Labor

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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)

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Chris Hicks (left) of Jobs With Justice and Yvette Bryant of the Florida Avenue Baptist Church Social Justice Ministry raise their hands in solidarity with Walmart workers on Nov. 23, 2012, during a demonstration outside the Walmart in Capital Plaza Mall in Hyattsville, Md. The workers have been protesting low wages, reductions in hours, changes in schedules and firings. There has been some concern that Walmart will retaliate against employees who speak out or strike. This protest was one of about 1,000 nationwide. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)