U.S. jobless claims rise sharply to 6-week high

CNBC ^

[sunmars]

WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The number of Americans applying for first-time jobless benefits rose last week, a report showed on Thursday, reversing a recent decline and suggesting the labor market remains brittle. Unemployment claims jumped to 399,000 in the first week of 2012, the highest in six weeks, from an upwardly revised 375,000 in the prior week. The four-week average of claims also marched higher to 381,750 from 374,000. The Labor Department report also showed 3.63 million continuing claims, up from 3.61 million. Including the millions of workers receiving benefits under emergency federal programs, some 7.3 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits as of Dec. 24, the most recent date for which comprehensive figures are available. The U.S. unemployment rate has fallen sharply in recent months and was 8.5 percent December, but some economists worry the drop has been due in part to discouraged workers dropping out of the labor force.

[MacMattico]

My sister lost her job last week after 26 years at the same place.

She’s devastated. She knew there was a chance but never thought it would come to this. I believe she was union, too, so we see how much that helped.

She told me 25 people were laid off last year because when they were drug tested, they failed. The company claimed “downsizing” but she told me they had plenty of work, but the union contract said if an employee failed a drug test, the company was to pay to send them to rehab! I would
have fired them all! Forced rehab to be paid by the employer?

She seemed to like her job but I told her the union was dragging her down, and it did, she was the senior person in her position and the union made her a liability to the company. Hopefully something better comes along or she can freelance or something.

[kearnyirish2]

“She seemed to like her job but I told her the union was dragging her down, and it did, she was the senior person in her position and the union made her a liability to the company.”

Companies are “re-setting” their compensation levels to the “new normal”; anyone making over $50K is on their way out, to be replaced by someone at $30K. This is also a way for companies to reduce the average vacation time of their employees; she’ll be replaced by someone lucky to get 2 weeks. Our standard of living will fall to meet Red China’s rising standard of living; when we have equilibrium (not yet) our salary levels will stabilize. Our way of life, especially families and homes, are a thing of the past; as fast as the demographic shift has been in the last 20 years, it is about to accelerate even more.

[RipSawyer]

“Anyone who votes for HUSSEIN this time around, really and truly has to be stupid.”
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Those who voted for him the first time were stupid, those who vote for him again are blithering idiots, nincompoops, &^(*for brains, morons, they should be in a home where they can be protected from themselves.

[rockabyebaby]

Those who voted for him the first time were stupid, those who vote for him again are blithering idiots, nincompoops, &^(*for brains, morons, they should be in a home where they can be protected from themselves.

AND,,,,their right to vote should be revoked!