NEW ORLEANS — Union members and their families filled Marconi Meadows in City Park for the annual Labor Day picnic.

They had something to celebrate — Louisiana saw 1.1% job growth over the past year, according to Leaders for A Better Louisiana.

Eight of the state's 10 metro regions gained jobs, including New Orleans.

But AFL-CIO President Tiger Hammond sees some challenges in the local job market.

"You know what's a shame of it all — that we have a lot of people that want collective bargaining and to be denied their rights up in this Greater New Orleans area," Hammond said.

Hammond pointed to nurses at University Medical Center, who are still negotiating their first contract with LCMC Health nearly two years after unionizing with National Nurses United.

"Over 620 days without a contr

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