:: rawblogXport ::

:: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 ::

Labor Is Forced to Reassess as Union Leaders Convene By STEVEN GREENHOUSE, NYTimes
Ever since the California supermarket dispute ended two weeks ago in a clear defeat for labor, union leaders have worried about the fallout. Under the new contract signed by the three grocery chains, Safeway, Kroger and Albertson, new workers will have a lower wage tier and, unlike current ones, will have to begin paying $450 a year in health insurance premiums. In addition, the companies will contribute $1.10 an hour for health insurance for new employees, enough for only a barebones plan compared with the $3.80 an hour paid for current employees.

Professor Milkman said that the wages and benefits of current supermarket workers put them in the middle class, but that would not be the case for the new workers. 'Every employer in the industry will try to get this template,' she said. 'We don't know where the ripple effects might land.'

Alcoa chief's pay falls to $5.4 million; groups act to further trim compensation By Len Boselovic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Belda's salary last year was $1.2 million, reflecting the restoration of a voluntary 20 percent cut he took in 2002 as well as a raise. He also received a bonus of $1.3 million vs. a $1.1 million bonus in 2002.

His 2002 pay of $5.8 million included $3.5 million from exercising stock options.

posted 5:35 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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