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Orange County Toll Road Weaves Through Complex Maze of State, Federal Agencies
With public comment period closed, federal officials have begun compiling tens of thousands of written opinions. A Bush appointee will decide by Jan. 7 whether to overturn a state agency's decision.
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'Anti-sprawl' Law Unlikely to Radically Alter Sacramento Trends
The hyperbole soared into overdrive when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a major "anti-sprawl" bill this week authored by state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. The governor called it the biggest revision of land-use law since 1970's California Environmental Quality Act. Forecasts abounded about a new emphasis on high-density housing near transit stops.
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Schwarzenegger to U.S.: State May Need $7-billion Loan
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, alarmed by the ongoing national financial crisis, warned Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson on Thursday that the state might need an emergency loan of as much as $7 billion from the federal government within weeks.
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Credit Crisis Could Stop Voter-OK'd Bond Sales
If Congress rejects the $700 billion bailout plan today, California and local governments might have to postpone voter-approved road, school and other projects for lack of money.
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A Charged Debate Over Prop. 7 Renewable Energy Plan
The measure would require utilities in the state to get half their power from renewable energy by 2025. Foes say it would actually hamper electricity production from alternate sources.
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Democrats Complain About Schwarzenegger's High Veto Rate
For a governor who has a reputation for siding with Democratic lawmakers at the expense of his own Republican party, Arnold Schwarzenegger demonstrated a strong streak of independence this week.
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Water Rationing Falls Short of EBMUD's Goal
Nearly five months after an East Bay water district imposed the strictest water rationing plan in the Bay Area, the agency's 1.3 million customers have cut back - but not quite as much as officials had hoped.
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Caltrain Will Look at Removing Seats for Bikes
Caltrain officials will consider removing some seats to accommodate the growing throng of bicyclists who regularly find themselves bumped from rush-hour trains when room runs out for their two-wheelers.
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Pundits Agree Debate not Election Game-changer
Just before Thursday's vice presidential debate started, Fox anchor Chris Wallace described the atmosphere as "more like a NASCAR race. People are wondering what driver is going to drive their car into the wall at turn three." NASCAR fans were probably disappointed: No one crashed.
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Berkeley Profs Call for Quick Economic Action
Dissecting the global financial turmoil on Thursday, a group of UC Berkeley economists said that the situation is critical and the proposed remedies are inadequate.
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Workers with Employer-Covered Health Care Declined by 6.4 Million
As reported from the Economic Policy Institute, 6.4 million fewer workers had employer-provided health insurance in 2006 than in 2000.
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Building Trades Union Leaders Gather for 100th Anniversary Celebration
The Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO (BCTD) commenced its 2008 Legislative Conference, and 100th Anniversary Celebration on April 14 outlining the challenges facing the union construction industry.
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Poizner urges one regulator over managed health care industry
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says authority over the state's sprawling health care insurance industry should be put under the authority of one regulator, instead of having dual chiefs with responsibility over separate turf.
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Healthcare system unprepared for aging boomers
The federal report predicts shortages in medical workers, with California's situation being even more dire.
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Sacramento Backs Blue Diamond Workers
The Sacramento City Council on April 1 threw its support in a big way behind workers at Blue Diamond Growers trying to organize and join the ILWU.
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California Labor Federation Releases Report On Value Of Paid Sick Days
The California Labor Federation released a study on April 9 that shows that nearly six million California workers – one in six – have no paid sick days.
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Nurses reach new contract agreement with UC
The California Nurses Association announced on April 7 that the 10,000 registered nurses at the University of California Medical Centers have ratified a new three-year contract with the university.
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Remembering James M. Wood
Remembering the man who has a street named after him, as a devoted union leader and his contributions as head of the LA County Federation of Labor.
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Bill to let nonprofits use volunteers for public works projects fails
A bill allowing nonprofits to continue using volunteers for public works projects was voted against on April 9 by the Senate committee as there is another similar bill being considered.
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SBCTC Delegates Oppose Redistricting
Last week, the delegates to the 60th Convention of the State Building & Construction Trades Council, approved a resolution that opposes a redistricting initiative that could have been placed on the November ballot.
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Machinists Union Blasts Air Force Decision
Machinists across the country are calling for congressional action following the decision by Air Force officials to award a $40 billion aerial refueling tanker contract to a team led by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS), parent company of Airbus.
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Rich getting richer, poor getting poorer
There is no shared prosperity as middle- and lower-class families struggle with inflation, while the upper-class benefit from the robust increase in investments.
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California Department of Transportation Pays Tribute in Memorial Service
In an annual memorial service at the Capitol on Tuesday, the California Department of Transportation paid tribute to its 170 workers who have died in the line of duty since 1924.
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Labor leaders want Speaker Nunez to return $4 million to Democratic Party
California's largest labor organization has demanded that Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez return $4 million to the state Democratic Party--money that the labor leaders said should go to help Democratic candidates.
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Contra Costa County Health Care Spending
The county faces a growing shortfall in the amount it needs to set aside to cover the cost of health care for current and future retirees.
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California 'creeping' along on universal health care
The Senate Bill 840 reform is categorized as either "leaping" or "creeping" in terms of its pace towards passing.
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Longshore Worker Killed at Long Beach Port
Cargo operations at the Long Beach port are put on hold following the death of 40 year longshore worker, Carlos Rivera.
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Colorado Congressional Candidate Expresses Support for Unionization with Act
Colorado congressional candiate, Joan Fitz-Gerald joined the Colorado Labor 2008 Kick-Off meeting in Denver expressing her support for the Employee Free Choice Act: "We need to start with the Employee Free Choice Act because the right to unionize is a fundamental American right and it has been curtailed..."
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Sutter Health Nurses Return to Work After 10-day strike
Thousands of nurses representing the California Nurses Association went back to work on March 31 after staging a 10-day regional strike at Sutter Health hospitals.
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Car Wash Employees Taking a Stand
Car wash employees continue their union campaign against the unfair working conditions and labor law violations occuring in car wash stations throughout LA.
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Trades Headlines
