Tag Archives: Congress

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100 Days Fighting the Low-Waging of America
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Sample Message to Dr Pepper Snapple
It’s best to write your own personal message, but here’s a sample to give you some ideas:

Dear Dr Pepper Snapple,

With record-breaking profits, your company has no justification to cut the pay and benefits of the more than 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, N.Y. In saying you want to bring their wages down to “local industry standards,” you are trying to take advantage of the recession and high unemployment rates to lift your profits even higher.

Your workers deserve better. And so do workers at other profitable companies that might try to follow your shameful example.

Mott’s is a 142-year-old company with a product that’s as American as you can get—a company we all thought we knew and could trust. I hope you realize you are jeopardizing a well-known, well-established and respected brand. That’s a lot to throw away.

I urge you to back off your attack on the Mott’s workers’ wages and benefits and do the right thing.

For 100 days, more than 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, N.Y., have been on strike, fighting the low-waging of America. The Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the corporate conglomerate that owns Mott’s (of apple juice and apple sauce fame) has been trying to cut their pay and benefits—even though the company reported a net income of $555 million in 2009.

Tell Dr Pepper Snapple to back off its corporate greed and treat the Mott’s workers fairly.

Dr Pepper Snapple is taking advantage of the recession and high unemployment rates in the area to beat down the workers, members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 220. A spokesman told The New York Times recently the company’s just trying to take wages down to meet “local industry standards”—in other words, to make recession-era wages the norm.

Dr Pepper Snapple is demanding wage cuts that would amount to $3,000 a year per worker, ending pensions for new hires, cutting the company’s 401(k) retirement contributions and increasing employee health care costs.

This is a 142-year-old company with a product that’s as American as you can get—a company you thought you knew and could trust. It’s a company that symbolizes everything we’re fighting for—and everything we’re fighting against: the low-waging of America.

This strike isn’t just about Williamson, N.Y. As The Times put it, “if the Mott’s workers lose this showdown, it could prompt other profitable companies to push for major labor concessions.”

If America’s economy is going to recover, we need paychecks that can fuel consumption. And if profitable companies are allowed to use the recession to drive America’s middle class out of existence, it’s unconscionable.

Don’t be silent about the low-waging of America. Support the Mott’s workers who have been walking the picket line for 100 days. Act now.

Tell Dr Pepper Snapple to back off its corporate greed and treat the Mott’s workers fairly.

Thank you for taking action for the Mott’s workers and all working families. Please forward this e-mail to at least five friends and urge them to take action, too.

In solidarity,

AFL-CIO Working Families e-Activist Network

P.S. The RWDSU Mott’s Hardship Fund has been established to help aid Mott’s workers affected by the strike. Donations to this fund will be used to help offset hardships being faced by Local 220 members as a result of their strike against the corporate greed of Mott’s/Dr. Pepper Snapple. Please consider making a contribution to the strike fund by clicking here.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Big Endorsement …BoldProgressives.org
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Check out this new TV ad from progressive House candidate David Segal. In just 15 days, he’s in a big primary for Patrick Kennedy‘s open seat in Rhode Island. He’s facing 3 uninspiring hacks. Together, we can help this progressive fighter win!

Can you watch the ad — and chip in $3 to help him air it on TV?

Donate $3 today

David Segal’s been endorsed by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Blue America, Democracy for America, local unions, teachers, and environmentalists.

If we raise $5,000 for Segal, he can plaster all local cable news outlets for a week. If we hit $6,000, he can include Comedy Central and reach younger voters. Can you please chip in 3?

Thanks for being a bold progressive,

Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Jason Rosenbaum, Michael Snook, Caroline Dean, and the PCCC team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Congress: Let students earn citizenship


TAKE ACTION

Tell Congress:

Our broken immigration system needs reform now. Pass the DREAM Act as a step towards comprehensive immigration reform.

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take action

Today, thousands of young immigrants who were brought here at a young age are waiting for the DREAM Act to have a chance to go to college. Sign this petition to Congress to give them the opportunity they deserve:

Our broken immigration system needs reform now. Pass the DREAM Act as a step towards comprehensive immigration reform.

Click here to add your name to this petition and send it to your Representative and Senators.

The DREAM Act would allow students who are undocumented to earn their citizenship. These students have worked hard for years in the hopes of going to college, furthering their educations, and making a difference in the world. But our broken immigration system makes that impossible.

The DREAM Act is one step toward a fair and just immigration policy, and an important one. Congress should pass it immediately. Please join me in taking action today.

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Fight the Right — Send a message to the tabloids!


Barney Frank for Congress 2010

For the second time in a week, the ultra-conservative Boston Herald ran a giant, front-page headline attempting to tie me to recent ethics investigations in Washington.  (Not surprisingly, the actual story, deep inside the paper and in much smaller type, asserted no impropriety.)

I take attacks from the far-right as a badge of honor.  The meaner the attacks and the larger the headlines, the more evidence that they know — and fear — that I am effective, and that I have earned the support you have given me.

But now the attacks are accelerating and it is time to fight back.

Three weeks ago, President Obama signed into law the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the most sweeping financial reform since the Great Depression.  I am proud to have played a leading role in passing that legislation despite the opposition of some of the most powerful financial institutions in the country, a legion of well-paid lobbyists, and almost every Republican in Congress.

The Right is determined that I pay a price.

As November approaches, I predict we will see even more malicious headlines.  Then, the next wave of attack will arrive — nasty television ads fueled by big money from right-wing organizations.  And now, because of the recent Supreme Court decision defining corporate spending on elections as free speech, the threat is far greater.

Let us not underestimate the power of lies.  Inherent implausibility is not self-refuting.  We must fight back — now.

I will need substantial resources to fight effectively and we cannot afford to wait until the fall.  So I am asking you to help me raise over $100,000 by Monday, August 23rd.  Your strongest support will make that possible.

The tabloids and other right-wing institutions are counting on us to cower in fear.  Let’s stand up to the GOP attack machine — fighting every false, malicious attack by raising our voices and pooling our resources.  Their assaults will only make us stronger.

Let’s send them a message today.

Thank you for your help,

Barney Frank

P.S.  You can multiply your efforts by forwarding this email to others who share our values and determination.  The larger our numbers, the more powerful we become. Contribute