Labor   Day,   a   celebration   of   America’s   blood,   sweat   and   tears,   is   a   day   to   honor   the  
workforce  in  our  country.    The  men  and  women  that  have  bruised  their  hands  and  callused  their  
feet  to  perform  the  necessary  and  vital  jobs  that  make  our  economy  run  are  so  often  overlooked.    
On  Labor  Day,  given  the  current  economic  climate  we  must  demonstrate  our  commitment  to  the  
tradesmen   and   women   by   making   sure   that   all   workers   are   compensated   appropriately   for   the  
services  that  they  perform.    Many  of  our  talented  laborers  in  New  York  are  young  adults,  some  of  
which  are  members  of  RWDSU  Local  220.    To  commemorate  Labor  Day,  the  New  York  State  Young  
Democrats  are  urging  the  leaders  of  Dr.  Pepper  Snapple  to  get  back  to  the  table  and  reach  a  fair  
and  equitable  solution  that  will  help  stimulate  the  local  Rochester  economy  and  put  the  workers  at  
the  Mott’s  factory  back  to  work.      
 
  Members  of  RWDSU  Local  220  have  been  on  strike  now  for  over  100  days  and  have  been  
forced   to   subsidize   their   jobs   with   less-­‐paying,   lower-­‐skilled   jobs   that   are   often   filled   by   young  
adults.      
 
  Tough   economic   conditions   create   additional   burdens   for   companies   and   workers   alike.  
But,  while  the  Rochester  area  workers  are  continuing  to  fight  for  good  paying  jobs  and  struggling  
to   make   ends   meet,   Dr.   Pepper   Snapple   recorded   $555   million   in   profits   and   over   $1   billion   in  
revenues.    Dr.  Pepper  Snapple,  like  many  other  prominent  corporations  in  America,  is  in  a  position  
to   lead   our   country   towards   economic   recovery.   We   maintain   the   position   of   RWDSU   that   Dr.  
Pepper   Snapple   must   reciprocate   the   support   that   the   members   of   the   local   community   have  
shown  to  Motts  interests  for  years.        
 
We  understand  that  the  vehicle  to  recovery  needs  to  be  fueled  by  the  private  sector  and  we  
know   that   every   job   counts   in   every   community,   this   bold   action   from   Dr.   Pepper   Snapple   will  
quickly  spread  throughout  communities  around  America.     We  need  to  halt  this  type  of  corporate  
action  right  here,  in  this  upstate  community  and  work  together  with  employers  to  encourage  them  
to  maintain  and  even  expand  New  York’s  talented  workforce.    If  we  can  help  our  middle  class  keep  
more  dollars  in  their  paychecks  and  pockets,  those  dollars  will  quickly  multiply  as  they  work  their  
way   through   the   economy   at   gas   stations,   restaurants,   department   stores   and   even   Snapple  
vending  machines.    
 
  Starting   on   Labor   Day,   NYSYD   will   be   encouraging   individuals   to   forego   the   Snapple  
products   they   are   purchasing   and   instead   donate   the   amount   of   a   Snapple   product   to   a   fund   to  
support   these   workers   during   this   difficult   time.     Please   visit   our   website   at   www.nysyd.org   to  
honor   the   workers   in   Local   220   for   the   work   that   they   have   loyally   and   professionally   done   in  
Rochester.    
 
Sincerely,  
Kevin  Lawrie                   Eric  Katz  
President,  New  York  State  Young  Democrats       Chair,  NYSYD  Labor  Caucus  
 
Michael  Corbett  
Chair,  Labor  Caucus  
Young  Democrats  of  America