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>> WITH ANOTHER UNCERTAIN SCHOOL YEAR STARTING THIS WEEK
SCHOOL YEAR STARTING THIS WEEK
FOR MANY, THE LATEST GRADES SHOW
A YEAR OF REMOTE LEARNING HAD
MICHIGAN STUDENTS FALLING
BEHIND.
IS THERE AN ANSWER? ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND, THE
ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND, THE
LABOR MARKET CONTINUES TO CON
CONFOUND MANY BUSINESS LEADERS,
WILL ADJUSTED BENEFITS ADJUST
THE PICTURE? TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2021 AND
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2021 AND
THIS IS FLASH POINT.
HI, WELCOME TO FLASH POINT, I
HOPE YOU’RE ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY
WEEKEND.
THIS WEEKEND IS MANY THINGS, OF
COURSE, THE TRADITIONAL END OF
SUMMER, THE PRECURSOR TO THE
START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
WE’LL FOCUS ON THE LABOR PART OF
THE HOLIDAY TODAY.
WE HAVE A COMPLICATED WORK
CLIMATE JUST NOW. THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IS JUST UNDER 5 1/2%, NEARLY
HALF OF WHAT IT WAS A YEAR AGO
AND BUSINESS OWNERS CONTINUE TO
STRUGGLE TO FIND ENOUGH WORKERS.
THERE ARE MORE THAN NINE MILLION
JOB OPENINGS IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.
A FEDERAL ENHANCEMENT OF $300 A
WEEK DISAPPEARED YESTERDAY, BUT
FEW BELIEVE THAT’S SUDDENLY
GOING TO SOLVE THE WORKER
SHORTAGE.
WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AHEAD THIS MORNING.
AHEAD THIS MORNING.
GETTING BACK TO THE START OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE
LATEST TEST RESULTS TO COME IN.
THEY’RE NOT EXACTLY A GLOWING ENDORSEMENT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING.
ENDORSEMENT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING.
IT WASN’T ALL BAD NEWS, IN FACT
FOR SOME OLDER STUDENTS, READING
SCORES WENT UP SLIGHTLY, BUT
OVERALL BIG DROPS IN MATH AND
SOCIAL STUDIES SCORES. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT
LEARNING IN A PANDEMIC?
WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
LATER ON AS WE APPROACH THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER, THE
RECOLLECTIONS OF OUR OWN TIM
PAMPLIN BEHIND THE NIGHT CAM TODAY.
♪
>> AS WE CELEBRATE LABOR DAY,
THE AMERICAN JOBS PICTURE IS A
BIT LIKE LOOKING INTO A FUN HOUSE MIRROR.
HOUSE MIRROR.
THINGS FEEL AWFULLY DISTORTED,
BUT A PANDEMIC WILL DO THAT.
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, SO MANY JOBS
YET NEEDING TO BE FILLED. A FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY
A FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY
THAT ENDED YESTERDAY, BUT IN
ENORMOUS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO
SAY THEY’RE WORKING, BUT
SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING LEAVING
FOR ANOTHER GIG.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORKPLACE THIS MORNING.
THIS MORNING.
IT’S GOOD TO HAVE WITH US
CAROLYN CASSIN CEO OF MICHIGAN
WOMEN FORWARD. SANDY BARUAH, CEO OF THE DETROIT
SANDY BARUAH, CEO OF THE DETROIT
REGIONAL CHAMBER AHEAD OF THE
MACKINAC MEETING NEXT MONTH.
AND LIZ BONDY AND RESOURCE FROM CANINE TO FIVE.
CANINE TO FIVE.
LIZ, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU’VE
BEEN IN THE PAPERS AND TALKING
LIVE ON THE D, TALKING ABOUT THE
STRUGGLES IN HIRING AS WE HEAD INTO THE FALL NOW.
INTO THE FALL NOW.
WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU NOW?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S LOOKING A
LITTLE DESPERATE AND NOT THAT
OPTIMISTIC.
YOU KNOW, AT CANINE TO FIVE
RIGHT NOW, WE’VE GOT 16 OPEN
POSITIONS. >> Devin: 16.
>> Devin: 16.
>> AND THAT NUMBER -- YEAH, AND
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY GOT A
PANDEMIC PUPPY IN COVID SO THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES IS HIGHER
DEMAND FOR SERVICES IS HIGHER
THAN EVER AND THE LABOR POOL, OR
THE APPLICANTS ARE LESS THAN
EVER.
AND THAT’S REALLY BEEN CONSISTENT AT LEAST FOR THE
CONSISTENT AT LEAST FOR THE
LAST, YOU KNOW, 10 MONTHS,
PROBABLY.
IT’S FRUSTRATING AND IT’S
FRIGHTENING, KIND OF, TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS WITH
THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS WITH
BEING AN ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYER AT
THIS TIME.
>> Devin: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR
YOUR -- HAVE YOU GOTTEN TO THE
POINT YOU’RE HAVING TO CURTAIL
WHAT YOU DO? >> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
WE’RE NOT LIMITED BY SPACE,
WE’RE ONLY LIMITED BY LABOR AT
THIS TIME.
SO WE’RE TURNING AWAY A LOT OF DOGS WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING AS A
DOGS WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, YOU KNOW,
YOU’VE MENTIONED THE FEDERAL
SUBSIDY ENDING. I’VE SPOKEN TO SMALL BUSINESS
I’VE SPOKEN TO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ACROSS THE STATES WHERE
THE SUBSIDY ENDED EARLY AND
UNFORTUNATELY THEY’RE NOT SEEING
MORE APPLICANTS AND THEY’RE NOT
SEEING APPLICANTS ACTUALLY SHOW
UP.
>> Devin: CAROLYN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO
BLAME THE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE NOT GOING
BACK TO WORK AND NOT TAKING
THESE JOBS AND YET, I THINK YOU
KNOW THAT IT’S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE HAVEN’T BEEN
A LOT OF CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR
A LOT OF WOMEN.
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN AND CHILD CARE CENTERS, THE PANDEMIC
CHILD CARE CENTERS, THE PANDEMIC
HAS CURTAILED, IN FACT, NOT JUST
WHETHER THEY’RE OPEN, BUT THE
WILLINGNESS TO AVAIL YOURSELF OF
THOSE PLACES IF YOU’RE WORRIED
ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.
IT’S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED, ISN’T IT, CAROLYN?
ISN’T IT, CAROLYN?
>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.
IT’S MUCH MORE -- DAY AFTER DAY
IT LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE CONTINUATION OF THE WOMEN’S
CONTINUATION OF THE WOMEN’S
PANDEMIC WE’RE BREADWINNERS,
CARE GIVERS AND WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BE SAFE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND WE CAN’T
QUITE FIGURE A WAY OUT OF THIS.
AND NOW THE SUBSIDY WENT AWAY, WHICH WAS A LIFELINE FOR MANY
WHICH WAS A LIFELINE FOR MANY
FAMILIES THAT WERE STRUGGLING,
AND WE WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK.
I GUARANTEE YOU, WOMEN WANT TO
GET BACK TO WORK, THEY WANT TO
GO OUTSIDE THE HOME AND THEY WANT TO TAKE THESE JOBS
WANT TO TAKE THESE JOBS
AVAILABLE TO THEM, BUT THEY’VE
GOT TO KNOW THAT THEIR KIDS ARE
SAFE, THAT THEIR KIDS ARE
GETTING WELL-EDUCATED AND THAT
THEY’RE GOING TO -- THEY’RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO WORK AND BACK TO
ATTENTION TO WORK AND BACK TO
THE JOB MARKET.
>> Devin: SCHOOLS ARE GETTING
STARTED HERE AGAIN, BUT I DON’T
THINK THAT ANYBODY WOULD BET
SOMEBODY ELSE’S MONEY YET ON
WHERE THE SCHOOL YEAR IS HEADED AND WHETHER WE END UP GOING BACK
AND WHETHER WE END UP GOING BACK
TO VIRTUAL, WHICH MEANS THAT
EVERYBODY’S GOING TO HAVE TO
STAY ON THE BALLS OF THEIR FEET,
RIGHT?
>> THAT’S THE WAY IT’S FELT FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND I THINK
THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND I THINK
THAT’S THE WAY IT WILL FEEL THE
REST OF THE YEAR UNTIL THE
VACCINE FOR CHILDREN COMES OUT,
BUT AS WE HEARD, SANDY AND I HEARD THROUGH MIKE LASSITER,
HEARD THROUGH MIKE LASSITER,
ALMOST SOUNDED OPTIMISTIC THERE
MAY BE AN END IN SIGHT TO THIS
WITHIN THE NEXT SINCE MONTHS,
MAYBE NOT AN END TO THE PANDEMIC, NOT AN END TO COVID,
PANDEMIC, NOT AN END TO COVID,
BUT AN END TO SOME OF THESE
ISSUES THAT WE’VE REALLY BEEN --
ALL BEEN STRUGGLING WITH.
>> Devin: SANDY BARUAH, GIVE ME SOME REASON FOR OPTIMISM.
SOME REASON FOR OPTIMISM.
DO YOU HAVE SOME AT THE MOMENT?
>> I’M SORRY, THAT’S NOT WHAT I
WAS CALLED IN FOR.
[LAUGHTER].
>> LISTEN, THERE IS OPTIMISM OUT THERE.
TO EXPAND ON LIZ’S COMMENTS A
BIT.
AS THE BENEFITS EXPIRE AND
MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS EXPIRE.
>> Devin: RIGHT.
>> WE’LL SEE A LITTLE LOOSENING
IN THE LABOR MARKET, BUT NOT A LOT.
IN FACT, YOU KNOW, LIZ IS RIGHT,
THE DATA IS PRETTY MIXED IN
TERMS OF STATES THAT ENDED THEIR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EARLIER. WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAVING A BIGGER
WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAVING A BIGGER
IMPACT ON BRINGING PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK IS THIS DELTA VARIANT.
AND YOU’RE SEEING IT NOW.
I MEAN, WE SAW SEE THAT MAJOR
AIRLINES ARE SEEING A DECLINE IN AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC BECAUSE
AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
TRAVELLING AND GOING OUT.
WE’RE SEEING RESTAURANT
RESERVATIONS, AGAIN, THESE ARE
NATIONAL FIGURES, THAT ARE ALSO
DECLINING BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT.
AND YOU KNOW, SO, NOT JUST THE
DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER, BUT
THE U.S. CHAMBER, THE BUSINESS
ROUND TABLE, NATIONAL
MANUFACTURER’S ASSOCIATION, YOU KNOW, WE’VE ALL REALLY
KNOW, WE’VE ALL REALLY
ENCOURAGED AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
ACTUALLY MANDATED VACCINES IN
THEIR ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THE
FASTEST WAY TO GET BACK TO NORMALCY BOTH IN OUR SOCIAL LIFE
NORMALCY BOTH IN OUR SOCIAL LIFE
AND OUR BUSINESS LIFE IS TO GET
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
WE CAN’T GET THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC UNTIL PEOPLE ARE
VACCINATED AND THIS PANDEMIC
RUNS ITS COURSE. >> Devin: IT’S GOTTEN SO TRICKY
>> Devin: IT’S GOTTEN SO TRICKY
ON SO MANY FRONTS.
LET ME BRING IN JOHN McELROY
HERE.
JOHN, YOU SPECIALIZE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND IT IS STILL, OF
INDUSTRY AND IT IS STILL, OF
COURSE, THE SPOKE OR THE WHEEL
THAT ALL THE SPOKES IN DETROIT
TURN AROUND IN SO MANY WAYS.
WE HAVE ALL OF THESE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.
CHAIN PROBLEMS.
WE’VE GOT THE CHIP ISSUE.
WE’VE GOT STRUGGLES BETWEEN
UNIONS AND MANAGEMENT OVER HOW
THEY SHOULD PROCEED WITH VACCINES, WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE
VACCINES, WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE
FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT, JOHN?
>> I’M ATTEMPTED TO SAY JUST
ANOTHER DAY IN THE AUTO
INDUSTRY.
BECAUSE IF SOMETHING ISN’T BLOWING UP, SOMETHING ELSE IS.
BLOWING UP, SOMETHING ELSE IS.
THE LABOR SHORTAGE WAS ACUTE
ISSUE WITH SUPPLIERS EVEN BEFORE
COVID HIT AND EVEN BEFORE THE
CHIP SITUATION.
WHETHER YOU’RE TALKING SKILLED
TRADES OR ENGINEERS OR OTHER TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS.
TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS.
THE INDUSTRY WAS STRUGGLING TO
GET THEM.
THE ONE MINOR LINING, SILVER
LINING IN ALL OF THIS, THE AUTOMAKERS, AT LEAST FOR
AUTOMAKERS, AT LEAST FOR
TECHNICAL POSITIONS ARE NOW ABLE
TO RECRUIT ANYWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY, ACTUALLY ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD AND TELL PEOPLE DON’T WORRY YOU DON’T HAVE TO MOVE TO
WORRY YOU DON’T HAVE TO MOVE TO
THE DETROIT AREA, WE’RE ALL
WORKING REMOTELY.
THAT’S ONE THING THAT’S WORKING
IN THE FAVOR, BUT EVERYTHING
ELSE IS JUST A BIG MESS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
AUTO INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
THE CHIP SHORTAGE NOBODY SAW
COMING, IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S NOT
GOING TO GET RESOLVED FOR
ANOTHER YEAR OR SO.
EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
RESOLVED BY NOW.
>> Devin: RIGHT. >> THAT HASN’T HAPPENED AND YOU
>> THAT HASN’T HAPPENED AND YOU
JUST KNOW THERE’S SOME OTHER BIG
PROBLEM LURKING OUT THERE AND
PROBABLY THE NEXT BIG PROBLEM IS
GETTING ENOUGH RAW MATERIALS TO
MAKE BATTERIES AND ELECTRIC MOTORS FOR ELECTRIC CARS.
MOTORS FOR ELECTRIC CARS.
>> Devin: SANDY, THAT’S -- I
THINK THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT.
EVERYBODY THOUGHT THE SUPPLY
ISSUE WAS GOING TO RESOLVE
ITSELF.
I THINK MORE AND MORE THE
EVIDENCE IS THAT THIS IS WHAT WE’VE GOT TO GET USED TO.
WE’VE GOT TO GET USED TO.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, THE SHORTAGES
THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN ALL
INDUSTRIES, CONSTRUCTION,
MANUFACTURING, YOU KNOW, FOOD
AND BEVERAGE, IS JUST OUTSTANDING, BUT IT’S NOT JUST
OUTSTANDING, BUT IT’S NOT JUST
THE SUPPLY OF MATERIALS THAT
JOHN TALKED ABOUT, IT’S GETTING
MATERIALS TO WHEREVER THEY NEED
TO GO.
THE SHORTAGE IN TRANSPORTATION, TRUCK DRIVERS.
TRUCK DRIVERS.
>> Devin: RIGHT.
>> IS JUST ENORMOUS RIGHT NOW
AND THAT’S NOT GETTING BETTER
EITHER BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE OF RETIREMENTS OF OLDER PEOPLE, 55
RETIREMENTS OF OLDER PEOPLE, 55
AND OLDER, HAS SKYROCKETED THIS
LAST 18 MONTHS.
>> LET ME GET BACK TO LIZ.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I’M CURIOUS
ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND WHAT
YOU’RE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO
VACCINES. >> ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN
>> ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN
SANDY SAID THAT THE THING THAT’S
GOING TO GET THE WORK FORCE BACK
IS KIND OF THE DELTA VARIANT,
THAT’S OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY.
RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY.
WE HAD INCENTIVIZED OUR TEAM, I
THINK, BACK IN JUNE, NO, MAYBE
BACK IN MAY, TO GET VACCINATED
ONCE IT WAS MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE, WE HAD OFFERED DAYS
AVAILABLE, WE HAD OFFERED DAYS
OFF AND STILL, I HAVE A VERY
YOUNG WORK FORCE, PROBABLY 20 TO
26 YEARS OLD, AND STILL 55% OF
THEM ARE VACCINATED. AND THE OTHER 45%, THEY DON’T
AND THE OTHER 45%, THEY DON’T
WANT TO GET VACCINATED, THEY
DON’T WANT TO HEAR ME TALK ABOUT
IT ANYMORE, THEY DON’T WANT ME
TO PUSH THEM.
SO WHEN I HAVE, YOU KNOW, 15, 16, OPEN POSITIONS AND I’VE GOT
16, OPEN POSITIONS AND I’VE GOT
THESE 40 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
REFUSING TO GET VACCINATED,
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE SMALL
BUSINESS?
DO I SAY YOU CAN’T WORK HERE ANYMORE?
I CAN’T DO THAT.
>> Devin: THAT’S A GREAT POINT.
CAROLYN, I THINK THAT SOME
PEOPLE THOUGHT BUSINESS WOULD
LEAD WITH THE VACCINE MANDATES
AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES CAN’T
AFFORD TO DO THAT. >> THEY CAN’T.
>> THEY CAN’T.
BUT THOSE WHO ARE LEADING, I
THINK, ARE KEEPING US SAFE AND THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY ARE.
THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY ARE.
SANDY AND I SEE A LOT OF
BUSINESSES STEPPING UP AND
SAYING, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY
BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUTWARD
FACING. OUR BUSINESS, WE ARE OUT THERE
OUR BUSINESS, WE ARE OUT THERE
WORKING WITH ENTREPRENEURS,
TRYING TO GET MONEY INTO THEIR
HANDS AND WE DIDN’T REQUIRE IT,
BUT WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED IT AND WE SAID, LOOK, THINK ABOUT
AND WE SAID, LOOK, THINK ABOUT
KEEPING THAT PERSON SAFE.
>> Devin: YEAH, JOHN, I’VE GOT
ABOUT 10 SECONDS LEFT.
GIVE ME YOUR THUMBNAIL ON WHAT
THE VACCINE PICTURE IS DOING, ESPECIALLY TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY?
ESPECIALLY TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY?
>> THE AUTOMAKERS IN TOWN HERE
ARE TALKING ABOUT MANDATING
VACCINATIONS.
THEY HAVEN’T COMMITTED TO THAT
YET.
THE UNION IS PUSHING BACK AND
WANTS IT VOLUNTARY.
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, I
THINK THE BIG THREE WILL MANDATE
IT AND SUPPLIERS WILL GO ALONG
WITH IT.
THANKS, EVERYBODY, STAY SAFE AND
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
MORE ON FLASH POINT RIGHT AFTER THIS.