Union event to mark human rights statement

BREWER – Workers, religious leaders, union members and supporters will gather Wednesday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a press release from Food AND Medicine states.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and “will celebrate the fact that the right to form a union is a fundamental part of the Declaration: ‘Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of their interests,'” the release states.

The event will feature stories from four Maine workers who have tried to organize a union at their workplace, some successfully and some not. Religious leaders will speak about the importance of worker rights in our faith traditions.

A discussion also will be held about the Employee Free Choice Act, which is a pending bill “about workers who don’t have a union and restoring their right to organize,” the FAM press release states.

The event’s hosts are the Eastern Maine Labor Council and Food AND Medicine.