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Anti-Puzder Worker Cannot Spell Her Activist Son's Name

Odd typo raises questions about whether op-ed was 'astroturf hit job'

minimum wage
AP
February 10, 2017

A former Hardee's worker—or her union ghostwriter—misspelled her son's name in a Washington Post op-ed attacking Labor Secretary nominee Andy Puzder.

In the Thursday opinion piece, JoAnn Wise criticized Puzder for his management of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. fast food franchises. Wise spent more than two decades working at Hardee's, first as a cashier and then as a manager. She claimed the company took advantage of her, writing that Puzder is not fit to serve as the Secretary of Labor.

"Despite giving everything I had to Puzder’s company for 21 years, I left without a penny of savings, with no health care and no pension," the op-ed says. "Now, while I live in poverty, Trump, who promised to fix the rigged economy, has chosen for labor secretary someone who wants to rig it up even more."

Labor and union activists have waged a fierce campaign against Puzder since his nomination was announced. Disgruntled fast food workers appeared alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), who has pledged to block the nomination, while Puzder supporters at the company have also come out to praise him and his company.

Wise's op-ed echoes criticism that unions and Democrats have leveled against Puzder. It also misspells the name of Wise's son, raising the possibility the op-ed was written for her by someone else.

"About four years ago, my son Terrence — who lives in Kansas City, Mo., and works for McDonald’s, became involved in the Fight for $15, the movement to raise minimum pay to $15 an hour and strengthen working Americans’ right to join a union," the op-ed says. "Terrence and his colleagues in the Fight for $15 movement have filled me with a sense of hope I never would have thought possible when I left Hardee’s in 2005."

Wise's spelling of her son's name does not match up with how it is spelled elsewhere. On Facebook, Wise is friends with "Terrance Wise," and is pictured with him in front of the White House. Terrance likes a number of labor activist groups on the social media platform, including Fight for 15, Jobs With Justice, and Stand Up KC.

Terrance also has been interviewed in numerous Fight for 15 profiles, appearing in the New York Times, CBS News, and many more. He joined President Obama at a podium during a White House worker summit—though the Fight for 15 movement's official Twitter account also misspelled his name. National Public Radio, ABC News, and the New Yorker have made the same mistake.

Puzder spokesman George Thompson told the Washington Free Beacon that the op-ed is evidence of an "astroturf" smear campaign against the nominee.

"It's appalling how these professional activists—the Democrats and unions—how they've relentlessly attacked Andy Puzder, his company, and family. They’ve done it from day one," he said. "People can see this astroturf hit job for what it is. It's a shameful display of fake news intended to spur more faux outrage from Andy Puzder."

JoAnn Wise did not respond to request for comment about whether she authored the op-ed.

CKE has been hit with a rash of unfair labor practice complaints in the wake of Puzder's nomination despite the fact that 95 percent of its restaurants are franchised, meaning small business owners are responsible for working conditions and pay rates. The company has denied the charges.

Puzder is scheduled to appear Thursday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Thompson said the nominee looks forward to clarifying his business record and rebutting the caricature of him advanced by union attacks.

"Soon the American public will get to hear from Andy rather than prof activists. They'll hear his message about creating good, high paying jobs for all Americans," Thompson said.

If confirmed, Puzder would be the first career businessman to lead the Department of Labor since 1985.