WBUR Newsroom Election 2008 CommonHealth Blog Boston Weather BBC World News NPR Top Stories NPR's Morning Edition NPR Topics: Books NPR Topics: Movies Fresh Air All Things Considered Marketplace Submit a Story Idea RSS Feeds Podcasts Plan to Push Workplace Diversity By Bob Oakes Listen to story (Real Audio) Ralph Martin (pictured here) and others will unveil the "Commonwealth Compact" at UMass Boston today. (Photo: Sarah Bush) BOSTON, Mass. - May 23, 2008 - An effort begins in earnest Friday to improve diversity in the Massachusetts workplace. It's called the 'Commonwealth Compact'. The idea is for companies and institutions to measure their progress toward attracting...and keeping...more minority and female employees. Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Tom Menino are backing the program, which will be unveiled this morning at UMass Boston. One of the Compact's organizers is Ralph Martin, a former Suffolk County District Attorney, now a managing partner at Bingham McCutchen law firm. When WBUR's Bob Oakes spoke with him yesterday, Martin started by by talking about the results from a new statewide survey of attitudes towards workplace diversity. RELATED LINKS "Commonwealth Compact" site Diversity Survey by McCormack Graduate School at UMass Boston (Dec., 2006)    From The WBUR Newsroom Expert: Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Could Rise To 8.1 Percent By 2010 BOSTON (November 20, 2008) A UMass Boston public-policy professor says Massachusetts could see its jobless rate rise to 8.1 percent in the next two years. Mass. Umemployment Rate Rises To 5.5 Percent BOSTON (November 20, 2008) The Massachusetts unemployment rate climbed to 5.5 percent last month, up from 5.3 percent in September. DiMasi Wants Fresh Consideration For Gas Tax Hike BOSTON (November 19, 2008) House Speaker Sal DiMasi on Wednesday made the clearest statement yet by a top Beacon Hill official that raising the state's 23.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax could be a good idea, releasing a statement suggesting the levy as an alternative to doubling tolls. Romney Adamantly Opposes Auto Industry Bailout WASHINGTON (November 20, 2008) Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is standing steadfastly behind the forces opposing a $25 billion "bridge loan" for struggling Detroit auto manufacturers.				Sponsor