The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is proud to partner with the Embassy of Mexico, the U.S. Department of Labor and allied
organizations to promote the first "Semana de Derechos Laborales", or Labor Rights Week, UFCW International President Joe Hansen joined the Mexican Consul
General of Chicago, Manuel Rodríguez Arriaga, to launch the national outreach and education program that is taking place in thirteen cities across the
country.

As Labor Day 2009 approaches, Semana de Derechos Laborales, which continues through September 4, will focus on the inclusion of Mexican nationals in American workplaces and communities. Programming includes workshops and informational sessions on labor, immigration, and human rights.

"Our communities and neighborhoods are better, safer places to work and live when all workers know and exercise their rights," said Hansen. "Semana de Derechos Laborales is a perfect way to empower Mexican national workers with information and promote full participation in the civic fabric of our nation.

The UFCW has been a union of immigrants for more than 100 years and this weeks`program helps ensure that a new generation of workers has the resources to have
their voice heard on the job."

Educating immigrant workforces about rights in the workplace helps raise the standard of treatment for all workers in industries where new immigrants often
work, including meatpacking, food processing, and grocery.

"In the past few years, a growing number of immigrant workers were subject to abuse under a mantle of fear that was created by policy approaches which allowed
unscrupulous employers to use immigration status to threaten deportation if workers reported discrimination, wage and hour or health and safety violations.
We recognize the leadership of Secretary Solis in this issue and believe that joint efforts like the Labor Rights Week will strengthen our ability to protect
the rights of our nationals abroad," said Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan.

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