LABOR

AFL-CIO Plans Hearings on ‘Stagnant’ Wages: As part of a multimillion-dollar organizing campaign, the AFL-CIO plans to hold public hearings in Los Angeles and other cities to bring the issue of stagnant wages to the center of political debate. AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney said the federation this spring will sponsor public hearings to ask working men and women about their jobs, paychecks and family budgets. Sweeney reiterated his pledge to spend $20 million during the next two years on organizing workers. The AFL-CIO, which has a $65-million annual budget, spent $2.5 million on organizing this year.