Economy Adds 431,000 Jobs–Barely Enough to Stay in Place

by James Parks, Jun 4, 2010

Some 431,000 net new jobs were created in May. A whopping 411,000 of those new jobs were temporary U.S. Census jobs while private employers added only 41,000 new jobs in May. Overall, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7 percent, down from 9.9 in April, according to a report released this morning by the U.S. Department of Labor.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the low number of private-sector jobs is further evidence the recovery is still fragile.

The Economic Recovery Act saved us from a second Great Depression, but it was not sufficient to power strong and sustained job growth, and its effects are expected to wane in coming months.

Steelworkers Help Green Light New Energy-Efficient Bulbs

by Mike Hall, Jun 2, 2010

Here’s a way to reduce your carbon footprint and support good green union jobs. Check out the new Sylvania Super Saver halogen light bulbs made by the United Steelworkers (USW) in a Wellsboro, Pa., plant.

As more and more households turn to the energy-efficient bulbs over the familiar incandescent light bulb that sucks up much more energy, many manufacturers are shutting down their U.S. operations and producing the new bulbs overseas.

But Osram Sylvania has decided to manufacture its Sylvania Super Saver halogen bulbs at existing facilities in the United States. Wellsboro currently produces the outer glass portion of light bulbs that are assembled at Osram Sylvania’s plant in St. Marys, Pa.