Layoffs

For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers International

August 20, 2008

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

"Brandworkers is deeply concerned about the fate of some 600 employees who will be laid off at 92 Goodyear retail locations slated to be closed. To ensure transparency and ease the transition for employees and communities, Goodyear should immediately disclose which outlets it intends to shut down.

By announcing the closures to the news media without specifying which locations will be shut down, Goodyear has guaranteed that its retail employees will experience undue worry and uncertainty.

All workers deserve to be able to safeguard their families' futures in times of economic dislocation. In addition to immediately disclosing which locations it intends to close, Goodyear should provide adequate notice time and a fair severance package to mitigate the harm employees will experience in these incredibly difficult times of high commodities costs and foreclosures."

Brandworkers International is a New York-based non-profit organization protecting and advancing the rights of retail and food employees. The Brandworkers Legal Defense-Plus program offers free legal and advocacy support to employees and welcomes inquiries from Goodyear workers.

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New Owner of Hamburger Chain Should Minimize Job Losses and Guarantee Fair Notice and Severance to All Laid Off Employees

May 20, 2008

New York, NY- Brandworkers International has called on billionaire hedge fund investor and new owner of the Wendy's fast food chain, Nelson Peltz, to treat employees with respect and minimize job losses as his holding company carries out widely-anticipated layoffs. Brandworkers expressed disappointment with a letter recently sent to Wendy's employees by incoming CEO Roland Smith in which he not only issued a warning of job cuts but failed to offer assurances of minimum notice or adequate severance pay. Mr. Smith also suggested that existing employee benefits could be overhauled as soon as 2009.

"No lasting guarantee of benefits, promised job losses with no
mention of severance or notice, and CEO Smith instructs Wendy's
employees: 'don't get cynical'," said Natalie Zuckerman, a
Brandworkers campaigner. "Workers don't need the corporate buzz-words and home-spun stories about youth that Mr. Smith offered up in his letter, they need concrete assurances about their future. Mentioning there will be 'some type of a retention plan' yet to be determined does not suffice."

For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers International

March 12, 2008

Sign the Petition Demanding Respect for CompUSA Workers!

New York, NY- A new workers' rights organization has called into question the conduct of restructuring firm Gordon Brothers Group LLC as it liquidates the assets of national electronics retailer, CompUSA. Brandworkers International, a New York-based non-profit for retail and food employees, says that internal company documents and reports it has received from employees reveal that thousands of CompUSA workers will be permanently laid off with little or no severance pay, no continuation of benefits, and without receiving a hiring preference at CompUSA locations which continue doing business under new ownership. The private equity-arm of Gordon Brothers purchased CompUSA last December from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu.

"Gordon Brothers has promised proper treatment for landlords, creditors, and consumers as it sells off CompUSA - but what about the workers being thrown into this very difficult job market?" said John Kane, a campaigner at Brandworkers.

William Weinstein
Principal, Gordon Brothers Group
Chief Executive Officer, CompUSA
101 Huntington Avenue, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02199
info@gordonbrothers.com

February 4, 2008

Via Fax and E-Mail

Dear Mr. Weinstein,

I write to express the concern of Brandworkers International regarding the fate of CompUSA employees as you oversee the liquidation of the company. Brandworkers is a non-profit organization with the mission of protecting and advancing the rights of retail and food employees.

Since Gordon Brothers Group LLC purchased the national electronics retailer from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu, you have given public assurances to several CompUSA stakeholders. Specifically, you have promised proper treatment for landlords, creditors, and consumers in the CompUSA liquidation process. You have not however made any public assurances of fair treatment for the thousands of CompUSA workers being laid off.