"Lloyd Blankfein Has A Reality Problem," Huffington Post, 11/20/09

Lloyd Blankfein seems to think his company has an image problem.

He's been on a worldwide PR tour these past few weeks to let everyone know what a great corporation Goldman Sachs is. He told one newspaper that Goldman Sachs does "God's work." This week, he even apologized for his company's role in collapsing our economy.

But Lloyd Blankfein doesn't get it. If he really wants to change Goldman Sachs' image, he's got to change reality. Read more.

Check out SEIU's action alert and blogpost on Stella D'oro here. In the meanwhile, here is some of what they have to say:

"Yesterday, Lloyd Blankfein [CEO of Goldman Sachs] said he's committed to job creation. He should tell that to the 150 Stella D'Oro workers in New York who lost their jobs when Goldman Sachs took over their company. The workers, whose tax dollars bailed out Goldman, tried to meet with Lloyd Blankfein in September. They wanted to tell him the harm he was doing to their struggling community.

He didn't listen. Maybe we can get his attention. Will you call Goldman Sachs and ask them to use the tax dollars we gave them to help the workers at Stella D'Oro?

The Stella D'Oro story is all too familiar. It's just one of many family-owned businesses sucked up by Goldman Sachs, loaded down with massive debt, and forced to either declare bankruptcy or lay off their workers to survive.

We gave Goldman Sachs $63 billion of our tax dollars so they could clean up the economic mess they created. But they've only made it worse. Tell Lloyd Blankfein to stop with the PR stunts and start helping Stella D'Oro workers and all the small businesses his company has hurt."

"Bronx Bakery Buy-Out Crumbles," The Indypendent, 11/20/09

The Stella D’oro Biscuit Co. in the Bronx closed Oct. 8, putting 136 unionized employees out of work. After a strike that lasted nearly a year and an extensive legal battle, the factory has been sold and much of the plant’s equipment has been dismantled and shipped to a non-union shop in Ohio.

At an Oct. 29 rally and press conference outside the factory gates, the workers revealed that CITGO, the U.S.-based subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company, had expressed interest in buying the abandoned factory but had been rebuffed by Brynwood Partners, a Connecticut-based private equity firm that sold Stella D’oro to snack food giant Lance, Inc. Brynwood completed the sale after its demands for draconian cuts in wages and benefits provoked a bitter 11-month strike by members of Bakery Workers Local 50. Read more.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                               CONTACT:

November 19, 2009                                                 Marcus Mrowka, 202-730-7759

SEIU Challenges Goldman Sachs to Reopen Stella D’Oro Factory, Aid Small Businesses and Modify Mortgages They Already Own

While Launching Too Little, Too Late Jobs Campaign, Goldman Sachs Continues to Force Businesses to Close their Doors, Refuses to Help Struggling Homeowners

Washington, D.C.—Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) issued the following statement of President Andy Stern challenging Goldman Sachs to take immediate action to reopen the Stella D’Oro cookie factory they helped shutter, aid small businesses they have investments in, and modify mortgages and small business loans they own.

SEIU also launched an online campaign to encourage taxpayers to contact Goldman Sachs directly and issue their own challenge to the firm to help workers and businesses struggling to get by. Read more.

"Stella D'oro workers not done fighting," The Riverdale Press, 11/05/09

Leaders of the Stella Support Committee, a group trying to save the Stella D’oro bakery in the Bronx, sent Mayor Michael Bloomberg a letter on Oct. 27, containing some pretty unlikely recommendations for saving the Kingsbridge factory, which has now been closed for nearly a month.

Members of the Support Committee indicated in the letter that they would like Bloomberg to use his influence, both as mayor and as a former businessman, to reopen the bakery.

“All it requires is that you use your power, formal and informal, to get things going,” the letter urged. “Time is short. An immediate decision by you will be needed.” Read more.

"Empty voting machines in New York City tell Election Day story of the disgusted & disaffected," New York Daily News, 11/04/09

Mike Filippou, a former worker at the Stella D'Oro factory, was one those in the Bronx who voted for Thompson.

A Connecticut private equity firm shuttered Filippou's factory a few weeks ago. The closing followed a yearlong struggle between the plant's owner and its unionized workers. The owners wanted to drastically cut pay and benefits. When they couldn't succeed, they closed the plant and sold the brand to an Ohio company.

"Bloomberg never lifted a finger to save our jobs," Filippou said. "At least Thompson tried." Read more.

The Stella D'oro workers will be the honoured guests of Rev. Billy at his event at the Highline Ballroom on Sunday, November 1st at 1PM. The workers will be "beatified," or sainted, in recognition of their inspiring labor struggle. The Highline Ballroon is at 431 West 16th Street between 9th & 10th Avenues.

"Lance, Inc. Reports Results for Third Quarter 2009," Reuters, 10/30/09

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lance, Inc. (Nasdaq: LNCE) today announced record net revenues for the third quarter ended September 26, 2009 of $234.9 million, an increase of 4% compared with 2008 third quarter net revenues of $225.6 million. Of the 4% growth, approximately 2% was driven by higher net selling prices, with the remainder due to increased volume, including the positive impact of the Company's December 2008 Archway acquisition. Read more.

On the Line, a short film about the workers and strike at Stella D'oro, will be screened tonight at the Brecht Forum. Details are below. Please join us for this powerful film about a great cause!