After returning to California, he became leader of the labor federation in 1970, and five years later helped the United Farm Workers campaign for passage of the state Agricultural Labor Relations Act. He fought to restore the state's worker safety agency in 1988 after it was abolished by then-Gov. George Deukmejian.
Democratic leaders said the state has lost one of its great leaders.
U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, a former California state lawmaker and member of Congress, called Mr. Henning a friend.
"He was a man of modest means, with a thirst for knowledge and a tremendous sense of compassion for his fellow man," Ms. Solis said in a statement.
MANUEL CURRY, 84
Long-serving police officer
Sgt. Maj. Manuel Curry, who was on city of New Orleans police force for more than six decades and was believed to be the longest-serving full-time law enforcement officer in the nation, died Thursday at a New Orleans-area hospital. The cause was not released.
Research done in 2002 by the New Orleans chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police found Sergeant Curry had the longest active service career of any police officer in the country, police spokesman Bob Young said. He was still an active member at the time of his death, Mr. Young said.
Sergeant Curry joined the department in 1946 and was in the city's Sixth Police District for more than 63 years. He received several medals and was granted the special rank of 'sergeant major.' He is the only New Orleans police officer to ever hold that position, according to a statement from the department.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said Sergeant Curry stayed on duty during Hurricane Katrina, at 80 years old.
"This dedication exemplified his devoted and unrelenting commitment to the NOPD," Mr. Riley said in the statement.
In an article about his long career, Sergeant Curry said he was injured several times on the job, but never seriously.
He said his most serious injury happened during World War II. He was part of the D-Day invasion with the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach. He was not injured during the invasion, but was hurt a few weeks later when a German shell exploded.
