Catherwood LibraryILR School

Google will be conducting layoffs that will affect 280 employees who work in the core division. The core division focuses on developing technological foundation and security measures at Google. These job cuts will affect major technical teams that develop technical infrastructure, app platforms, and security foundations. Google will also lay off its entire Python development team, and several engineers who work in information technology. At least a quarter of the layoffs will occur at Google offices in California. Some of these positions will be outsourced to Mexico and India, and Google stated that this will allow the company to have larger workforces in areas with large user markets, and be close to other partners and developers at the company. Labor costs in Mexico and India are also cheaper than in the United States, and the changes will reduce costs. Affected employees will be able to apply for other positions at Google, and will also be provided with outplacement services.

Royal Mail seeking to reduce English postal service operations by no longer delivering on Saturdays The Royal Mail has proposed a plan to significantly cut operating costs, and one of the proposed measures is no longer having post deliveries on Saturdays. The Royal Mail currently operates six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, and this is because of the universal service obligation from the Parliament. Postal service workers are represented by the Communications Workers Union, and the union has previously opposed the reduction in services, but earlier this week agreed that Royal Mail operations six days a week is too costly. The Royal Mail experienced a loss of one billion pounds last year, and the plan will attempt to reduce operating costs by 300 million pounds. The union stated that the proposed change would not stop all postal service operations on Saturday, as first-class mail would still be delivered. There is no maximum cap on the price of the postage for first-class mail, and increasing the price of first-class stamps would reduce items mailed on Saturdays, and if individuals still chose to send first-class mail on Saturday, the Royal Mail would increase revenue.

A National Labor Relations Board ruling determined that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy violated labor laws when he made anti-union comments in media interviews. During interviews, CEO Jassy stated that workers were better off without unions and would be less empowered if they joined unions. The judge advised CEO Jassy to avoid making threatening comments toward employees who support unionization. The ruling also advised the company to post notices regarding Amazon's compliance with the NLRB ruling. Amazon has released a statement saying that his comments were not illegal and the company would be filing an appeal against the ruling. The comments were made by CEO Jassy as Amazon workers around the United States were organizing union efforts. Amazon has refused to recognize or bargain with any Amazon worker unions and has been appealing the union representation of Amazon workers.

Peloton, an exercise equipment company known for its stationary bicycles, indoor rowing machines, and treadmills, has announced layoffs as well as the resignation of the company’s CEO. The company will cut four hundred workers, which will reduce Peloton’s workforce by 15%, as well as close several various physical showrooms. Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy, who was previously a CFO at Netflix and Spotify. McCarthy stated that Peloton’s operating costs are significantly high, and laying off employees and changing management would allow the company to reduce the gap between costs and revenue. Peloton has implemented similar changes before, and in 2022 the company replaced its CEO and cut 2800 employees. Peloton has faced a variety of safety issues in recent months and had to recall treadmills and stationary bikes due to safety concerns. The company was also fined $19.9 million by federal officials due to these issues.

Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines have voted in approval and successfully ratified a new union contract. Southwest flight attendants are represented by the Transport Workers Union, and the union represents thousands of employees in the United States who work in the various transportation sectors. The approved contract will raise flight attendant wages by more than 33% over four years and will receive a 22% increase in the first year. The contract provides Southwest flight attendants the highest level of compensation for flight attendants in the airline industry and also has the shortest on-duty workdays. The contract will also provide Southwest flight attendants with paid maternal and paternal leave, and will also pay employees bonuses for ratifying the contract. Flight attendants at the other major US airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines, are still negotiating new contracts.

Unionized graduate students at Dartmouth College went on strike earlier this week on International Workers’ Day demanding university administration to pay students living wages. Dartmouth graduate students are represented by the Graduate Organized Laborers at Dartmouth, and negotiations between the union and university administration began in August and have been ongoing. Graduate students state that negotiations have stalled after the university rejected demands for higher wages and greater employee benefits. Graduate workers are seeking better pay, dental coverage, affordable childcare, retirement benefits, and short-term disability leave. Dartmouth administration has countered that the union is not responding to its proposals, and the most recent proposed contract would raise wages by around seven thousand in the first year, and would also pay a greater portion of healthcare premiums.

State senators in California have proposed a senate bill that would provide striking workers with unemployment benefits after they have been on strike for two weeks. California’s unemployment benefits provide affected workers with $450 each week for up to a maximum of twenty-six weeks. California lawmakers previously proposed the same senate bill, but it was vetoed by the governor, stating that California could not take on additional debt. Supporters of the bill claim that it would reduce the economic hardships felt by striking workers, and also would reduce the losses of local businesses that are dependent on the business of striking workers. Various groups support the bill, including the California Labor Federation and many labor unions. The bill is opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce, and farm, grocery, and hospital associations. Opponents stated that being on strike versus being unemployed and searching for a job are different situations, and striking workers do not meet the requirements to receive unemployment benefits.

Numerous companies in Wisconsin laid off workers this past month, and the job cuts in total affected over eight hundred employees. CNH Industrial, an agriculture and construction machinery company will indefinitely lay off over two hundred workers. A poultry processing company, Jeanie-O Turkey Store in Barron, Wisconsin announced that thirty-eight employees who work in hatchery operations will be laid off. Jeld-Wen, a window and door manufacturing company, announced that various rounds of layoffs would occur in the next year, and in total over 338 workers will be cut. that A Walmart location closed in Milwaukee, and over a hundred employees were let go. Sentra, a company that manufactures medical equipment will be cutting 128 workers at a production facility. Conagra Brands, a major food packaging company, announced layoffs that will affect over 252 employees. Two Catholic elementary schools in Milwaukee were sold to a different Catholic school district, and the management change will impact 73 workers, and Concordia University will cut 24 university employees.

Japan is experiencing a shortage of airport ground handlers and needs an increase of workers to prevent delays in flight departures and arrivals. Airport ground handlers are responsible for ramp handling, cargo loading, and passenger assistance duties. The number of employees who worked in passenger assistance decreased more compared to the decline in ramp handling workers. The Japan Federation of Aviation Industry Union created a website that showcased promotional comics about airport ground handling. Using comics as a medium allows the union to reach younger high school and college audiences. Last year, Japan formed an organization called The Airport Ground Handling Association, and the country’s 400 ground handling companies are a part of the organization. The group was created to address the worker shortages in the industry, which are largely due to mediocre wages and difficult working conditions, as well as a large number of resignations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small to medium-sized companies in Finland are having difficulties bringing in skilled and qualified workers. This challenge began last year and has persisted due to unstable market conditions. The Entrepreneur Gallup Survey conducted in Finland found that thirty-seven percent of small to medium enterprises have struggled to hire new employees, and this has hurt the company’s growth potential. This issue is especially prominent in the Finnish industrial industries and companies in the western region of Finland. Researchers stated that the country needs vocational training that is more flexible and more efficient, and changes to vocational education are crucial to producing more skilled workers. Researchers are also recommending an increase in paid apprenticeships in various sectors. Small to medium-sized companies have the potential for significant growth if they have enough skilled employees in their workforce.