SEIU has
called a vote of the employees for Wednesday, March 8 ."

The contract for both the service and clerical units are extremely
competitive."
"I look forward to moving beyond these difficult negotiations and
continuing our focus together on our core mission: the delivery of high
quality health care to our patients and this community ," concluded
Bischalaney.

pygmies enforced

By helping to rebuild
economies through export of handmade items, EDImports demonstrates how
entrepreneurship at all levels -- from small African villages to international
markets -- can create thriving businesses and support a lasting peace.
"The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus poses a very serious threat
to animal health in West Africa. They should also be aware of suitable
farming practices such as ensuring that poultry are roofed-in to avoid any
contact with wild birds and not mixing chickens with other species, such as
ducks," said Juan Lubroth, Senior Officer of FAO's Animal Production and
Health Division.

regroupment tens

Wald.

regroupment intervened

Founded in 2003, EDImports has developed partnerships across East Africa,
importing a range of home goods, apparel and event items using culturally
significant natural materials with minimal environmental impact, e.

flee locked

fao. Employee Ratification Vote Scheduled for Wednesday, March 8

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif.

stunde flee

The
company customizes items for clients and special events, such as baskets
emblazoned with the breast cancer logo for Charity USA, and ponchos designed
to mark the UN's Year of Microcredit.

330 intervened

The country of greatest concern is Niger, which directly borders the
affected areas in Nigeria and where over two million people are already
vulnerable to acute hunger.
"People need to be informed about the importance of basic hygiene notably
washing hands after touching poultry and disinfecting boots or shoes before
entering or leaving a poultry farm.

arusha chairmanship

NEW YORK, World Fair Trade Day is May 14 and this
year 's theme, "Fair Trade Is Peace" is brought to life in Rwanda, where 400
Hutu and Tutsi women work together, weaving baskets for peace as part of
Rwanda's rebuilding efforts after the devastating 1994 genocide.g.
The agency noted that since the first reports of H5N1 outbreaks in Asia at
the end of 2003 nearly 200 million domestic poultry have died or been culled
in order to contain its spread. "The final contract agreement is both
fair and competitive, and it demonstrates our commitment to our employees and
to making Eden Medical Center a premier place to work and deliver quality
care .
The parties have been negotiating for more than two years.

Nelson Mandela became the new mediator after the death of Nyerere in 1999.

tens bujumbura

Women are
crucial to this process., Rwandan
banana leaf, Ugandan bark cloth, and Kenyan soapstone.
Liz Wald
http://profnet.

The Tutsi controlled government enforced the regroupment of 330,000 Hutu into 53 so called 'protection sites' around the capital Bujumbura over the past two years, leaving them without access to their homes and land and in extremely poor living conditions.

regroupment arusha

Compensation Schemes Would Encourage Poor Farmers to Report Immediately

WASHINGTON and ROME, FAO today expressed growing
concern that the bird flu virus H5N1 may spread to other countries in West
Africa following the discovery of the virus in Nigeria last week.
"We are pleased that we were able to reach conclusion to these
negotiations in the best interests of our employees," said George Bischalaney,
President + CEO of Eden Medical Center.25% of payroll,
jointly administered by medical center and SEIU
-- Tuition Reimbursement -- $1,200 per employee per year (on top of new
training fund)
-- New Organizing/Election Procedures at Eden Hospital campus
-- Education Leave -- 40 hours
-- Expiration of contract on 6/30/08

SEIU represents 300 housekeepers, food service workers, unit clerks,
nursing assistants, licensed vocational nurses and clerical employees at Eden.

Recent history:
Between 1993 and 2000, wide-spread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi created hundreds of thousands of refugees and left tens of thousands dead.

mediator arusha

mandela flee

edimports. The World Bank estimates that a
human influenza pandemic caused by a virus mutated from avian flu could cost
the global economy US$ 800 billion per year.

For more information on the work of FAO please visit http://www. Upon ratification of
these agreements, striking workers will be returned to work beginning on
Thursday, March 9. However, more than 65% of Eden employees
represented by SEIU who were scheduled to work crossed the picket line and
reported to work during the union-sponsored work stoppage.

enforced tutsi

The artisans, in turn, contribute to a cooperative that develops services and
business opportunities for their greater community.
To learn more and see fair trade products available for sale, please visit
http://www.

Burundi is a small, land-locked country in Central Africa, bordering to Rwanda, Tanganjika and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Area: 27834 km2
Capital: Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo , Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi)
Currency: Burundi-Franc
Time Zone: MEZ + 1 Stunde
Population: 6.

strife enforced

, After intense negotiations
that lasted into the early hours of Wednesday, Eden Medical Center announced
today that they were able to reach tentative agreement on a contract for both
bargaining units represented by the union at the medical center.

nyerere mediator

"We should provide incentives to poor African farmers to report
immediately if they suspect an outbreak among poultry, and discourage them
from rushing to sell birds on the market," said Joseph Domenech, FAO 's Chief
Veterinary Officer, who is currently in Nigeria with a joint FAO/OIE team of
experts.

Urgently needed prevention measures
In contrast to Europe, where most poultry production takes place on large
commercial farms, in Africa poultry is often raised in backyards and is
therefore more difficult to control.

nyerere intervened

If a poultry epidemic should develop beyond
the boundaries of Nigeria the effects would be disastrous for the livelihoods
and the food security of millions of people, " said Domenech. "Such plans and field operations
must be fully supported by national governments with participation of the
private sector.
At the Beijing Pledging Conference in mid January 2006 the international
community pledged a total of US$ 1.

The Arusha Peace Negotiations made little progress under the chairmanship of Julius Nyerere.

km2 intervened

"Experts have shown that
building a viable economy is essential to building a lasting peace. EDImports' bridge to the west gives local women an
opportunity to create sustainable enterprises.com. The effects
on a region already facing severe malnutrition would be devastating, the UN
agency warned.
Many countries, including Senegal , Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mauritania
have prepared bird flu contingency plans. SEIU called a
strike that began on February 28. Their professionalism and commitment are
what make our medical center a premier provider of health care in this
community.

6 million people
Ethnic groups: 85% Hutu , 14% Tutsi, 1% Pygmies
Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili
Religion: Christian 67% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%.

chairmanship tens

In addition to
paying fair, above-market wages, EDImports invests in the community by
matching savings account contributions and managing a goat donation program. "Most important, I would like to thank all of the
employees at Eden Medical Center.

Although some refugees have returned from neighboring countries, continued ethnic strife has forced many others to flee.

factions swahili

9 billion.

swahili km2

"I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her staff, as well as
bargaining team members from the medical center and the union for their
perseverance and dedication to finalizing these difficult negotiations,"
continued Bischalaney .

km2 hutu

Helping create a market for their products is NYC-based Economic
Development Imports (EDImports ). The economic loss to the economy of affected
Asian countries has been estimated around US$10 billion .

nyerere arusha

Founder Liz Wald, a former strategy
consultant and Internet entrepreneur, partners with women living in marginal
socioeconomic conditions in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda to design and produce
goods for export to North America. Widespread public awareness campaigns
regarding safe farming practices and improved hygiene are essential to help
contain the spread of the virus.

stunde ngozi

"After the genocide many Rwandan women were widowed and left without any
economic means of support," stated Ms.jsp?userid=515584

Bird Flu: Concern Grows Over Possible Spread in West Africa

FAO has advised veterinary authorities in Nigeria to stamp out the
outbreaks through immediate humane culling and safe disposal and to strictly
control the movement of people and animals from and to infected areas and
neighbouring countries.

Eden Medical Center Reaches Agreement With SEIU on Competitive Contract for Employees

They include:
-- Competitive Wages Increases totaling a minimum of nearly 10% over the
next two years for service workers, while clerical workers received
this and an additional adjustment to their salary ranges
-- Retiree Health Care Account valued at up to $25,000 per employee
-- Fully paid employee and dependent health and dental coverage
-- New Pension Enhancements including increased contributions from Eden
-- New Eden-specific training fund valued at up to 0.

locked stunde

Rwandan Women 'Weaving for Peace' Echo 2005 'Fair Trade Is Peace' Theme

"
EDImports works with Rwandan women to adapt traditional handmade goods,
such as the "wedding basket," to meet exacting western quality standards.
Rwandan weavers are now able to purchase food, medicine, and clothing, pay
school fees, and open savings accounts with their income.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.com/ud_public. The international community should continue to provide
expertise and financial resources," Lubroth said.

Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, have intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

tens bujumbura

prnewswire.org

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