Contract negotiations are going way too slowly with United Airlines, so the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today is holding informational pickets at 17 different airports around the globe to protest “the failure of United Airlines management to negotiate a new contract on time.”  This from the Daily Labor Report (subscription required): The AFA’s frustration with United has smoldered for five years, after flight attendants were forced to accept severe wage and benefit cuts as part of the carrier’s reorganization. United’s parent, UAL Corp., emerged from three years in bankruptcy with flight attendants providing $131 million in labor savings annually. Under the 2005 agreement, flight attendants’ hourly wages were trimmed 9.5 percent and their defined benefit pension plan was jettisoned to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. In the intervening years, flight attendants watched wave after wave of layoffs as United realigned operations in response to changing demand for air travel.

Working families, their unions and health care activists continuing their battle to ensure that the final health care reform package being hammered out in negotiations between House and Senate leaders is real and meaningful reform. (Click here to find out more about the two bills and next week’s National Call-In Day for health care reform.)

After meeting with several unemployed San Diego workers this morning, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka spoke at a rally of workers, union, community and faith leaders calling for creation of a local jobs program. What I’ve seen here this morning as I sat with some of the hard-working people of this great city—people who through no fault of their own are without jobs—is another grim reminder of the ever-present struggles of working families in this city, this state, this country. He said the labor movement and the nation’s leaders must “respond as never before to create a different kind of economy.” Click here to read his entire speech.

After meeting with several unemployed San Diego workers this morning, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka spoke at a rally of workers, union, community and faith leaders calling for creation of a local jobs program. What I’ve seen here this morning as I sat with some of the hard-working people of this great city—people who through no fault of their own are without jobs—is another grim reminder of the ever-present struggles of working families in this city, this state, this country. He said the labor movement and the nation’s leaders must “respond as never before to create a different kind of economy.” Click here to read his entire speech.

      Mining deaths fell to an all-time low last year, and two of the key reasons, says the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), are stronger enforcement of mine safety laws and the tougher mine safety rules passed in 2006 after a series of explosions, fires and other deadly incidents.

    UNITEHERE! President John Wilhelm (left) and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka were among the 140 arrested at a San Francisco hotel sit-in for justice.         More than 100 union members, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and UNITEHERE! President John Wilhelm were arrested at a sit-in demanding justice and a fair contract for San Francisco hotel workers last night. The workers have been without a contract since August.

      Millions of working families are struggling to pay the ever-rising costs of health care or going without, and they await what Congress will do with health care reform. But one person who won’t have to worry about the final shape of health care legislation is H. Edward Hanway. He just retired as CEO and chairman of the board of the health insurance behemoth CIGNA.

      Here’s a stunning fact that points both to the need for Washington lawmakers to rapidly move on massive job creation and pass health care reform: The wages lost as a result of the 2008-2012 recession will top $1 trillion—more than the estimated 10-year cost of health care reform. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates unemployment at more than 7 percent in 2012.

      Check out this video of workers at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center who talk about the thrill, responsibility and pride of playing important roles in the space shuttle missions. The members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) have been part of the nation’s space program from its earliest days through the space shuttle program, which flies its final mission in September.

U.S. workers who manufacture steel pipes won an important battle against unfair and government subsidized China-made pipe imports when the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) unanimously ruled in favor of a petition by the United Steelworkers (USW) and eight U.S. steel pipe makers. USW President Leo Gerard says the Dec. 31 ruling, which will impose playing-field leveling duties on the subsidized China pipe imports, makes it clear to American pipe workers and industry that the U.S. government will stand up against China’s violation of fair trade rules when domestic job losses and industry injury are clearly demonstrated.