But BKC Statement of Support for Unions, Neutrality on Political Issues at Odds with Poor Employment Practices, Anti-Worker Lobbying Record

SEIU Now Calls on Fast Food Giant and Its Top Investors to Match Actions to Words by Ceasing Anti-Worker Lobbying Expenditures, Withdrawing from Anti-Employee Free Choice Groups

WASHINGTON, DC -- Following the release of a report and video exposing poor business practices and efforts to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act by Burger King and Goldman Sachs--one of Burger King's largest shareholders--and after a week of protests at Burger King locations across the country, Burger King attempted to distance itself from its own record of working against the interests of working families.

In a statement issued on Friday (February 20, 2009), Burger King Corporation (BKC) said the company "believes unions serve a purpose in some workplaces and a number of its guests, vendors and franchisees have positive union membership experiences. BKC is not anti-union. BKC and its franchisees serve a diverse consumer base and, therefore, aim to remain neutral on political issues."

Burger King's statement Friday stands in marked contrast to the company's lobbying record. From 2006 through 2008 Burger King spent $319,648 on lobbying, including lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act, a measure that would ensure workers the freedom to choose to form a union without employer interference or intimidation. Burger King has also helped fund efforts to oppose the bill through its involvement in the National Retail Federation, one of the organizations behind an anti-employee free choice group called the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace.

"America needs companies like Burger King to help rebuild our middle class and our economy instead of keeping fast-food workers stuck in poverty while CEOs make millions," said SEIU President Andy Stern. "We'll be looking for Burger King to quickly get out of any and all anti-worker lobbying so its actions start living up to its words."

Goldman Sachs - a major shareholder in Burger King, owning more than 10 percent of its outstanding common stock and holding a seat on Burger King's executive committee - is also involved in lobbying against workers' interests as a member of the Business Roundtable, which spent over $15.8 million on lobbying in 2008, including lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act in the third and fourth quarters last year.

In its response to last week's protests and SEIU report, Burger King remained silent on the report findings that, because Burger King workers struggle to get by on sub-poverty pay with no affordable employer health care, many are forced to seek public assistance. As a result, taxpayers are estimated to be paying more than a quarter of a billion dollars a year to help make up for Burger King's low pay and poor benefits. Meanwhile, Burger King chief executive John Chidsey took home $5.4 million in 2008.

SEIU is now encouraging workers and consumers to call on Burger King and top shareholders like taxpayer bailout recipient Goldman Sachs to completely end all lobbying expenditures against the Employee Free Choice Act, to resign from associations that lobby against working families, and to start paying living wages and offer affordable employer health care to their employees.

For a copy of the SEIU report "King Size Combo: What Burger King and Goldman Sachs Are Costing Our Country" and to view the Brave New Films video, please visit www.ChangeThatWorks.net/bk.

With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare, and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers, not just corporations and CEOs, benefit from today's global economy.