AFL-CIO's first-quarter lobbying reached $540,000 on issues from executive pay to mortgages

[Omaha Steve]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/5274238cef03feb1dcc49e7e035ecc44.htm

June 13, 2008: 03:03 PM EST

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest federation of labor unions, spent $540,000 in the first quarter to lobby on issues ranging from executive salaries to mortgage reform, according to a disclosure report.

Executive compensation is a top issue for the union, which supports legislation that would require publicly traded companies to submit executive pay plans to a nonbinding annual shareholder vote.

The union also lobbied on a short-term moratorium on home foreclosures, better protection of employees and retirees in bankruptcy, immigration and visas, global warming, patent reform and oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The AFL-CIO lobbied on several defense-related matters, including a $35 billion tanker-refueling contract awarded to European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. and U.S.-based partner Northrop Grumman Corp. Boeing Co. is protesting the award with support from unions because of the potential loss of American jobs.

The Government Accountability Office is scheduled to rule on Boeing's protest by June 19.

The AFL-CIO is composed of 56 national and international unions, including the Air Line Pilots Association, Communications Workers of America and United Mine Workers of America.

Besides Congress, the union lobbied the SEC, the departments of State, Treasury and Defense, and other agencies in the first three months of the year, according to the report filed April 21 with the House clerk's office. Top of page