Labor Group

Organized labor succeeded in sending three of its chosen candidates to the Los Angeles City Council and reelecting a fourth in Tuesday's election, allowing unions to retain their firm hold on the lawmaking body. Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills) and former Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes won seats in the San Fernando Valley and Mike Bonin prevailed in the race to replace Councilman Bill Rosendahl on the Westside. Union groups, including the county Federation of Labor, provided financial support for all three - and for Councilman Paul Koretz, who was reelected to a second four-year term.

The most powerful labor organization in Los Angeles refused Friday to back away from a campaign mailer in which it urges voters to support Wendy Greuel for mayor because she "will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. " Even though Greuel has said she supports the higher "living wage" only for workers at large hotels, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor chief Maria Elena Durazo accused the media of "nitpicking" when she was questioned about the accuracy of the mailer, which went to Latino voters.

The International Trade Union Confederation, which represents workers in 135 countries, warned pension funds about investing in private equity and hedge funds, calling for greater regulation of the industry. Private equity funds don't generate better long-term returns than other investments, the Brussels-based group asserted in a statement Thursday, citing research by the University of Amsterdam.

The 1st District City Council race has garnered more than four times the money of previous races there, buoyed by the deep pockets and independent spending of labor and business leaders. In the runoff to replace council member Ed Reyes in the district near downtown Los Angeles, a combined $1.97 million has been raised on behalf of former Sacramento lawmaker Gil Cedillo and Reyes' chief of staff, Jose Gardea, according to campaign finance reports. The election almost ended in the primary: Cedillo received 49.32%, less than 1% shy of winning outright.

A former city councilman convicted last month of federal corruption charges has been hired by a labor group to teach computer, math and language skills to low-income residents seeking employment. Ralph Inzunza was hired by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council shortly after his conviction July 18 of conspiracy, extortion and wire fraud in a scheme to repeal the city's no-touch law at strip clubs. Inzunza, 35, began the teaching job the first week of August.

The political arm of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has agreed to pay a $2,000 fine for failing to properly disclose $31,280 it spent on an independent campaign supporting Alex Padilla's candidacy for the 7th City Council District seat this spring, officials said Monday.

U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis has not yet been confirmed as Labor secretary, but the race to replace her is in full swing. This week, candidate Judy Chu, chairwoman of the state Board of Equalization, received a coveted distinction in local politics: a nod from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. "She's got a tremendous labor background," said Ed Rendon, political director for the Teamsters Joint Council in Los Angeles, which is a member of the federation's Committee on Political Education.

Gov. Gray Davis gained ground Monday in his effort to keep other prominent Democrats out of the recall election, as the nation's largest labor organization greeted him with rousing support here, and state labor leaders prepared to warn other party members not to put their names on the ballot. Davis asked the union leaders at a national meeting of political directors from the AFL-CIO to pledge $10 million to his campaign -- half of the $20 million he told them he would need to fight the recall.

A labor group that last year forced Unocal Corp. to settle human-rights claims sued Wal-Mart on Tuesday, alleging the world's biggest retailer allowed sweatshop conditions at supplier factories around the world. The case opens a new front in litigation against the retail giant, which is already fighting a mammoth suit alleging it has underpaid female employees as well as efforts by residents and politicians in some communities to block new stores.

Labor advocates Monday accused some Vons supermarkets of continuing to pay janitors illegally low wages, moments after a federal judge approved the $22.4-million settlement of a class-action lawsuit that had accused Vons and two other grocery chains of such violations.

Mitch O'Farrell is probably the only candidate running for Los Angeles City Council who can do a backward handspring, no problem. Before taking a job a decade ago as a field deputy in the office of Councilman Eric Garcetti, O'Farrell, 52, spent years as a restaurant manager, cruise ship dance instructor and competitive gymnast. If his path to politics was roundabout, the one forged by his opponent in next week's race to replace Garcetti in the 13th Council District was uncommonly direct.

The last time Manuel Cardenas fell ill, the 24-year-old single father had no choice but to report for work. His employer, a security contractor, doesn't offer sick pay to part-timers like Cardenas, he said, and he can't afford to lose a day's wages. "I probably shouldn't have, but I had to," said Cardenas, a security guard in San Jose. He is among California workers for whom labor groups and others are fighting to secure paid sick leave. Currently, 4.5 million workers in California, about 40% of the state's workforce, don't have sick-pay benefits.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Brian Cummings said Thursday he was pressing ahead with a controversial plan to move dozens of city firefighters from fire engines to ambulances, despite warnings from labor groups that the change would put lives at risk. In the coming days, the chief plans to deploy 11 new ambulances by reassigning one firefighter per shift from 22 firetrucks across the city. Cummings says the department must adjust to fewer fires and a growing number of medical emergencies, and has limited funding to make the change.

A powerful Los Angeles County labor group that fought efforts to roll back pension costs at City Hall took a huge step Tuesday toward endorsing City Controller Wendy Greuel in the race for mayor, recommending her over opponent Eric Garcetti. Greuel won the support of the political committee that guides the 600,000-member Los Angeles County Federation of Labor after suggesting the city's handling of retirement benefits resembled the leadership of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican reviled by organized labor, according to audio obtained by The Times.

SACRAMENTO -- Labor and environmental groups rallied Tuesday on the steps of the Capitol to protest efforts to overhaul California's landmark environmental law. Representatives from unions and environmental organizations -- backed by dozens of supporters --  described the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, as an "environmental bill of rights" that allows the public to weigh in on proposed development in their communities. Signed into law by Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1970, the measure requires developers to go through a lengthy public process detailing their projects' potential environmental effects and how those would be mitigated.

Organized labor succeeded in sending three of its chosen candidates to the Los Angeles City Council and reelecting a fourth in Tuesday's election, allowing unions to retain their firm hold on the lawmaking body. Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills) and former Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes won seats in the San Fernando Valley and Mike Bonin prevailed in the race to replace Councilman Bill Rosendahl on the Westside. Union groups, including the county Federation of Labor, provided financial support for all three - and for Councilman Paul Koretz, who was reelected to a second four-year term.

Leaders of the nation's largest labor federation announced Wednesday that they would spend more money this year than ever before to get voters to the polls in a midterm election they hoped would return Democrats to power in Congress. "This Labor Day, it appears that a 'perfect storm' is gathering that may well sweep away Republican control of the Congress this fall," said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney. Republican voter mobilization efforts were credited with big GOP wins in 2004 and 2002.

California's powerful labor federation voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose the recall of Gov. Gray Davis and, at the same time, recommend that union members cast a vote for the backup candidacy of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. The move marked a significant shift in labor's strategy toward the recall. The official vote at the federation's convention in Manhattan Beach occurred with no debate.

TUCSON -- Arizona's sweeping anti-illegal-immigration law suffered another blow Monday when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with day laborers looking for work in the state. A three-judge appellate panel unanimously upheld a lower court injunction that prevents the state from enforcing a part of SB 1070 that would prohibit motorists from stopping traffic to solicit day laborers. Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, considered the decision a disappointment, her spokesman said in a prepared statement.