Economic Crisis Hitting Young Workers Hard

Since the current recession began in December 2007, some 1.3 million young workers have left the workforce, while the participation rate of workers ages 55 and older increased, according to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).

This means many older workers are not retiring or are re-entering the labor force because they have suffered a sharp decline in retirement security, say authors Kathryn Edwards and Heidi Shierholz.

At the same time, workers ages 16 to 24—who face an unemployment rate of 18.9 percent, compared with 6.8 percent for workers ages 55 and older—are having a hard time finding jobs. Many who do find work end up in low-paying jobs with few or no benefits.

Biden to Executive Council: We Need A Middle Class

by James Parks, Mar 1, 2010

Vice President Joe Biden spoke to members of the AFL-CIO Executive Council who are meeting in Orlando March 1-3.

In his second visit to the AFL-CIO Executive Council in 13 months, Vice President Joe Biden outlined plans to shore up America’s faltering middle class with jobs, tax policy and workers’ rights protections.

Biden also said the Obama administration intends to work to make the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) more worker friendly, even though two nominees are being held up by Senate Republicans. Biden said:

We haven’t gotten done yet what we’re going to do with the NLRB, but we’re going to get it done.

Introducing Biden, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka noted the report released last week by the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families, which Biden chairs. The report listed several recommendations resulting from a year-long review of ways to assist middle-class workers and families.

British Airways, Iberia Move Closer to Merger

November 13, 2009 10:51 a.m. EST

(CNN) -- British Airways and Iberia announced late Thursday that they have agreed the basis for a proposed merger between the two airlines which is expected to be completed in late 2010.

The boards of BA and the Spanish carrier were holding separate meetings for much of the day as speculation mounted that they were close to sealing an agreement to create Europe's third-biggest airline.

In a statement, BA said the proposed merger would create an airline group with 419 aircraft which would fly to 205 destinations.

Teamsters-led Clerks at Southwest Reject Contract

Tue Feb 23, 4:27 pm ET

DALLAS – A group of more than 170 stock clerks at Southwest Airlines Co. rejected a contract negotiated with the discount carrier.

Southwest said Tuesday that the contract it negotiated with the Teamsters union, which represents the clerks, would have run until Aug. 16, 2013.

Few details of the proposal were disclosed, although Southwest said in December that the deal included wage and benefit increases in exchange for work-rule changes sought by the company.

Two Big U.S. Airlines Open to Merger

By Jui Chakravorty Jui Chakravorty – Tue Feb 23, 9:36 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Top executives at two of the five largest U.S. airlines said on Tuesday they are open to a merger, adding that the airline industry needs to consolidate to return to profitability.

Speaking at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit in New York, United Airlines (UAUA.O) chief financial officer Kathryn Mikells said the third-largest U.S. airline is open to merging with U.S. or foreign carriers.

"UAL has been supportive of consolidation for a long time," Mikells said at the summit. "It is something we will continue to look at."

US Airways (LCC.N) Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr, in a separate interview at the summit, said his airline was open to merging with another U.S. carrier. [nN23123419]

US Airways Presentation at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Defense Conference to Be Webcast

Press Release Source: US Airways On Monday March 1, 2010, 6:13 pm EST

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--US Airways Group (NYSE: LCC - News) Chief Operating Officer Robert Isom will present at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference on March 9. Isom’s presentation will be webcast live at 1:40 p.m. ET at www.usairways.com. To access the webcast, click on Company Information >> Investor Relations >> Webcasts/Presentations/Updates.

Working Families

The Working Families Network (WFN) is a network of unions that utilize the Internet to get timely news updates and information to those interested in issues concerning America's workers.

You can make a difference. Sign up to receive e-mail alerts from your union or local union movement when your voice is needed. Select from the menus below.

Chris Rock Joins Bill Maher To Discuss Health Care (VIDEO)

Chris Rock made a surprise appearance on "Real Time With Bill Maher" last night, chiming in on a panel discussion on health care reform. Rock, caught off-guard that he was suddenly engaged in a heated discussion, was able to make an apt analogy, comparing the Republicans' opposition to the health care reform to buying a first class ticket on an airplane and sitting next to someone to who got a free upgrade from coach. "Republicans are like, 'How the hell you gonna sit next to me and you didn't buy the seat?'"

US Airways and Brussels Airlines Code Share Agreement

US Airways Group Inc. and Brussels Airlines are awaiting approval of their new code-share agreement by U.S. Department of Transportation and the Belgian government.

The carriers have agreed to a bilateral code-share relationship, which means each airline may market flights operated by the other carrier as if they were its own. That would improve access for U.S. Airways customers, with single-source booking and baggage connection to more than 20 new destinations in Europe and Africa.

IAM National Pension Fund Board of Trustees

Find out more about an individual Trustee by clicking on his name. You'll get a look at the Trustee's background and learn his answers to questions about the IAM National Pension Fund and the Trustee's role.