White Paper posted July 17, 2012 by Walter Lohman, John Fleming, Robert Warshaw
Key Asian Indicators: A Book of Charts
America’s Enduring Leadership in Asia
America has been engaged in Asia since a few decades after securing its independence.
Its early interest is documented in the 1833 Treaty on Amity and Commerce between the U.S. and the Kingdom of Siam Thailand), and later in the market-opening 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan. The U.S. has, in fact, been a “resident…
White Paper posted January 14, 2011 by Walter Lohman, John Fleming, Nicholas Hamisevicz
Key Asian Indicators: A Book of Charts
The global financial crisis has had a major impact on perceptions of American power and its relationships in Asia. Many of the perceptions are not founded on facts. Among the facts often overlooked:
American companies invest far more abroad than does all of Asia combined.
For every dollar the U.S. has invested in China it has invested two in Australia…
White Paper posted November 24, 2009 by Walter Lohman, John Fleming, Nicholas Hamisevicz
Key Asian Indicators: A 2009 Book of Charts
The United States is no less a Pacific nation than an Atlantic one. The state of Hawaii and the territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa all lie in the Pacific. The United States has five treaty alliances in East Asia (Japan, Korea, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand), the Pacific Fleet, and major military bases throughout the region. It has…
WebMemo posted November 10, 2009 by James Sherk, Ryan O'Donnell
Decreasing Union Transparency: A Step Backward for Workers
Each year, unionized employees pay billions of dollars in union dues. By law, unions must spend this money to advance the interests of union members. However without adequate financial transparency, union members cannot tell if their dues are being misspent.
Recent regulatory changes by the Department of Labor (DOL) increased union financial transparency. This…
Backgrounder posted October 13, 2009 by James Sherk, Ryan O'Donnell
Time for Congress to Work Under the Same Rules as the Private Sector
Abstract: All too often, Congress imposes
restrictive and burdensome regulations on employers in the private
sector--while conveniently exempting itself from these same
rules. Many Members of Congress are currently urging passage of the
misnamed Employee Free Choice Act and RESPECT Act, which, again,
would leave Congress untouched. This paper demonstrates…
Backgrounder posted June 4, 2009 by James Sherk, Ryan O'Donnell
RAISE Act Lifts Pay Cap on 8 Million American Workers
Federal law caps the wages of over 8 million middle class
workers. Union contracts set both a wage floor and a wage
ceiling--unionized employers may not give productive workers pay
raises outside the collectively bargained contract. Unions usually
insist on seniority-based pay and rarely allow employers to reward
hard-working individuals. No matter how hard most…
Backgrounder posted May 28, 2009 by James Sherk, Ryan O'Donnell, Ryan O’Donnell
How the RESPECT Act Hurts Companies and Employees Alike
The Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and
Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) Act largely eliminates the
definition of supervisor from the National Labor Relations Act
(NLRA). This change would undermine companies' efficiency and
productivity. Specifically, it would:
Necessitate the hiring of "deadweight" employees who add little
value to the…
WebMemo posted March 31, 2009 by James Sherk, Ryan O'Donnell
Labor Union Snap Elections Deprive Employees of Informed Choice
As public support for the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act
(EFCA) fades,[1] three companies (Starbucks, Costco, and
Whole Foods Market) have proposed replacing card check--the means
by which employees indicate their support for union
representation--with expedited elections: Workers would vote on
whether to organize within a few days of unions filing…
WebMemo posted March 11, 2009 by James Sherk, Ryan O'Donnell
EFCA: High-Pressure Spin Selling and Creative Organizing for Labor Unions
After work, you and a couple of co-workers gather at the local
pizza joint for a few slices and a beer. Your co-workers are
buying! One of them asks you to sign in. Ready for a cold one, and
focused on whether to go for pepperoni or maybe that new meat
lover's pie, you sign. Congratulations! Under the rules of the
misnamed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), you've…