Note: This e-mail was sent to the MN DFL American Indian Caucus
From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 1:59 PM
To: 'mnfirebuster@yahoo.com'; 'lwmpls@visi.com'
Cc: 'gdubovich@usw.org'; 'nnosal@uaw.net'
Subject: A few questions...
Chair Strong and Co-Chair Waterman-Wittstock;
Please note: The questions I would appreciate answers to are in Bold.
Could you provide me with a position paper, or the position of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party American Indian Caucus, on the situation with casino workers?
You are probably aware that more than 20,000 Minnesotans are going to work in these smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under tribal, state or federal labor laws.
In the United States more than four hundred Native American owned (and growing) casinos have been created under the terms of these special “Compacts” employing over two-million workers.
Does the caucus have a position on how to correct this problem? If, in fact, you agree it is a problem?
I would note that one of your “missions” is to increase citizen/voter participation in the political process; as I am sure you are well aware, when workers are employed without any rights in the workplace they can not have the right to fully participate in the political process because they are always at the mercy of an employer who can fire them at will if the participation is deemed contrary to what is deemed in the best interest of management.
I have been describing these areas created by these “Compacts” as “racist, anti-woman, anti-labor, anti-union, right-to-work colonies;” Would you agree with me?
Also, could you tell me the position of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s American Indian Caucus concerning the proposal to turn much of the National Forests over to Tribal Management? Would you foresee this as a prelude to casino/resort complexes being established in our National Forests?
Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party American Indian Caucus
Link:
http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={23BDE200-8019-4330-93BD-C19DC7C68AF3}
The mission of the American Indian Caucus is to:
• Elect Democrats and recruit American Indian candidates;
• Include, inform, empower, and educate all American Indian people in the political process;
• Increase voter participation;
• Provide resources, forums and information to Democratic and DFL-endorsed candidates in Minnesota;
• Provide services that enhance and support Tribal sovereignty in Minnesota.
Contact:
Donovan Strong, interim chair
E-mail: mnfirebuster@yahoo.com
Laura Watermann-Wittstock, interim co-chair
E-mail: lwmpls@visi.com
Sincerely,
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
Member, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
Check out my blog:
Thoughts From Podunk
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/