The latest snapshot of the U.S. working class shows that unions are in trouble, their ranks thinning amid a backlash against organized labor and a still sputtering economy. But California and a few nearby states in the Southwest are showing a vastly different picture - labor's ranks are on an upswing. The Golden State's union organizers signed up more than 100,000 new members last year, while the nation as a whole shed 400,000, according to data released Wednesday. The reason: Latino workers.

SACRAMENTO - A full-court press by professional sports leagues to limit the ability of out-of-state players to file for workers' compensation benefits in California scored big in a crucial first vote by state lawmakers. A bill, backed by the owners of 16 California teams, including basketball's Los Angeles Lakers, baseball's Dodgers, hockey's Kings and soccer's Galaxy, passed out of the Assembly Insurance Committee with a unanimous 11-0 tally over objections from players and labor unions.

Two Big Customers Protest B of A Moves: Bank of America, the nation's second-biggest bank, suffered a double blow when two high-profile customers said they were transferring accounts to protest the bank's policies. The California Labor Federation said it closed an account containing more than $90,000 in union funds to protest the bank's plans to reduce tellers' hours. The federation urged its 2 million members to do the same.

SACRAMENTO - Players for professional sports teams based outside of California would be barred from filing compensation claims for job-related injuries under proposed legislation supported by owners of football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer franchises. A bill unveiled Monday by Assembly Insurance Committee Chairman Henry Perea (D-Fresno) would ban retired athletes from seeking workers' compensation benefits from California courts after they've played relatively few games in California stadiums and arenas during their careers.

On behalf of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, I am writing to clarify the state AFL-CIO position on recent workers' compensation legislation that was the subject of Harry Bernstein's Labor column, "Little Compensation in Capitol Fight" (July 23). Our workers' compensation struggle before the state Legislature during the closing days of the recent budget crisis did not involve demands for increases in compensation benefits. It was centered on defeat of the massive take-aways proposed by the Wilson Administration and the employer-insurance community.

Jack Henning, a spellbinding orator and forceful presence who was an icon of organized labor in California and beyond, died Thursday at his home in San Francisco after a long illness. He was 93. The son of a charter member of the plumbers union, Henning rose to become the longtime head of the California Labor Federation before his retirement in 1996.

A labor group representing millions of California workers wants Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to return $4 million given to him by the state Democratic Party. Leaders of the California Labor Federation said the money was supposed to be used to help elect Democrats, not as a personal "slush fund."

Re "As Popularity Ebbs, Governor Reaches Out," June 22: Well, I see now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to compromise. After he commits us to spending up to $80 million to bypass the Legislature and open a Pandora's box of poorly written initiatives, he opens the door to negotiate with the Legislature. I guess he forgot that real-life politics is not like the movies. There everyone has the same script. In politics, people have different scripts. It only took him 18 months to match the ratings of Gov. Gray Davis.

In Jack Henning's hands, the microphone has always been an incendiary device. As California's top labor leader for the last 26 years, he has gained near-legendary status for his passion as a public speaker, thundering from the political left against what he regards as the scourge of unbridled capitalism. As an orator on labor issues, "nobody comes close to him," said Miguel Contreras, the union chief for Los Angeles County. But on Tuesday, 80-year-old John F.

The latest snapshot of the U.S. working class shows that unions are in trouble, their ranks thinning amid a backlash against organized labor and a still sputtering economy. But California and a few nearby states in the Southwest are showing a vastly different picture - labor's ranks are on an upswing. The Golden State's union organizers signed up more than 100,000 new members last year, while the nation as a whole shed 400,000, according to data released Wednesday. The reason: Latino workers.

Reporting from Sacramento -- Government pensions are being scaled back across the nation, but labor unions in California are struggling to fortify the state's position as a bulwark for generous retirement benefits. Those seeking to dismantle the state's current system say taxpayers, who foot part of the bill, simply can't afford it. But the battle is as much about politics as finances. Some labor leaders have said they'd sooner see state budget negotiations unravel than give way on pensions for their members.

The television ads seize on the millions of dollars organized labor is spending to help elect Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, warning that if he's victorious, he would be "their governor." Labor leaders watching the spots, which are funded by billionaire GOP nominee Meg Whitman, should be so lucky. Unions are indeed reaching deep into their pockets to help Brown, whose campaign needs the cash to compete with Whitman's personal fortune. But how much return they will get on their investment under a Brown governorship is unclear.

Despite two losses in court and a dwindling stock of legal arguments, John Chiang has made himself the roadblock to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to ratchet down the paychecks of some 200,000 state employees to minimum wage. Chiang, the state controller, has said the order is illegal. He has said it is impractical. He has said his computers can't do it. Mostly, he's just said no. Through the tussle, the unassuming 47-year-old Democrat has emerged as an unlikely counterweight to the muscle-bound Schwarzenegger.

John Pérez is easy to like: pleasant, articulate and thoughtful, exuding calm and candor. And self-confidence. Why not? The Los Angeles native was just chosen by fellow Democrats to be the next state Assembly speaker after only one year in elective office. Quite a political feat, even with term-limit turnover. Being likable doesn't make one a leader, but it's a start. Pérez will be California's first openly gay legislative leader. "This means there's one less barrier for people," says the 40-year-old.

Jack Henning, a spellbinding orator and forceful presence who was an icon of organized labor in California and beyond, died Thursday at his home in San Francisco after a long illness. He was 93. The son of a charter member of the plumbers union, Henning rose to become the longtime head of the California Labor Federation before his retirement in 1996.

SACRAMENTO - A full-court press by professional sports leagues to limit the ability of out-of-state players to file for workers' compensation benefits in California scored big in a crucial first vote by state lawmakers. A bill, backed by the owners of 16 California teams, including basketball's Los Angeles Lakers, baseball's Dodgers, hockey's Kings and soccer's Galaxy, passed out of the Assembly Insurance Committee with a unanimous 11-0 tally over objections from players and labor unions.

Despite two losses in court and a dwindling stock of legal arguments, John Chiang has made himself the roadblock to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to ratchet down the paychecks of some 200,000 state employees to minimum wage. Chiang, the state controller, has said the order is illegal. He has said it is impractical. He has said his computers can't do it. Mostly, he's just said no. Through the tussle, the unassuming 47-year-old Democrat has emerged as an unlikely counterweight to the muscle-bound Schwarzenegger.

California's system for providing jobless benefits is quickly running out of money even as state government scrambles to keep up with the highest level of unemployment in almost 15 years. Meanwhile, other state services for the jobless are stretched thin as the state's unemployment rate rose in November to 8.4%, up from 8.2% the month before. Millions of calls to state unemployment insurance processing centers continue to go unanswered, a problem first reported by The Times in April.

A labor group representing millions of California workers wants Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to return $4 million given to him by the state Democratic Party. Leaders of the California Labor Federation said the money was supposed to be used to help elect Democrats, not as a personal "slush fund."