At the manufacturing plant I work at in Arkansas, the employees were recently sent an inter office memo that managemnet wanted us to sign stating that the company had the right to not give us breaks of any kind. This could not possibly be true, could it? I refused to sign the memo thinking this has to be a violation of my rights. (note: we are working 12 hour shifts) Also this week when the temp dropped to 27 degrees the production manager had alll of the heaters in the plant permantly disabled. Is conduct like this legal?

1. Yes, it's true. Neither federal law nor Arkansas State law requires that your employer provide any rest or meal breaks. I don't know what the purpose of sending that memo around for everyone to sign acknowledging they didn't have to provide breaks was but your employer is correct. It would be foolish of them not to provide any meal or rest breaks, especially if everyone is working 12-hour shifts, but it wouldn't be unlawful.

2. You may contact OSHA on the disabled heaters issue and see what they say. www.osha.gov.