Denver Airport Embraces Paperless Passes

DENVER March 12 (UPI) -- A Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman said a new program at Denver International Airport allows passengers to use paperless boarding passes.

TSA spokeswoman Carrie Harmon said the program implemented by TSA and United Airlines officials at the Denver airport allows passengers to board using boarding passes downloaded to their mobile phones, The Denver Post reported Friday.

US Airways Fined Over Pricing on Web Site

By Linda Loyd Posted on Mon, Mar. 8, 2010
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

US Airways Group Inc. was fined $40,000 today by the U.S. Department of Transportation for not disclosing full ticket prices on its Web site.
The Transportation Department said it imposed the civil fine because US Airways violated rules that require airline advertisements to disclose the full price on the first Internet screen that provides a fare quote.

The department's Aviation Enforcement Office said that "for a short period of time," when consumers searched US Airways' Web site for one-way flights, the Tempe, Ariz., carrier provided fares that did not include additional taxes and fees, or any notice that the additional charges would be added later in the transaction.

Southwest Challenges US Airways with PHL-BOS Flights

By Joe Brancatelli Thursday, March 11, 2010

Southwest Airlines got its new terminal at Philadelphia International Airport late last month, and the 800-pound gorilla of low-fare airlines promptly renewed its challenge to US Airways, Philadelphia’s incumbent legacy carrier. Starting June 27, Southwest will fly five times a day between Philadelphia and Boston Logan, one of US Airways’ most profitable monopoly routes. According to government figures, US Airways’ average fare on PHL-BOS has been $345, by far the highest in the country for flights between 251 and 300 miles. Southwest’s introductory fare: $59 one-way.

FAA Urges $787,500 in Fines for American Airlines

March 12, 2010 5:28 p.m. EST

Washington (CNN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday proposed $787,500 in fines against American Airlines for maintenance violations.

The airline said it would review the proposed penalties and meet with the FAA to discuss them.

"American Airlines is very proud of our safety record and our employees' commitment to safety every day," the company said in a statement issued Friday. "Safety is fundamental to the American Airlines culture and to our success."

'I Am Not Your ATM'

by Laura Clawson, Mar 12, 2010

Working people have plenty to be angry with Wall Street about. A $700 billion bailout. Toxic assets and loan guarantees to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. A financial crisis and credit crunch. Billions of dollars in six- and seven-figure bonuses to the Wall Street executives who got us into this mess.

Unemployment reaching 10 percent. A mortgage crisis extending far beyond subprime loans. Abusive credit and debit card fees. More than five job-seekers for every one job.

Strike Is Set After Talks Fail at British Airways

By NICOLA CLARK
Published: March 12, 2010

British Airways cabin crew are preparing to walk off the job for seven days later this month after talks with management broke down without an agreement, a trade union that represents the carrier’s 13,500 flight attendants said Friday.

The union, Unite, said members agreed Thursday to stage an initial three-day strike beginning March 20, followed by a further four-day action from March 27.

AFGE's TSO Election Petition Moving Quickly

by James Parks, Mar 12, 2010

Even though the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has not been confirmed, AFGE is moving ahead quickly with its plans, seeking an election so transportation security officers (TSOs) can join a union.

On Feb. 22, AFGE filed a petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) for an election to allow the 41,000 TSOs to vote on union representation. In 2003, the Bush administration stripped the workers of collective bargaining rights. The FLRA is moving the petition through its election process quicker than usual, AFGE President John Gage said on the “Inside Government” radio show.

Wage Gap Between Women and Men Bad, Women of Color Suffer Most

by Tula Connell, Mar 12, 2010

The pay gap between female and male workers in this country got a hearing in a Senate committee yesterday. But you wouldn’t even know the hearing happened: The issue apparently doesn’t rank up there with the antics of drunk superstars or foolish golfers to get attention by the corporate media.

Right now, U.S. working women receive 77 cents for every dollar paid to a male worker. The ratio has remained nearly unchanged for years. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) has been pushing for more than a decade to pass a paycheck fairness bill, and yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 12/S. 182).

In Zimbabwe, the Voice of the Worker

In this cross-post from Border Jumpers, Bernard Pollack, who is taking a leave of absence from the AFL-CIO to travel through Africa, and Danielle Nierenberg send us another report from their journey through Zimbabwe.

Imagine being one of only five opposition voices in a country of 13 million people, where all radio, print and television is strictly controlled by the government. That’s Ben Madzimure’s uphill battle every day as editor of The Worker, the voice of the labor movement, in Zimbabwe—especially because his newspaper is only printed once a month, with only 5,000 copies distributed throughout the country.

Webb vs. Unions

By Phil Fretz5 :43 AM on Monday, Mar. 8, 2010

City Councilman Jack Webb, I keep hearing, says he won't run for reelection if he is unable to get meaningful pension reform passed after he becomes council president this summer.

That isn't exactly true.

Webb tells me that he plans to run, but he isn't going to let the campaign interfere with his duties as council president.

If pushing reforms means he loses, Webb says, he loses.

Let's be honest. The police and fire unions don't want anybody messing with their very lucrative pensions - and it can get pretty messy for those opposing them.

Remember a few months ago, when the police union president announced a boycott of the mayor's family business?

And, because the unions have so much money and manpower, it's hard to win a city election without their support.

Notice I said hard, not impossible. Webb didn't get their endorsement three years ago.

And he won, anyway.

It's a good bet that he won't get it again this time.

Webb's a fighter. That's what this city needs during these tough budget times.