Anchorage Daily News

Act will improve new green jobs

The Employee Free Choice Act, by protecting workers' rights to form a union without fear of retribution, is critical to creating a clean energy economy. We have shovel-ready renewable energy projects -- wind farms at Fire Island, geothermal power from Mount Spurr, and hydropower from Lake Chakachamna -- that can power Southcentral Alaska.

To ensure that these new green jobs are also family-supporting jobs that offer competitive wages in the energy industry, we need to make sure that workers have the ability to form unions and secure good contracts. I urge Sen. Murkowski to support the Employee Free Choice Act so that we can have good-paying green jobs in Alaska.

-- Trevor Thomas

Wasilla

Abusive treatment of Chuitna River should not be tolerated

The effort to establish a conservation mandate on the lower Chuitna River (see Donita Hensley's Compass Piece, "Easement will protect the Chuitna River," May 20) is commendable. Salmon habitat has been ravaged by a north-flowing wave of thoughtlessness from California to British Columbia. The wave needs to stop.

Unmentioned in Hensley's piece is PacRim's coal mine, upstream of the proposed conservation easement. According to documents of the state Department of Natural Resources and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the mine will actually strip "several tributaries" of the upper Chuitna.

Cook Inletkeeper stated that these tributaries compose 11 miles of stream and 20 percent of the salmon in the Chuitna, as I recall. It was also stated that this is the first instance of intentionally destroying salmon spawning habitat, and not by an insignificant amount, to achieve what I consider a dubious economic goal.

Under no circumstances should the federal and state governments permit such treatment of a watershed. PacRim, the DNR, EPA and our elected representatives and administrators need to feel some heat regarding this terribly poor precedent.

-- Carl Tobin

Anchorage

Common thread for gays, vets

I am a veteran and have a few observations on the recently proposed ordinance to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and status as a veteran. I understand that some people see combining both in one ordinance as a cynical attempt to force a vote favoring the proposed ordinance. I disagree.

There are good reasons to protect both veterans and gays. The Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum on April 7 identifying "disgruntled military veterans" as a likely or potential source of domestic terrorism. It reflects the extent to which -- through ignorance and baseless fear -- veterans have fallen under suspicion from our own government.

It seems to me that gay people are also marginalized through ignorance and baseless fear. Anchorage at its best is a people-friendly city. Alaska is a "live and let live" society that respects privacy rights, personal freedom and individual liberties. We should welcome an opportunity to demonstrate Alaska values. It's good for us, good for business and good for an economy that depends upon a healthy tourism industry.

-- Gregory S. Fisher

Anchorage

Union helped this single mom

I became a single mother of an 8-year-old son while I was serving in the United States Army. After I left the Army, I found a job working for a company where women had no opportunity to advance. I was fortunate to then land a union job. I started work with a 90-day probation period, and on my 89th day I had an accident for which I was fired.

Even though I didn't have grievance rights, my union fought for me. The accident wasn't my fault, but my employer argued I was responsible. Because of my union steward, however, the mediator decided to reinstate me.

Would I have gotten my job back if I didn't have a union fighting for me? Was this worth every penny of my dues? You're darn right it was.

I earn a fair day's pay, decent benefits and have job security. Shouldn't everybody have this?

The Employee Free Choice Act will make it easier for more moms to join a union and get health insurance for their families. When moms have it better, so does everyone else. Sen. Murkowski, please support the Employee Free Choice Act.

-- Carol Salandra

Anchorage

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