Business, labor foes break bread

Two of Washington's biggest dueling power players broke bread Wednesday.

Speaking at a breakfast for reporters hosted by The Christian Science Monitor Thursday, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said he had lunch with Thomas Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at the Equinox restaurant the day before.

The two organizations are often in solid opposition to the other's lobbying goals, especially concerning the labor-backed Employee Free Choice Act that would make union organizing much easier if it passed.

"It was a good first meeting," Trumka said, adding they discussed how the two groups could work together on issues of mutual agreement in the future like more spending for infrastructure improvement.

A Chamber spokesman confirmed the lunch.

"Yes, they did have lunch together and discussed a few issues of mutual agreement, including infrastructure and pensions," said J.P. Fielder, a Chamber spokesman.

Despite the animosity that often bubbles up between the two, they do agree on several issues. For example, both the AFL-CIO and the Chamber backed the stimulus package in 2009, and both want to see a new highway bill passed.