Labor

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Union workers rally Dec. 6, 2012, outside the Capitol in Lansing, Mich., as Senate Republicans introduced right-to-work legislation in the waning days of the legislative session. The outnumbered Democrats pledged to resist the proposal and said rushing it through the legislative system would poison the state's political atmosphere. (Associated Press)

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Union workers hold up signs during a rally outside the Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, as Republican lawmakers introduced right-to-work legislation in the waning days of the legislative session. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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**FILE** Pro-union demonstrators crowd the Rotunda of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing to chant against right-to-work legislation on Dec. 5, 2012. (Associated Press/Detroit News)

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Citigroup said Wednesday that it will cut 11,000 jobs, a bold early move by new CEO Michael Corbat. The cuts amount to about 4 percent of Citi’s workforce of 262,000. The bulk of the cuts will come from the consumer banking unit. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Tesla workers cheer on the first Tesla Model S cars sold during a rally at the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif., on June 22, 2012. (Associated Press)

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Prince George's County firefighters work to extinguish a fire caused by a malfunctioning boiler at Gaywood Elementary School. Photo from Prince George's County Fire/EMS news blog.

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Employees work in a shipping area of Generac Power Systems Inc., one of the nation's largest makers of residential generators, in Whitewater, Wis., on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, objects to the European Union receiving the honor. (Associated Press)

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A gambling school student (top) practices on a blackjack table in Macau as others (above) learn how to run roulette games. Their school, the Gaming Teaching and Research Center within the Macau Polytechnic Institute, maintains the biggest mock casino in Asia. Macao has become the world’s biggest gambling market, and the demand for casino workers has driven unemployment down to 2 percent. Along with the benefits, however, have come a lopsided economy, soaring property prices and what many see as the erosion of traditional community values. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Aida Castillo places a sticker on her blouse indicating that she had voted during the early voting period, on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in Las Vegas. In the heavily Hispanic neighborhoods of Las Vegas, unemployment is high and home values are down. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, says unemployment benefits are a good investment. He said he would extend the benefits for another year as part of a broader package. (Associated Press)

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Bobby Williams (left), store manager of the Capital Plaza Mall Walmart in Hyattsville, Md., speaks Nov. 23, 2012, with Rev. Dr. Edwin Jones Sr. of the Living Faith Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., telling the reverend that no Walmart workers will be retaliated against for protesting against the company. Mr. Williams came out to meet with the Walmart workers and community activists who joined forces to demonstrate outside the Walmart. The workers have been protesting low wages, reductions in hours, changes in schedules and firings. Mr. Williams asked the demonstrators to vacate the premises. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)