News

Outrage from Boeing workers and their union, the Machinists, has spilled into outrage on Capitol Hill over Pentagon's decision to award a $40 billion contract for Air Force fueling tankers to a team led by the European parent of Airbus. And angry lawmakers are pointing the finger in part at John McCain.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald broke the law when it suspended and fired two reporters for their legally protected union activities, a judge for the National Labor Relations Board ruled. Hunter Bishop had been chairman of the Hawaii Newspaper Guild's Hilo unit from 2000 to 2004 and was a member of the union's bargaining committee and a shop steward until his 2005 dismissal. Dave Smith was a union steward from 2004 to 2006 and a member of the bargaining committee.

Retired District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino died March 10 at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, N.Y. He was 71. "Larry was devoted to his family, his union and a wonderful friend," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

A tentative agreement was reached covering about 1,800 CWA-represented workers at AT&T Internet Services in Districts 3, 4, 6 and 9. A number of improvements were achieved over the previous tentative settlement negotiated last summer.

When the Employee Free Choice Act comes up for a vote in early 2009, its lead sponsor Rep. George Miller wants the House and Senate chambers to be plastered with pictures of American workers whose faces will send the message loud and clear: Pass this bill now!