Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Today's Teamster News 12.04.12

Don't Cut Medicare Benefits -- Tackle Drug Prices  Huffington Post   ...As the approach of the so-called "Fiscal Cliff" nears, many advocates nationwide are making this message clear: Medicare benefit cuts are not an option...
Corporate profits hit record as wages get squeezed  CNN Money   ...In the third quarter, corporate earnings were $1.75 trillion, up 18.6% from a year ago ... That took after-tax profits to their greatest percentage of GDP in history. But the record profits come at the same time that workers' wages have fallen to their lowest-ever share of GDP...
As Companies Seek Tax Deals, Governments Pay High Price  New York Times   ... states, counties and cities are giving up more than $80 billion each year to companies ... many do not know the value of all their awards. Nor do they know if the money was worth it because they rarely track how many jobs are created. Even where officials do track incentives, they acknowledge that it is impossible to know whether the jobs would have been created without the aid...
American manufacturing contracted in November  manufacture this   ...Employment in the manufacturing sector contracted for the first time in three years, while a measure of inventories—a gauge of future demand—dropped sharply to 45 from 50, suggesting firms are delaying hiring and keeping stockpiles low...
Push Against Unions Flares In Michigan  Wall Street Journal   ...Unions in Michigan are trying to fend off a push by Republican lawmakers to pass right-to-work legislation—the latest in a string of challenges to organized labor in one of its traditional Midwestern strongholds...
L.A.-Long Beach port strike enters second week  Associated Press   ...Negotiators returned to the bargaining table Monday as a strike that has crippled operations at the nation's largest port complex entered its seventh day. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa demanded that both sides meet nonstop until they reach an agreement...