40 Hour Workweek

On the first day after Howard County's sweeping new personnel report came out, Mike Rund of the county's firefighters union thought his membership had scored a coup. "We make out like bandits," he said.Twenty-four hours later, after staying up all night looking for the catch, Rund found it.The elation turned to frustration: "We have people who will do great [financially], but the majority of us won't." It's been that kind of week for Howard County's 1,850 employees -- including police sergeants, office clerks and department heads -- as they struggle to comprehend Monday's report by the Organizational Consulting Center in San Diego.

A proposed change to Howard County's growth law -- politicked to the brink of extinction a month ago -- roared back to life last night.The proposal, which would allow hundreds of extra homes in Ellicott City in the next several years, was revived by an unlikely savior, Councilwoman Mary C. Lorsung, a west Columbia Democrat previously skeptical of the plan.But at last night's council meeting, she said careful review of the law showed that the council has no choice: In order to follow the growth law, it must correct an error in how the county had been calculating its growth targets.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- There may be a time, in the not-so-distant future, when the new hire on the job stumbles by a couple of veterans chatting about the old days. "Remember when they used to make us work 9-to-5?" one of the older workers asks."How many days a week did they make you do that?" the rookie passer-by chirps in.It can happen, and, in fact, it has already begun.A new generation of workers is introducing itself to the American work force. These workers are more educated and are pursuing a broader education.

Most of the state's 60,000 employees will lose seniority and cost-of-living pay raises next year and will be asked to put in longer work weeks and contribute more for medical insurance under a plan being drafted by Gov. William Donald Schaefer.The actions could save almost $300 million and are part of a cost-cutting effort by state officials who are struggling to balance an $11 billion budget in the face of rapidly declining tax revenues.Some measures -- such as canceling cost-of-living raises -- have been used by past administrations to save money.

Maybe you saw it too, on a recent television news show: A Japanese business executive explaining to an American newsman that increasingly, in Japan, Americans are perceived as falling behind economically because of "laziness" and a decline of the work ethic.Actually, it's a popular theory here in America as well -- the assumption that American workers have become "lazy" and are no longer willing to put in the hard work and long hours necessary for economic success.A popular assumption but, as it turns out, a wrong one.The truth is that millions of working Americans -- those lucky enough to have a job in these recessionary times -- are spending more hours at their jobs than ever before.

When it comes to mayoral races in Carroll County, New Windsor has the only game in town.Uncontested and lackluster races have led to voter apathy in six of Carroll's seven municipal elections, but New Windsor's 600 registered voters have a choice of two candidates for mayor and six others for two Town Council seats.A candidate forum April 30 drew about 100 residents eager to hear what their neighbors had to say about growth, police protection, economic development and traffic.Many left undecided on council choices, but the forum provided clear differences between Mayor Jack A. Gullo Jr. and his challenger, Samuel M. Pierce.

Despite receiving a temporary reprieve from the governor, state employees could still find themselves working longer hours and facing layoffs on short notice in coming months as officials seek to contain a growing budget crisis.Gov. William Donald Schaefer temporarily rescinded yesterday a month-old executive order for thousands of state workers to put in 40-hour weeks instead of the current 35 1/2 .He said he would suspend the order until July 1 and issue a new one calling for newly hired state workers to be scheduled for 40-hour workweeks effective immediately.

Howard County's employees last night brought their many complaints about the proposed personnel system directly to the County Council.Council members spoke only occasionally as they listened to the growing list of grievances from employees who call the proposal unfair, divisive, discriminatory and destructive to morale.But afterward, it was clear that the council was in no hurry to enact legislation so far-reaching and complex by the end of the month, a deadline set by the county administration.

Just weeks after his collective bargaining proposal was soundly defeated by the legislature, Gov. Parris N. Glendening is exploring the possibility of granting state workers some of those rights through executive order.Administration officials confirmed yesterday that Glendening has asked the attorney general's office for legal advice on the matter, though it remains unclear how much the governor can require without overstepping the bounds of executive power."The governor has a long-standing commitment to try and improve the collective bargaining rights of public employees," said John W. Frece, a Glendening spokesman.

City should not subsidize cigar smokingThe Baltimore City Medical Society is concerned about the decision to use public dollars to open a cigar bar in Fells Point. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and heart disease in our city.The costs of providing care for the persons struck by the illnesses caused by smoking is in the millions of dollars annually. A $100,000 tax-funded loan to support a cigar bar which is designed to encourage people to smoke needs to be questioned.We find it disappointing that on one hand government is spending millions annually to care for people who have illnesses directly caused by smoking, while on the other hand it is providing dollars to encourage people to engage in this life-threatening activity.