7A
STRICTLY BUSINESS/The Charlotte Post
February 1, 1996
D.C. mayor calls for more
‘business-like’ government
By Janelle Carter
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - The
District of Columbia govern
ment of the 21st century is
envisioned as more business
like, with privatized services
that will reduce the work force
by 2,199 employees, under a
draft plan of Mayor Marion
Barry's administration.
In the draft obtained by The
Associated Press, city govern
ment is transformed into a
new structure that “stream
lines government, takes out
excessive layers of manage
ment, concentrates on the
maximum utilization of tech
nology and consolidates func
tions."
City agencies would be
turned into “core businesses"
under the proposal that would
make contracting activities an
“effective user-friendly tool
and service."
It pledges to make govern
ment operations more efficient
by reducing processing time,
increasing quality and
decreasing costs for delivering
services.
Barry is to release the offi
cial copy on Thursday.
Spokesman Johnny Allem
would not comment on the
proposal.
The draft would privatize a
number of city functions,
including building and
grounds maintenance at pub
lic libraries and parks, bridge
maintenance, street cleaning,
garbage collection and snow
removal.
Privatization of those ser
vices would allow the city to
eliminate 872 positions by fis
cal year 1997, which begins
this Oct. 1. By the year 2000,
2,199 total positions would be
eliminated, the draft said.
Also privatized would be
medical and food service func
tions at the D.C. Jail. The
operation of the jail would
remain under city control.
Steven Kreisberg, a labor
economist with the American
Federation of State and
Municpal Employees, said
while he had not seen the
draft, his organization was
“opposed to any plans to pri
vatize jobs."
Such efforts, he said, would
be particularly troubling
because of the city's past prob
lems with contracts.
“Privatization doesn't solve
any problems," Kreisberg said.
“It will lead to less account
ability in the way services are
provided."
Kreisberg said a plan by city
leaders to privatize is “an
indication that they don't
believe in their own ability to
manage the affairs of their
jurisdiction."
The plan would keep intact
public safety efforts of the
police and fire departments. A
centralized 911 system would
be created, combining fire,
emergency medical services,
police and the office of emer
gency preparedness.
A Medicaid Administration
would be formed within the
Health Department. Also a
Public Benefit Cooperation
would be created "to serve as
the vehicle for the delivery of
primary, acute and long term
services."
The proposal also creates a
Business Services and
Economic Development
Department which would be
responsible for drawing com
mercial businesses and revi
talizing neighborhoods.
Negro Business Women’s club inducts four members
Gwen & Larry Mackins
Owners
G &z
MACKINS
BONDING COMPANY
• FAST 24 HOUR
SERVICE
• LOCAL-STATE-
FEDERAL
• VISA &
MASTERCARD
ACCEPTED
205 N. Myers Street
Charlotte, NC
(704) 334-9600
Fax (704)334-3781
PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON
The Charlotte Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc recently
inducted four new members. Pictured (left to right) are Dr. Dorothy S. Ruiz, Sarah Stevenson, club president- Dorethea
E, Threatt, Sandra L. Frazier and Caroiyn W. Recard (left to right). The Chariotte Club is a service organization com
posed of a diverse group of women serving Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The Anna Hood Scholarship, named for the orga
nization s co-founder, has awarded more than $50,000 to deserving students.
neritage house
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE GIFTS, ART, BOOKS AND
HOME ACCESSORIES WITH AN ETHNIC ELAIR
■ ^U^XiaATime ^
Meet
CPfiyCicia ^RjisfiacC
starring in:
Once Upon A Time...
When We Were
Colored
and author,
Clifton Taulbert.
Thurs. Feb. 1, 1996
5:30p.m.
at The Afro American
Cultural Center
FREE RECEPTION &
BOOK SIGNING
Kings Court At 901 South Kings Drive • Charlotte • 344-9695
(By The Melting Pot & Mama Ricotta's Restaurants)
NEW 1996 Hours Mon. - Sat. 10-6
A global dilemma: Work less, play
more, but remain very competitive
By William J. Kole
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS — All work and no
play makes Jacques a dull
boy.
To French workers who
waged a crippling strike late
last year, working less and
playing more has become a
battle cry for a better life. In
France, the push is on for a
35-hour workweek and a sixth
week of guaranteed vacation.
But to the Japanese, strug
gling to remain on top, that
route looks more like the road
to ruin. In Japan, companies
are reaffirming their commit
ment to a 44-hour workweek,
the longest among leading
industrialized nations, and
many workers aren't even tak
ing all of their three weeks'
holiday.
Nations and corporations are
dealing in vastly different
ways with a common dilem
ma: How to improve the quali
ty of life, yet stay competitive?
Workers around the world
are redefining the bottom line
- some by lingering on the job,
others by punching out early.
Some of their leaders, frus
trated by mounting unemploy
ment, are peddling a shorter
workweek as a way to create
new jobs by spreading the
work around. Employers are
split over how long the week
should be.
And labor analysts, forever
hunting for trends, are
scratching their heads.
“The world is not going in
the same direction," said Dr.
Ray Richardson, an industrial
relations expert at the London
School of Economics. “Workers
in general want to spend some
of their increased wealth in
more leisure. But these things
are simply not constant
throughout the world."
In the United States, the
traditional workweek has
remained unchanged at 40
hours since the end of World
War II, and vacation usually
is a minimum of two weeks,
among the world's shortest.
Forty-hour workweeks also
are the standard in Austria,
India, Italy, Ivory Coast,
Russia and Venezuela.
By contrast, in Chile work
ers are on the job for 48 hours
a week and vacation three
weeks a year. Kenyans work
44 hours a week and have at
least 21 days of vacation.
In Japan, where just a
decade ago the standard work
week was six days, companies
are lobbying the government
to maintain its 44-hour work
week, which by far leads the
industrialized world.
Four of Japan's major busi
ness groups are pressing the
See LABOR page 8A
Faith in everyday financial affairs
Continued from page 6A
finances is a constant theme
in the Bible and a closer
examination will reveal prin
ciples that you can apply to
your financial life.
Insurance
Insurance deals with restitu
tion, which literally means "
to restore." In the area of
finances this normally refers
to replacing a material posses
sion. In the books of Exodus,
Leviticus and Deuteronomy
there are verses that deal
with things as diverse as pay
ment for theft to your respon
sibility for borrowed goods.
There also is the subject of
leaving an inheritance for
your children. This is dealt
with in the book of Proverbs.
Not only is the biblical advice
that we should leave money to
our children, but it goes fur
ther to imply that some of the
inheritance should be given
while the parent is still alive
in order to teach the children
how to manage it.
CHARLES ROSS is Host of
the nationally syndicated
radio program, "Your Personal
Finance," and author of Your
Commonsense Guide to
Personal Financial
Planninng"
Bo
BUSftmBB,
####
Call one of our professional representatives to help
market your business, profession or event in the publi
cation that produces results and keeps you in touch.
• StrictlyBusineSs, Designed to Profile Minorities in Business and
Minorities Successful Within Majority Corporations.
• Healthy Body/Healthy Mind, Designed to Keep You Abreast of
Current Health Issues, Concerns and Preventions.
• The Post, Designed and Dedicated to the concerns of
the Black Community.
Call: (704) 376-0496
JERI
Assistant Sales Manager
& Automotive Specialist
FRAN PARKER
Advertising & Marketing Director & General Sales
or Fax:(704) 342-2160
PAT
Healthy Body/Healthy Mind
Specialist
Prime Spots Still
Available
In The
1996
BLACK GUIDE
CALL TODAY!
CARLOS
StrictlyBusiness Specialist
& Rock Hill Accout Executive
BOB
General Manager
& Account Executive
Celebrate
Black History
Month
...ADVERTISE
Your Business!