Today in Tampa, Fla., Sen. John McCain gave an address his advisers claimed would “unveil” his health care proposal—but he essentially offered the same tired proposal he’s been touting for months. Most policy analysts agree this plan won’t cut costs, won’t cover more people and won’t fix the real problems in the health care system.

McCain wants to address our nation's health care crisis by merely shifting costs around—and millions of people would pay higher health care costs as a result. McCain would tax health care benefits as income and push more people out of group insurance pools and into the often-predatory private market. In short, McCain would increase our taxes and ensure fewer of us could afford quality health care.

AFL-CIO union members in Florida were on hand as McCain spoke to ask him to change course and offer some real answers on health care.

A unit of 580 drywall finishers in New Jersey voted overwhelmingly—94 percent—to stick with their union, the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 71, and rejected an attempt by the Carpenters (UBC), which left the AFL-CIO in 2001, to sign up the workers.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certified the results yesterday. IUPAT General President James Williams says he wasn't surprised by the outcome because IUPAT drywall finishers repeatedly have reaffirmed their support of IUPAT.

This vote was, as the man says, "Déjà vu all over again." The Carpenters came at us—again—hoping to raid those who are already organized and we voted them down—again.

They have done the same thing in over a dozen cities in the United States and Canada and they lost every time. The word is out on their empty promises for more work and more money and the men and women we represent in this trade will not be fooled by the UBC leaders in Washington, D.C.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—under fire for failing to meet inspection deadlines for the nation's passenger air fleet—is now putting off inspections of equally vital ground-based equipment such as radar and instrument landing systems.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) says that in March, the FAA relaxed certification and maintenance requirements and removed the time element for the inspections. Appropriate maintenance and certification that the equipment is operating correctly is a critical function in ensuring passenger safety, says NATCA.

Economic Report:

As independent long haulers rolled into DC on Monday, the White House said it sees no short-term fix for the ever rising fuel prices. The average price for gasoline in the United States hit $3.60 per gallon last week. The independent long haulers who brought their protest to the nation’s capitol are paying a record $4.18 per gallon of diesel or $1200 to fill the typical tractor trailer.

By Doug Cunningham

[Fyten]: “ILWU moves cargo – the boxes. Well I told them I was tired of bringing boxes home with bodies in ‘em. It’s time to speak up for what’s right.”

Vietnam vet and ILWU Local 10 member Steve Fyten - one of the west coast dock workers who will stop work on May 1st to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Fyten 2]: “I am patriotic, but I’m patriotic to do the right thing. Bein’ patriotic doesn’t mean that you support a war that’s not right. Our sons and daughters are getting’ killed over there. That’s not being patriotic. I think bein’ patritotic is when you stand up and say what’s right.”

Do the competitive H1-B visas really bring the best and brightest to the United States? Jesse Russell reports:

The argument in favor of H1-B visas is that they bring needed skilled workers to the United States; however, a new study from the Center for Immigration Studies suggests that many of those who qualify for the work visas are simply "ordinary" workers. The report is called "H1-Bs: Still not The Best and the Brightest".It was authored by Norman Matloff, who says that his findings show "few of the foreign workers" are "at a level of real expertise whose description is associated with innovation". He said his findings also show that the majority meet the qualifications of "apprentice-like positions."

Do the competitive H1-B visas really bring the best and brightest to the United States? Jesse Russell reports:

The argument in favor of H1-B visas is that they bring needed skilled workers to the United States, however, a new study from the Center for Immigration Studies suggests that many of those who qualify for the work visas are simply “ordinary” workers. The report is called “H1-Bs: Still not The Best and the Brightest” and was authored by Norman Matloff who says that his findings show “few of the foreign workers” are “at a level of real expertise whose description is ass

As workers gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, Canadian workers were also gathering to honor the fallen. Monday was a national day of mourning for workers killed or injured on the job in Canada and hundreds gathered in Ontario to honor the fallen. 100 workers died in Ontario in 2007 while 270 succumbed to work related diseases.

By Doug Cunningham

Thousands of construction and building trades workers gathered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Monday for a special mass memorializing workers killed on the job. Bob Ledwith is with Metal Lathers Local 46.

[Ledwith]: “The church was crowded with over four thousand unionized construction workers in honor of those who perished. It was a true brotherhood. Speakers spoke of the fact that we’re one big human family. And that’s what unions are and that’s what brings us together.”

Monday was International Workers Memorial Day.