Events tonight, Pete Ashdown chat, and info on CAFTA

Just a reminder: Utah's first Workers' Rights Board Hearing is TONIGHT, 6:30-8:00 at the main SLC Library auditorium.
YOU ARE INVITED TO UTAH’S FIRST WORKERS RIGHT’S BOARD HEARING:

THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE?

When: Thursday, June 30th.

Where: Salt Lake City Library Main Auditorium.

Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Board Members:

Mayor Rocky Anderson (Chair)

State Senator Scott McCoy

Prof. Naomi Silverstone

Leticia Medina, Ex. Dir of Utah Issues

Fr. Martin Diaz

Expert Witness:

Arthur Sandack

Moderator:

Archie Archuleta

Translator:

Mark Alverez

Worker Testimony:

Co-Op Miner, Ana Maria Sanchez

SL Regional Nurse, Lori Gay

Comcast Worker, Larry Tidwell

Wolper Construction Worker,

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 guarantees the rights of employees: “to self-organization, to form, join or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively though representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection”. Sounds good, so what’s wrong? This is the topic the Utah Workers Rights Board will explore.

Do Utah workers have a right to organize without fear of retribution, or intimidation?

Is the National Labor Relations Boards tactics and decisions helping or harming Utah workers?

Are there alternative solutions to some of these problems?

The board will hear testimony from Utah workers and others to try and answer some of these questions.

COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS HISTORIC EVENT!


If you can't get out tonight, remember tonight is Pete Ashdown's weekly chat!

http://peteashdown.org/chat.html

NOTE: The June 30th chat has been rescheduled for 9:00 PM


Speaking of Pete Ashdown, be sure to pick up the new Salt Lake City Weekly - Pete's mug is gracing the cover!

As you know, the UDPC has been urging everyone to oppose CAFTA. I just received the following from Soleil on CAFTA:

It has already passed in the Finance Committee and in
the House Ways & Means Committee. Among other things, if it
passes, it will affect our ability to have access to dietary supplements
in the dosages we want:

Article 3 of the SPS in the WTO Agreement reads "To harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary measures on as wide a basis as possible, Members SHALL base their food safety measures on international standards, guidelines or recommendations."

This threatens to force harmonization of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 to mindlessly restrictive UN Codex standards which would block my access to vitamins and minerals within the therapeutic range, for starters, then other dietary supplements as Codex expands.

Here is a link to a short film narrated by Judi Dench on the subject:
http://www.welltv.com/WBS-Video.html

Here is an excellent article (not very long) by Congressman Paul on CAFTA:
http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2005/tst060605.htm

Here is a link to a letter for signing to oppose CAFTA:
http://capwiz.com/lef/mail/oneclick_compose/?alerti d=7739691

Pass this info on to anyone you like - it's urgent!
Thanks for all you do. Soleil




Clarity Sanderson, UDPC Internet Outreach
Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus
Office: 801 485-4076
clarity@udpc.org
http://www.udpc.org
Democratic Action Through Individual Participation