Description:
Juliet Brudney (moderator, Boston Globe columnist) talks about the rules for the forum (held at Volpe National Transportation Systems Center) and introduces Dr. Kenneth Williams (White House Conference on Aging).
Williams talks about the need for older workers to delay their retirement and cites demographic statistics. He talks about the White House Conference on Aging and its purposes and operations.
Older workers give testimonials about being downsized.
James Medoff (Harvard Professor of Economics) talks about the lack and poor quality of current job offers. He talks about inflation, interest rates, state and local spending, corporate debt, cash flow, and Equal Employment Opportunity laws. He talks about the Clinton Administration’s strategy. He briefly mentions Equal Employment laws again and then talks about unemployment benefits.
Older workers give testimonials about being downsized. Audience members speak from the floor.
Brudney introduces Barney Frank (U.S. House of Representatives). He discusses the government’s perception of the economy, anti-discrimination laws, and the need for a universal healthcare system. He states the need for increasing job growth, preventing age discrimination, and minimizing the consequences of unemployment. He talks about the worldwide market and developing worldwide standards. He talks about the perception of the government. He takes audience questions about programs that export jobs and handling discrimination complaints.
Angela Rizzolo (U.S. Department of Labor) speaks about working with women.
Richard Makela (U.S. Department of Labor) speaks about his agency’s work and the increasing trend in white-collar unemployment. Frances Chaiken (Experience Unlimited) asks Makela about the need for job development for older workers.
Brudney concludes the forum.
Over music, initiatives and suggestions for political action are presented in text screens, before closing credits.
