Utah delegates relax, enjoy gatherings

BOSTON — Thanks to a last-minute settlement with local unions, delegates didn't run into picket lines Sunday at the first big events of the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Utah's delegation was one of seven ready to turn around had they been confronted by police and firefighters protesting stalled contract negotiations.

The 33 Utahns agreed last week not to cross the picket lines promised at delegate parties thrown by convention organizers at locations throughout the city.

"What's important is what the unions are working hard for, for better wages, for better health care, for better working conditions," said Donald Dunn, Utah Democratic Party chairman. "Labor unions equate to family values."

The settlement between the city and the unions meant delegates could relax and enjoy their gatherings before getting down to the work of the four-day convention that begins today.

Utahns, along with delegates from New Mexico, Arizona, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, were feted at a Latino arts center in a converted church in Boston's now trendy South End.

Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch said Utah's Democrats joined those from such labor-friendly states as Massachusetts, Ohio and Michigan in coming to the convention prepared to honor the picket lines.

"For our delegation, it was a particular focus," Hatch said, referring to Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson's decision to defy labor demonstrators outside a national mayor's conference in Boston earlier this year.

Not only did Anderson cross a picket line then, he also helped arrange for Massachusetts' GOP governor, Mitt Romney, as a conference speaker to replace Sen. John Kerry, who's expected to be nominated this week as the Democrats' pick for president.

The mayor, who is not scheduled to arrive in Boston until later this week, has brushed off criticism from Democrats about the incident. "Oh, well, I'm not a big party person," Anderson has said.

Ed Mayne, a state senator from West Valley City and head of Utah's AFL-CIO, said Utah's delegation had no trouble deciding last week not to cross picket lines.

"No persuading at all" was needed, Mayne said. "It was a unanimous vote. We took it on the conference call we had on Wednesday night."