Dropping the Ax: Illegal Firings During Union Election Campaigns

This report finds a steep rise in illegal firings of pro-union workers in the 2000s relative to the last half of the 1990s. It uses published data from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to update an index of the probability that a pro-union worker will be fired in the course of a union election campaign. By 2005, pro-union workers involved in union election campaigns faced about a 1.8 percent chance of being illegally fired during the course of the campaign. If we assume that employers target union organizers and activists, and that union organizers and activists make up about 10 percent of pro-union workers, our estimates suggest that almost one-in-five union organizers or activists can expect to be fired as a result of their activities in a union election campaign

Cyclical patterns of employment, utilization and profitability

The interaction between income distribution, accumulation, employment and the utilization of capital is central to macroeconomic models in the `heterodox' tradition. This paper examines the stylized pattern of these variables using US data for the period after 1948. We look at the trends and cycles in individual time series and examine the bivariate cycical patterns among the variables. JEL Categories: E12, E32, O41growth, business cycles, aggregate demand, instability, income distribution, utilization rate, investment function, pricing.

The Decline in African-American Representation in Unions and Manufacturing, 1979-2007

This report details the sharp decline in African-American employment in manufacturing and in African-American unionization rates. The study, which analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, shows that the share of American workers in unions continues to fall, but unionization rates for African-Americans have declined more sharply than for the rest of the workforce.African-Americans, unions, employment rate

The Decline in African-American Representation in Unions and Auto Manufacturing, 1979-2004

This report examines the unionization rates of African-American workers and finds that the relative representation of African Americans has been steadily declining in unions, manufacturing, and auto manufacturing.

The Impact of the Medicare Drug Benefit on Health Care Spending by Older Households

This report uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey from 2004 to 2006 as well as data from the Congressional Budget Office to analyze the savings in prescription drug spending for seniors as a result of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). The results show that the 1st income quintile of seniors experienced a fall in the rate of expenditures for prescription drugs and the 2nd income quintile saw a slowing of the rate of increase in expenditures. However, senior households in the middle- and upper-income quintiles saw a rise in expenditures for prescription drugs.medicare, prescription drugs, MMA, senior citizens, health care

Is the U.S. a Good Model for Reducing Social Exclusion in Europe?

This paper finds that the United States fares worse than Europe on a range of social and economic indicators, including most measures of poverty, health, education and crime.

Dropping the Ax: Illegal Firings During Union Election Campaigns, 1951-2007

This report updates an earlier report from January of 2007, which found a steep rise in illegal firings of pro-union workers in the 2000s relative to the last half of the 1990s. It updates the index of the probability that a pro-union worker will be fired in the course of a union election campaign, using published data from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). It also takes into consideration the increase in card-check organizing campaigns that began in the mid-1990s and adjusts the index for this factor. By 2007, pro-union workers involved in union election campaigns faced about a 1.8 percent chance of being illegally fired during the course of the campaign. If we assume that employers target union organizers and activists, and that union organizers and activists make up about 10 percent of pro-union workers, our estimates suggest that almost one-in-five union organizers or activists can expect to be fired as a result of their activities in a union election campaign. Since 2000, illegal firings have marred over one-in-four NLRB-sponsored union elections, reaching 30 percent of elections in 2007.illegal firings, unions, NLRB, EFCA, organizing campaigns

The Decline in African-American Representation in Unions and Manufacturing, 1979-2006

This report details the sharp decline in African-American employment in manufacturing and the even sharper decline in African-American unionization rates. The study, which analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, shows that the share of American workers in unions continues to fall, but unionization rates for African-Americans have declined more sharply than for the rest of the workforce.

The Potential Mediating Effects of Social Support Network Size and Physical Activity on Cognitive Function and Mortality Risk

BACKGROUND: Low cognitive function has been shown to be an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. Social support network size and total physical activity volume (TPAV) are two modifiable factors which have been shown to be independently associated with cognitive function and mortality risk. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential mediating effects of social support network size and TPAV on cognitive function and all-cause and CVD-related mortality risk in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. METHODS: Study sample (N =2,550) included older adult (≥ 60 years of age) participants in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Quartiles of cognitive function were created using Digit Symbol Substitution Test scores. Social support network size was determined using the number of reported close friends. TPAV was determined from self-reported domestic, transportation, and leisure time physical activity. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed an approximate three-fold increase in all-cause and CVD-related mortality risk in participants in the lowest quartile of cognitive function, compared to the highest quartile of cognitive function. These relationships are independent of social support network size and TPAV. Linear and non-linear inverse dose-response relationships were also revealed between cognitive function and increased all-cause and CVD-related mortality risk, respectively (P for trend for both P \u3c 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults, low cognitive function was associated with increased all-cause and CVD-related mortality risk. However, both relationships were independent of social support network size and TPAV

A Cross-sectional Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experience Exposure on Cancer Diagnosis Utilizing the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey Data

Objective: To determine the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and cancer diagnosis based on ACE exposure levels. Methods: We utilized data collected in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. The study population (n=54,148) was restricted to states that reported on the optional model of experiencing ACEs and those who responded about cancer diagnosis. A univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic regression were performed. Odds of cancer diagnosis among those with differing ACE exposure levels were calculated. Results: High ACE exposure had 20% higher odds of cancer diagnosis when compared to low ACE exposure. White, non-Hispanics, females, those over the age of 65 and those who reported poor overall health had the highest odds of receiving a cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: ACEs were significantly associated with a cancer diagnosis, as high ACE exposure was positively associated with increased risk of cancer diagnosis. However, there may not be a direct link between ACEs and cancer diagnosis. Further research needs to be conducted regarding the biological and behavioral pathways that exist between ACEs and cancer