Another Obama labor nominee faces GOP hold over pro-union views

October 15th, 2009 Senate panel to vote on labor board nomineesWASHINGTON — A Senate panel plans to vote next week on three long-stalled nominees to fill the National Labor Relations Board. The five-member board, which resolves conflicts between unions and management, has worked with three vacancies for nearly two years because of political wrangling in the Senate.

October 7th, 2009 Labor nominee clears divided Senate panelWASHINGTON — A sharply divided Senate panel on Wednesday approved New York state's labor commissioner for the No. 3 post at the Labor Department, despite GOP claims that she gave lawmakers inaccurate testimony.

September 30th, 2009 Justice asks high court to OK labor board rulingsWASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to let a federal labor board continue working even though three of its five seats are vacant. The National Labor Relations Board, which resolves conflicts between unions and management, has worked with three vacancies for nearly two years because of political wrangling in the Senate.

September 7th, 2009 Obama says US still faces complex economic crisisWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Monday the country still faces a "vast and complex" economic crisis and is pledging to work with business and labor to make things better. In a Labor Day statement the White House released as he headed for a union picnic in Ohio, Obama voiced confidence that "working Americans will help our nation emerge from this crisis." He also paid tribute in the holiday proclamation to the contributions that working people have made over the course of history, saying they have "carried us through times of challenge and uncertainty." Obama chose a Labor Day union picnic in Cincinnati as the backdrop to announce his selection of Ron Bloom as senior counselor for manufacturing policy.

September 7th, 2009 Obama to name manufacturing adviser at picnicWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Monday the country still faces a "vast and complex" economic crisis and is pledging to work with business and labor to make things better. In a Labor Day statement the White House released as he headed for a union picnic in Ohio, Obama voiced confidence that "working Americans will help our nation emerge from this crisis." He also paid tribute in the holiday proclamation to the contributions that working people have made over the course of history, saying they have "carried us through times of challenge and uncertainty." Obama chose a Labor Day union picnic in Cincinnati as the backdrop to announce his selection of Ron Bloom as senior counselor for manufacturing policy.

September 7th, 2009 President speaks to union members on Labor DayWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is working on Labor Day, speaking to union members in Ohio. He'll leave the White House Monday morning for the trip to Cincinnati.

August 6th, 2009 NY labor union leader charged in bribery probeNEW YORK — The FBI has arrested the leader of a powerful New York labor union that recently endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his re-election campaign. Michael Forde is executive secretary-treasurer of the New York City District Council of Carpenters and Joiners.

August 6th, 2009 Senators place hold on transportation nomineeWASHINGTON — In a town where taking credit for things is a given, one union went a little too far. Two senators announced Wednesday they were putting a hold on the nomination of Daniel Elliott to chair the Surface Transportation Board, after the United Transportation Union suggested its campaign donations helped make the nomination happen.

July 15th, 2009 Specter frustrated by nomineeWASHINGTON — As Sen. Arlen Specter sees it, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has an "exemplary" record on the bench.

July 15th, 2009 Air Canada reaches deal with mechanics unionTORONTO — The largest union at Air Canada has approved a 21-month labor contract, considered a critical factor in keeping the airline out of bankruptcy court. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said Wednesday members voted 60 percent in favor of the deal this week.

July 14th, 2009 Sotomayor vows to use even hand in judging casesWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has vowed to not let her personal views affect how she would rule on cases from the nation's highest court. In an exchange with the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, Sotomayor said she believes comments she has made about the value of life's experiences have been misinterpreted by her critics.

July 11th, 2009 Ilikai closes but will reopen with new union dealHONOLULU — A day after the iconic Ilikai hotel shut down, its new owner and a labor union say the Waikiki landmark will soon be back in business. Employees were downcast on their last day at work on Thursday, when hotel operations creased on order from New York-based iStar Financial Inc.

June 25th, 2009 Kroger CEO wants "balance" in labor talksCINCINNATI — Kroger Co.'s chief executive says both sides must find a balance as the grocery store chain faces tough union negotiations. CEO David B.

June 18th, 2009 Boston Globe union postpones meeting with NLRBBOSTON — A meeting between The Boston Globe's largest union and the National Labor Relations Board has been postponed as the union continues its talks with management over $10 million in contract concessions. The meeting was postponed on Tuesday and again on Thursday after the union and management restarted negotiations.

April 24th, 2009 Union activist appointed to Labor DepartmentWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has appointed a key union activist as senior adviser to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, another sign of the influence that organized labor wields in the Obama administration. Mary Beth Maxwell spent the past five years as executive director of American Rights at Work, a nonprofit group pushing for passage of a bill to make it easier to form unions.