Please Don't Eat at Wendy's or Arby's

Wendy's is being unfair to the employees who bake the buns for its restuarants by refusing to negoiate a fair contract with these workers. The compnay eliminated negoiated health care and defined pension benefit plans, and imposed substandard health insurance and risky 401(k) plans as replacements.

We are asking the public to refrain from patronizing Wendy's and Arby's until this dispute is resolved in a fair manner.

The Bakery Workers Local 57 had a very positive relationship with Wendy's prior to its recent takeover by Arby's. Unfortunately, the new owners are motivated by greed and do not believe in fair treatment of the workers who bake the buns.

Thank you for your support on behalf of the working men and women at Wendy's/Arby's bakeries.

*We are not asking any employee to cease working at, or any supplier to cease providing goods or services to this location.

Bennett Sticks with Labor

Appointed Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) stood with organized labor Tuesday on a tough vote over the Obama administration's nominee for the National Labor Relations Board — a vote that could have significant repercussions for his election campaign.

Unlike Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) — the two precariously positioned Democrats who broke with the party on the vote — Bennet voted to approve Craig Becker, who Republicans assert is too supportive of union interests, including the controversial Employee Free Choice Act.

GOP Blocks Obama Nominee Craig Becker

(CBS/ AP) Senate Republicans have succeeded in blocking President Barack Obama's choice of a union lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board.

The 52-33 vote to move forward with the nomination of Craig Becker fell short of the 60 needed to overcome a GOP filibuster.

Republicans have held up Becker's confirmation for months. They say Becker would push an aggressive union agenda at the agency that referees labor disputes between unions and management.

Not Too Late for Flowers for Valentine's Day

Order online, send flowers for every occasion, and save.

Flowers make the perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, celebrations, anniversaries, get well, thank you, and tokens of sympathy. The Union Plus Flower Delivery Service offers a variety of flowers and plants at union member-only prices - a special 20% discount on flowers online or via phone.

Florida AFL-CIO Early Endorsed Candidates

The Florida AFL-CIO, as of January 10, 2010 has endorsed candidates as follows:

1 - Governor
1 - US Senate
5 - US House of Representatives
2 - Florida Senate
10 - Florida House of Representatives

The endorsed candidates that affect the members of LL731 are as follows:

Governor - Democratic Primary
The Honorable Alex Sink
P.O. Box 75590
Tampa, FL 33675

US Senate - Democratic Primary
The Honorable Kendrick Meek
111 NW 183rd St #325
Miami, FL 33169

Jobs for Main Street

The U.S. House has taken a good first step toward addressing the jobs crisis.
Now the Senate must act.

CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY AT 866-838-9757.
Tell them to pass the Jobs for Main Stree Act (H.R. 2847).

The bill invests $154 billion to:

• Extend liftime unemployment benefits, health care assistance and food aid to people who have lost jobs.


• Rebuild and repair crumbling schools, roads, low-income housing and clean water systems.


• Help state and local governments hire or save jobs for 150,000 teachers and 5,000 police officers.


• Get job-creating credit flowing to small businesses.


• Cut taxes for 16 million families with children.

We'll need much more to turn around the jobs crisis - but let's start with the Jobs for Main Street Act.