Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Today's Teamster News 02.14.12

Senate sets stage for do-or-die vote on South Florida prison privatization  Orlando Sentinel   ...Florida lawmakers are set to vote on a massive prison privatization plan for South Florida in what will likely be an emotionally fraught debate and a severe test of Senate President Mike Haridopolos' leadership...
State spends millions for 202 new jobs  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel   ...A state-subsidized investment program yielded huge returns for three out-of-state financial firms and their partners while netting just 202 new jobs for Wisconsin, at a cost of more than $247,000 per job...
French Elections Potentially More Momentous Then Greek Vote  credit writedowns   ...Polls suggest that in the first round of balloting in late April, Sarkozy is trailing his Socialist challenger Hollande 31%-24.5%. Marina Le Pen’s candidacy appears sufficiently strong to deny either candidate a majority in the first round...
A key driver of a US recovery  Macrobusiness   ...Over the course of 2011, productivity growth slowed noticeably as the ‘easy’ gains from streamlining operations came to an end (and perhaps reflecting supply disruptions). Moreover, average weekly hours worked are almost back at pre-recession levels. As a result, firms have needed to take on extra employees to expand...
Armageddon at the Strip Mall  National Review   ...There’s going to be a lot of dark storefronts out there, with serious long-term consequences for nearby neighbors and for local real-estate markets: Foreclosures will put more property onto the market, driving down rents and subsequently making existing loans less tenable as the cashflow of commercial properties is diminished...
Red Cross workers possibly going on strike; blood drive canceled  NewsNet5   ...Local Red Cross workers may be hitting the picket line today, affecting about 250 union members in Northeast Ohio. The contract for union members, Teamsters Local 507, expired at 3 a.m. We have not heard of any agreement...