companies trading on the
internet which, by definition, defied national boundaries. See: " IIA
Privacy Code To  <http://www.iia.net.au/index2.html> Tackle EU Compliance.
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com or
<mailto:tim.dixon@bakernet.com> tim.dixon@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01


AU - AUSTRALIAN UNION TO RUN CLASS ACTION CASE ON PASSIVE SMOKING: Recently,
the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union announced
that it had established a register of workers as a first step to gathering
case information for common law cases against employers who they alleged put
their employees at risk from exposure to smoking. The union says it will
also approach insurance companies in the coming weeks warning them that they
face serious insurance losses if they continue to insure companies that are
not smoke-free workplaces. Union representatives said "LHMU members will not
stop until they have succeeded in achieving smoke-free workplaces". See "
Union Announces Campaign For Smoke-Free Hospitality
<http://www.lhmu.org.au/union/381.html> Workplaces."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com or
<mailto:mary.maher@bakernet.com> mary.maher@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01


AU - EMPLOYER WRONG IN E-MAIL DISMISSAL: On June 13, 2001, the Western
Australia Industrial Relations Commission found that an employer was wrong
to dismiss a worker for storing what amounted to schoolyard dirty jokes in
his email folder. The Commission found that even though the worker had
breached the employer's internet and email policy, the breach was trivial
and the employer's application of the policy was inconsistent with its
conduct elsewhere. The decision highlights the need for employers to be
careful of overreacting to trivial or technical breaches of email policies
and that they need to properly explain to employees what constitutes
inappropriate or offensive material for the purposes of their policy. See "
Alan Victor Wilmott v Bank Of Western Australia Ltd
<http://www.ecruiting.com.au/express/bankwa140601.htm> ."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com or
<mailto:mary.maher@bakernet.com> mary.maher@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01


AU - TRIBUNAL WARNS EMPLOYERS TO REFLECT DIVERSITY IN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
POLICIES: A recent decision by the New South Wales Administrative Appeals
Tribunal highlights the importance of taking into account the ethnic
diversity of staff when communicating company anti-discrimination policies.
In the case a school custodian was awarded compensation after her manager
ignored her sexual harassment complaints and then demoted her. The tribunal
found that the worker was not aware of the company's sexual harassment
policy but even if she had it would have been of little value to her as her
command of written English was poor. See: " D v Berkeley Challenge
<http://www.agd.nsw.gov.au/adtjudgments/2001nswadt.nsf/f1a6baff573a075dca256
862002912ec/ce97ad8f5a862ccdca256a5e0009b852?OpenDocument> ."
<mailto:michael.michalandos@bakernt.com> michael.michalandos@bakernt.com or
<mailto:kathleen.thornton@bakernet.com> kathleen.thornton@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

AU - AUSTRALIAN COURTS INCREASINGLY WILLING TO ENFORCE REASONABLE
RESTRAINTS: In a recent decision, the New South Wales Supreme Court has
banned an IT recruitment consultant from working in the New South Wales
recruitment industry for 3 months after she went to work for a direct
competitor. The Court was of the view that the financial hardship she would
have to endure as a result of enforcing her restraint or non-compete clause
will be for a limited time and was the price she must pay for a direct and
flagrant breach of her contract. See " HiTech Contracting Limited v Jane
Lynn <http://www.ecruiting.com.au/express/hitechvlynn180601.htm> ."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com and
<mailto:spiro.mellos@bakernet.com> spiro.mellos@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

AU - AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO OUTLAW COMPULSORY UNION FEES: The
Australian Government has recently introduced a new bill into Parliament
which seeks to outlaw the use of "bargaining fee" clauses in workplace
agreements. The proposed legislation will make it unlawful for Australian
unions to charge a "service fee" to be imposed on a worker unless that
individual worker agrees in advance to the service fee. The government
contends that the service fees are an attempt by unions to introduce back
door compulsory unionism. See " Back Door Compulsory Union Tactic Removed
<http://www.dewrsb.gov.au/ministers/mediacentre/printable.asp?show=1819> ."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com and
<mailto:mary.maher@bakernet.com> mary.maher@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

AU - IMMIGRANT BOAT CAPTURED OFF AUSTRALIA: On June 15, 2001, Australian
Federal police intercepted an Indonesian boat off Christmas Island carrying
231 suspected illegal immigrants from the Middle East. Five Indonesian
crewmembers were charged with people smuggling offenses, which can carry a
penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. See " Immigrant Boat Captured
<http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/06/15/illegal.immigrants/index
.html> ."  <mailto:ian.dixon@bakernet.com> ian.dixon@bakernet.com or
<mailto:paulbrown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01


AU - WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY BECOME KEY ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE: On June
20, 2001, Queensland Council of Unions announced that workplace health and
safety issues are major items on their agenda. After reports of unhealthy
workplaces, the Council is urging employers and the government to establish
a Minimum Standards Code. See " Health And Safety
<http://www.qcu.asn.au/mr031.pdf> Become Key Workplace Issues."
<mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com> paul.brown@bakernet.com or
<mailto:mary.maher@bakernet.com> mary.maher@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

AU - INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MINISTER ACCUSED OF RENEGING ON REFORMS: On June
18, 2001, Australian union members accused the Industrial Relations
Minister, Mr. Della Bosca, of rushing controversial parts if his reform
package through Parliament. Unionists claim Della Bosca agreed to withhold
issues that were still being disputed, such as workers compensation, instead
of sending them to Parliament for a vote. See " Della Bosca Reneges On
Reforms <http://www.smh.com.au/news/0106/18/national/national9.html> ."
<mailto:kate.temple@bakernet.com> kate.temple@bakernet.com or
<mailto:garry.rich@bakernet.com> garry.rich@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

HK - EOC WELCOMES HIGH COURT RULING: On June 22, 2001 the Equal
Opportunities Commission (EOC) announced that it welcomes the Hong Kong High
Court's declaration that the Secondary School Places Allocation System
(SSPA) is discriminatory and therefore unlawful. SSPA was investigated
beginning in 1998 after complaints by parents whose children were allocated
to a lower band than their classmates of the opposite sex with lower
academic achievements. See " Court Rules SSPA Is Unlawful
<http://eoc.vh.hk.linkage.net/textmode/press/220601e.htm> ."
<mailto:Andrea.lauffs@bakernet.com> andrea.s.lauffs@bakernet.com or
<mailto:paul.tan@bakernet.com> paul.tan@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01


ID - MASSIVE WORKERS' RALLIES AGAINST LABOUR DECREE ROCK INDONESIAN CITIES:
On June 13, 2001, Indonesian workers held rallies to protest a new labour
decree that favors employers and puts workers at a disadvantage. Under the
new decree, workers dismissed for incompetence or early retirement would
lose long-service payments. The decree came after complaints from employers
and investors about excessive costs incurred in the past year. See " New
Labor  <http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010613/1/w72q.html> Decree."
<mailto:Duane.j.gingerich@bakernet.com> duanej.gingerich@bakernet.com or
<mailto:edmund.leow@bakernet.com> edmund.leow@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

IN - CONGLOMERATE OF INDIA-BASED COMPANIES FORMS NEW ONLINE RECRUITING
VENTURE: On June 1, 2001, a consortium of companies based in eastern India
announced the formation of an online recruitment venture. Called
www.pilotyourcareer.com, the venture intends to expand to northern and
southern India, and then to Europe, Australia, and the U.S. This venture is
reported to be the first based out of the eastern part of India. See " India
<http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166339.html> On-Line Recruiting."
<mailto:Andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrewj.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:narendra.acharya@bakernet.com> narendra.acharya@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

IN - PEOPLES' UNION IN INDIA PROTESTS SLOW RESTORATION OF BUSINESS
INFRASTRUCTURE FOLLOWING RAVAGING EARTHQUAKE: On June 3, 2001, an Indian
peoples' union called Anjar Group-2001 engaged in angry protests during
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to the earthquake devastated
Kutch district of Gujarat. Prime Minister Vajpayee was there to reiterate
his support for various relief packages for reviving trade, business, and
industrial units, as well as providing temporary shelters to residents whose
homes were lost in the earthquake. The Group's leader, Shyam Sunder, was
quoted as saying, "We have decided to observe a total Kutch shutdown during
the prime minister's visit as a mark of protest against the state
government's neglect and insensitivity to the suffering of the people." See
" People's Union Protest <http://www.economictimes.com/today/01poli01.htm>
."  <mailto:Andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:narendra.acharya@bakernet.com> narendra.acharya@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

IN - FUNDED SYSTEM IS THE ANSWER TO REDUCE PENSION LIABILITY: On June 25,
2001, a working group created to review pension liability recommended that
the Indian Government switch to a funded system in order to reduce pension
liability. Currently, government employees do not contribute to their own
pensions. See " Pension Liability
<http://www.economictimescom/today/in03.htm> ."
<mailto:netima.luerakorn@bakernet.com> netima.luerakorn@bakernet.com or
<mailto:narenda.acharya@bakernet.com> narendra.acharya@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

JP - JAPANESE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROBLEMS: On June 8, 2001, a former
employee of a Japanese elementary school returned to the workplace and
killed eight children. This attack has fueled the growing concern of
workplace violence in Japan. See " Violent Crime In The Japanese Workplace
<http://new.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newid_1377000/1377000/13
77781.stm> ."  <mailto:hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com>
hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com or  <mailto:hideo.ohta@bakernet.com>
hideo.ohta@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

JP- NORTH KOREA BLASTS JAPAN FOR REFUSING VISAS FOR RALLY: On June 8, 2001,
a Tokyo-based monitoring agency quoted the official radio Pyongyang blasting
Japan for refusing to grant visas to North Korean officials wanting to
attend a protest in Tokyo criticizing history textbooks that "gloss over"
Japan's wartime aggression. See " North Korea Blasts Japan
<http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010608/wl/japan_korea_textbook_dc_2.html>
."  <mailto:hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com> hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com or
<mailto:nam.paik@bakernet.com> nam.h.paik@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01


JP - JAPAN PASSES LANDMARK PENSION BILL: On June 22, 2001, Japan enacted a
version of the U.S. 401(k) retirement savings plan that will, for the first
time, allow working individuals to choose how to invest part of their
pension monies. See " Japan Passes Landmark Pension Bill
<http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/2001-06-23/15757.html> ."
<mailto:hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com> hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com or
<mailto:hideo.ohta@bakernet.com> hideo.ohta@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

JP - MONTHLY LABOUR SURVEY RELEASED: On June 19, 2001, the Japanese Ministry
of Health, Labour, and Welfare published its Monthly Labour Survey for April
of 2001, which reported statistics based on cash earnings, hours worked, and
number of people employed. See " Monthly Labour Survey
<http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/1304fr/mk1304re.html> ."
<mailto:hideo.ohta@bakernet.com> hideo.ohta@bakernet.com or
<mailto:niroshi.kondo@bakernet.com> hiroshi.kondo@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

KR - POLICE IN KOREA ARREST UNION LEADERS AS SECOND AIRLINE STRIKE NEARS
END: On June 16, 2001, four Korean Air union leaders were arrested for
heading an illegal strike. Korean Air Lines Co. had agreed with unions to
withdraw the arrest warrants as part of a deal to end a two-day strike by
the pilots; however, the police decided to carry out the warrants anyway.
See " Police  <http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/010618/1/10m0q.html> Arrest Union
Leaders In Korea."  <mailto:nam.h.paik@bakernet.com> nam.h.paik@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:narenda.achayra@bakernet.co> narenda.achayra@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

MM - RIGHTS GROUP SAYS MYANMAR STILL USING FORCED LABOUR: On June 11, 2001,
Human Rights Watch reported that despite an official ban, Myanmar was still
using forced labour. Human Rights Watch reported that migrants entering
Thailand from several divisions of Myanmar said they had personally taken
part in or witnessed forced labour as recently as May. The migrants reported
harsh labour and violence by supervising military police. See " Forced
Labour in Myanmar
<http://new.findlaw.com/international/s/20010612/rightsmyanmardc.html> ."
<mailto:prachern.tiyapunjanit@bakernet.com>
prachern.tiyapunjanit@bakernet.com or
<mailto:anurat.tiyaphorn@bakernet.com> anurat.tiyaphorn@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

MY - TEACHERS IN MALAYSIA TOLD TO HAVE BABIES ON THE HOLIDAYS: On June 24,
2001, Deputy Education Minister Abdul Axix Samsuddin urged woman teachers to
plan their pregnancies around their classroom schedules. Since the Ministry
does not provide substitutes for teachers on maternity leave and most
teachers are women, Samsuddin fears that if too many teachers go on
maternity leave at once, the classrooms will be shorthanded. See " Have Your
Babies On The Holidays
<http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=37946> ."
<mailto:duane.j.gingerich@bakernet.com> duane.j.gingerich@bakernet.com or
<mailto:guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com> guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

NZ - NEW ZEALAND WATERSIDE WORKERS WIN LANDMARK CASE BUT CALL OFF STRIKE
ACTIONS: Waterside workers in Auckland called off strike action which was to
occur on June 28, 2001, despite winning a landmark case which would have
allowed the action to go ahead. Their employer, Ports of Auckland, argued in
the New Zealand Employment Court that the proposed strike action of up to
250 workers breached the new good faith provisions under the Employment
Relations Act. However, the Court ruled that there was no evidence that the
strike notice had significantly undermined the talks and was unconvinced
that the action breached good faith provisions. See " Court Backs Walk-Out
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=197260&thesection=news&t
hesubsection=general> ."  <mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com>
paul.brown@bakernet.com or  <mailto:kathleen.thornton@bakernet.com>
kathleen.thornton@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

NZ - COURT SLOWS IMPACT OF REFORM LAWS IN NEW ZEALAND: A recent full bench
of the New Zealand Employment Court has overturned a decision of the new
Employment Relations Authority to prohibit cross-examination during a
hearing. The Authority had relied on the new Employment Relations Act's
guidelines that it was to focus on practical solutions and conduct quick
fire investigations. However, the Court found that cross examination was a
necessary ingredient of the principles of natural justice. See " Judges
Upset Quick-Fire Hearings
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=business&thesubsectio
n=&storyID=192556> ."  <mailto:paul.brown@bakernet.com>
paulbrown@bakernet.com or  <mailto:kathleenthornton@bakernet.com>
kathleen.thornton@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

PH - UNICEF ENVOY DECRIES CHILD SEX TRADE: On June 8, 2001, Agnes Chan, a
Hong Kong- born singer and ambassador for the United Nation's Children's
Fund (UNICEF) urged the international community to help stop the sexual
exploitation of children in the Philippines. At least 20,000 homeless
children roam the streets where they are beggars, child prostitutes, petty
thieves, and drug couriers. Even worse, between 60,000 and 100,000
Philippine children are victims of the country's sex trade. See " UNICEF
Envoy Decries Child Sex Trade
<http://www.inquirer.net/brk/2001/jun/08/brkpol_5-1.htm> ."
<mailto:romeo.salonga@bakernet.com> romeo.salonga@bakernet.com or
<mailto:akira.ito@bakernet.com> akira.ito@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01


PH - GOVERNEMENT WORKERS GET SALARY HIKE: On June 8, 2001, Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a law granting salary increases to
government employees who have been surpassed by workers in the private
sector in terms of compensation and benefits. The bill will upgrade all
national government salaries by 5%, including teachers, and will also
increase the wages of the Philippine National Police with a 12% increase.
All salary increases are effective on July 1, 2001. See " Government Workers
Get Salary Increase <http://www.inq7.net/brk/2001/jun/08/brkpol_21-1.htm> ."
<mailto:romeo.salonga@bakernet.com> romeo.salonga@bakernet.com or
<mailto:gil.zerrudo@bakernet.com> gil.zerrudo@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

PH - PHILIPPINES NBI CLAMPS DOWN ON CYBERTHIEVES: The Philippine National
Bureau of Investigation recently reported it will formally charge two former
employees of the Thames International Business School for allegedly breaking
into the school's computer system and stealing digital material. The former
employees are the first to be charged with hacking and piracy under the
Philippines E-Commerce Act. See " Hacking And
<http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/16678.html> Piracy Charges."
<mailto:romeo.l.salonga@bakernet.com> romeo.l.salonga@bakernet.com or
<mailto:gil.zerrudo@bakernet.com> gil.zerrudo@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

TW - GOVERNMENT TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS ON PENSION FUND USAGE: The Council of
Labor Affairs (CLA) of the Taiwan Government recently passed three important
resolutions. CLA announced that within three months, the relevant rules will
be amended and become effective to enable: (1) a company to pay severance
out of part of its pension fund; (2) a company to allocate part of its
pension fund to its subsidiary company's account if employees will be
transferred to such subsidiary; and (3) the city and local county
governments to set up committees to approve payment of pension to retirees
without the retirees involving in legal action or stamps for approval from
the pension fund committee of a company. See " News From Taiwan
<http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/article-pension fund usage.doc> ."
<mailto:Seraphim.mar@bakernet.com> seraphim.mar@bakernet.com or
<mailto:remington.huang@bakernet.com> remington.huang@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

TW - PROFESSIONALS ARE IN DEMAND IN TAIWAN: A recent survey reported by a
local Taiwan media source suggests that professionals in the areas of
finance and securities, business administration and marketing, and IT
engineering are in high demand in Taiwan. See " Professionals Needed In
Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200106/22/eng20010622_73287.html>
."  <mailto:remington.huang@bakernet.com> remington.huang@bakernet.com or
<mailto:seraphim.mar@bakernet.com> seraphim.mar@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

TW - TAIWAIN WORKERS USE ELECTRONIC VISAS: Taiwanese workers traveling to
Hong Kong will be granted an electronic visa beginning in the next Lunar New
Year. See " Electronic Visas
<http://hk-imail.singtao.com/inews/public/article_v.cfm?articleid=24625&intc
atid=1> ."  <mailto:seraphim.mar@bakernet.com> seraphim.mar@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.kuo@bakernet.com> william.kuo@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01


Europe___CISEurope & CIS	 top
BE - MARKS AND SPENCER CLOSINGS IN BELGIAN COURTS: On June 1, 2001, a report
issued by the Belgian Government concluded that the closings of four Marks
and Spencer stores which resulted in the cutting of 315 jobs was unlawful
and broke employment legislation. Belgian law requires that companies
provide adequate notice of closure plans to trade unions and works councils
before acting on such a decision. Marks and Spencer said that the stores
sustained heavy losses and they had no choice but to close the stores. See "
M <http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4197006,00.html> &S
Escapes Belgian Courts."  <mailto:francois.gabriel@bakernet.com>
francois.gabriel@bakernet.com or  <mailto:anne.laurent@bakernet.com>
anne.laurent@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - GERMAN UNION AIMS FOR WAGE BOOST IN 2002: On June 5, 2001, the German
service-sector union, Verdi, announced it will seek significant wage
increases during the next round of negotiations despite calls for greater
labour-market flexibility in the German economy. Most unions accepted
moderate pay settlements in 2000 which are due to expire late next year, and
recent mergers of many unions and increased clout and political power are
expected to make upcoming negotiations very contentious. See " Verdi Aims
For Wage Boost In 2002
<http://www.handelsblatt.com/hbiwwwangebot/fn/relhbi/sfn/buildhbee/cn/bp_art
ikel_e/docid/427611/strucid/PAGE_201098/pageid/PAGE_201098/SH/0/depot/0/inde
x.html> ."  <mailto:guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com>
guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com or  <mailto:claudia.heins@bakernet.com>
claudia.heins@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - GERMAN AIRLINE AVERTS STRIKE: On June 8, 2001, German airline Lufthansa
averted a strike with its disgruntled pilots, frustrating other union
leaders and possibly ruining the company's finances in the process. The
strike was ended by an agreement which guarantees a three year pay increase,
with a nearly 30% raise in the first year of the agreement. Although the
strike cost Lufthansa US$23 million, the pay raises are set to cost
Lufthansa almost US$99 million in the first year alone. The settlement and
the procedures to reach it have drawn fire in Germany, a nation where
management and labour groups usually broker moderate compromises. See "
Lufthansa Averts Strike
<http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010608/bs/germany_lufthansa_49.html> ."
<mailto:guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com> guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:markus.kappenhagen@bakernet.com> markus.kappenhagen@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - CYBER PROTEST COULD TOPPLE LUFTHANSA WEBSITE: On June 20, 2001, human
rights activists in Germany planned a cyber demonstration in an attempt to
crash the German airline Lufthansa's web site. The activists threatened to
flood the site with requests for information in protest of the airline's
role in the deportation of illegal aliens from Germany. See " Airline
Protest To Crash Website
<http://www.newsbytes.com/cg.../im.display.printable?client.id=newsbytes&sto
ry.id=16699> ."  <mailto:Markus.kappenhagen@bakernet.com>
markus.kappenhagen@bakernet.com or  <mailto:claudia.heins@bakernet.com>
claudia.heins@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - VOLKSWAGEN SCRAPS JOBS PROGRAM: On June 25, 2001, Volkswagen AG revoked
an offer to create 5,000 new jobs in Germany after disappointing talks
between company management and trade union IG Metall. See " VW Scraps Jobs
Program
<http://www2.handelsblatt.com/hbiwwwangebot/fn/relhbi/sfn/buildhbee/cn/bp_ar
tikel_e/strucid/PAGE_201095/pageid/PAGE_201095/docid/434016/SH/0/depot/0/ind
ex.html> ."  <mailto:guenther.heckelman@bakernet.com>
guenther.heckelman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:markus.kappenhagen@bakernet.com>
markus.kappenhagen@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - NEW WORKS CONSTITUTIONS ACT IN GERMANY: On June 22, 2001, the German
Parliament adopted the new Works Constitutions Act 2001. The most important
innovations under the law are: (i) the simplification of the election
procedure, (ii) the establishment of additional representative bodies
besides the Works Council, which is thought to lead to a wider spread of
employee representation particularly in small and medium size enterprises,
and (iii) its extension of co-determination rights in the field of
environmental protection. See " German Parliament Works Act
<http://www.bundestag.de/> ."  <mailto:Bernhard.trappehl@bakernet.com>
bernhard.trappehl@bakernet.com or  <mailto:claudia.heins@bakernet.com>
claudia.heins@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - NEW TAKE-OVER-DIRECTIVE: On June 6, 2001, the new European
Take-Over-Directive was adopted to simplify and harmonise the European
company laws with respect to take-overs. The German Government strictly
opposes the harmonisation and regulation of management behaviour in
take-over situations and will probably use the full length of the transition
period until 2007 to incorporate the Directive into German law.
<mailto:bernhard.trappehl@bakernet.com> bernhard.trappehl@bakernet.com or
<mailto:guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com> guenther.heckelmann@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

DE - NEW BILL TO CHANGE THE SOCIAL COURT PROCEDURE ACT: The German
Government has introduced a bill to provide for alterations of the
provisions on fees, enhancements of preliminary relief, and acceleration of
the legal proceedings. Although the changes of the statute on fees still
includes the exemption from costs for insured persons and recipients of
benefits, it introduces provision that fees will be calculated according to
the amount in dispute pursuant to the "Gerichtskostengesetz" (Court Fees
Act).  <mailto:gabriele.mastmann@bakernet.com>
gabriele.mastmann@bakernet.com or  <mailto:christian.reichel@bakernet.com>
christian.reichel@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

ES - IBIZA TROUBLED BY PLANE STRIKES: On June 25, 2001, the Spanish Airline
Pilot's Union announced that its workers plan to go on strike, one day a
week, throughout the entire summer until pilots reach a better labour
agreement. See " Pilots Strike In Spain
<http://www.burnitblue.com/news/news.asp?News=869> ."
<mailto:choncha.martin@bakernet.com> choncha.martin@bakernet.com or
<mailto:fermin.guardiola@bakernet.com> fermin.guardiola@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ES - SPANISH BANK TO CLOSE 1,000 BRANCHES: On June 26, 2001, Banco Santander
Central Hispano (BSCH), Spain's largest bank, announced plans to close 1,000
branches, sell the land, and request half of the senior staff take an early
retirement in an effort to increase profits over the next two years. See "
BSCH Closes Branches
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1408000/1408913.stm> ."
<mailto:alex.valls@bakernet.com> alex.valls@bakernet.com or
<mailto:eduardo.garcia.calleja@bakernet.com>
eduardo.garcia.calleja@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

FR - FRENCH POLICE CLASH WITH WORKERS AS PROTESTS HIT PRISONS: On June 8,
2001, protests at prisons across France resulted in outbreaks of violence as
police clashed with disgruntled workers who were demanding more staff and
improved resources to ensure their safety. In some instances police were
forced to use batons and tear gas to disperse prison workers who were
blocking access to the jails and had to use truncheons to remove many
protestors. The protests were called by three national trade unions in
reaction to a failed jailbreak in which two guards were taken hostage by
armed inmates at a prison in suburban Paris during May of 2001. See " French
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010607/8/tbvl.html> Prison Workers Clash With
Police."  <mailto:denise.broussal@bakernet.com> denise.broussal@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com> gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

FR - THOUSANDS IN PARIS PROTEST AGAINST MASS LAY-OFFS: On June 10, 2001,
thousands of Parisians took to the streets to protest against mass lay-offs,
pressuring the French Government to strengthen planned labour law reform
legislation. Paris has been the site of many such protests in recent months
following massive lay-offs by many French employers. Estimates ranged from
15,000 to 20,000 participants in the protests. See " Thousands Protest Mass
Lay-Offs <http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/20010610/t000048482.html> ."
<mailto:christine.lagarde@bakernet.com> christine.lagarde@bakernet.com or
<mailto:gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com> gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

FR - U.S. AND FRANCE AGREE ON TAXATION OF FRENCH SOCIAL SECURITY: Recently,
the United States and France reached an agreement on tax contributions to
and from French social security plans. The agreement clarifies the
application of Article 18 of the Convention between the U.S. and French
governments to avoid double taxation. See " U.S.-France Agreement On Taxes
<http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-01-54.pdf> ."
<mailto:Kerry.a.weinger@bakernet.com> kerry.a.weinger@bakernet.com or
<mailto:denise.broussal@bakernet.com> denise.broussal@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

FR - FRANCE INCREASES MINIMUM WAGE: On June 26, 2001, union and business
leaders in France agreed that the minimum wage increase to take effect July
1, 2001, is disappointing. Union leaders are looking for a more significant
increase; however, business leaders sought a lesser increase this year, as
many French companies are struggling with the workweek reduction and the
pending currency conversion. See " France Increases Minimum Wage
<http://www.travail.gouv.fr/actualites/declarations/dagenda.html> ."
<mailto:gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com> gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com or
<mailto:denise.broussal@bakernet.com> denise.broussal@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

FR - MARKS & SPENCER EMPLOYEES IN PARIS MARCH IN PROTEST: On June 26, 2001,
the staff of Marks & Spencer, set to lose their jobs do to closure of all
French stores by the end of the year, marched through central Paris
demanding bonus payments. The protesters want an immediate bonus of f12,000
each in recognition of their work. See " Paris Protest March
<http://erope.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/06/26/markspenc.strike/index.html>
."  <mailto:gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com> gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com or
<mailto:deinse.broussal@bakernet.com> denise.broussal@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

FR - DISMISSAL ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS WILL BECOME MORE DIFFICULT IN FRANCE: A
recently drafted bill, in the French Parliament, which addresses regulations
regarding dismissals and collective dismissals based on economic grounds,
will soon make employee dismissals more difficult. The bill provides for a
mediator to resolve conflicts as well as a works council to make alternative
proposals in the event of a disagreement. See " Job Dismissal in France Will
Become More Difficult <http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/France -
Dismissal On Economic Grounds.doc> ."  <mailto:sophie.cahen@bakernet.com>
sophie.cahen@bakernet.com or  <mailto:gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com>
gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

FR - EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE EMPLOYEE TRAINING: French Labour law provides
that an employer has a general and permanent obligation to adapt an employee
to their position, by means of professional training. Most recently, French
case law has determined that an employer must ensure the adaptation of its
employees to the evolution of their positions; however, the employer is not
obligated to provide initial job training. See " Employers Must Provide
Training <http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/France - Employee Training
.doc> ."  <mailto:christine.artus-j?gou@bakernet.com>
christine.artus-j?gou@bakernet.com or  <mailto:gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com>
gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

FR - FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER QUESTIONS NEW EMPLOYMENT LAW: The French
Finance Minister has recently raised concerns over a new employment law that
will make it more difficult for French employers to fire their staff.
Measures of the new law include mandatory pay out for all employees that are
let go, a right to employee retraining under full contract, and an increase
in the power of works committees. See " New French
<http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/010614/1/xdyq.html> Jobs Law."
<mailto:oliver.vasset@bakernet.com> olivervasset@bakernet.com or
<mailto:denise.broussal@bakernet.com> denise.broussal@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

FR - PAID PATERNITY LEAVE FOR NEW FATHERS: On June 11, 2001, French Prime
Mister Lionel Jospin announced that his Socialist-led coalition government
will create a two-week paid paternity leave for new fathers by January 1,
2002. The legislation will be added to existing French labour laws that
offer all new fathers three days of paid leave in the three months following
a new birth. See " Paid Paternity  <http://www.frenchduncan.co.uk/News.htm>
Leave For Fathers."  <mailto:Denise.broussal@bakernet.com>
denise.broussal@bakernet.com or  <mailto:oliver.vasset@bakernet.com>
oliver.vasset@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

FR - CONTEMPLATED CLOSURE OF PRODUCTION UNITS IN ALCATEL: On June 27, 2001,
Serge Tchuruk, Alcatel's Chairman, announced that his group will keep only a
dozen out of the 120 production units which are currently operating within
the group. He indicated that Alcatel will become "a company without
factories." The Alcatel group employs a total of 130,000 employees, out of
which 38,000 are working in France.  <mailto:Gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com>
gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com or  <mailto:maxime.pigeon@bakernet.com>
maxime.pigeon@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

FR - CANCELLATION OF COMPANY SOCIAL PLAN WITHIN MOULINEX-BRANDT:
Moulinex-Brandt recently announced the closure of its factory located in the
north of France, which employs 670 employees. On June 14, 2001, the Labour
Administration ("DDTE") cancelled the social plan drafted by the employer
for the closure of this factory ("constat de carence"). The consequence of
such a decision is the obligation for the company to reinitiate the entire
dismissal procedure and to draft another social plan which will take into
account the DDTE's observations.  <mailto:Gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com>
gilles.jolivet@bakernet.com or  <mailto:maxime.pigeon@bakernet.com>
maxime.pigeon@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

GR - GREEK AIRLINE UNION SET TO STRIKE: On June 9, 2001, Greece's civil
aviation authority workers announced they would conduct strikes in an effort
to demand a new work agreement. The Greek union OSPYA announced plans to
conduct a 24-hour strike on June 15 and a 48-hour strike on June 29 if a
comprehensive work agreement is not signed to ensure Greece's civil aviation
workers additional benefits and better pay. The strikes are expected to
disrupt flights during Greece's busiest tourist season. See " Greek
<http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/010608/8/ttzk.html> Aviation Union May Strike."
<mailto:corrado.bartolli@bakernet.com> corrado.bartolli@bakernet.com or
<mailto:geza.kajtar@bakernet.com> geza.kajtar@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

IE - IRISH SUPERMARKET WORKERS ANNOUNCE PLANS TO STRIKE: On June 8, 2001,
more than 9,000 workers at the Tesco supermarket chain throughout the Irish
Republic announced plans to strike. The anticipated stoppage is expected to
result in picketing at all of Tesco's 75 stores throughout Ireland. The
workers are represented by the Mandate trade union and Ireland's Services,
Professional Technical Union. See " Tesco Workers Set To Strike
<http://www.ananova.com/business/story/sm_321409.html> ."
<mailto:michael.ingle@bakernet.com> michael.ingle@bakernet.com or
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

IE - CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT RADICAL STRATEGY FOR ADULT LEARNING: Irish
Tanaiste, Ms. Mary Harney T.D., recently launched the joint Council of
Directors of the Institutes of Technology, the Conference of Heads of Irish
Universities, and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation Report on
lifelong learning. See " Government Urged To Adopt Radical Strategy To Adult
<http://www.ibec.ie/ibec/Press/PressPublicationsdoclib3.nsf/966008fe067c28d8
802569420055bc17/747e98390c91b98c80256a5c005a77bb?OpenDocument> Learning."
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

IE - IRISH LABOUR UNION SETTLES GUINNESS PLANT CLOSING DISPUTE FOR 10-YEAR
SUPPLY OF BEER: It is common in the beer industry worldwide for employees to
enjoy beer privileges in the form of employer-supplied weekly beer
allotments. However, the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical
Union ( SIPTU <http://www.siptu.ie/> ), Ireland's largest labour union,
recently invoked the beer allowance in a unique way in settling a plant
closing dispute with Guinness <http://www.guinness.com/> , the well known
Irish beer maker. Guinness' announcement to close its Dundalk plant led to a
longstanding dispute and strike. The company and the union recently settled
their differences by agreeing that laid off workers will receive severance
packages of between 37,000 and 137,000 Irish pounds (US$40,000 and
US$147,700), and the continuation for up to 10 years of benefits, including
the beer allowance.  <mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com>
christine.obrien@bakernet.com or  <mailto:shona.newmark@bakernet.com>
shona.newmark@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

IE - IBEC CALLS FOR RIGHT TO WORK FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS: On June 20, 2001, the
Irish Business and Employer's Confederation (IBEC) called on the Government
to grant asylum seekers the right to work after six months, even if their
applications have not been approved within that timeframe. See " Right To
Work
<http://www.ibec.ie/ibec/Press/PressPublicationsdoclib3.nsf/966008fe067c28d8
802569420055bc17/ae99d68911d44a2880256a710032fcee?OpenDocument> ."
<mailto:john.evanson@bakernet.com> john.evanson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.ingle@bakernet.com> michael.ingle@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

IE - IBEC SAFETY GUIDE WILL HELP EMPLOYERS PREVENT ACCIDENTS: On June 6,
2001, the Irish Business and Employer's Confederation (IBEC) published a new
guide on Occupational Safety and Health, which is intended to inform
employers on measures to prevent accidents, bad health, and injuries at
work, as well as how to meet legal responsibilities. See " IBEC Safety Guide
<http://www.ibec.ie/ibec/Press/PressPublicationsdoclib3.nsf/966008fe067c28d8
802569420055bc17/c4bde05ac0643be280256a63005e5bd1?OpenDocument> ."
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com or
<mailto:nigel.moss@bakernet.com> nigel.moss@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

IT - MIGRANTS INTERCEPTED OFF ITALY: On June 25, 2001, authorities in Italy
reported capturing nearly 200 assumed migrants from Bangladesh and
Afghanistan off the southern tip of the country. See " Migrants Captured
Near Italy
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1405000/1405983.stm>
."  <mailto:cristina.capitanio@bakernet.com> cristina.capitanio@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:riccardo.sensi@bakernet.com> riccardo.sensi@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

IT - EMPLOYEES CAN CHALLENGE THEIR DISMISSAL ALSO BY MEANS OF A TELEGRAM
DICTATED ON THE PHONE BY A THIRD PERSON: On June 5, 2001, the Italian
Supreme Court ruled that an employee can validly challenge their dismissal
by means of a telegram if this is actually dictated and sent by the
telephone set of a third per
son, provided that the telegram clearly states
the name of the employee and there is evidence (to be given in Court) that
the latter had previously entrusted the third person with this charge. See "
Decision 7620 <http://www.legge-e-giustizia.it/> ."
<mailto:massimiliano.biolchini@bakernet.com>
massimiliano.biolchini@bakernet.com or
<mailto:paolo.soo.invernizzi@bakernet.com> paolo.soo.invernizzi@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

IT - PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS ON EMPLOYEES: The Italian Supreme Court ruled
recently that employer can legitimately engage a private detective to
conduct an investigation on an employee's working activity when there is a
serious suspicion of any illegal activity against the employer (as in the
case of insider trading, breach of confidentiality, theft, etc.). Until
recently, the engagement of a private detective in labour investigations had
been permitted by judges only to the limited purpose of checking the
truthfulness of the employee's purported sickness, but not in other cases,
since the collection of any information which is not strictly related to the
performance of the employee's duties is severely banned by the law as a
criminal offence. See " Decision  <http://www.legge-e-giustizia.it/> 14383."
<mailto:carlo.marinelli@bakernet.com> carlo.marinelli@bakernet.com or
<mailto:umberto.percivalle@bakernet.com> umberto.percivalle@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

IT - REGIONAL ALLOCATION OF WORK PERMITS FOR NON-EU CITIZENS: The Italian
Ministry of Labour recently enacted an internal  <http://www.minlavoro.it/>
regulation which allocates to each Italian Regional administration the
number of work permits to be issued in favour of non-EU citizens. According
to law decree dated April 9, 2001, the total number of permits to be granted
at the national level for the current year is 50,000 for non-seasonal
self-employed and employed workers and 33,0000 for seasonal workers. See "
Work Permits
<http://www.comune.jesi.an.it/MV/gazzette_ufficiali/2001/113/3.htm> ."
<mailto:massimiliano.biolchini@bakernet.com>
massimiliano.biolchini@bakernet.com or
<mailto:paolo.petrosillo@bakernet.com> paolo.petrosillo@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

IT - EMPLOYEE PRISONERS' RIGHT TO ANNUAL PAID HOLIDAYS: The Italian
Constitutional Court
<http://www.giustizia.it/cassazione/giurisprudenza/giuris.html>  recently
ruled that article 20, paragraph 16 of Law 354/1975 is unconstitutional
insofar as it does not grant a right to paid annual holidays to prisoners
who carry out any working activity within the jail's administration (as hard
labour was abolished in Italy decades ago). The Court determined that
article 35 of the Italian Constitution protects "every kind of working
activity" and that article 36 provides that "all employees have a right to
annual paid holidays that cannot be waived," irrespective of the peculiarity
of the working relationship and the conditions of its performance.
<mailto:massimiliano.biolchini@bakernet.com>
massimiliano.biolchini@bakernet.com or
<mailto:alessia.raimondo@bakernet.com> alessia.raimondo@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

NL - IT COMPANIES FAIL TO MEET STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS ON WORKS COUNCILS:
Many newly established IT companies have been found to have breached the
statutory requirement on setting up a works council. According to Dutch law,
a works council must be established when a company employs 50 or more
employees. Approximately 40 companies were recently inspected, more than
half of which failed to comply with the Dutch statutory requirements on
works councils. It also appears that many IT companies are unaware of Dutch
statutory requirements regarding the establishment of a works council.
<mailto:mirjam.a.de.blecourt@bakernet.com> mirjam.a.de.blecourt@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:mirjana.maric@bakernet.com> mirjana.maric@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

NL - INCREASE OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES: Recent reports state that the expansion
of jobs in Holland in the second half of 2000 is attributable to the female
workforce. During this period the total number of jobs increased by almost
60,000 to reach a total figure of 7.4 million jobs. On the other hand the
workforce is confronted with problems with long-term unemployed males who
will find it increasingly difficulty to find employment.
<mailto:karin.w.m.bodewes@bakernet.com> karin.w.m.bodewes@bakernet.com or
svenne.korthalsaltes@bakernet.com <mailto:svenne.korthalsaltes@bakernet.com>
Alert Date: 7/1/01

NL - LABOUR INSPECTION ON THE ROAD: Between the months of July and August of
2001, the Dutch Labour Inspection will visit approximately 1,300 companies
in order to evaluate their labour conditions. Special attention will be
given to employed minors. Targeted sectors will be the catering industry,
supermarkets, recreation parks, farms, laundry services, and healthcare.
<mailto:karin.w.m.bodewes@bakernet.com> karin.w.m.bodewes@bakernet.com or
<mailto:svenne.korthalsaltes@bakernet.com> svenne.korthalsaltes@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

NL - SOCIAL POLICY TEST OF COMPANIES: "FNV Bondgenoten," one of the largest
Dutch trade unions in the private sector, is going to test the social
aspects of company employment policies using a self-designed measuring
instrument called "Social Policy Test." FNV Bondgenoten intends to enter
into collective labor agreements only with companies that pursue sound
social employment policies.  <mailto:mirjam.a.de.blecourt@bakernet.com>
mirjam.a.de.blecourt@bakernet.com or  <mailto:steffan.j.dejong@bakernet.com>
steffan.j.dejong@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

PL - POLISH EMPLOYMENT GROUPS CREATE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE FOR 21ST CENTURY:
Recently, Polish employment groups signed an agreement that serves as the
foundation for the creation of the Staff of the 21st Century Initiative. The
stated goal of the 21st Century Initiative is to stimulate the development
and popularize knowledge of human resource management in Polish economic
organizations and institutions. The initiative will spread their message
through conferences and workshops promoting modern knowledge, preparing
problem-oriented expert opinions concerning human resource management, and
preparing and promoting publications on human resources. See " Focusing
<http://www.warsawvoice.pl/v658/Business00.html> On Human Capital."
<mailto:agnieszka.duda@bakernet.com> agnieszka.duda@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jerzy.skrzypowski@bakernet.com> jerzy.skrzypowski@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

RO - ROMANIAN TRADE UNION MEMBERS ADOPT HUNGER STRIKE: On June 15, 2001,
trade union leaders in Romania announced they will begin a hunger strike in
response to positions of the American owner of a steel plant in Resita,
which stopped steel production and refused to pay workers. The unionists
will continue to strike until steel production resumes and workers salaries
are paid. See " Union Members Adopt Hunger Strike
<http://www.imfmetal.org/imf/main/main_text.cfm?show=news&ID=1244> ."
<mailto:julie.borozda@bakernet.com> julie.borozda@bakernet.com or
<mailto:katerina.lewenbuk@bakernet.com> katerina.lewenbuk@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

RU - PROTESTERS DECLARE THAT GOVERNMENT'S VERSION OF THE LABOUR CODE
VIOLATES WORKERS' RIGHTS: On June 19, 2001, the Russian State Duma announced
that it was going to address the long-awaited Labour Code issue on July 5,
2001, as the government has now resolved its differences with the main
labour unions. In response to that announcement, two unions which objected
to the government's draft of the Labour Code organized protests in Moscow
and other cities in Russia. See " Protesters Declare Labor Code Won't Work
<http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2001/06/20/003.html> ."
<mailto:jean.brough@bakernet.com> jean.brough@bakernet.com or
<mailto:katerina.p.lewinbuk@bakernet.com> katerina.p.lewinbuk@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

RU - AIR CONTROLLERS STRIKE FOR BETTER PAY: On June 19, 2001, Russian air
traffic controllers participated in hunger strikes or called in sick.
According to their trade union, the workers chose these forms of protest
because the Russian Air Code forbids air traffic controllers to strike.
Salaries for air traffic controllers range from 1,500 rubles (approximately
US$51) to 16,000 rubles per month. See " Air Controllers Strike
<http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2001/06/20/061.html> ."
<mailto:carol.patterson@bakernet.com> carol.patterson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:katerina.p.lewinbuk@bakernet.com> katerina.p.lewinbuk@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

RU - AEROFLOT THREATENS TO STRIKE: An airline technicians' union issued
recent warnings to Aeroflot Airlines of a month-long strike on July 1, 2001,
if management does not respond to employees' demands of improved working
conditions and higher salaries. The union stated, however, that it would
abide by the court decision if Aeroflot succeeded in obtaining the court's
order on blocking the strike. See " Aeroflot Strike Threat
<http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2001/06/20/061.html> ."
<mailto:jean.brough@bakernet.com> jean.brough@bakernet.com or
<mailto:katerina.p.lewinbuk@bakernet.com> katerina.p.lewinbuk@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

SE - VOLVO CUTS STAFF AS RESULT OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN: On June 1,
2001, Volvo announced that it was cutting an unspecified number of jobs in
the coming weeks because of the slowing European economy. The company
announced that it would cut many jobs throughout Europe because of the
decreasing demand for heavy vehicle, bus, and construction machines. Volvo
announced that it would not make any cutbacks in U.S. factories, saying that
it expected an upturn during the fall of 2001." See " Volvo To Cut Staff
Because Of Economic Downturn In
<http://www.ananova.com/business/story/sm_310677.html?menu> Europe."
<mailto:sten.bauer@bakernet.com> sten.bauer@bakernet.com or
<mailto:niklas.lundquist@bakernet.com> niklas.lundquist@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - TEACHERS UNION LEADERS CALL ON NEW LABOUR GOVERNMENT TO MAKE EDUCATION
A PRIORITY: On June 8, 2001, teachers' unions called upon the re-elected
Labour Government to make education a priority by reducing staff shortages
and making the teaching profession an attractive career again. Teacher union
leaders announced they would like to support the Labour Government's
attempts to raise standards in UK schools, but the unions are demanding that
teachers be given more support than they have in years past. The General
Secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women
Teachers demanded the new Labour Government provide a fair contract to
protect against excessive workloads, more support in dealing with
discipline, and improved pay. See " Shortage Warning From Teachers
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/newsid_1377000/1377711.stm> ."
<mailto:Christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com or
<mailto:john.evanson@bakernet.com> john.evanson@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

UK - UK UNION LEADER LAUNCHES WORKERS RIGHTS CAMPAGN: On June 9, 2001, a UK
union leader launched a campaign to ensure British employees the same legal
rights as those found elsewhere within the European Union. Roger Lyons,
representative of the Manufacturing, Science, and Finance Union (MSF), is
attempting to change the perception amongst businesses that Britain is soft
towards lay-offs by requiring that employers consult workers regarding
redundancies. This campaign comes in reaction to several recent substantial
job cuts that were made without consultation. The campaign by the MSF would
allow British unions to take employers to court for not consulting workers
before announcing cutbacks, as is already the case in the European Union.
See " New Workplace Rights Demanded
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1379000/1379220.stm> ."
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - SCOTTISH TEACHERS UNION VOTES TO BOYCOTT EXAM TESTING: On June 9, 2001,
members of Scotland's largest teaching union voted to boycott internal
assessments for students. The teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with
the new testing plans by voting to boycott the internal assessments, which
would put more emphasis on year-round pupil testing and require students
pass a minimum of three internal assessments before being allowed to sit for
the final exam. The teachers are concerned of the additional burden the
assessment plan puts on them as well as the students. See " Teachers Vote
For Boycott Of Exam Testing
<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001193972,00.html> ."
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - BRITISH GOVERNMENT FACES SETBACK ON WORKERS RIGHTS: On June 8, 2001,
the UK faced a setback as it became apparent that a European Union (EU)
proposal regarding workers' rights was going to pass, a proposal fiercely
opposed by British industry. Britain has been steadfastly opposed to the EU
proposal which would require employers with more than 50 workers to consult
their employees before announcing cutbacks. The British Government had been
able to keep the issue from gaining support within the European Commission
by forming an alliance with Germany, Denmark, and Ireland, but recent
remarks by representatives from Denmark and Germany make it likely that a
compromise may be reached in the near future allowing the proposal to pass.
See " UK Faces Defeat On Workers
<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001193534,00.html> ' Rights."
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - UK ACADEMICS AGREE TO PAY OFFER: On June 6, 2001, academics in the UK
voted to accept a pay deal that ensures a 4.3% pay raise and reforms the pay
scales for higher education. Members of Natfhe, the UK higher education
union, voted four-to-one in favor of the proposal, which will provide a
staged increase in wages beginning in September of 2001. Natfhe began
industrial actions in December of 2000 over pay raises and the restructuring
of the pay scale, but called off the strikes in February of 2001 after talks
began with employers. See " Academics Agree On Pay Offer
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/newsid_1373000/1373439.stm> ."
<mailto:michael.ingle@bakernet.com> michael.ingle@bakernet.com or
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS ACCEPT PAY DEAL AND END THREAT OF STRIKES: On
June 5, 2001, local government workers accepted a pay deal that will raise
wages 3.5% over the next year, assuaging concerns of strike actions across
the UK. Approximately 1.2 million employees in Wales, England, and Northern
Ireland accepted the pay deal, brokered after months of tense negotiations
between union representatives and council bosses. Union leaders have called
the new deal a just settlement, but acknowledged that there is still much
work to be done to ensure that workers delivering vital services to their
communities receive a fair wage. See " Local Government Workers Accept Pay
Deal
<http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/localgovt/story/0,7890,501909,00.html> ."
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:john.evason@bakernet.com> john.evason@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

UK - AIRLINE COMPENSATES PREGNANT STEWARDESSES: On June 5, 2001, British
Airways agreed to compensate over 500 stewardesses who were transferred to
lower-paid non-flight duties because they had become pregnant. British
Airways brokered a deal with the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU)
after three years of negotiations that will cost British Airways ?2.3
million. British Airways was forced to negotiate the claims after the TGWU
won an individual case in 1998. The airline had defended its policy of
insisting that female staff refrain from flying once they become aware they
are pregnant by saying that its concerns over health and safety are
reinforced by a European Union directive. See " ?2.3 Million Victory For
Pregnant Aircrew
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=005174948248396&rtmo=3HrAurxM&atmo=rrrrrrr
q&pg=/et/01/6/5/npreg05.html> ."  <mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com>
sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or  <mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com>
christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

UK - EMPLOYERS CRACK DOWN ON NET SURFING EMPLOYEES: On June 6, 2001, a
recent survey of UK employers showed that 75% of information technology
managers and corporate internet users feel that monitoring and filtering
procedures are necessary. Increasing concerns over the amount of money and
time wasted every year on internet surfing have resulted in a booming of the
internet filtering industry. Many unions have opposed efforts by employers
to monitor the surfing, saying that these techniques are resulting in
intimidation and stress for employees. See " Company Crackdown On Staff Who
Surf <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1370000/1370956.stm>
."  <mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - SCOTTISH SUPERMARKET STAFF TAKING ACTING LESSONS: On June 4, 2001,
Scottish supermarket staff began taking acting lessons to improve the way
they communicate with customers. Managers at Safeway stores in Edinburgh
will be the first in the UK to be trained by thespians to attract customers
to new areas where customers will be able to watch food made to order.
Presentation skills will be taught to all manner of employees in the store
to bring attention to new product lines of the business. Representatives at
the Transport and General Workers Union criticized the idea as "bonkers."
See " Supermarket Staff To Get Acting Lessons
<http://www.ananova.com/business/story/sm_315258.html> ."
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernetcom> christine.obrien@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - GAY CHUNNEL STAFF GET EQUAL TRAVEL RIGHTS: As of June 1, 2001, travel
concessions for Channel Tunnel staff are to be extended to same-sex
partners, following talks between operator Eurotunnel and the Transport and
General Workers' Union (TGWU). Eurotunnel staff and opposite-sex partners
have recently been able to qualify for tunnel shuttle train one-way fares of
just ?1, a concession now available for same-sex couples of three years or
more. Eurotunnel representatives said that they were delighted to enact the
measure, which removes discrimination between heterosexual and same-sex
relationships. See " Gay Chunnel Staff Get Equal Travel Rights
<http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_311904.html> ."
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com or
<mailto:john.evason@bakernet.com> john.evason@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

UK - LONDON UNDERGROUND STRIKE AVERTED AFTER AGREEMENT WITH UNION: On June
2, 2001, London Underground workers called an end to two days of planned
tube strikes following an agreement on jobs and safety. Representatives from
the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMTU) announced the cancellation of
the planned strikes after securing promises from London Underground
management that staff would not face compulsory redundancies or job cuts
which may undermine safety. The RMTU was concerned that proposals to
semi-privatise the tube would lead to job losses which would compromise
safety in the tunnel. See " Jobs Deal Ends Tube Strikes Threat
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4197082,00.html> ."
<mailto:peter.duff@bakernet.com> peter.duff@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.ingle@bakernet.com> michael.ingle@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

UK - NEW BLAIR REGIME PUTS MINIMUM WAGE AND UNION RECOGNITION AT TOP OF
LABOUR AGENDA: On June 8, 2001, after being elected to a second term as
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair said that workplace issues will be key to
his party's agenda. At the top of the agenda are an increase in minimum wage
and union recognition laws, which guarantee recognition if 40% of a
company's workers in a certain department vote for the union. See " Blair
<http://www.labour.org.uk/lp/new/labour/labour.wwv_main.main?p_full=1&p_lang
uage=us&p_cornerid=364783> 's Agenda."  <mailto:john.evason@bakernet.com>
john.evason@bakernet.com or  <mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com>
christine.obrien@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

UK - UK GOVERNMENT SITE DISCRIMINATES: An Australian web expert recently
made claims that the United Kingdom's government web site was poorly
designed and discriminated against users with disabilities. Tom Worthington,
an ANU academic, said that there are internationally recognized guidelines
on how to provide access to the web for disabled people that the UK has not
enforced. See " UK Government Site
<http://www.austarlianit.news.com,au/common.storyPage?0,3811,2103755%255E442
,00.html> ."  <mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

UK - GOVERNMENT INCREASES MINIMUM PAY OF YOUTH: The National Minimum Wage
for "young people" is to be increased from ?3.20 an hour to ?3.50 an hour
from October of 2001. The government has accepted the Low Pay Commission's
recommendation, which means that 140,000 young people across the UK will see
their pay boosted by ?10.50 for a 35 hour week, a 9% increase. See " Young
Workers Get Pay Increase
<http://poltics.guardian.co.uk/tax/story/0,9061,510873,00.html> ."
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com or
<mailto:john.evason@bakernet.com> john.evason@bakernet.com  Alert Date:
7/1/01

UK - CITY BROKER SALES SETTLES NAZI UNIFORM CLAIM: In a highly publicised
claim by a former employee, City Broker Tullett & Tokyo Liberty, a city
broker, recently settled the claim made by a former employee, Laurent
Weinberger, who resigned after being given a different a job on less pay
after refusing to put on a Nazi uniform. His lawyer said the case was a
manifestation of a wider problem of a certain culture within the City of
London. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE DISPUTE RESOLUTION: New moves to encourage
dispute resolution and stem the rising number of employment disputes are to
be examined by the UK Government. A main objective will be to resolve
problems within the workplace rather than parties having to go through the
tribunal system. The government says it will look closely at the whole
process of employment dispute resolution and that the review will include
ways of fostering workplace solutions to resolve disputes before they
escalate to tribunal claims.  <mailto:john.evason@bakernet.com>
john.evason@bakernet.com or  <mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com>
ellen.temperton@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

UK - ECJ FOLLOWS ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OPINION IN BECTU CASE: An earlier
Opinion of the Advocate General indicated that the UK provision whereby
holiday entitlement does not accrue during the first 13 weeks of employment
does not accord with the Working Time Directive has been followed recently
by the European Court of Justice. This will mean that workers engaged on
short term contracts will be entitled to take, or perhaps be recompensed for
untaken holidays during their brief periods of employment.
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ellen.temperton@bakernet.com> ellen.temperton@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - RADIO PRESENTER SACKED FROM BBC RADIO WALES BECAUSE HE WAS "TOO
ENGLISH": An award winning radio presenter who maintained that his show was
axed because he was insufficiently Welsh when the radio station was looking
for "welsh tonality" has brought a claim against BBC Radio Wales. While the
radio station maintains that the programme simply did not fit the station's
new agenda, this is just one more claim in a series of claims made by
English workers under the Race Relations Act.
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernet.com or
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - SCOTTISH COURT OF SESSION REVERSES DECISION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION: In
an important decision for employers, the Scottish Court of Session has
reversed a Scottish EAT decision which held that discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation fell within the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. The Court
of Session decision has confirmed that it does not.
<mailto:sarah.gregory@bakernet.com> sarah.gregory@bakernetcom or
<mailto:christine.obrien@bakernet.com> christine.obrien@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

UK - EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULES THAT UK EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE SHORT
TERM WORKERS WITH LEAVE: On June 26, 2001, the European Court of Justice
ruled that UK employers must provide short-term workers with a paid vacation
benefit or its cash equivalent. The British Chamber of Commerce has asserted
that extending paid leave to short-term workers would cause difficulties for
employers, particularly those that employ working parents. See "
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematographic
<http://www.lawreports.co.uk/ecjjune0.3.htm> & Theatre Union v. Secretary Of
State For Trade And Industry."  <mailto:francois.gabriel@bakernet.com>
francois.gabriel@bakernet.com or  <mailto:john.evanson@bakernet.com>
john.evanson@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01


Africa_Middle_EastAfrica/Middle East	 top
BH - TRAINING PLANS TO INTEGRATE BAHRAINIS INTO LABOUR MARKET: On June 23,
2001, the Ibn Khuldoon Social Centre in Arad announced the centre is
launching four new programmes designed to train and rehabilitate citizens in
the labour market. Several other social centers are following suit, offering
various training programmes intended to integrate Bahrainis into the job
market. See " Training For Bahraini Citizens
<http://www.bah-molsa.com/english/news23-6-2001a.htm> ."
<mailto:samir.hamza@bakernet.com> samir.hamza@bakernet.com or
<mailto:hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com> hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

BH - BAHRAIN CRACKS DOWN ON FREE VISA CYCLE: On June 26, 2001, Bahrain's
Labour and Social Affairs Minister announced a crack down on illegal visas.
The Government is offering a six month grace period for employers to apply
to legalise their workers, without penalty. See " Free Visa Crack Down
<http://www,bah-molsa.com/english/news26-6-2001a.htm> ."
<mailto:samir.hamza@bakernet.com> samir.hamza@bakernet.com or
<mailto:hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com> hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

CF - ACTIVISTS CLAIM THAT TRADE UNION RIGHTS ARE LACKING IN CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC: Activists claim that the recent arrest of the General Secretary of
the Workers' Trade Union Centre of Central Africa (USTC) brings to light the
lack of respect for human rights in the Central African Republic. The USTC
is the country's largest national trade union centre and is one of five
national centres asking the Central African government to pay several months
worth of salary arrears owed to civil servants. See " Central African
Republic: Appeal For The Respect Of Trade
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991213014> Union
Rights."  <mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

EG - EGYPTIAN WORKERS ABROAD WILL BE INSURED: Recently, Egypt's Prime
Minister announced that all Egyptian expatriate workers will need to have
insurance. He said that these expatriate workers are one of the country's
most important assets because they earn money for themselves and send
remittances back to Egypt, earning money for the national economy as well.
See " Egyptian Workers Will Get Insurance
<http://www.metimes.com/2K1/issue2001-23/bus/egyptian_workers_abroad.htm> ."
<mailto:hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com> hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com or
<mailto:samir.hamza@bakernet.com> samir.hamza@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

GA - GABON UNDER SCRUTINY BY WORLD UNION: On June 25, 2001, the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) published a report
asserting that Gabon is not complying with internationally recognised core
labour standards. The ICFTU report calls on the World Trade Organisation and
the International Labour Organisation to require Gabon to address the
problems of basic workers rights, especially freedom of association, the
right to collective bargaining, and safeguards against discrimination, child
labour, and forced labour. See " Gabon Under Scrutiny By World Union
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991213050> ."
<mailto:william.r.watson@bakernet.com> william.r.watson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jorge.a.de.regil@bakernet.com> jorge.a.de.regil@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

KE - PENSION AND MEDICAL BENEFITS SET FOR REFORM: On June 11, 2001, the
Kenyan Government announced its intent to begin reforming pensions and
medical benefits to improve entitlements to its 425,000 public servants. The
government will begin two new studies, one to advise on options for
administering future pensions, and the other to determine the viability of
establishing medical insurance for these workers. See " Pension And Medical
Reforms <http://www.allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106140093.html> ."
<mailto:Andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

MW - CHILD LABOUR RAMPANT IN MALAWI'S TOBACCO INDUSTRY: On June 5, 2001, the
Chief Executive of the International Tobacco Growers in Africa, Garbbett
Thyangathya, admitted that the tobacco industry is employing children in
tobacco estates or in selling cigarettes at marketplaces to supplement their
families' income. The Ministry of Gender and Youth is now aware of the
situation and plans to implement measures to prosecute those that continue
to employ children in Africa. See " Tobacco Industry Employs Children
<http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200106050154.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

NG - CHEVRON WORKERS PROTEST WELFARE PACKAGES: On June 18, 2001, workers of
Chevron Nigeria Limited became engaged in an industrial dispute with
management over welfare-related issues. The protest was directed at
resolving the negative impact of the on-going merger arrangement between
Chevron and Texaco on Nigerian workers. See " Workers Tackle Over Welfare
Packages <http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106180424.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernetcom> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

NG - NLC WANTS SACKED CIVIL SERVANTS REINSTATED: The Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC) has recently called on the Nigerian Government to release a report
reviewing cases of civil servants affected by cutbacks. The NLC is asking
that these workers be reinstated immediately. See " NLC Calls For Worker
Recall <http://allafrica.com.storeis/printable/200106250189.html> ."
<mailto:hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com> hazim.rizkana@bakernet.com or
<mailto:samir.hamza@bakernet.com> samir.hamza@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

SD - OIL COMPANIES ARE TARGETS IN THE WAR AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT: On June
23, 2001, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army
(APLM/A), John Garang, identified foreign oil companies and their workers as
"legitimate targets" in the war against the Khartoum government. Garang says
these oil companies are a threat to the APLM/A because they continue to
drill for oil in the region. See " Oil Companies
<http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106230042.html> 'Legitimate
Targets'."  <mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com>
andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or  <mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com>
william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

SY - SYRIAN JOBLESS RATE IS AS LEAST 20 PERCENT: On June 7, 2001, economic
expert Nabil Marzuk announced that the unemployment rate in Syria had
reached 20% and could increase. Experts believe that Syria needs 6% annual
economic growth to absorb the 300,000 new workers that enter the market each
year or the unemployment rate will continue to increase. See " Unemployment
Rate In Syria
<http://www.metimes.com/2K1/issue2001-23/reg/syrian_jobless_rate.htm> ."
<mailto:Samir.hamza@bakernet.com> samir.hamza@bakernet.com or
<mailto:hazim.rizkama@bakernet.com> hazim.rizkama@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

SZ - ANTI-UNION DECREE INTERNATIONALLY CONDEMNED: On June 26, 2001,
following a report from the International Confederation of Free Trade Union
(ICFTU) condemning Swaziland for alleged non-union measures, news of
international solidarity has began to build momentum in the region. The
ICFTU report highlighted Swaziland's union rights record by focusing on
severe anti-union laws and actions. See " Anti-Union Decree Internationally
Condemned
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991213051> ."
<mailto:william.r.watson@bakernet.com> william.r.watson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jorge.a.de.regil@bakernet.com> jorge.a.de.regil@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

TR - INTERNATIONAL UNION CRITICIZES NATIONAL SECURITY RATIONALE FOR BANNING
STRIKE ACTION: On June 8, 2001, the Turkish Government decreed a two-month
suspension of a major strike in the country's glass industry, basing its
decision upon concerns for national security. The International Federation
of Chemical Mine and General Workers' Union (ICEM) criticized the ban of the
strike action, saying that the Turkish Government routinely abuses its power
to cancel strikes using national security as a rationale. Union leaders have
called the rationale absurd, and have been actively courting international
support for the striking workers in Turkey. ICEM also criticized the
procedures for resolving labour disputes, saying that Turkey's official
arbitrators rarely decide a dispute in a union's favor. See " Turkish Glass
Strike Banned <http://www.icem.org/update/upd2001/upd01-37.html> ."
<mailto:akos.fehervary@bakernet.com> akos.fehervary@bakernet.com or
<mailto:geza.kajtar@bakernet.com> geza.kajtar@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

UG - SALARY SCALES TO CHANGE: On June 14, 2001, the Vice-President of Uganda
said that the government will begin to scale workers' salaries according to
the type of work performed. The Cabinet will discuss a policy aimed at
changing salaries so that civil servants working in risky areas, or for
longer hours, would be highly paid. Consequently, salaries for judges and
politicians would not increase until those in lower classes have coverage.
See " Salary Changes
<http://www.allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106140044.html> ."
<mailto:Andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZA - NUMSA ISSUES 48-HOUR NOTICE FOR A STRIKE: On June 18, 2001, the
National Union of Metal Workers South Africa gave a 48-hour notice for a
protected strike at XStrata company in Rustenburg. NUMSA and the company
have thus far failed to resolve a two-month old dispute over a voluntary
separation package and the lay-off of 200 workers. See " Xstrata Prepares
For Strike <http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106180390.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZM - SOCIAL SERVICES CRIPPLED BY THREE-WEEK STRIKE: The recent crisis in
Zambia has continued as schools, hospitals, and other government services
were damaged by the three-week long strike. An estimated 80,000 nurses,
teachers, and government workers began to strike in mid-May to gain a 100
percent increase in wages. Many of these public servants cannot afford to
eat two meals a day, as most are paid less than US$50 each month. See "
Crisis In Zambia Continues
<http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106140135.html> ."
karim.nassar@bakernet.com <mailto:Karim.nassar@bakernet.com>  or
<mailto:nassar.alfaraj@bakernet.com> nassar.alfaraj@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZM - ZIMBABWEAN UNIONS WARN OF PROTESTS OVER FUEL: Zimbabwe's primary labour
federation, the Zimbabwe Confederation of Trade Unions, recently stated that
it feared a violent reaction if the government did not eliminate a 70
percent increase in the price of petrol. The trade unions also threatened a
two-day national strike to protest price increases on regular petrol,
diesel, and other fuels. See " Fuel Prices Sky-Rocket; Union Threatens
Protest
<http://www.iol.co.za/general/newsprint.php3?art_id=qw992694302839B251> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZM - HEALTH WORKERS WILL NOT STRIKE: The NDOLA Central Hospital (NCH) nurses
and paramedics recently discarded ideas of going on strike after learning
that the Zambian Government has purportedly released K$187 million which may
be used to correct disparities in their salaries. See " Health Workers
Choose Not To Strike
<http://allafrica.com.stories/printable/200106250425.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernetcom> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZM - ZCTU GIVES GOVERNMENT ULTIMATUM: The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU) recently has given the Zambian Government a two month deadline to
resume operations at Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) and the Kafue
Textiles of Zambia (KTZ). The ZCTU blames economic structural reform
policies for the decline in living standards for the two industries. See "
ZCTU Issues Ultimatum
<http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106250166.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZM - CSUZ AND STATE NEGOTIATING PAY INCREASE: On June 22, 2001, the Civil
Servants Union of Zambia (CSUZ) denied reports that the Zambian Government
had issued a 95 percent pay increase and should call off their current
strike. The CSUZ President stated that negotiations were still in progress
with the government. " Pay Increase Still In Works
<http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200106250461.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZW - ZIMBABWE WAR VETERANS CONTINUE COMPANY RAIDS: On June 5, 2001, the
Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), a labour organization made up of
war veterans who fought against the white minority rule in the 1970's, took
over the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The ZCTU has been accused
of sacrificing workers jobs and supporting those that oppose Zimbabwe's
president. Joseph Chinotimba, the war veterans' leader, has made it known
that the ZFTU will represent the interests of the workers. See " Labour
Raids Continue <http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200106050293.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

ZW - VETERANS' FARM SIEGE CONTINUES TO THREATEN JOBS AND OUTPUT: On June 5,
2001, war veterans continued their takeover of a farm in Bindura threatening
crop production, risking about US$90 million in annual aid, and potentially
leaving 400 employees without work. Some have speculated that this latest
takeover is politically motivated since it has been rumored that Elliot
Manyika, a candidate for the Bindura parliamentary, sanctioned this farm
invasion as part of his campaign. See " Vets
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200106050305.html> ' Farm Siege."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01


South_AmericaSouth America	 top
AR - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STRIKE PARALYZES ARGENTINA: On June 9, 2001,
Argentina's largest national strike in recent history continued as tens of
thousands of public transportation workers continued their work stoppage.
The union decided to call the strike after the Argentinine Government
refused to provide enough jobs and good wages for workers. Argentina's
employment situation has worsened in recent years, with the country in the
midst of a recession that has lasted three years and has dropped the
unemployment rate to 14.7%. See " Argentina Paralyzed By Strike
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010608/8/twvq.html> ."
<mailto:carlos.dodds@bakernet.com> carlos.dodds@bakernet.com or
<mailto:daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com> daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

AR - PRELIMINARY DETECTION IS INCORPORATED INTO MANDATORY MEDICAL PROGRAM:
Recently, a new law pertaining to health insurance providers was
incorporated into the Argentine Mandatory Medical Program. Resolution 939/00
establishes that health insurance providers and their associations have a
duty to include new provisions of hearing aids and hearing prosthesis, as
well as hearing and speech rehabilitation therapy into their benefits
packages. See " Resolution 939/00
<http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/Argentina Law 25-415.doc> ."
<mailto:carlos.dodds@bakernet.com> carlos.dodds@bakernet.com or
<mailto:micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com> micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

AR - EXECUTIVE ORDER REGULATES WORKERS COMPENSATION: Argentina recently
enacted Executive Order 410/01, which regulates various aspects of worker's
compensation law. The new Executive Order addresses pension benefits,
prevention programs, and health issues. See " Executive Order 410/01
<http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/Argentina Executive Order 410-01.doc>
."  <mailto:daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com> daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com or
<mailto:micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com> micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

AR - DECREE REGULATES LAW 25.191: A decree recently passed in Argentina
regulates Law 25.191, which creates the National Register of Rural Workers
and Employers and implements mandatory use of the booklet of rural workers.
See " Decree Law <http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/Argentina Decree
453-01.doc> ."  <mailto:daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com>
daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com or  <mailto:carlos.dodds@bakernet.com>
carlos.dodds@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

AR - EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ARE REGULATED: Argentina recently enacted a new law
to enforce provisions of an agreement establishing laws for employment
agencies. See " Executive Order 489/01
<http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/Argentina Executive Order 489-01.doc>
."  <mailto:micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com> micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:carlos.dodds@bakernet.com> carlos.dodds@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

AR - LAW ORDERS CREATION OF ADVISORY UNIT: Argentine legislators recently
enacted Regulation 222/01, which orders the creation of an Advisory Unit of
Medical Commissions that will issue preliminary legal opinions for settling
labor disputes. See " Regulation 222/01
<http://www.bakernet.com/gel/articles/Argentina Regulation 222-01.doc> ."
<mailto:daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com> daniel.orlansky@bakernet.com or
<mailto:micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com> micaela.geiderman@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

BO - BOLIVIAN MINERS CLASH WITH POLICE: On June 9, 2001, almost 5,000
Bolivian miners clashed with police and used explosives to destroy parts of
a courthouse in La Paz. The miners, who came from all across Bolivia to
demand that the Bolivian Government provide financing and equipment to help
revive the mining industry, invaded La Paz' main plaza and shouted
criticisms at Bolivian President Hugo Banzer. The miners are employed by
cooperatives that have been affected by the Bolivian economic slump, and
have insisted that they would remain in La Paz until their demands have been
met. See " Miners Wreak Havoc <http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010609/8/u2w0.html>
."  <mailto:manuel.diaz@bakernet.com> manuel.diaz@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carlos.felce@bakernet.com> carlos.felce@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

BR - LABOUR COURT HOLDINGS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET: The Superior Court
(TST) will allow a database of legal decisions from TST and the regional
labour courts to be available on TST's website. The database may be accessed
at www.tst.gov.br/brs/juni.html <http://www.tst.gov.br/brs/juni.html> .
<mailto:sergio.caiuby@bakernet.com> sergio.caiuby@bakernet.com or
<mailto:augusto.m.dias-netto@bakernet.com> augusto.m.dias-netto@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

CL - LABOR UNITES AGAINST U.S.: On June 8, 2001, U.S. and Chilean trade
union officials said labour groups from both countries are taking a united
stance to fight proposed free trade agreements that do not include
sufficient protection for workers. Trade Unions have met with members of the
U.S. Congress to urge further debate on the matter and to encourage both
nations to release details of the negotiations to the public. See "
U.S.-Chile  <http://www.aflcio.org/globaleconomy/ftaa.pdf> Free Trade
Pacts."  <mailto:ricardo.oavalle@bakernet.com> ricardo.oavalle@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:ignacio.garcia@bakernet.com> ignacio.garcia@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CL - CHILE TRADE UNIONS RESPOND TO GLOBALISATION: The Labour and Society
Programme of Chile recently published a response to globalization from a
trade union perspective. The composition begins with a historical account of
how Chile enters the process of globalization, democracy and development in
Chile, and finally the new directions of social and economic development.
<mailto:Fernando.saenz@bakernet.com> fernando.saenz@bakernet.com or
<mailto:ricardo.ovalle@bakernet.com> ricardo.ovalle@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CO - THOUSANDS OF COLOMBIANS PROTEST IMF BUDGET REFORMS: On June 8, 2001,
thousands of Colombian teachers, state workers, and students protested
budget reforms mandated in the agreements between Colombia and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). The protests were against a new law that
would control the growth of federal payments to states and municipalities.
Over 300,000 teachers and 125,000 public health workers have been striking
since May of 2001 to protest the proposal, enacted as part of a
deficit-cutting agreement with the IMF in return for loan assistance. See "
Colombia  <http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010608/8/tnl1.html> Hit By Huge
Protests."  <mailto:antonio.duarte@bakernet.com> antonio.duarte@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:jorge.rodriquez@bakernet.com> jorge.rodriquez@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

CO - COLUMBIAN TRADE UNIONIST ASSASSINATED: On June 22, 2001, the president
of the National Union of Drinks Industry Workers of Columbia, Oscar Dario
Soto, was assassinated. The International Union of Food (IUF) has written to
the president of Columbia asking for a thorough investigation into the
matter. See " Trade  <http://www.iuf.org/iuf/index.html> Unionist
Assassinated."  <mailto:antonio.duarte@bakernet.com>
antonio.duarte@bakernet.com or  <mailto:jorge.rodriguez@bakernet.com>
jorge.rodriguez@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

CO - GLOBAL UNIONS URGE ILO INQUIRY: Global unions have recently called on
the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to investigate the alleged
widespread murder and abduction of trade unionists in Columbia. The unions
are asking the ILO to investigate all aspects of trade union rights in
Columbia, especially looking into the government's hesitation to take
measures guaranteeing the security of trade unionists. See " Unions
<http://www.icem.org/update/upd2001/upd01-38.html> Ask ILO For Help."
<mailto:j.richard.hammet@bakernet.com> j.richard.hammet@bakernet.com or
<mailto:antonio.duarte@bakernet.com> antonio.duarte@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

PE - UNIONS FEARFUL OVER POTENTIAL ECONOMICS MINISTER: On June 8, 2001,
Peruvian labour leaders became fearful over the possibility that Pedro Pablo
Kuczynski may take over the economics ministry in the incoming government.
Labour leaders fear that Kuczynski would trample workers rights, saying that
he has indicated in the past that job security for workers is not a major
concern for him. Influential members of the financial system were pressing
for Peruvian President-elect Alejandro Toledo to name Kuczynski as head of
the economics ministry, saying that he is the only salvation of the country
after months of corruption scandals. See " Peru
<http://www.montereyca.com/rc/business/docs/08985014.htm> 's Unions Fear
Kuczynski As Economics Minister."  <mailto:manuel.diaz@bakernet.com>
manuel.diaz@bakernet.com or  <mailto:carlos.felce@bakernet.com>
carlos.felce@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

VE - VENEZUELAN UNIONS DEMAND 38% INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE: On June 5, 2001,
Venezuelan labour unions demanded a 38% increase in the minimum wage, to an
minimum of 200,000 bolivars per month for workers. Even though a 10%
increase is expected to be decreed soon, the Venezuelan unions have rejected
this amount as too small, saying it would only allow the average Venezuelan
family of five to cover 70% of basic food costs. The business sector is
opposed to further rises in the minimum wage, saying that the foundering
state of the Venezuelan economy could not support such a large increase. See
" Venezuela Unions Demand 38% Minimum Wage Hike
<http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/010605/15/s8tl.html> ."
<mailto:manuel.diaz@bakernet.com> manuel.diaz@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carlos.felce@bakernet.com> carlos.felce@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

VE - VENEZUELAN UNION SEEKS SUPPORT: On June 7, 2001, the International
Metalworkers Federation (IMFed) asked its affiliates to support striking
members of the Venezuelan steelworkers union SUTISS. The IMFed is seeking
support for SUTISS, which for six months has unsuccessfully attempted to
engage the management at the SIDOR steel plant in discussions over pay and
working conditions. The IMFed also criticizes the leadership of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez, mostly for his anti-union policies and demands upon
the Venezuelan trade unions. See " Striking Steelworkers Need Support
<http://www.imfmetal.org/imf/main/main_text.cfm?show=news&ID=1187> ."
<mailto:manuel.diaz@bakernet.com> manuel.diaz@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carlos.felce@bakernet.com> carlos.felce@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01


North_AmericaNorth America	 top
CA - GLOBAL-GIX CANADA INC. FINED CA$64,000 FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
VIOLATIONS: Global-Gix Canada, Inc., a company that shreds metal prior to
its disposal or reuse in industry, was recently fined CA$64,000 for a
violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. After an employee
suffered serious head injuries from using a machine, Global-Gix Canada, Inc.
pleaded guilty to failing to shield or guard the shredding machine so that
material being processed could not endanger a worker. See " Global-Gix
<http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/ann/01-31e.htm> Fined For Safety Violations."
<mailto:kevin.b.coon@bakernet.com> kevin.b.coon@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.r.watson@bakernet.com> william.r.watson@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CA - NEWMONT CANADA LIMITED FINED CA$75,000 FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATION:
On June 11, 2001, Newmont Canada Limited, an Ontario corporation that owns
and operates Golden Giant Mine, was fined CA$75,000 for a violation of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act when a worker suffered serious eye
injuries. The company pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable
precaution of requiring a worker to wear a full face shield or other
equipment that would protect him from facial damages. See " Newmont Fined
<http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/ann/01-32e.htm> For Safety Violation."
<mailto:kevin.b.coon@bakernet.com> kevin.b.coon@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.r.watson@bakernet.com> william.r.watson@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CA - TRIBUNAL TO EXAMINE WHETHER HATE MESSAGES ON A WEB SITE CREATE EMPLOYER
LIABILITY FOR DISCRIMINATION: In Vancouver, a tribunal will look into the
complaint of Mark Schnell who claims that Machiavelli and Associates Emprize
Inc. and John Micka discriminated against him by communicating messages on a
Web site that are likely to expose persons to hatred and contempt based on
their sexual orientation. Mr. Schnell visited the Web site in question on
numerous occasions, noting the offensive and derogatory nature of the
comments, as well as the implication that homosexuals are pedophiles. See "
Hate Messages <http://www.chrc-ccdpca/news-comm/2001/NewsComm310501.asp?l=e>
."  <mailto:david.t.cote@bakernet.com> david.t.cote@bakernet.com or
<mailto:cheryl.j.elliott@bakernet.com> cheryl.j.elliott@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CA - CANADIAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNCHANGED: On June 8, 2001, Statistics
Canada reported the unemployment rate and size of labour force in Canada
remained at 7% for the third consecutive month. This leaves employment up
0.3% over the first five months of 2001. See " Canadian Unemployment Rate
Unchanged <http://www.statcan.ca/english/econoind/lfsadj.htm> ."
<mailto:david.t.cote@bakernet.com> david.t.cote@bakernet.com or
<mailto:stewart.d.saxe@bakernet.com> stewart.d.saxe@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CA - CANADIAN EMPLOYERS FACE SHORTAGE OF IT WORKERS: On June 6, 2001, Paul
Swinwood, president of Software Human Resource Council, reported that based
on several recent surveys, Canadian employers are facing a severe shortage
of qualified information technology workers. Swinwood also reported that
there are no indications of a slow down in the market. See " Survey
<http://www.shrcca/lmi/SHRC-conferenceboard.pdf> Of IT Occupations."
<mailto:stewart.d.saxe@bakernet.com> stewart.d.saxe@bakernet.com or
<mailto:cheryl.j.elliott@bakernet.com> cheryl.j.elliott@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

CA - RULING ON ARBITRATOR'S DUTIES: On June 19, 2001, the Ontario Court of
Appeal ruled in Parry Sound v. OPS on an arbitrator's right and obligation
to interpret and apply employment-related statutes outside the Labour
Relations Act. The ruling indicated that arbitrators have broad powers in
deciding such questions. See " Parry Sound v. OPS
<http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/decisions/2001/june/parryC34171.htm> ."
<mailto:neal.sommer@bakernet.com> neal.sommer@bakernet.com or
<mailto:kevin.coon@bakernet.com> kevin.coon@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

CA - NEW HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE: Canada's National holiday, Canada Day, will be
observed on July 2, 2001. Ordinarily Canada Day is observed on July 1 in
each year (the anniversary of Confederation), but because July 1, 2001 is a
Sunday, the holiday will be observed on Monday July 2, 2001. Each province
establishes rules for employees' eligibility for a paid holiday, and this
holiday is no exception. See " Canada
<http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/ann/01-30fe.htm> Day."
<mailto:neal.sommer@bakernet.com> neal.sommer@bakernet.com or
<mailto:stewart.saxe@bakernet.com> stewart.saxe@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

CA - BILL 68 PASSES AND WORKERS PROMISE DEFIANCE: The Nova Scotia
Government's anti-strike legislation, Bill 68, was passed on June 27, 2001,
but a union representing health-care workers is urging its members to defy
the legislation and stay on the picket line. The bill makes it illegal to
continue to strike. Anyone who violates it faces stiff penalties and fines
that could be up to CA$2000 a day. The bill also gives the provincial
cabinet power to impose a wage settlement. See " Bill 68
<http://www.halifax2.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/06/27/ns_b
ill68pass010627> ."  <mailto:david.t.cote@bakernet.com>
david.t.cote@bakernet.com or  <mailto:cheryl.j.elliott@bakernet.com>
cheryl.j.elliott@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

CA - GOVERNMENT ACTS WILL LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR CONTRACTORS: On June
14, 2001, Canadian Labour Minister Chris Stockwell announced that Ontario
will be taking action to level the playing field for contractors and bulk
truckers by making certain that all will pay their fair share of insurance
premiums and retail sales taxes. See " Act Evens
<http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/ann/01-33e.htm> Playing Field."
<mailto:stewart.d.saxe@bakernet.com> stewart.d.saxe@bakernet.com or
<mailto:cheryl.j.elliot@bakernet.com> cheryl.j.elliot@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

MX - U.S. LIFTS SOME LIMITS ON MEXICAN CARRIERS: On June 6, 2001, the Bush
Administration announced that Mexican firms with operations in the United
States may apply for authority to provide truck services for the
transportation of international cargo. These firms may also apply to provide
bus services between certain points in the United States. The announcement
is an attempt to meet NAFTA provisions imposed in 1995. See " Restrictions
Lifted On Mexican Carriers <http://www.teamstersjc40.com/the.htm> ."
<mailto:manuel.limon@bakernet.com> manuel.limon@bakernet.com or
<mailto:rene.x.perez-ruiz@bakernet.com> rene.x.perez-ruiz@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

MX - WORLD BANK ENCOURAGES MEXICO TO END COLLECTIVE CONTRACTS AND LABOUR
BENEFITS: Representatives of the World Bank recently submitted a report to
Mexican President Vicente Fox including recommendations on labour policy and
for increasing the flexibility of Mexican labour. The report recommends the
elimination of regulations requiring severance pay, collective bargaining,
exclusion contracts, benefits, and employer payments to social security and
housing plans. The report suggested that North American investors who would
otherwise be attracted to Mexico under NAFTA regulations are put off by
domestic regulations, and that the elimination of many of these regulations
as well as making Mexican salary schemes more flexible, would encourage
economic growth throughout Mexico. See " World Bank Urges End To Collective
Contracts And Labour
<http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/lnn/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=558
&view_records=1> Benefits In Mexico."  <mailto:manual.limon@bakernet.com>
manual.limon@bakernet.com or  <mailto:jorge.de.regil@bakernet.com>
jorge.de.regil@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

MX - MEXICAN AIRLINE STRIKE ENDS: On June 2, 2001, flight attendants for
Mexico's largest airline ended a two-day strike that stranded thousands of
passengers throughout Mexico. The flight attendants accepted a new contract
that will raise wages 9.5% after negotiations that lasted more than six
hours. AeroMexico originally had offered a 6.5% salary increase, while the
flight attendant union was looking for a 30% increase. The strike by the
1,500 flight attendants caused the cancellation of over 250 flights and cost
AeroMexico over US$10.2 million in lost business. See " Mexico Airline
Strike Ends
<http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010602/bs/mexico_airline_strike_5.html>
."  <mailto:francisco.j.legarreta@bakernet.com>
francisco.j.legarreta@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jorge.a.de.regil@bakernet.com> jorge.a.de.regil@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

MX - MEXICO AND THE U.S. ANNOUNCE PLANS TO REDUCE MIGRANT DEATHS: On June
22, 2001, leaders from Mexico and the U.S. announced plans to reduce the
number of illegal migrant deaths through increased border security and
revisions of border policies. See " Mexican Migration
<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2001/index.cfm?docid=3733> ."
<mailto:betsy.morgan@bakernet.com> betsy.morgan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com> lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - NAVAL RESERVE MEMBER TRANSFERRED TO LESS FAVORABLE JOB HAS CASE
REINSTATED UNDER USERRA: In a recent ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Fourth Circuit determined that a U.S. Naval Reserve member who was
transferred to a job with less favorable working conditions upon his return
from military leave is entitled to go to trial on his claim that his
transfer was motivated by his military obligations. The case was decided
under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994
(USERRA), which prohibits adverse employment actions where the employee's
military status is a motivating factor in the decision. See " Hill v.
Michelin North America, Inc.
<http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=002202.P> "
<mailto:richard.tuschman@bakernet.com> richard.tuschman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com> neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - DISCHARGE OF SUPERVISOR WHO ACCOMMODATED DISABLED EMPLOYEE VIOLATED
ADA: In Foster v. Time Warner Entertainment Co.
<http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/01/05/002734P.pdf> , the U.S.Court of
Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently affirmed a verdict of US$244,500 to
a supervisor who was fired because she made scheduling accommodations for an
epileptic employee. The plaintiff was also awarded punitive damages of
US$136,000 because there was evidence that management disregarded the
company's interna
l policy on the Americans With Disabilities Act.
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com or
<mailto:kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com> kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT RULES THAT EMPLOYEE INELIGIBLE FOR STATUTORY FMLA LEAVE
HAS CONTRACTUAL FMLA RIGHTS: In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Circuit ruled that an employee who was ineligible for leave
under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) (because her employer
employed less than 50 employees within 75 miles of the store in which the
employee worked) nevertheless had contractual FMLA rights under her
employer's Summary Plan Description (SPD) of employee benefits. The court
held that because the SPD promised employees FMLA rights without any
jurisdictional requirement, and because the company acted as if the employee
had FMLA rights (by supplying her with FMLA forms to fill out), the SPD was
an enforceable contract that gave the employee the right to request leave
under the FMLA. See " Thomas v. Pearle Vision, Inc.
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?submit1=showop&caseno=00-368
1> "  <mailto:peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com> craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT THROWS OUT SYMPHONY EMPLOYEE'S HARASSMENT CLAIM: The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently affirmed summary
judgment for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Society in a case where a former
male employee claimed harassment by his female supervisor. The court held
that the plaintiff failed to establish a hostile work environment because
only someone "mysteriously aloof from contemporary American popular culture
in all its sex-saturated vulgarity" would find the alleged harasser's
actions substantially distressing. See " Male vs. Female Harassment
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?yr=99&num=4018&Submit1=Reque
st+Opinion> ."  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com>
lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SETS UP HOTLINE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKERS: The
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently established a toll-free hotline at
866-888-3322 to field calls from nuclear energy workers seeking information
on a new compensation program that will provide benefits for workers who
became ill after being exposed to toxic substances on the job. See " DOL
<http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/consolid.pl?media+press> Program For Nuclear
Workers."  <mailto:Brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or  <mailto:j.richard.hammet@bakernet.com>
j.richard.hammet@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - LOUISIANA MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER TO BANNING GENETIC BIAS: The Louisiana
Senate approved a bill recently that bans employment discrimination on the
basis of an employee's genetic information. The bill, which had previously
been passed by the House, now goes to the state's governor for approval. See
" Louisiana Genetic Discrimination Ban
<http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/01RS/CVT3/OUT/0000ITOD.PDF> ."
<mailto:charlene.s.tsang@bakernet.com> charlene.s.tsang@bakernet.com or
<mailto:david.quan@bakernet.com> david.quan@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - BIRTHDATES MAY BE USED AS TIEBREAKER IN AWARDING PROMOTIONS: The U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently upheld Chicago's use of
employees' birthdates as a tiebreaker in making certain promotion decisions.
The court determined that the city's practice of promoting the older
employee with the same credentials and seniority was not discriminatory. The
court noted that using date of birth as a tie breaker promoted a uniform
policy and was widely accepted as fair. See " Birthday Tie-Breaker
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?yr=00&num=3536&Submit1=Reque
st+Opinion> ."  <mailto:michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com>
michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com or  <mailto:gina.knight@bakernet.com>
gina.l.knight@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EROSION IN EMPLOYEE SPONSORED HEALTH BENEFITS: The U.S. Government
Accounting Office recently released a report showing that despite a
sustained economy and several years of low rates of increase in health
insurance premiums, there is a continuing decline in the availability of
employer-sponsored retiree health benefits. See " Retiree Health
<http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01374.pdf> Benefits: Employer-Sponsored
Benefits May Be Vulnerable To Further Erosion."
<mailto:maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com> maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com or
<mailto:david.w.ellis@bakernet.com> david.w.ellis@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - MORE WORKERS LOSE JOBS: The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported that although the total number of mass lay-offs declined
in April of 2001, the average size of each lay-off was larger than in March
and thus the number of workers losing jobs increased from 171,466 in March
to 175,064 in April. See " Mass
<http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/mmls.toc.htm> Lay-Offs."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.a.miller@bakernet.com> steve.a.miller@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO PROCEED WITH CLASS ACTION MINIMUM WAGE SUIT: A
federal judge for the U.S. District Court in Southern District of New York
ruled recently that unskilled immigrant workers who are allegedly paid US$1
to US$2 an hour for delivering grocery and drug store orders can proceed
with class action claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York
State law. See " Ansoumana v. Gristede's Operating Corp
<http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/courtweb/pdf/D02NYSC/01-06186.PDF> ."
<mailto:robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com> robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.a.duffy@bakernet.com> michael.a.duffy@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - PREMIUM VISA APPLICATION PROCESSING: On June 1, 2001, the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service launched a new premium processing
service for employment-based visas in which it guarantees that applications
will be processed within 15 calendar days for a US$1,000 fee. See "
Establishing Premium Processing Service For Employment Based
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&doc
id=01-13566-filed> Petitions And Applications."
<mailto:betsy.s.morgan@bakernet.com> betsy.s.morgan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:lynda.zengerle@bakernet.com> lynda.zengerle@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - SUPREME COURT INVALIDATES PORTION OF NLRB'S TEST FOR DETERMINING
WHETHER AN EMPLOYEE IS A SUPERVISOR AND THUS EXEMPT FROM UNIONIZATION: The
U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision rejecting, in part, the
National Labor Relations Board's test for determining supervisory status
under the National Labor Relations Act. This decision is significant because
employees who are deemed to be supervisors under the Act are exempt from its
coverage, and thus from unionization. Specifically, the Supreme Court
invalidated the Board's practice of excluding employees from the definition
of "supervisor" where they exercise ordinary professional or technical
judgment in directing less-skilled employees to deliver services in
accordance with employer-specified standards. See " NLRB Supervisor Case
<http://a257g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/29may20011200/www.supremecourtus.gov
/opinions/00pdf/99-1815.pdf> ."  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or  <mailto:laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com>
laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - COLORADO SUPREME COURT THROWS OUT LAW PROHIBITING RESIDENTIAL UNION
PICKETING: The Colorado Supreme Court held recently that a state law
prohibiting all labor picketing in residential areas--whether peaceful or
not--violates the free speech and equal protection guarantees of the U.S.
Constitution. Affirming the state appeals court, the Colorado Supreme Court
struck down an injunction prohibiting striking members of United
Steelworkers Locals 2102 and 3287 from picketing at the homes of workers who
crossed the picket line. See " Colorado Strike Case
<http://www.courts.state.co.us/supct/opinion/99SC587.doc> ."
<mailto:J.richard.hammett@bakernet.com> j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com or
<mailto:howard.f.fine@bakernet.com> howard.f.fine@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - FBI REPORTS THAT HACKING INCIDENTS BY DISGRUNTLED LAID-OFF EMPLOYEES IS
ON THE RISE: On June 3, 2001, the FBI issued a statement citing that the
most common cause of computer hacking on corporate networks is a disgruntled
laid-off or terminated employee. "The whole nature of computer crimes has
changed," said Agent Greg Walton of the FBI's San Francisco Bay Area
computer intrusion squad. "The problem at big companies is, the network
administrator is probably the last guy who finds out you got fired, and
doesn't cut off your access. Or it's the network administrator who gets
fired, and he has access." See " Computer Hacking
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6175709.html> ."
<mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com> andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or
<mailto:micheal.j.wagner@bakernet.com> michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - NEBRASKA ENACTS LAW PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EMPLOYEES AND
APPLICANTS ON THE BASIS OF GENETIC INFORMATION: Nebraska recently enacted a
law prohibiting employers from discriminating against applicants and
employees on the basis of genetic information that is unrelated to job
duties. The law also prohibits employers from requiring applicants and
employees to submit to genetic testing as a condition of employment or
promotion. The law is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2001. See "
LB 432
<http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/scripts/dbBSInfo.asp?Prefix=LB&BillNumber=432
&Suffix> ."  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:gina.knight@bakernet.com>
gina.l.knight@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - TEXAS INCREASES ITS MINIMUM WAGE TO MATCH FEDERAL LEVELS: Texas
recently enacted a law raising its minimum wage to match the levels set by
federal law under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This new law is largely
symbolic, as Texas employers have historically already had to comply with
the federal minimum wage levels ever since they exceeded the Texas levels.
Prior to the new law, Texas minimum wage levels had been set at US$3.35 per
hour for nonexempt employees and US$1.68 per hour for tipped employees.
Current federal law sets these levels at US$5.15 per hour and US$2.13 per
hour, respectively. See " Bill HB533
<http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/db2www/tlo/billhist/billhist.d2w/rep
ort?LEG=77&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=00533> ."
<mailto:jordan.cowman@bakernet.com> jordan.cowman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:charlene.tsang@bakernet.com> charlene.tsang@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - LAY-OFFS DROPPED BY 52% IN MAY OF 2001: In a report released on June 4,
2001, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray announced that lay-offs by U.S.
companies tumbled 52% in May of 2001 to 80,140 after hitting their highest
monthly count in eight years in April. See " U.S. Lay-Off Levels
<http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010604/bs/economy_layoffs_dc.html> ."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:cynthia.jackson@bakernet.com> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - SUPREME COURT FINDS FRONT PAY NOT SUBJECT TO COMPENSATORY DAMAGES CAP:
On June 4, 2001, in Pollard v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours
<http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/04june20011400/www.supremecourtus.g
ov/opinions/00pdf/00-763.pdf> & Co., the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously
ruled that front pay awards in cases under Title VII are not an element of
compensatory damages, and, therefore, not subject to damages caps. The
court's decision was based on the fact that front pay is a remedy that was
authorized under Section 706 of Title VII. Thus, the Supreme Court found
that front pay is not included in the compensatory damages caps imposed
under the Civil Rights Act of 1991.  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com>
jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - CALIFORNIA BILL REQUIRING EMPLOYER DISCLOSURE OF E-MAIL MONITORING: On
June 4, 2001, a bill that would require employers to notify workers before
monitoring employees' at-work e-mail passed the California State Senate . In
1999 and 2000, the California Legislature passed similar bills, but both
were vetoed by Governor Gray Davis, who argued that they placed too
difficult a legal burden on businesses. See " California Monitoring Bill
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0101-0150/sb_147_bill_20010604_st
atus.html> ," " Bill Number SB147
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0101-0150/sb_147_bill_20010130_in
troduced.html> ," and " Bill Documents
<http://www.leginfo.cagov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_147&sess=CUR&hous
e=S&author=bowen> ."  <mailto:cynthia.jackson@bakernet.com>
cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com or  <mailto:abby.silverman@bakernet.com>
abby.silverman@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - FMLA DOES NOT REQUIRE INTERMITTENT LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEE WHO IS UNABLE TO
PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB: On June 1, 2001, in Hatchett v.
Philander Smith College
<http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/01/06/001693P.pdf> , the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that the Family and Medical Leave Act
does not require an employee, who is unable to perform the essential
functions of the job, to be provided with intermittent leave. The Eighth
Circuit's opinion is the first to address this issue under the FMLA.
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.a.miller@bakernet.com> steve.a.miller@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - NONDISCRIMINATION PROPOSAL GETS SUPPORT AT EXXONMOBIL ANNUAL MEETING:
ExxonMobil shareholders voted recently at their annual shareholders meeting
to add the words "sexual orientation" to the company's non-discrimination
policy. This is the third consecutive year that ExxonMobil was asked by
advocates to amend the company's personnel policy; consequently, the
proposal drew the highest percentage of support out of the eight resolutions
that were voted on at this year's meeting. See " ExxonMobil Adds To
Non-discrimination Policy
<http://www.hrc.org/hrcnews/2001/010531exmobil.asp> ."
<mailto:jordan.w.cowman@bakernet.com> jordan.w.cowman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - REPORT FINDS DEMOGRAPHIC TIDAL WAVE WILL AFFECT RETIREMENT SECURITY AND
ECONOMY: On June 6, 2001, the U.S. General Accounting Office released a
report claiming the U.S. economy and individual retirement security is
facing uncertainty. The report was designed to present information about
national savings and its necessity for economic growth. The study shows that
the personal savings rate in the U.S. has plummeted. Lack of savings,
coupled with concerns of borrowing from abroad to finance U.S. investments
and the retirement age nearing for a large group of Americans, all pose
significant challenges for the future of the economy. See " Report Finds
<http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01591sp.pdf> Demographic Tidal Wave."
<mailto:kerry.weinger@bakernet.com> kerry.r.weinger@bakernet.com or
<mailto:lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com> lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - COURT FINDS SATURN CORPORATION IN VIOLATION OF THE ADA: On June 7,
2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concluded that Saturn
Corporation violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by placing an
employee on disability status who had failed to physically perform all of
the functions assigned to his team. Saturn Corporation relies on a team
system in which workers performing related functions rotate duties among
themselves. Jeffrey Kiphart filed suit against Saturn, alleging some Saturn
workers were allowed to choose the team jobs that they performed and he was
not. See " Kiphart v. Saturn
<http://pacer.ca6.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=01a0178p.06> ."
<mailto:j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com> j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com or
<mailto:frank.henry@bakernet.com> frank.henry@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - GAY HOTEL MANAGER SUES HELMSLEY HOTEL: On June 7, 2001, Charles Bell,
the former manager of a Park Lane Hotel, filed suit against the hotel owner,
Leona Helmsley, for US$10 million alleging that Helmsley fired him because
he is gay. Bell claims that Helmsley has a history of promoting racism and
homophobia and that she referred to gays and minorities in derogatory terms.
See " Hotel Manager Sues Helmsley
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/other/1110/6-5-2001/20010605072419800.ht
ml> ."  <mailto:robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com> robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:charlene.s.tsang@bakernet.com> charlene.s.tsang@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - AUTOMAKER FACES DISCRIMINATION SUIT: On June 7, 2001, the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") filed suit in a federal court in
Detroit, claiming that automaker DaimlerChrysler refused to hire a disabled
mechanic at its Detroit Axle Plant. The EEOC claims the pattern and practice
of discrimination violates the Americans With Disabilities Act. See "
Automaker Faces Discrimination Suit
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/f/1310/6-6-2001/20010606195433440.html>
."  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.j.pollard@bakernet.com> michael.j.pollard@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - BOGUS FTC INVESTIGATOR RUNS SCAM OVER WORK-AT-HOME SCHEME: On June 6,
2001, a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation into a phony
work-at-home plan became more complicated when a man pretending to be an FTC
employee e-mailed victims of the bogus scam seeking personal information.
The latter trick stemmed from an investigation into Medicor, an L.A. based
company accused of defrauding customers about the amount of money they could
make from using an at home computer to process medical bills for physicians
in their community. See " E-Mail
<http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166551.html> From Bogus FTC Employee."
<mailto:renee.s.schor@bakernet.com> renee.s.schor@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.l.schaller@bakernet.com> william.l.schaller@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EEOC POSTS CENSUS RACE DATA: On June 8, 2001, the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission posted race and ethnic distribution figures from the
2000 Census on its website. The published statistics are important for
employees relative to affirmative action compliance. See " EEOC Race
<http://www.eeoc.gov/stats/census/index.html> Data."
<mailto:frank.henry@bakernet.com> frank.henry@bakernet.com or
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - IRS TO SURVEY BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT COMPLIANCE BURDEN: On June 4,
2001, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service announced it will be conducting a
survey to measure time and cost burdens taxpayers face when complying with
federal income tax laws. See " IRS
<http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-01-55.pdf> Tax Survey."
<mailto:david.w.ellis@bakernet.com> david.w.ellis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com> maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - MASS LAY-OFF ACTIONS FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL OF 2001 INCREASE FROM
THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PRIOR YEAR: According to recent data from the U.S.
Department of Labor, there were 1,445 mass lay-off actions by employers as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits. Each action
involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of
workers involved totaled 175,064. In the first quarter of 2001, the total
number of events and initial claims were higher than in the first quarter of
2000. See " Lay-Offs <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/mmls.pdf> ."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:charles.r.topping@bakernet.com> charles.r.topping@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - COURT ENFORCES US$6 MILLION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAINE EGG FARM
AND HISPANIC WORKERS: On June 1, 2001, a federal judge in Maine agreed to
enforce a disputed US$6 million settlement agreement between a group of
Hispanic farm workers and DeCoster Egg Farm, despite protests by DeCoster
that no agreement was ever reached. Judge D. Brock Hornby of the U.S.
District Court for the District of Maine ruled that the settlement agreement
between Luis Ramirez, on behalf of a putative class of Hispanic farm
workers, and DeCoster was enforceable, rejecting arguments that no agreement
existed because the two sides were unable to agree on acceptable security
for the settlement or a guarantee to end a boycott. See " Settlement
Agreement
<http://www.med.uscourts.gov/opinions/hornby/2001/DBH_06012001_2-98cv186_RAM
IREZ_V_DECOSTER.pdf> ."  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:charles.r.topping@bakernet.com>
charles.r.topping@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - LUMP SUM TERMINATION PAYMENTS NOT ENTITLED TO PRIORITY IN FIRM'S
BANKRUPTCY: On June 7, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
ruled that lump sum cash payments due upon termination pursuant to
employment contracts were not entitled to priority status in a company's
bankruptcy proceedings. Two employees had entered into employment contracts
with the employer specifying that they would receive lump sum cash payments
upon termination prior to the expiration of the contracts unless the
termination was for cause. The employees appealed the bankruptcy court's
decision, but both the U.S. District Court and the Tenth Circuit affirmed
the ruling. See " Bankruptcy Ruling
<http://www.spencernet.com/Archive/News060701.html> ."
<mailto:lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com> lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jack.a.simms@bakernet.com> jack.a.simms@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - PROVISION OF DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS ONLY TO SAME-SEX COUPLES FOUND
CONSTITUTIONAL: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently
affirmed the dismissal of a class action lawsuit challenging the
constitutionality of the Chicago Board of Education's policy of extending
domestic partner benefits only to same-sex couples. The class representative
had lived with the same man for more than 20 years but the couple had never
married. The class representative's "domestic partner" was not receiving any
benefits from the city, though he would have been if he were the class
representative's husband. The class representative claimed that the board's
policy of excluding her domestic partner from coverage denied her equal
protection and, hence, was unconstitutional. See " Seventh Circuit Opinion
<http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=7th&navby=case&no=00
3216> ."  <mailto:craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com>
craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com or  <mailto:charles.r.topping@bakernet.com>
charles.r.topping@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - HACKING AGAINST EMPLOYERS RISES WITH TECHNOLOGY LAY-OFFS: On June 3,
2001, a survey of employers showed that hacking attempts have cost employers
an estimated US$378 million. Because of recent massive lay-offs by computer
technology firms, employers in the technology sector are increasingly
becoming subject to hacking threats by disgruntled employees. Employers are
having to institute new procedures to protect their information technology
systems from attacks by ex-employees, forcing many human resources managers
to refine their procedures. See " Hacking Threats Rises With Lay-Offs
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6175709.html> ."
<mailto:william.l.schaller@bakernet.com> william.l.schaller@bakernet.com or
<mailto:john.m.murphy@bakernet.com> john.m.murphy@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - FEDERAL COURT ALLOWS EMPLOYEE TO PROCEED WITH FMLA SUIT DESPITE
ARBITRATION PACT: Recently, the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois ruled that a Chicago factory worker may proceed with a
lawsuit under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) even though the
collective bargaining agreement between her employer and the union
stipulated that all such claims be arbitrated. The court ruled that any such
agreements must specifically waive the right of the party to sue under those
statutes. See " Bonilla v. Small Assemblies Co
<http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/racer2/load_page.cfm?dp=4572333&dn=37&cn=1:99-
cv-6675> ."  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com>
michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - H-1B VISAS APPROVED THIS FISCAL YEAR HIT 117,000: On June 7, 2001, the
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service announced that approximately
117,000 petitions for H-1B nonimmigrant workers had been approved since the
beginning of the current fiscal year. The number of approved visas is more
than half of the limit set by the American Competitiveness in the
Twenty-First Century Act. See " Approved Visa Total Reaches 117,000
<http://www.ins.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/statements/h1bcap0601.htm> ."
<mailto:betsy.morgan@bakernet.com> betsy.morgan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com> lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - COMPANIES ELECTRONICALLY KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR EMPLOYEES: On June 9,
2001, the American Management Association published its annual study of
electronic workplace monitoring. The study shows that three-quarters of U.S.
businesses now electronically monitor employees in some fashion, doubling
the rate of five years ago. The most heavily monitored areas include the
Internet (63%), telephone (43%), and computer use (19%). See " Companies
Keep Watch <http://www.amanet.org/research/pdfs/ems_short2001.pdf> ."
<mailto:john.m.murphy@bakernet.com> john.m.murphy@bakernet.com or
<mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com> abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS $1.35 TRILLION TAX MEASURE: On June 7, 2001,
President Bush signed House Resolution 1836, a bill that will provide
US$1.35 trillion in tax cuts over the next several years. Part of this
package includes pension provisions designed to increase retirement savings.
See " Bush Signs Tax Break Bill
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c107:./temp/~c107bPkln0> ."
<mailto:kerry.r.weinger@bakernet.com> kerry.r.weinger@bakernet.com or
<mailto:maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com> maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - MAINE LAW CALLS FOR DOMESTIC PARTNER COVERAGE: On June 1, 2001,
Governor Angus King of Maine signed a bill into a law requiring health
insurers to offer coverage to domestic partners under the same terms and
conditions for spouses of health plan members. The law becomes effective in
January of 2002. See " Maine Health Insurance Law
<http://janus.state.me.us/legis/bills/billtexts/ld170301-1.asp> ."
<mailto:maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com> maura.ann.mcbreen@bakernet.com or
<mailto:robert.marshall@bakernet.com> robert.marshall@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - U.S. TREASURY PAID OUT US$42 MILLION IN 2000 FOR DISCRIMINATION
JUDGEMENTS: On June 7, 2001, Leroy W. Warren, Jr., chairman of the NAACP
Federal Sector Task Force, wrote to President Bush and members of Congress
protesting that the federal government paid out US$42.7 million in
judgements based on employment discrimination complaints against federal
agencies. Warren wrote this letter to express support of the Notification
and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act. This bill
would require federal agencies to pay for judgements against them from their
own budgets. See " U.S.  <http://www.naacpfstf.org/> Treasury Pays For
Discrimination Judgements."  <mailto:william.l.schaller@bakernet.com>
william.l.schaller@bakernet.com or  <mailto:frank.henry@bakernet.com>
frank.henry@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - COURT SAYS WORKER DISTRESSED BY SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF CO-WORKERS DOES
NOT HAVE A TITLE VII CASE: On June 6, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Second Circuit threw out a jury verdict on favor of a New York City
subway worker who claimed she was traumatized by reports that female
co-workers were being sexually harassed. The court held that Title VII's
prohibition against the hostile work environment affords no claim to a
person who experiences it as a by-stander. See " Leibovitz v. New York City
Transit Authority <http://www.securitymanagement.com/library/cva3860.html>
."  <mailto:robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com> robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:craig.annunziata@bakernet.com> craig.annunziata@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - DEMAND FOR IT WORKERS PLUMMETS: An Information Technology (IT) industry
report recently released indicates that the demand for high-tech workers
fell 44% in the last year. The study found that high-tech companies plan to
hire 900,000 workers this year, compared to 1.6 million last year. See " IT
<http://www.ecommercetime.com/perl/story/8624.html> Demand Slows."
<mailto:Michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com> michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com or
<mailto:j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com> j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - INS ROUTINELY GRANTS WORK AUTHORIZATION TO FOREIGNERS WHO ARE
INELIGIBLE: On June 5, 2001, the U.S. General Accounting Office reported
that in the year 2000, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
granted employment authorization to approximately 80,000 immigrants who were
not eligible to work in the United States. The INS responded to the report
with plans to implement a review process to assist in the creation of
standard review procedures for employment authorization applications. See "
INS Grants Work Authorization To  <http://www.gaogov/> Ineligible Workers."
<mailto:lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com> lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com or
<mailto:betsy.morgan@bakernet.com> betsy.morgan@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ERGONOMICS STANDARD SCHEDULED FOR SUMMER OF 2001: On
June 7, 2001, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced
that she would be convening three national public forums during July of 2001
in an attempt to find consensus on the topic of the Department's future
ergonomics approach. The forums are scheduled for Washington, D.C. on July
16, Illinois on July 20, and California on July 24, 2001. Oral testimony and
written comments will be accepted at these meetings, which may be attended
by Secretary Chao and other senior agency officials. A final agency position
on ergonomics is expected in September of 2001. See " Hearings
<http://www.osha.gov/media/oshnews/june01/national-20010607.html> ."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - PLANT CLOSURE DURING TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN VIOLATED WARN ACT: On June 4,
2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that a
company's failure to give workers 60 days notice that it was converting a
Maryland printing plant's temporary shutdown to a permanent closure violated
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Quebecor
Printing Corp. properly notified workers of the lay-off, but did not fulfill
the WARN Act requirement that it notify employees that the plant would be
closing permanently. The case was reversed and remanded to determine damages
owed to the workers. See " Graphic Communications Int
<http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=4th&navby=case&no=00
2032P> 'l Union, Local 31-N v. Quebecor Printing Corp."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.a.miller@bakernet.com> steve.a.miller@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - UNIONS OPPOSE EMPLOYEES' RIGHT TO KNOW: On June 5, 2001, the National
Right to Work Foundation reported that three unions and a federally funded
union-established corporation filed suit against the Bush Administration
over Executive Order 13201. The Executive Order requires federal contractors
to post a standard workplace notice informing employees that they cannot be
compelled to formally join a union or pay dues in support of politics or any
other collective bargaining. The claimants argue the order places
"substantial administrative burdens" on businesses. See " Executive
<http://www.abc.org/documents/022201beckeo.pdf> Order 13201."
<mailto:Brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.sarbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:j.michael.goulding@bakernet.com> j.michael.goulding@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - ETA REPORTS INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS: On June 7, 2001,
the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration
released the number of new claims filed with state agencies for unemployment
insurance benefits for the previous week. This figure, up 13,000 claims from
the previous week, reflects the rise in claims over the previous four weeks.
See " Unemployment Insurance Claims On The Rise
<http://www.dol.gov/dol/opa/public/media/press/eta/ui/eta2001168.htm> ."
<mailto:Gina.l.knight@bakernet.com> gina.l.knight@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com> michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD APPOINTS THREE JUDGES: On June 4, 2001,
the National Labor Relations Board announced the appointment of three
Administrative Law Judges to replace retiring judges from the Division of
Judges. The Division of Judges is responsible for conducting trials and
issuing initial decisions in unfair labor practice cases on charges filed by
unions, employers, and individual workers. See " NLRB Appoints
<http://www.nlrb.gov/press/r2430.html> Judges."
<mailto:Jordan.w.cowman@bakernet.com> jordan.w.cowman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com> andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - LAWSUIT FILED TO CONTEST ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION: On June 12, 2001, the
owner of four halfway houses in Illinois filed a federal lawsuit alleging
that a city in Madison County withheld occupancy permits and discriminated
against the company. The suit claims the city violated the federal Fair
Housing Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the 14th Amendment, and
the Civil Rights Act by refusing to give permits to halfway houses because
the inhabitants are recovering drug and alcohol abusers. See " Alleged
Discrimination
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/1/0000/6-12-2001/20010612051127420.html>
."  <mailto:William.j.dorsey@bakerent.com> william.j.dorsey@bakerent.com or
<mailto:gina.l.knight@bakernet.com> gina.l.knight@bakernet.com  Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - FLORIDA JURY AWARDS US$100,000 TO ORTHODOX JEW FOR TERMINATION OF HIS
EMPLOYMENT FROM BELLSOUTH: On June 11, 2001, a federal jury awarded
US$100,000 to a former BellSouth employee who was fired after he became a
practicing Orthodox Jew. BellSouth claimed that Jeffrey Bander was fired
after seven years with the company because he did not follow procedures for
taking time off. Jurors found BellSouth guilty of illegally firing Bander
after he filed an EEOC discrimination claim. See " Jury Awards Orthodox
Jewish Man
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/1/0000/6-12-2001/20010612013535060.html>
."  <mailto:j.richard.hammett@bakernetcom> j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.kardell@bakernet.com> steve.kardell@bakernet.com  Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - FEDERAL RESERVE SAYS IMMIGRANTS WAVE MAY SLOW PRODUCTIVITY: On June 12,
2001, a Federal Reserve Report stated that over the next century, U.S.
immigrants will enlarge the labor pool at a time when a growing proportion
of the nation will be retiring. The arrival of these immigrants will
contribute greatly to the U.S. working population. However, the gap between
the average educational attainment of the foreign-and native-born
populations is large. Economists and policy makers are concerned with how a
small workforce will be able to provide for a relatively large number of
dependants without a decline in the U.S. standard of living. See " Fed Says
Immigrants May Slow Productivity
<http://news.findlaw.com/news/s/20010612/economylaborproductivitydc.html> ."
<mailto:lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com> lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com or
<mailto:matthew.schulz@bakernet.com> matthew.schulz@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - FAILURE TO PROVIDE CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE IS SEX BIAS: On June 12,
2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Washington ruled that
Bartell Drug Co. violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by
excluding prescription contraceptive coverage from its employee health
benefit plan for female employees, while covering almost all drugs and
devices used by men. The court held that this constitutes discrimination
based on sex. See " Erickson v. Bartell Drug Co.
<http://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/wawd/CourtInfo.nsf/1f1a15887e6a34d48825643c000
aef8c/5d2ea900fd6e4a4a88256a69005aec4d?OpenDocument> "
<mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com> abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SENATORS CLINTON AND HARKIN CALL FOR ACTION ON BILL TO STRENGTHEN EQUAL
PAY ACT: June 12, 2001 is the 38th anniversary of Equal Pay Act, which
prohibits employers from paying a woman less than a man for the same job. On
this anniversary date, Senators Hillary Clinton (Dem. - NY) and Tom Harkin
(Dem. - Iowa) called for action on a bill that would allow plaintiffs to
recover for compensatory and punitive damages if the employer violates the
statute. See " Fair Pay Act
<http://www.now.org/issues/economic/alerts/03-03-00.html> ."
<mailto:cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jennifer.l.long@bakernet.com> jennifer.l.long@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - DOT SEEKS INPUT ON NEW DRUG TESTING MANDATE: On June 14, 2001, the U.S.
Department of Transportation announced that it is seeking comment on a new
drug testing requirement involving applicants for safety-sensitive functions
in the transportation industry. The new rule will require employers to ask
such applicants about their drug and alcohol history. The new rule takes
effect on August 1, 2001. See " DOT Seeks Input On Drug Testing
<http://www.uscg.mil/d1/units/msoprov/19CFR40 MSIB attachment.html> ."
<mailto:Peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com or
<mailto:mark.d.taylor@bakernet.com> mark.d.taylor@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - COMMENTS MADE IN APOLOGY LETTER PROTECTED BY JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
ABSOLUTE PRIVILGE: On June 1, 2001, a Maryland Court of Special Appeals
ruled that comments in a written apology issued as part of the settlement in
a sexual harassment claim are subject to absolute privilege. The court ruled
that documents created as part of a settlement, including a letter of
apology, are protected under an absolute privilege provided to judges,
witnesses, parties, and attorneys for statements made during judicial
proceedings. See " Sodergren v. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
<http://www.courts.state.md.us/opinions/cosa/2001/1407s00.pdf> Lab."
<mailto:Mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com> mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com or
<mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com> abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - INDEPENDENT STEEL UNION MEMBERS RATIFY THREE SEPARATE CONTRACTS WITH
WEIRTON STEEL: On June 13, 2001, the Independent Steelworkers Union ratified
three separate, 15-month contracts covering 3,500 workers. The contracts
retain many of the existing provisions from previous contracts, with the
addition of a 15 percent increase in benefits after pensions are calculated
on the basis of earnings and years of service. See " Steel Union Ratifies
Contract <http://www.weirton.com/company/invest/press/press060501.html> ."
<mailto:Brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - NEW TRIAL ORDERED ON CLAIM OF RETALIATORY FIRING: The U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit recently decided that a jury's irreconcilable
verdicts in Harris v. Niagara Mohawk Corp.
<http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=case&court=2nd&no=00
-7063>  requires a new trial. A black manager sued under Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and under state law claiming that he was rejected
for a "team leader " position and then terminated for retaliation for
complaints of discrimination.  <mailto:Robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com>
robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or  <mailto:howard.f.fine@bakernet.com>
howard.f.fine@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - IRS ISSUES FINAL RULES PERMITTING TRANSFERS FROM PENSION PLAN TO
RETIREE HEALTH ACCOUNT: On June 15, 2001, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
issued final rules on minimum cost requirements permitting the transfer of
excess assets from a defined benefit pension plan to a retiree health
account. See " IRS Retiree Health Account
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&doc
id=01-15255-filed.pdf> ."  <mailto:bonnie.k.levitt@bakernet.com>
bonnie.k.levitt@bakernet.com or  <mailto:edward.d.burmeister@bakernet.com>
edward.d.burmeister@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - WAL-MART ORDERED TO PAY US$750,000 FOR VIOLATING TERMS OF CONSENT
DECREE: On June 13, 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of
Arizona found Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in contempt of court for violating the
terms of a disability-bias settlement ordered by court. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
was fined US$750,000 for noncompliance. Under the terms of a January 6, 2000
consent decree, Wal-Mart agreed to train management employees in Tucson and
Green Valley, Arizona about the Americans With Disabilities Act and to
create a national training program for hearing-impaired employees. See "
Equal Employment  <http://www.eeocgov/press/6-14-01.html> Opportunity
Commission v. Darnell."  <mailto:andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com>
andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com or  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - COMAIR PILOTS REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO END 12-WEEK STRIKE OF
REGIONAL CARRIER: On June 18, 2001, representatives for Comair pilots began
briefings on tentative agreements that, if ratified, will end a 12-week
strike against the regional airline. Union and management are looking to
restart operations and heal rifts among Comair employees. See " Comair
<http://www.fly-comair.com/news/index.html?id=83> And Pilots Reach
Agreement."  <mailto:Laurence.e.stuart@bakernetcom>
laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com or  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - D.C. CIRCUIT OVERTURNS NLRB DECISION ON SHAM SALES AND BARGAINING
ORDER: On June 12, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) did not
conduct an appropriate analysis to support its decision for implementing an
affirmative bargaining order. The NLRB claims the order was necessary
because a mobile food catering business made "sham" sales of catering trucks
and routes to avoid unionization. The court held that the board failed to
analyze whether the "extreme remedy" of an affirmative bargaining order was
appropriate and necessary. See " Douglas Foods Corp. v. NLRB
<http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/200106/00-1241a.txt> ."
<mailto:Mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com> mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com> michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - ELEVENTH CIRCUIT INVALIDATES MANDATORY ARBITRATION AGREEMENT CONTAINING
FEE AND COST-SHARING PROVISION: In a decision issued on June 12, 2001, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's
order denying an employer's motion to compel arbitration, where the
mandatory arbitration agreement provided that all costs imposed by the
American Arbitration Association, and all fees imposed by any arbitrator
hearing the dispute, would be shared equally by the employee and the
company. The court ruled that this provision defeated the remedial purpose
of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and rendered the entire
arbitration agreement unenforceable. See " Perez v.
<http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions.htm> Globe Airport Security Services,
Inc."  <mailto:richard.tuschman@bakernet.com> richard.tuschman@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com> neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT RULES THAT ADA DOES NOT PROTECT EMPLOYEE WITH ERRATIC,
UNEXPLAINED ABSENCES: In a decision issued on June 12, 2001, the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court's order
dismissing the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) claim of a factory
worker with AIDS-related cancer who was terminated for excessive
absenteeism. The Seventh Circuit held that attendance at the job site was a
basic requirement of the plaintiff's job and, therefore, the ADA offered no
protection for his erratic, unexplained absences, even though those absences
were the result of a disability. See " Nicosia v. Yellow Freight System,
Inc.
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?submit1=showop&caseno=99-341
5> "  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com
or  <mailto:craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com> craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EIGHTH CIRCUIT RULES THAT UNION IS LIABLE FOR RACIAL HARASSMENT OF
"SCABS": In a decision issued on June 15, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict against the United
Steelworkers of America in favor of two black workers who were subjected to
racial slurs when they crossed the union's picket line during a 1997 strike
at the Goodyear plant in Lincoln, Nebraska. The court held that although the
racial conduct occurred on public property, it created an abusive working
environment because it was perpetrated with the intent to intimidate and
affect the working environment inside the plant. See " Dowd v. United
Steelworkers of America
<http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/01/06/002424P.pdf> ."
<mailto:Jordan.cowman@bakernet.com> jordan.cowman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carole.a.spink@bakernet.com> carole.a.spink@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - ELEVENTH CIRCUIT AFFIRMS VERDICT FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE DISCIPLINED
BASED ON BIASED EEO INVESTIGATION: In a decision issued on June 6, 2001, the
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held that
there was "ample evidence" to uphold a jury verdict on behalf of several
white employees who were disciplined based on an internal investigation into
allegations of racial harassment in the workplace. The jury found that the
investigator's report was biased and unsupported by the facts and that
similarly situated black employees were treated more leniently. See "
Lambert v. Fulton County, Georgia
<http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions.htm> ."
<mailto:richard.tuschman@bakernet.com> richard.tuschman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com> neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - AIRLINE EMPLOYEE'S CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IS NOT PROTECTED DISABILITY:
On June 12, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled an
American Airlines gate attendant with carpal tunnel syndrome was not a
disabled individual under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The court
found that since the employee's condition did not substantially limit her in
the major life activity of working, she failed to meet the definition of
disabled according to the statute. See " Gelabert-Ladenheim v. American
Airlines, Inc.
<http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&case=/data2/c
ircs/1st/002324.html> "  <mailto:j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com>
j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com or  <mailto:kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com>
kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - PARTIES REACH TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT IN SEARS RETIREE ERISA CLASS ACTION:
On June 12, 2001, Sears Roebuck & Co. and a group of its retired employees
reached a tentative settlement in a suit filed by retirees who claim that
the retailer violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. In 1997,
Sears reorganized its benefits program, and announced it would roll back
retiree life insurance benefits to a uniform level of US$5,000 over 10
years, regardless of the employee's length of service. Retirees affected by
the modification to the retiree life insurance plan filed a class action
arguing that the changes violated the ERISA. See " In Re Sears Retiree Group
Life Insurance Litigation
<http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/s/20010612/n12238650.html> ."
<mailto:lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com> lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com> michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - MAINE GOVERNOR VETOES CURB ON FUNDS FOR HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS THAT FIGHT
UNIONS: On June 15, 2001, Maine Governor Angus King vetoed a bill that would
have placed restrictions on hospitals and other healthcare institutions from
using government funds to fight union organizing. The bill would have
expanded current state law to prohibit reimbursement from Medicare,
Medicaid, or any state-administered fund for activities used to influence
employees to reject unionization. See " Maine Governor Vetoes Bill That
Rejects Unions
<http://www.state.me.us/governor/news/news_items/vetomessages/LD1394.htm> ."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com> laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - OHIO COMPANY LACKS STANDING TO CHALLENGE SAN FRANCISCO ORDINANCE: On
June 14, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that
S.D. Myers, Inc. does not have standing under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act to challenge a San Francisco ordinance providing benefits for
same sex partners of employees. The court ruled the company did not suffer a
"discrete injury" and therefore could not challenge the ordinance that
requires city contractors to provide non-discriminatory benefits to
employees with registered domestic partners. See " S.D. Myers, Inc. v. San
Francisco
<http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/3BFBBD16172869A188256A6B005
BB3C5/$file/9916397.pdf?openelement> ."
<mailto:cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com> michael.a.pollard@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - CONNECTICUT BANS MENTAL DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION: The Governor of
Connecticut recently signed Senate Bill 1053 into law, which bans mental
disability discrimination. Connecticut employers may not refuse to hire,
discharge from employment, or otherwise discriminate against an individual
based on their past history of mental disability, except in bona fide
occupational qualifications or needs. See " S.B. 1053
<http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2001/tob/s/2001SB-01053-R00-SB.htm> ."
<mailto:rober.s.lewis@bakernet.com> robert.s.lewis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.l.schaller@bakernet.com> william.l.schaller@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - IRS RELEASES NEW WITHHOLDING TABLES FOR JULY 1, 2001: On June 13, 2001,
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service released revised federal income tax
withholding tables, effective for wages paid on or after July 1, 2001. The
tables were revised to reflect recently enacted income tax decreases. See "
IRS  <http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15t.pdf> Publication 15-T."
<mailto:david.w.ellis@bakernet.com> davidw.ellis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:edward.d.burnmeister@bakernet.com> edward.d.burnmeister@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EEOC WINS JUDGEMENT AGAINST TECH COMPANY IN AGE BIAS SUIT: On June 12,
2001, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts granted the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission's Motion for Summary Judgement against
Bull HN Information Systems, Inc. The EEOC argued Bull HN discriminated
against older workers in connection with a series of reductions in force, by
requiring them to sign unlawful waivers of claims that violate the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act. See " EEOC Wins
<http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-12-01.html> Judgement."
<mailto:cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - SUSPECTS IN LUCENT CASE PLEADS NOT GUILTY: On June 19, 2001, three
Chinese nationals pleaded not-guilty to charges for the alleged selling of
trade secrets from Lucent Technologies, Inc. The suspects are charged under
a one-count indictment with conspiring to steal trade secrets and to possess
stolen trade secrets; however, the U.S. Department of Justice has listed the
case as a prosecution under the Economic Espionage Act. See " Suspects
Indicted <http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/ComTriadIndict.htm> ."
<mailto:william.l.schaller@bakernet.com> william.l.schaller@bakernet.com or
<mailto:john.m.murphy@bakernet.com> john.m.murphy@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - BUSH ADMINISTRATION NOMINATES NEW OSHA DIRECTOR: On June 13, 2001,
President Bush announced the nomination of John L. Henshaw as the Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Henshaw previously
was the environment, safety and health director for Astaris LLC, a St. Louis
chemical company. Henshaw also served as the president of the American
Industrial Hygiene Association from 1990-91. See " OSHA Nomination
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010613-3.html> ."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.j.gillespie@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - WAL-MART HIT WITH CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BY FEMALE EMPLOYEES ALLEGING SEX
DISCRIMINATION: On June 19, 2001, six current and former female employees
filed a class action lawsuit in California federal court against Wal-Mart
Stores Inc., alleging systematic discrimination against women with respect
to pay and promotion practices in alleged violation of Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964. The attorney representing the named plaintiffs has
stated that as many as 700,000 current and former employees could eventually
be a part of the case. " Wal-Mart Litigation
<http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2001/06/19/companies/wires/walmart_wg> ."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT AFFIRMS DISMISSAL OF AGE DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT DESPITE
TESTIMONY ABOUT CULTURE OF AGE DISCRIMINATION: In a decision issued on June
15, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a
district court's dismissal of an age discrimination lawsuit, despite
deposition testimony by a supervisory employee (who had his own age
discrimination lawsuit against the employer) that the employer had a culture
promoting age discrimination and that the plaintiff and other older workers
were not given the same opportunities as younger workers for choice
assignments. The court held that this "kind of vague, speculative evidence
by an employee with his own axe to grind has too little probative value to
make out a prima facie case of discrimination." See " Kadas v. MCI
Systemhouse Corp
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?submit1=showop&caseno=00-366
1> ."  <mailto:mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com> mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com or
<mailto:craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com> craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT GAVE EMPLOYEE RIGHT TO SELECT FORUM: On June 8,
2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that a forum
selection clause in an employment contract gave an employee the right to
select the forum to hear his dispute challenging his former employer's
calculation of his retirement benefits. The contract at issue provided that
the company consented to and waived any objection to any lawsuit brought
under the contract by the employee in either federal court or in any Texas
state court. See " Waters  <http://laws.lp.findlaw.com/5th/0020519cv0.html>
v. Browning Ferris Industries, Inc."  <mailto:charlene.tsang@bakernet.com>
charlene.tsang@bakernet.com or  <mailto:jordan.cowman@bakernet.com>
jordan.cowman@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - NUMBER OF NEW UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS DECREASES: On June 9, 2001,
the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration
released figures revealing that the number of claims filed with state
agencies for unemployment insurance benefits dropped 12,000 over the last
week. The rate is up slightly from last year. See " UI
<http://www.ows.doleta.gov/news/txtdocs/14jun01.html> Claims."
<mailto:lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com> lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:robert.marshall@bakernet.com> robert.marshall@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - DRESS FOR SUCCESS IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYEES: On June 15, 2001,
according to a survey of Americans age 18 and older, a woman's appearance
affects whether she is taken seriously on the job. Most of the respondents
said that creating a professional appearance helps a woman get and keep a
job, gain responsibilities, and secure raises and promotions. Respondents
with a higher education level placed greater emphasis on the importance of
appearance at work. See " Dress for Success <http://www.ctfa.org/final.pdf>
."  <mailto:renee.schor@bakernet.com> renee.schor@bakernet.com or
<mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com> abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - AS BOOMER EMPLOYEES' PARENTS AGE, ELDER CARE IS GROWING BUSINESS
CONCERN: According to a recent survey sponsored by Metlife Insurance
Company, elder care conflicts with employee work turn into productivity
losses for employers. These losses are estimated to range from US$11 billion
to US$29 billion, with costs expected to rise as the country's demographics
continue to change. Leaders on elder care policy and benefits are looking
more closely at the issue, which is becoming a growing concern in the
American workplace. See " Elder  <http://www1.opm.gov/wrkfam/index1.htm>
Care Becomes Growing Business Concern."  <mailto:carole.spink@bakernet.com>
carole.spink@bakernet.com or  <mailto:howard.f.fine@bakernet.com>
howard.f.fine@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - U.S. MOTHER'S TO PASS DOWN CITIZENSHIP TO THEIR CHILDREN: On June 11,
2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that U.S. citizen fathers do not have the
same right as a mother to transfer their U.S. citizenship to children born
out of wedlock outside the United States. The Supreme Court upheld a law
that allows children born abroad to continue to claim derivative U.S.
citizenship from their mothers. See " Tuan Anh Nguyen v. INS
<http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/11june20011200/www.supremecourtus.g
ov/opinions/00pdf/99-2071.pdf> ."  <mailto:lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com>
lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com or  <mailto:irene.m.recio@bakernet.com>
irene.m.recio@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - FOREIGN WORKERS TO AID IN NURSING SHORTAGE: The nursing shortage
continues in the United States, with job recruiters now turning to Europe
and Southeast Asia in search of qualified practitioners to fill vacancies.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service is also responding by
finally enacting regulations to implement the Nursing Relief for
Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999, which created the H-1C visa category for
nurses. The three basic requirements for the foreign worker to qualify for
H-1C classification include a license to practice abroad, examination in the
United States, and eligibility under state law to practice in the given
locality.  <mailto:lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com>
lynda.s.zengerle@bakernet.com or  <mailto:allen.orr@bakernet.com>
allen.orr@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - LABOR DEPARTMENT TO SHARE DATA WITH MONSTER.COM: On June 20, 2001, the
U.S. Department of Labor announced plans to pair up with online job search
engine monster.com to promote jobs in the public and private sector, while
sharing aggregate data on employment trends. See " Labor
<http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/167083.html> Department To Share Data With
Monster.Com."  <mailto:michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com>
michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com or  <mailto:andrew.j.bowling@bakernet.com>
andrew.j.boling@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EEOC SUES CONSULTING FIRM FOR WIDESPREAD SEXUAL HARASSMENT: On June 12,
2001, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a class action
complaint against a suburban Chicago management consulting firm, alleging
sexual harassment in the workplace.  <mailto:jill.walchlager@bakernet.com>
jill.walchlager@bakernet.com or  <mailto:carole.s.spink@bakernet.com>
carole.s.spink@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT RULES REGULAR ATTENDANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION IN JOB
SETTINGS: On June 12, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit ruled that an Illinois trucking services company did not violate the
Americans With Disabilities Act when it terminated an employee with AIDS for
poor job attendance. The
 court explained that regular attendance is usually
an essential function in most every employment setting. See " EEOC v. Yellow
Freight Systems
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?yr=99&num=3415&Submit1=Reque
st+Opinion> ."  <mailto:mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com>
mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com or  <mailto:craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com>
craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SHIP PILOT CANDIDATE LOSES BIAS CLAIM: On June 8, 2001, a federal judge
ruled that an African-American ship pilot, who for eight years
unsuccessfully applied for work with an organization providing maritime
services at a Galveston, Texas port, did not establish a case of race
discrimination. The court said that because the pilot failed to complete an
application for certification to the position, he was "unqualified in the
starkest terms." See " Peguese v. J.R. Borup
<http://pubs.bna.com/ip/BNA/DLR.NSF/454c89e75c1632a685256743006dde4c/23e7bc0
0bae9ccb185256a6c00137b54?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Peguese> ." (BNA
subscription required.)  <mailto:j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com>
j.richard.hammett@bakernet.com or  <mailto:charlene.tsang@bakernet.com>
charlene.tsang@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - CALIFORNIA JUDGE CERTIFIES CLASS ACTION ALLEGING FIRM RENEGED ON LIFE
TIME REBATES: On June 7, 2001, a California judge certified a class action
alleging Hewlett-Packard Co. reneged on a promise to provide retirees with
lifetime rebates on purchases of company products. The complaint was filed
by a 23-year retiree of the company who alleged that the company
reclassified him as a retiree of Agilent, an HP spin-off that did not exist
when he retired and withdrew the rebates later that year. See " Leonard v.
Helwett-Packard, Co.
<http://pubs.bna.com/ip/BNA/DLR.NSF/454c89e75c1632a685256743006dde4c/cfda853
7c5efb7ba85256a70000f55b7?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Leonard> " (BNA
subscription required)  <mailto:renee.s.schor@bakernet.com>
renee.s.schor@bakernet.com or  <mailto:cynthia.a.freeland@bakernet.com>
cynthia.a.freeland@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - AGE BIAS PLAINTIFF AWARDED FRONT PAY: The U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of New York recently ruled that a former General Electric
employee who prevailed on an age discrimination claim is now entitled to
front pay. The pay represents the difference between the pensions he will
receive from GE and his current employer and the amount he would have
received from GE but for his termination. See " Hogan v. General Electric
Co.
<http://pubs.bna.com/ip/BNA/DLR.NSF/454c89e75c1632a685256743006dde4c/0d1deb3
956abd63485256a70000f55af?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Hogan> " (BNA
subscription required)  <mailto:robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com>
robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or  <mailto:j.richard.hammet.@bakernet.com>
j.richard.hammet.@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT RULES EMPLOYER MUST MAKE PENSION PAYMENTS PENDING
SETTLEMENT: On June 15, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit held that with a multi-employer pension plan, an employer is liable
for interim withdrawal liability payments when the plan's liability
assessment predates the employer's actual withdrawal from the plan. The
court rejected the employer's argument that the Multiemployer Pension Plan
Amendments Act requires that there be an "actual and uncontested withdrawal
from a plan before an employer can issue an notice of withdrawal liability-
including interim liability." See " Central States, S.E. and S.W. Areas
Pension Fund v. Bomar
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3?yr=00&num=2472&Submit1=Reque
st+Opinion> Nat'l, Inc. "  <mailto:ben.a.neiburger@bakernet.com>
ben.a.neiburger@bakernet.com or  <mailto:andrea.kovar@bakernet.com>
andrea.kovar@bakernet.com  Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - D.C. CIRCUIT WILL NOT REVIEW LEGALITY OF REJECTED FCC RULE: On June 19,
2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia refused to
reconsider the legality of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's
equal employment opportunity rule for broadcast television and radio
stations. The regulation, struck down last January 2001, was declared
unconstitutional because it creates a race-based classification that is not
narrowly tailored to support governmental interests." See " MD/DC/DE
Broadcasters Ass
<http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/200106/00-1094b.txt> 'n v.
F.C.C."  <mailto:irene.m.recio@bakernet.com> irene.m.recio@bakernet.com or
<mailto:andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com> andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - U.S. GOVERNMENT MAKING TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE DISABLED: On June
19, 2001, during a visit to a U.S. Defense Department facility, President
Bush stated that the federal government needs to take a leadership role in
providing people with disabilities better access to technology. Bush noted
that Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1998, which requires federal
agencies to make sure that all electronic and information technology used is
accessible to those with disabilities, takes effect on June 25, 2001. See "
Rehabilitation Act Section 508
<http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/29/701.html> ."
<mailto:michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com> michael.j.wagner@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.a.miller@bakernet.com> steve.a.miller@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - U.S. HOUSE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO OVERTURN SUPREME COURT'S CIRCUIT
CITY DECISION: On June 20, 2001, five Democrats from the U.S. House of
Representatives introduced legislation intended to overturn the recent U.S.
Supreme Court decision in Circuit Cities v. Adams allowing mandatory
arbitration of employment disputes. The proposed bill would amend the
Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 to make employment arbitration agreements
unenforceable unless the employee and employer both voluntarily consent to
arbitrate a claim after it has arisen. See " Preservation Of Civil Rights
Protection Act.
<http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/21mar20011130/www.supremecourtus.go
v/opinions/00pdf/99-1379.pdf> "  <mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - MINNESOTA BANS GENETIC INFORMATION DISCRIMINATION: Recently, the State
of Minnesota enacted a ban which prohibits employers from administering a
genetic test or requesting, requiring, or collecting genetic information
regarding a person as a condition of employment. See " Protected Genetic
Information <http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/slaws/2001/c154.html> ."
<mailto:carole.a.spink@bakernet.com> carole.a.spink@bakernet.com or
<mailto:kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com> kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - LEGISLATORS SUPPORT AFL-CIO'S "SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE" AGENDA FOR WORKERS'
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE: On June 13, 2001, 10 members of the U.S. House of
Representatives took the House floor in support of a worker's right to
organize. This is the third year that the AFL-CIO has targeted a full week
in June to publicly highlight employers' efforts to block employee's from
joining unions. See " House
<http://www.aflcio.org/voiceatwork/now_current.htm> Members Support Unions."
<mailto:j.richard.hammet@bakernet.com> j.richard.hammet@bakernet.com or
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - D.C. CIRCUIT RULES THAT "INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR" MAY BE AN EMPLOYEE
UNDER ECONOMIC REALITY TEST: In a decision issued on June 22, 2001, the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that a worker designated by her
employer as an "independent contractor" was entitled to go to trial on her
claim that she was really an employee of the defendant and was therefore to
entitled to minimum wage and overtime payments. Applying the "economic
reality" test, the court held that the plaintiff's self-description did not
necessarily preclude a finding that she was an employee, nor did the fact
that she worked at home and sometimes worked irregular hours. See " Morrison
v. International Programs Consortium, Inc.
<http://www.llgeorgetown.edu/Fed-Ct/Circuit/dc/opinions/00-7150a.html> "
<mailto:richard.tuschman@bakernet.com> richard.tuschman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:frank.henry@bakernet.com> frank.henry@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - D.C. CIRCUIT DIRECTS NLRB TO RECONSIDER EFFECTS OF FIRM'S CONDUCT ON
GOOD FAITH DOUBT: On June 19, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the U.S. National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) misapplied the good-faith doubt standard when considering
whether a company's conduct tainted election results. See " Willamette
Industries, Inc. v. NLRB
<http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/200106/00-1366a.txt> ."
<mailto:jill.w.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.a.miller@bakernet.com> steve.a.miller@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT SAYS LACK OF INIATIVE AND NOT DISCRIMINATION IS CAUSE
FOR FIRING: On June 14, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit ruled that a hospital had good reason to fire a Chicago pediatrician
for her lack of enterprise. The court dismissed the doctor's sex
discrimination claim against her former employer despite the fact that the
dismissal occured during the employeee's pregnancy. See " Clay v.
<http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fox/foxweb.exe/Op3> Holy Cross Hospital."
<mailto:lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com> lisa.s.brogan@bakernet.com or
<mailto:gina.l.knight@bakernet.com> gina.l.knight@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - STRIKING CONTROLLERS CANNOT PURSUE JOINT LAWSUIT: A federal district
judge recently ruled that the 3,600 air traffic controllers fired by
President Reagan for an illegal strike 20 years ago cannot pursue a lawsuit.
The group alleges the federal government was slow in rehiring them in
alleged retaliation for their previous strike. See " Controllers Cannot
Pursue Joint Lawsuit
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/1/0000/6-22-2001/20010622114214180.html>
."  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernetcom> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:howard.f.fine@bakernet.com> howard.f.fine@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - SEVENTH CIRCUIT HOLDS JUDGES SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO ACCEPT WIDE ARRAY
OF STATISTICAL EVIDENCE: On June 19, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit ruled that a wider amount of statistical evidence should be
permitted under the Daubert rule, even if it would be rejected as
statistically insignificant by scholars. Judge Richard A. Posner said judges
should have more flexibility in accepting evidence because, given evidence
"free from any doubts based on significance levels," there could be times in
which a case of intentional discrimination based solely on statistical
evidence was possible. See " Kadas v. MCI Systemhouse Corp.
<http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=7th&navby=case&no=00
3661> "  <mailto:mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com> mark.l.karasik@bakernet.com or
<mailto:andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com> andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT DOES NOT PREEMPT STATE CLAIM FOR
WRONGFUL DISCHARGE: Recently, a California appellate court ruled that the
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) does not preempt state common law
claims for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy. The court ruled
that IRCA did not apply to a suit brought by two workers because the workers
were not suing their former employer for either of the two practices the
IRCA prohibits -- employment of illegal immigrants or discrimination against
legal workers on the basis of national origin or citizenship status. See "
Luo Yu Jie v. Liang Tai Knitwear Co.
<http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B135141.DOC> "
<mailto:cynthia.l.jackson@bakernetcom> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com or
<mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com> abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - FORD FACES MORE LAWSUITS ALLEGING THE COMPANY FAVORED WOMEN AND
MINORITIES FOR PROMOTION: On June 21, 2001, two white managers for Ford
Motor Co. filed lawsuits in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, accusing
Ford of demanding that managers either meet quotas for hiring and promoting
women and minorities or risk losing lucrative bonuses. The managers'
lawsuits allege they were passed over for promotions in favor of women and
minorities. See " Ford Faces More Lawsuits Alleging The Automaker Favored
Women,
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/l/0000/6-21-2001/20010621211824670.html>
Minorities For Promotion."  <mailto:Gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com>
gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or  <mailto:kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com>
kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - WAL-MART HIT WITH MAJOR SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATING COURT ORDER IN
DISABILITY BIAS CASE: On June 14, 2001, the U.S. District Court for the
District of Arizona held Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in contempt of court and
ordered it to pay US$750,200 in fines, air an explanatory television
advertisement, and provide significant remedial relief. The Court order
charges Wal-Mart with failing to comply with a Consent Decree settling an
EEOC lawsuit on behalf of two hearing-impaired employees under Title I of
the Americans With Disabilities Act. See " Judge Slaps
<http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-14-01.html> Wal-Mart With Major Sanctions For
Violating Court Order In EEOC Disability Bias Case."
<mailto:craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com> craig.r.annunziata@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EEOC FILES 16TH ADA SUIT AGAINST WAL-MART: On June 21, 2001, the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that it filed suit against
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., under Title I of the ADA, accusing Wal-Mart of
failing to reasonably accommodate an employee with a disability. The suit
was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and is the
EEOC's 16th legal action nationwide against Wal-Mart for violating the ADA.
See " EEOC Files 16th ADA Suit Against Retail Giant
<http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-21-01.html> ."
<mailto:renee.s.schor@bakernet.com> renee.s.schor@bakernet.com or
<mailto:susan.f.eandi@bakernet.com> susan.f.eandi@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - FOURTH CIRCUIT RULES 11TH AMENDMENT BARS FMLA SUITS AGAINST INTERSTATE
COMPACT: On June 20, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
ruled that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority cannot be sued
under the Family and Medical Leave Act because the 11th Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution gives it immunity from suit. The Court also disallowed a
former employee's suit against supervisors in their individual capacities.
The Court held that the actions of the seven supervisors "were tied
inextricably to their official duties," and, therefore, they were entitled
to the same 11th Amendment immunity as WMATA. See " Lizza v. Alexander
<http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=002103.P> ."
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com or
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - JESSE JACKSON DELAYS TOYOTA BOYCOTT: On June 20, 2001, the Reverand
Jesse Jackson delayed a threatened boycott of Toyota after the automaker
explained it is negotiating with a black advertising firm and retained a new
consultant to make the company's workforce more diverse. Jackson accused
Toyota last month of using a racist advertisement for its RAV4 sport utility
vehicle. See " Jackson Delays Toyota Strike
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/other/1110/6-21-2001/20010621003559080.h
tml> ."  <mailto:craig.r.annunziate@bakernet.com>
craig.r.annunziate@bakernet.com or  <mailto:gina.l.knight@bakernet.com>
gina.l.knight@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EEOC SUES CONSTRUCTION FIRM FOR WIDESPREAD RACE DISCRIMINATION: On June
11, 2001, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a
race discrimination suit in the U.S. District Court of New Orleans against
The Industrial Company (TIC) and TIC Holdings, Inc. The EEOC alleges
discrimination in recruiting and hiring on behalf of a class of up to 600
African American construction workers nationwide. See " EEOC Sues Major
<http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-11-01.html> Construction Firm For Widespread
Race Discrimination."  <mailto:laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com>
laurence.e.stuart@bakernet.com or  <mailto:charlene.tsang@bakernet.com>
charlene.tsang@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - ELEVENTH CIRCUIT RULES THAT INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL IS AN ADEQUATE REMEDY
FOR DENIAL OF A SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION: In a decision issued on June 25,
2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit refused to consider
the post-trial appeal of an employee who argued that the district court
improperly denied her motion for summary judgment on her claim that she was
retaliated against for her filing of a charge with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission. The Eleventh Circuit held that the denial of summary
judgment is not reviewable on appeal after a full trial and final judgment
on the merits. The court noted that a party who believes summary judgment
has been improperly denied may file a motion to certify the issue for
interlocutory appeal. See " Lind v.
<http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions.htm> United Parcel Service, Inc."
<mailto:richard.tuschman@bakernet.com> richard.tuschman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com> neil.mcguinness@bakernet.com  Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - SUPREME COURT AGREES TO HEAR FMLA CASE CHALLENGING ADVANCE NOTICE
REGULATION: On June 25, 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a
decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit regarding
notification issues under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. In
contrast to a previous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth
Circuit, the Eighth Circuit held invalid a U.S. Department of Labor
regulation requiring employers to provide employees with advance notice that
their paid or unpaid medical leave will be counted toward their 12 weeks of
leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. A decision is expected in
2002. See " Ragsdale v. Wolverine Worldwide Inc
<http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/00/07/993319P.pdf> ."
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com or
<mailto:steve.a.miller@bakernet.com> steve.a.miller@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - SUPREME COURT AGREES TO CONSIDER WHETHER PRIOR NOTICE OF DISCRIMINATION
BARS CONTINUING VIOLATION CLAIM: On June 25, 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court
agreed to consider whether an Amtrak worker could invoke the continuing
violation doctrine and seek damages against his employer for five years of
allegedly discriminatory conduct, even though it would have been reasonable
for him to file charges against the company at an earlier time. See "
National Railroad Passenger Corp. d/b/a Amtrak v.
<http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/EA937E99C76D656288256991005
EF4C1/$file/9915374.pdf?openelement> Morgan."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.cox@bakernet.com> michael.cox@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - SUPREME COURT AGREES TO HEAR CHALLENGE TO EEOC'S "RELATION BACK" RULE:
On June 25, 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to a
regulation of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that allows
an employee alleging discrimination to verify a charge after the statutory
filing deadline in situations where the individual already filed a timely
but unsworn discrimination charge. This is known as the "relation back"
doctrine. See " Edelman v. Lynchburg College
<http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=992408.P> ."
<mailto:william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com> william.j.dorsey@bakernet.com or
<mailto:carole.a.spink@bakernet.com> carole.a.spink@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - COMPENSATION LEVEL FOR TOP HUMAN RESOURCE EXECUTIVES REACHES
US$200,000: On June 24, 2001, the Society for Human Resource Management
released survey results which revealed that the median compensation level
for top human resource executives has climbed to more than US$200,000 in
salary and bonuses.  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or  <mailto:andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com>
andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - COURT CERTIFIES CLASS ACTION IN WORKERS' CLAIM OF BIAS AT SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: On June 15, 2001, a federal judge in Pennsylvania
certified a class of 130 Social Security Administration employees who
alleged that the agency discriminated against older workers by failing to
upgrade the pay scale for classifications of workers made up primarily of
older employees. See " Duffy v. Massinari
<http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/01D0467P.HTM> ."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com> kevin.s.simon@bakernet.com   Alert Date:
7/1/01

US - FORMER AVANT! ENGINEER SENTENCED IN TRADE SECRETS CASE: On June 22,
2001, a former Avant! engineer was sentenced to one year in jail for
receiving payments for stealing trade secrets from the chief rival of
Avants!. See " Ex-Avant! Employee Sentenced
<http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/depth/avnt062301.htm> ."
<mailto:robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com> robert.p.lewis@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - EMPLOYERS CAN CHECK JOB APPLICANTS' CRIMINAL HISTORY ON LINE: Employers
in Indiana may determine whether a job applicant has ever been arrested or
convicted of a criminal misdemeanor or felony by visiting a
government-operated Internet site www.in.gov/isp/lch
<http://www.in.gov/isp/lch> . Employers must pay a US$50 subscription fee,
plus US$20 for each background check. Requests sent by mail or in person are
US$7. Only limited criminal history checks are available online; job
applicants requiring fingerprinting and a fuller criminal history that
includes any juvenile record still will have to visit the state police.
Starting on July 1, 2001, a new Indiana state law will make criminal history
checks free to all school employers. See " Background Checks Move Online
<http://web.lexis-nexis.com/more/shrm/19213/7271271/12> ."
<mailto:Charles.r.topping@bakernet.com> charles.r.topping@bakernet.com or
<mailto:jill.walschlager@bakernet.com> jill.walschlager@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - WAL-MART SEEKS REVIEW OF COURT ORDER REQUIRING IT TO ADVERTISE ADA
VIOLATION: Wal-Mart has asked U.S. District Court Judge William Browning in
Tucson, Arizona to reconsider his June 13, 2001 order finding Wal-Mart in
contempt of court for not complying with a consent decree in a lawsuit
against the retailer for disability discrimination. The court ordered
Wal-Mart to make a 30-second television commercial admitting it violated the
Americans With Disabilities Discrimination Act ("ADA") and air it for two
weeks on major Arizona stations. As a result of the consent decree, in
January of 2000, Wal-Mart hired two deaf employees and paid them back wages
and damages. Wal-Mart also hired a sign-language interpreter during a two
week training period for the employees. However, Wal-Mart was found in
contempt of court when it failed to train supervisors on the ADA and had not
inserted a sign-language interpreter into corporate training videos. See "
Wal-Mart Seeks Review Of Court Order
<http://web.lexis-nexis.com/more/shrm/19216/7279844/2> ."
<mailto:Charlene.h.tsang@bakernetcom> charlene.h.tsang@bakernet.com or
<mailto:andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com> andrew.b.cripe@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - RAILWAY LABOR ACT'S MANDATES ARBITRATION OF DISABILITY CLAIM: On June
20, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that the
Railway Labor Act's mandatory arbitration scheme bars a covered employee
from litigating an Americans With Disabilities Act claim that requires a
"potentially dispositive interpretation" of a collective bargaining
agreement. The court rejected the EEOC's position that Congress intended the
ADA to override the RLA provision regarding arbitration. See " Brown v.
Illinois Central R.R. Co
<http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=7th&navby=case&no=00
2349&exact=1> ."  <mailto:john.m.murphy@bakernet.com>
john.m.murphy@bakernet.com or  <mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com>
brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - MAY METROPOLITAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS BELOW THE U.S. AVERAGE: On
June 27, 2001, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that in May of 2001,
206 metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates below the U.S. average
(4.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted), while 118 areas registered higher
rates. Among the 16 metropolitan areas with rates below 2.0 percent, 9 were
in the Midwest and 4 were in New England. Five of the seven areas with
jobless rates over 10.0 percent were in California's Central Valley, and the
two remaining areas were along the Mexican border in other states. See "
Metro  <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm> Unemployment."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:charles.r.topping@bakernet.com> charles.r.topping@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - CONSUMER CONFIDENCE EDGES UP IN JUNE: The Conference Board reported on
June 27, 2001 that renewed confidence in business and job prospects prompted
a 1.8% point increase in consumer confidence in June, the second straight
monthly jump. The report suggested that "consumers are currently more
optimistic than they have been all year regarding business and job prospects
over the next six months, and while their assessment of current conditions
weakened, the present situation index remains at historically high levels."
See " Consumer Confidence
<http://www.crc-conquest.org/consumer_confidence/index.htm> ."
<mailto:micheal.cox@bakernet.com> micheal.cox@bakernet.com or
<mailto:charles.r.topping@bakernet.com> charles.r.topping@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US- LATINA WOMEN INCREASING IN THE WORKPLACE: On June 24, 2001, the U.S.
Census Bureau released dating concluding that Latina-owned businesses have
increased 200 percent from 1987 to 1996 and the numbers are still rising.
However, access to finances and gaining acceptance in the business world
continues to remain a challenge. See " Latina Women Are Rising Force In The
Workplace <http://www.womensenew.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/593> ."
<mailto:abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com> abby.b.silverman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:cynthia.jackson@bakernet.com> cynthia.l.jackson@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - FEDERAL APPEALS COURT REINSTATES ARBITRATOR'S RULING THAT ORDERED
SEXUAL HARASSER BACK TO JOB: An arbitrator did not violate public policy or
exceed his authority by reinstating a Texas factory worker who had been
discharged for sexually harassing female employees, the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled June 7, 2001 . The court stressed that
the pertinent issue was not whether the worker's sexual harassment of female
co-workers itself violates public policy, but rather, whether the collective
bargaining agreement, as interpreted by the arbitrator, does so. In
reversing the lower court's ruling that vacated the arbitration award, the
Court found that there was no explicit, well-defined, dominant public policy
contrary to the arbitrator's decision. See " Arbitrator's Ruling
<http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/00/00-40284-cv0.htm> ."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:peter.s.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.s.gillespie@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - NEW TENNESSEE LAW INCREASES CHILD LABOR PENALTIES: Legislation
increasing the civil and criminal penalties for child labor law violations
(S.L. 01-378) was signed by Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist on June 12, 2001 .
Under the new law, employers of minors younger than 14 years of age and
anyone violating youth peddling provisions are subject to Class D felony
charges and fines of between US$1,000 and US$10,000 for each violation.
Previously, such violations of child labor laws were Class A misdemeanors,
and civil penalties ranged from US$150 to US$1,000. Labor law violations
involving minors aged 14 years or older remain subject to the lower
penalties, as provided in Tenn. Code Ann. 50-5-112. See " Tennessee Child
Labor Law <http://www.state.tn.us/sos/acts/102pub/pc0378.pdf> ."
<mailto:brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com> brian.s.arbetter@bakernet.com or
<mailto:peter.s.gillespie@bakernet.com> peter.s.gillespie@bakernet.com
Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - AMA CHIEF FILES SUIT OVER JOB: On June 25, 2001, the chief executive
officer of the American Medical Association (AMA) filed a lawsuit in
Illinois state court, alleging the AMA took away his power to fire the head
of the legal department after questions arose about a multi-million dollar
land deal. See " AMA C.E.O. Sues Organization
<http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/other/1500/6-19-2001/20010619083337990.h
tml> ."  <mailto:jill.walschlager@bakernet.com>
jill.s.walschlager@bakernet.com or  <mailto:carole.a.spink@bakernet.com>
carole.a.spink@bakernet.com   Alert Date: 7/1/01

US - "NO-PIN" POLICY DOES NOT VIOLATE 1ST AMENDMENT: On June 21, 2001, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled a police department's
"no-pin" dress code policy for employees does not violate the 1st Amendment.
The court said the cross pin in this case does not address a legitimate
public concern, and therefore, does not violate the U.S. Constitution. See "
Daniels v. City of Arlington
<http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/00/00-11191-cv0.htm> ."
<mailto:howard.f.fine@bakernet.com> howard.f.fine@bakernet.com or
<mailto:maureen.m.duffy@bakernet.com> maureen.m.duffy@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01

US - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES TRAINING INITIATIVES: On June 20, 2001,
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao announced several new initiatives to
facilitate job training and skill development for workers, including an
expansion of the Job Corps program to help participants obtain high school
diplomas. See " DOL Announces New Training Programs
<http://www.dol.gov/dol/opa/public/media/press/opa/opa2001192.htm> ."
<mailto:gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com> gerald.l.maatman@bakernet.com or
<mailto:michael.a.duffy@bakernet.com> michael.a.duffy@bakernet.com   Alert
Date: 7/1/01


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