Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
May/ June 2015
Volume 17 Number 3
the
I
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
PROUD to be in THE MIDDLE of
In my 42 years as a trade unionist, I have never seen the entire labor movement united in purpose on any legislative issue as it has on the fight to stop “fast track” trade legislation and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the largest, most dangerous “free trade” deal in history. Broad, sustained and intense worker solidarity has enabled the labor movement to stand our ground against the richest Wall Street bankers, largest multinational corporations, the President of the United States and the Republican leadership of Congress in our crucial struggle to preserve middle-class jobs and a decent standard of living for working families. As reported in the January/February 2015 BCTGM News, TPP is the greatest threat to the jobs and standard of living of American and Canadian workers since NAFTA. It perpetuates the economic race to the bottom by further encouraging corporations to ship good, high-wage North American manufacturing jobs to low-wage countries around the world. No “free trade” agreement has ever been defeated when considered under “fast track” procedures. Stopping “fast track” is essential to stopping TPP. As this column was being written, Congress had not yet taken final action on “fast track”. This has been a long, complex and difficult process. Hard-fought victories in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that slammed the brakes on “fast track” have been followed by desperate, underhanded legislative maneuvering by “fast track” supporters to keep the bill alive. Labor’s tireless campaign against this legislation will be waged until the last votes in Congress are taken, whenever that may be. We will continue to give it our all to stop another reckless, jobs-killing trade deal from wreaking havoc on working families and communities across North America. Tremendous credit for labor’s strong position in this fight goes to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka whose inspired and determined leadership has effectively brought together all elements of the labor movement for this most important mission. Also vital is the solid alliance that labor has forged with consumer and environmental organizations and our progressive partners in the civil, human and immigrant rights communities. President Obama’s full and aggressive support for “fast track” and TPP is enormously disappointing. He promises that TPP will have the strongest labor standards and worker protections ever negotiated and that they will be strictly enforced. We’ve heard all of this before. That’s what Bill Clinton promised on NAFTA. That’s what George W. Bush promised on the Central American Free Trade Agreement 2
THE FIGHT
(CAFTA). And, that’s what President Obama promised on the Peru, Colombia and Panama “free trade” deals. Those promises were never kept. Instead, corporatewritten “free trade” agreements have led to more than 60,000 closed factories, the loss of more than a million good, high-wage American manufacturing jobs and the continued exploitation of low-wage workers around the world by greeddriven multinational corporations. Unions, including the BCTGM, have been President Obama’s strongest supporters when he is right on the issues that matter most to working families and the middle class. But, on “fast track” and TPP, President Obama is absolutely wrong! Regardless of the ultimate outcome on “fast track” and TPP, nothing can diminish what the labor movement has accomplished on the most consequential economic issue of our time. We have proven the power of labor solidarity! The BCTGM will always take great pride in the enormous contribution our local unions and members made to this campaign. We made the calls and sent the letters and emails to Congress, distributed the handbills in our shops and participated in the rallies and marches in communities across the country. BCTGM members answered the call to action with the passion and commitment that are the hallmark of our great Union when the stakes are the highest for our members. Future generations of BCTGM members will know that on “fast track” and TPP, the BCTGM was, as we always are, right in the middle of the fight for our jobs, our families, our retirees, our communities and our future. — David B. Durkee, BCTGM Internaional President
BCTGM News
Official Publication of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895-3961 (301) 933-8600 www.bctgm.org David B. Durkee, Editor Corrina A. Christensen, Assistant Editor BCTGM General Executive Board President David B. Durkee • Secretary-Treasurer Steve Bertelli Vice Presidents Jethro Head • Arthur Montminy Ron Piercey • James Rivers • Randy Roark BCTGM General Executive Board Members Joyce Alston • John Bethel • Thomas Bingler • Edward Burpo Butch Henley • Paul LaBuda • Stephane Langlois Terry Lansing • Earl Lublow • Letitia Malone Gary Oskoian • Paula Steig • Doyle Townson • Jeff Webb BCTGM News (ISSN 1525-4860) is published bi-monthly by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961. Periodicals postage paid at Kensington, MD and at additional mailing offices. Subscription to new members only. Postmaster: Send address changes to BCTGM News, 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961.
BCTGM News
WITH US AGAINST US OR
The Obama Administration wants to pass a new free trade agreement with 12 Pacific nations called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). In brief, the
TPP is the largest free-trade agreement in history, it would be devastating to workers and the American economy and currently it is in the final stages of negotiation among 12 countries in the Pacific Rim region.
With Us...STEADFAST AGAINST TPP “I don’t doubt President Obama’s sincerity when he claims that this trade deal is going to be tough, that it’s going to have unprecedented protections for workers, or for the environment. The problem is that we have heard nearly identical promises about trade agreements for more than 20 years now – from President Clinton, from President Bush and from President Obama himself.”
Against Us...SUPPORTERS OF THE TPP “Newly revealed details of the draft show the TPP would give major pharmaceutical companies more power over public access to medicine and weaken public healthcare programs. The leaked draft also suggests the TPP would prevent Congress from passing reforms to lower drug costs.” - Democracy Now, Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzalez 6/11/15
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
“Our people would rather have a job than trade assistance. Its defeat, sad to say, is the only way that we will be able to slow down the fast track. Whatever the deal is with other countries, we want a better deal for America’s workers.” - U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
“We’ve seen what so-called free trade agreements have done to our workers and our communities over the past two decades. We’ve seen the factories close and the stores get boarded up. That’s why I voted against giving the president authority to rush through a huge new trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. And it’s why I’ll continue to fight for a level playing field for American workers and American businesses.” - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) May/June 2015
“Dozens of New York City’s power elite signed a letter to the state’s congressional delegation, urging lawmakers to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership now in negotiations. Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch signed the letter. So did Steven Schwarzman, who once compared the prospect of raising taxes on private equity magnates like himself to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. John Paulson, the Republican mega-donor who made a fortune betting against the housing market with Goldman Sachs, is also a signee.” - Zach Carter, Huffington Post (In his reporting for Huffington Post, Carter makes it clear that it wasn’t only billionaires who signed the letter urging for Fast Track and TPP approval. Some, were “merely millionaire CEOs” like Goldman Sach’s Lloyd Blankfein, Kenneth Chenault of American Express, and JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon.)
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TRAINING FOR THE FUTURE: Local Union Officers
define DEDICATION
Nineteen local union officers, from 11 states and two Canadian provinces, gathered at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Baltimore, Md. for an intensive one-week educational conference. The training, administered by the BCTGM Research & Education Department, focused on developing the leadership skills of newlyelected local union officers. The daily seminars, made up of workshops, presentations, and guest speakers, focused on local union management, organizing, workplace health & safety, arbitration, communication and social media, political action and preparing for negotiations. There was also a special session on the financial recordkeeping responsibilities for financial secretaries. 4
The training received excellent personal reviews from the local union leaders, who cite interactive learning as the overall favorite aspect of the weeklong training experience. “I think one of the most valuable things I learned this week was the importance of organizing to grow our union and the steps to take to get started,” reflects Josh Camden, Local 4 (St. Louis, Mo.) Financial Secretary/Business Agent. “I also found the information presented on how to prepare Pictured here discussing the pros and cons of communicating through Facebook is (l to r) L. 68 (Baltimore) Vice Pres. Rodney Lightfoot, Sr., L. 117G (Shawnee, Okla.) Fin. Secy. Michael Rocha, L. 390G (Memphis) Pres. Stephen Hines and L. 103 (Orlando) Pres. Eric Bennett.
BCTGM News
for negotiations was excellent. Everything I learned this week will help me grow my local and make us stronger,” says Camden, who has worked at ConAgra/Ardent Mills since 2001. Shaina Smith, the Financial Secretary for Local 270T (Wilson, N.C.) said she couldn’t name just one part of the training that was most valuable to her as a new leader. “I’ve learned so much this week and I’ve met so many wonderful leaders. I am going to take all of my new knowledge back to inform our members and energize them to help me organize and strengthen our union,” Smith notes.
BCTGM Intl. Dir. of Social Media Michelle Ellis (standing) provides guidance on website design during the Communications Strategy session. Pictured here (l to r) is L. 116 (Syracuse, N.Y.) Pres. Randy Cook, Ellis, L. 57 (Columbus, Ohio) Bus. Agt. Phil Barney and L. 57 Fin. Secy. Randy Kocheran.
The union officers review graphic options and craft language during the website tutorial. Pictured here (l to r) are L. 232 (Phoenix) Pres. Robert Kingsby, L. 351 (Albuquerque, N.M.) Fin. Secy. Maria Lopez, and L. 218 (Kansas City, Mo.) Pres. Mark Benaka.
Reviewing BCTGM local union websites and discussing design ideas is L. 65 (Tulsa, Okla.) Fin. Secy./Bus. Agt. Jason Thomas (left) and L. 65 Pres. Bryan Bullock.
Local Union LeaderSpotlight “A BCTGM union contract offers job security, better pay and benefits and a level playing field in the workplace.”
“The more workers we have united, the stronger we will be.” – Maria Lopez, Financial Secretary Local 351 (Albuquerque, N.M.)
– Phil Barney, Business Agent Local 57 (Columbus, Ohio)
“Joining the BCTGM gives you a VOICE.” – Bryan Bullock, President Local 65 (Tulsa, Okla.)
May/June 2015
www.bctgm.org
“The BCTGM is a great union that protects me and my co-workers through my collective bargaining agreement.” – Louis Boudreau, President Local 406 (Moncton, New Brunswick)
5
Courage
Alabama Workers Define
It was the unwavering strength and courage of 80 workers at a peanut shelling plant in Alabama that prevailed in their fight for dignity and respect through BCTGM representation.
Harassment, favoritism, prejudice and unfair work rules were what workers were forced to tolerate regularly from management at the Golden Peanut plant in Headland, Ala. The facility, owned by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), is a shelling plant for Runner peanuts, as well as a hull and fiber processing plant. Workers at the plant work in the production, maintenance, quality control and shipping departments. “These workers were fearless to the end,” reflects BCTGM International Representative David Woods, who led the workers’ efforts to organize. “This is really a story of human dignity. These are hardworking folks who were sick and tired of being treated poorly.” The workers were also aided by new union election rules implemented by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on April 15. Thanks to an expedited union election process, on May 19 the workers voted overwhelmingly to become members of BCTGM Local 42 (Atlanta). BCTGM International Director of Organization John Price notes that this was the BCTGM’s first union election under the new NLRB rules. The rules set forth an “accelerated election” process, speeding up the time between the filing of a representation petition and the union election. After learning that the BCTGM represents thousands of ADM workers in locations around the country, workers reached out to BCTGM Local 42 (Atlanta) Business Manager Zach Townsend. Through a series of phone calls with Townsend, workers detailed the working conditions at Golden Peanut and the reasons why they needed a union. “They were desperate for help. These people were so sincere about what they wanted and how hard 6
in Organizing Win
they were willing to work to have a union,” recalls Townsend, who worked extensively on the campaign. “These are good, hardworking people who take great pride in the jobs they do but who have been discriminated against and disrespected in every way imaginable,” Townsend reflects. BCTGM Southern Region Vice President James Rivers, Price and Woods joined Townsend in Headland and the campaign escalated quickly. Local 149 (Memphis) President and International General Executive Board member Letitia Malone also assisted with the campaign. “It was just a flood of interest and emotion,” recalls Woods. “Workers who wanted to help started showing up or contacting me directly. The first week I was in town, 25 workers came to sign union cards,” he adds. On April 29, Woods filed for the election and it was scheduled for 20 days later. “The company tried to change the election date to be later in the week to wear workers out, but under the new rules, the union gets to pick date, place and time of the election. The employer has to file an appeal within the first 48 hours to request a change. The company wasn’t successful and the union election was set.” According to Price, the new election rules do work to cut down on the time companies have to intimidate workers. “The beautiful thing with this campaign is that the organizers filed as soon as they knew they had the majority of workers on board – giving the company less time to run its anti-union campaign. By the time they knew the date of the election, management could only hold two captive meetings. They ran out of time to manipulate and lie to the workers,” says Price. However, the anti-union campaign intensified in those 20 days before the workers voted, said Woods. “But they were well prepared for the company’s tactics and they had the courage to stand up and take them on. They stood strong together – even when they knew it may cost them their jobs. They wanted change so badly that they risked it all,” adds Woods. BCTGM News
The excitement never subsided. On the day and night of the union representation vote, workers steadily came to vote, to watch their co-workers vote and wait for news of the victory that they were confident they would have. Randy Williams, a machine operator, says that the night of the election he, “felt like it was a new beginning sent from God to all the employees at Golden Peanut.” “They stayed strong together and were so appreciative to the BCTGM. It was never about the money — and they had so little. This was a fight for
respect and decency. They fought for one another and never backed down,” concludes Townsend. Allen Wright, a maintenance worker, reflected on the unity of the Golden Peanut workers saying, “Thank you Lord for teaching us and allowing us to unify against oppression to bring about a positive change in our workplace.” And machine operator George Key was thankful to have met the BCTGM organizers and thanked everyone who helped the workers in their fight for dignity and respect, saying, “Thank God for the BCTGM!”
Pictured here after the final votes were counted is (from left, front row) Intl. Rep. David Woods, Randy Williams, George Key, Tony Sanders, L. 42 Bus. Agt. Zach Townsend and L. 149 Pres./GEB member Letitia Malone, (from left, back row) Vanessa Corbitt, Allan Wright, Joseph Dickens and Phyllis Dickens.
Canadian Patty King Workers Organize The 31 production workers at the Patty King International manufacturing plant in Concord, Ontario are proud new members of BCTGM Local 264 (Toronto). Workers at the plant produce Jamaican Patties, a Jamaican ethnic food. Workers from the Patty King facility reached out to Canadian International Vice President Ron Piercey and Local 264 Business Agents Bill Hegedus and Michael Smith for help joining the union. The workers are predominately Sri Lankan and Indian. Communication was made easy by one of the workers who translated their concerns and issues. According to Piercey, low wages and poor treatment were the primary issues. Workers voted overwhelmingly on April 17 to join Local 264. Negotiations for a first contract covering the Patty King workers began in mid-June. The Local 264-made Jamaican patties are sold May/June 2015
in retail and food service outlets and can be found in every major grocery chain in Canada. The Concord facility is one of the few Jamaican patty manufacturers in Canada to be recognized as a Federally Inspected facility – which means that product made at the plant can be sold anywhere in Canada, the U.S. or internationally.
L. 264 Bus. Agt. Bill Hegedus (far left) and L. Bus. Agt. Michael Smith (second from right) celebrate with the newly organized workers of Patty King outside of the Concord, Ont. Plant.
www.bctgm.org
7
M
for the dead, and
any may remember the famous war cry, “Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living!” by Mother Jones, yet few remember much more about the legendary activist. Mother Jones was one of the most famous women in America during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Articles about her regularly appeared in magazines and newspapers, and for many working Americans, she had achieved renowned, even iconic, status. But today, few remember much about Mother Jones, who battled corporate presidents and politicians, who went to jail repeatedly for organizing workers, and who converted tens of thousands of Americans to the labor movement. With dramatic speeches and street theater, she organized workers, women, and minorities, drawing public attention to their hardships and giving them a voice. Mary Jones’ greatest achievement may have been creating the persona of Mother Jones. She was born Mary Harris in Cork, Ireland, in 1837. When she was barely 10 years old, she witnessed the horrors of the potato famine, which drove her family from their homeland to Toronto, Canada. Her parents established a stable, working-class household, and young Mary learned the skills of dressmaking, and also trained to be a teacher, a high ambition for an Irish immigrant woman of her day. Wanderlust struck her in early adulthood — she taught for a few months in Monroe, Michigan, then moved on to Chicago, and another few months later to Memphis, Tennessee. There, on the eve of the Civil War, she met and married George Jones, a skilled foundry worker and a member of the International Iron Molders Union. They had four children together. In 1867 a yellow fever epidemic struck Memphis, killing George and their four children. Now a 30-year-old widow, Jones returned to Chicago and dressmaking, where her tiny shop was burned out in the great fire of 1871. For the next quarter century, she worked in obscurity. As the new 20th century approached, Mary Jones was an aging, poor, widowed Irish immigrant, nearly as dispossessed as an American could be. She had survived plague, famine, 8
for the
living
“
Pray “
and fire, only to confront a lonely old age. But then she invented Mother Jones. Or, to put it more precisely, she began to play a role that she and her followers made up as they went along. By 1900, no one called her Mary, but always Mother; she wore antique black dresses in public, and she began exaggerating her age. For a quarter of a century, she roamed America, she literally had no permanent residence. “My address is like my shoes,” she told a congressional committee. “It travels with me wherever I go.” She was paid a stipend by the United Mine Workers and, for a few years, by the Socialist Party. But she always felt free to work in whatever cause most needed her — striking garment workers in Chicago, bottle washers in Milwaukee breweries, Pittsburgh steelworkers, El Paso streetcar operators, Calumet copper miners. She helped workers fight not just low pay, 12-hour days, and horrifying mortality rates, but also the servitude of company stores and company housing. She also spoke out in defense of Industrial Workers of the World leaders on trial for murder in Boise (she was one of the original signers of the IWW charter), labor activists imprisoned in California, and Mexican revolutionaries in Arizona. Mother Jones lost as many battles as she won, but still she got results. She was by far the most famous and charismatic organizer for the United Mine Workers. When she began working for the UMW in the 1890s, it had 10,000 members; within a few years, 300,000 men had joined, and she organized many of their wives into “mop and broom” brigades, militant women who fought alongside their husbands. At the core of her beliefs was the idea that justice for working people depended on strong families, and strong families required decent working conditions.
The above historical reflection was exepted from a piece written in Mother Jones magazine by Elliott J. Gorn, who is the author of Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America. BCTGM News
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Union-Made 100th Birthday Celebration Mother Jones said that her home was “wherever there was a fight for justice.” But she had friends from struggles across the country, homes where she was welcome at any time. As she grew older, and suffered severe rheumatism, she had to give up participating in crusades for labor rights. She settled in at the home of Terrence and Emma Powderly in Washington D.C. for a while. Through them, Jones met Lillie May and Walter Burgess, who owned a truck farm in a fairly isolated area of Maryland. As Jones’ health declined further, Lillie May lovingly took care of her full time. On May 1, 1930, Burgess hosted Jones’ 100th birthday party, with 1,000 people in attendance. An amazing list of people came to visit the farm, from labor leaders to newspaper reporters. It was front page news in papers across the country. Mother Jones is pictured left preparing to cut her 100 th birthday cake on May 1, 1930. The cake’s bottom tier had the union logo of the Bakery and Confectionery Workers’ International Union of America that was made by Local 118 member Fred Bertram of the Rice Baking Company. The cake remained untouched and resided in Mother Jones’ room until her death, as a reminder to her of the wonderful birthday party.
Honoring the History of Mother Jones The BCTGM International joined together with other labor activists and political leaders for the second annual Mother Jones wreath-laying ceremony on May 1 at the Mother Jones historical marker in Adelphi, Md. The Mother Jones event was part of the annual D.C. Labor Fest, which ran May 1 -31. The D.C. Labor Fest includes films, music, art and walking tours that showcase the experiences, ideas and aspirations of individual workers and their collective struggles. The event was organized by Saul Schniderman, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Maryland roadside historical marker that was dedicated on December 2, 2000. The historical marker designates the site as The Burgess Farm where Mother Jones was cared for at the end of her life and where she died on November 30, 1930 at age 100. Schniderman is the President of the Library of Congress Professional Guild, AFSCME Local 2910 (Council 26), serves on the board of the Mother Jones Heritage Project and is on the board of the Labor Heritage Foundation. During the ceremony, Schniderman thanked BCTGM International President David Durkee and staff for attending, noting that the cake at Mother Jones 100 th birthday held on the farm in 1930 was made by a union cake decorator. In addition to the BCTGM, the event included a group of newly-organized taxi May/June 2015
drivers who are fighting for their first union contract and members of the Postal Workers Union ,who shared personal stories of how union membership has improved their lives. The event concluded with D.C. Labor Chorus’ Elise Bryant leading everyone in singing “Solidarity Forever” in honor of Mother Jones. Participants joined together in solidarity to enjoy a BCTGM-made celebratory cake (provided by the BCTGM International) and refreshments.
www.bctgm.org
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COMMITTED AND PREPARED:
BCTGM Organizer Training
A group of BCTGM local union officers attended the week-long Organizing 1 program at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum, Maryland April 27 – May 1. The classes are part of the Bonnie Laden Union Skills Program (BLUS), administered by the AFLCIO. Through role play and discussion, participants refined their skills and expanded their knowledge about organizing. The intensive five-day course is tailored to meet the needs of union leaders new to organizing, as well as those who want to learn more about the latest organizing strategies. The class examined different organizing models, discussed message development, digital media, and the presentation of a mock organizing project. According to Local 433 (Sioux City, Iowa) President Paula Steig, “This program helped local union leaders like me, learn how organizing can help strengthen our membership. I particularly enjoyed learning about the modern tools
10
and tactics needed to organize been appointed as an International internally – especially in a rightRepresentative (see page 13), also to-work state noted the like Iowa,” importance of “Let the workers organize. reflects Steig, strengthening Let the toilers assemble. who also serves the union Let their crystallized as a member of through voice proclaim their the BCTGM organizing. “This injustices and demand their International program helped privileges. Let all thoughtful General Executive me gain the citizens sustain them, for Board (GEB). knowledge and the future of Labor is the The union skills necessary future of America.” leaders examined to empower – John L. Lewis, United Mine a typical union workers to Workers of America Pres. 1920-1960 organizing organize,” notes campaign from Miller. start to finish. Participants Other BCTGM participants developed one-on-one included Local 25 (Chattanooga, communications, a Tenn.) Financial Secretary and workplace committee BCTGM International GEB member and explored campaign Jeff Webb, Local 167G (Grand strategies. They also Forks, N.D.) President John Riskey discussed employer antiand Local 13G (Hastings, Minn.) union campaigns, legal President Jake Ostendorf. strategies and planning Bonnie Laden Union Skills skills. courses are held at the Maritime Local 33G (Louisville, Institute, a union facility and home Ky.) President Roger of the International Organization of Miller, who has since Masters, Mates & Pilots, AFL-CIO. BCTGM News
High Paid CEOs and the Low Wage Economy As Americans rally behind a robust raising wages agenda for working families, CEO pay for major U.S. companies has skyrocketed. According to the new
AFL-CIO Executive PayWatch, CEO pay increased nearly 16 percent in 2014. The Executive PayWatch website, the most comprehensive searchable online database which tracks CEO pay, showed that in 2014, the average production and nonsupervisory worker earned approximately $36,000 per year, while S&P 500 company CEO pay averaged $13.5 million per year – a ratio which has grown to 373-to-1. More information about massive CEOto-worker pay disparity and inequality among S&P 500 companies can be found at www.paywatch.org.
In 2014, CEOs of the S&P 500 Index companies received, on average
in total compensation – an increase of 15% from the previous year.
In 2014, the CEO-TOWORKER Pay Ratio Was:
The average compensation for CEOs of Food Industry Companies in 2014, including many companies that employ BCTGM MEMBERS
in 2014
Mondelez International CEO Irene Rosenfeld is the third highest paid CEO in the Food Industry taking home
May/June 2015
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2015 Western Conference M Education and organizing topped the list of BCTGM priorities discussed during the 2015 Western Conference, held April 13-16 in San Diego. International Union Executive officers and staff urged the delegates and local unions to devote time, energy and resources to education programs and organizing workers, including non-members in BCTGM shops in right-to-work-for-less states. Through general discussion, committee meetings and reports, International officers, staff and delegates shared information, experiences and put forth ideas for building a stronger union in the years ahead. BCTGM International President David Durkee delivered an comprehensive presentation on the economic and political conditions facing workers
and their families. Durkee also reviewed the International’s new initiatives to improve membership education programs, expand communications, and identify and train younger members to help lead the BCTGM into the future. International Secretary-Treasurer Steve Bertelli emphasized the importance of education and detailed the International’s expanded programs for local unions and International staff and organizers. Director of Organization John Price discussed the overwhelming success of the International’s organizing efforts in 2014 and encouraged local officers to help continue 2014’s momentum by working with him to develop effective strategies for successful local union organizing campaigns.
2015 BCTGM Scholarship Winners The BCTGM International proudly announces the winners of the 2015 BCTGM International Scholarship Program. Five $2,000 one-time awards were
presented to students. The winners were chosen from a total of 76 applicants from the U.S. and Canada. The BCTGM International Scholarship
Christian Ramos, son of Susana Ramos, member of BCTGM Local 69 (Port Chester, N.Y.), employed at Arnold Foods. Christian will attend Princeton University. 12
Gabriel Scarlett, son of Robert Scarlett, member of BCTGM Local 58G (Toledo, Ohio), employed at J. M. Smucker’s. Gabriel will attend Western Kentucky University.
Program is an example of the union’s committment to higher education at a time when college costs continue to soar out of reach for many working families. Since 1962, the International has helped fulfill the educational dreams of students representing BCTGM families throughout North America.
Timson Tse, son of Chi Tse, member of BCTGM Local 125 (Oakland, Calif.), employed at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. Timson will attend UCLA.
Jocelyn Lambie, daughter of George Lambie, member of BCTGM Local 388G (Midland, Ontario), employed at General Mills Canada. Jocelyn will attend University of Guelph.
Kristy Tran, daughter of Kevin Tran of BCTGM Local 125 (Oakland, Calif.), employed at Svenhard’s Swedish Bakery. Kristy will attend the University of Southern Calif. BCTGM News
Meets
Also addressing the Western Conference was Assistant to the International President Harry Kaiser, who provided a review of the 2014 midterm elections, discussed the negative impact on workers and unions of Congressional efforts to undermine workers’ rights. He discussed the importance of all locals and members remaining active in labor’s efforts to stop Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. As part of the Western Conference, President Durkee announced the hiring of former Local 114 Business Agent Shad Clark to the position of BCTGM International Representative, describing Clark as, “an outstanding addition to the International staff who has exhibited throughout his career the skills, dedication, loyalty and commitment to advance the interests of BCTGM members, their families and the International Union.”
New International Reps. to Serve BCTGM Western and East-Central Regions BCTGM International President David Durkee has appointed two new International Representatives to the BCTGM staff, effective June 1. Shad Clark, former Local 114 (Portland, Ore.) Business Agent, will serve as a Western Region International Representative. Clark became a BCTGM member on September 1, 1993 when he was hired for a production job at Franz Bakery in Portland. In 2005, he was elected to serve as an at-large Local 114 Executive Board member. He served as the local’s recording secretary from 2007 to August 2009 when he was elected to be the Local 114 president. He served as president until he was elected as the local’s business agent. Clark has a long history as a union worker. His mother was a member of the Oregon Nurses Association. According to Clark, growing up he often helped her at the office with ballot stuffing and other union tasks. The BCTGM has been a part of his life for many years prior to his joining Local 114 as his father, Pat Clark, served as the principal officer of Local 364 in Portland. In his youth, Clark spent time as a member of the Machinists union working summer jobs at the Portland ship repair yard. Clark attended Winthrop University where he May/June 2015
received a Bachelor of Science Degree. Additionally, he has attended numerous labor classes including the Research and Arbitration Course offered by the University of Oregon, the BCTGM New Officers Training at the National Labor College, and most recently, Negotiations I and II and Organizing I at the Bonnie Ladin Union Skills Training Program at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, Md. Born in Honolulu, Clark, 45, is married and has four children. Roger Miller, former Local 33G (Louisville, Ky.) President, will serve as an International Representative in the East-Central Region. Miller joined the union in June 1982 when he was hired as a production operator at the General Mills plant. Miller bid to maintenance mechanic in 1984 and to electrician in 1987, both positions required a fouryear apprenticeship. In 1991, Miller was elected as Maintenance Labor Relations Officer. In 1993, he was appointed as Vice President of Local 33G and in 1995 he was elected as President of the Local – a position he served until he was appointed by President Durkee to serve as an International Representative. An Indiana native, Miller, 58, is married and has three children.
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The Proud Bakers of
Wedemeyer’s Bakery is a wholesale bread producer in South San Francisco that provides
upscale restaurants and local delis with high quality baked breads. BCTGM Local 24 (San Francisco) members at the bakery have been covered by a union contract for nearly 40 years and through a number of owners. Union members produce hearth bread, sliced bread and specialty rolls. The bakery was founded in 1936 in San Francisco and relocated to its current South San Francisco plant in the 1980s. The Wedemeyer’s website states, “All of our products are crafted by an experienced group of bakers. Collectively, our bakers average over twenty years of experience in the baking industry. With time comes knowledge, and in the baking business knowledge and experience are what keep a good bakery on top.” Pictured here are some of those highly dedicated Local 24 members. 14
Victor Gonzales
Tuan Truong has been a member of Local 24 for 31 years. Tony Gentile, a 36-year member, and Roy Rivera.
BCTGM News
SUMMER FUN THE BCTGM POWER WAY!
Summer is more enjoyable with BCTGM Power entertainment discounts because you can afford it. Union members can use BCTGM POWER/Union Plus Entertainment Discounts – including movie tickets, video and theme park discounts – to relax and enjoy the summer.
Theme Park Discounts
Savings up to $19 per ticket at theme parks across the country - including Adventure Island, Busch Gardens, Hershey Park, SeaWorld, Paramount’s Great America, Six Flags and Universal Studios.
Major League Baseball
Sight-seeing savings at theaters, Broadway shows, museums, aquariums, zoos and sporting events like Major League Baseball in major cities.
Car Rental
Movie Theaters
Save up to 40% at national chains for those big summer blockbuster movies (most of which are made with union talent and technicians).
Need a car for the day or the week? Support your fellow union members at Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz or National and save up to 25%. You can also save at Enterprise.
Order tickets online at UnionPlus.org/Entertainment or call 1-800-565-3712, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. and reference member ID number: 744387769. Also, learn more about Advantage points and start earning points toward free entertainment.
Start planning your fun today!
Visit: UnionPlus.org/Entertainment May/June 2015
www.bctgm.org
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Printed in the U.S.A.
BCTGM
STEWARDS CORNER WWW.BCTGM.ORG/STEWARDSCORNER
U
nion stewards are a vital “link” in our union. Stewards are vital in enforcing collective bargaining agreements by helping co-workers implement their contract and defend their rights on a day-to-day basis. They are in the best position to understand their coworkers’ concerns and priorities, organize with them to take action, and communicate their priorities to other union leaders. Stewards are also the best
people to educate other union workers about BCTGM values and goals. The BCTGM International Union’s website, www.bctgm.org, contains valuable online resources for the union’s stewards through the BCTGM Stewards Corner section. Since its official launch in the summer of 2013, the Stewards Corner has been improved and expanded to include more educational materials and tools.
CHECK OUT THE BCTGM STEWARDS CORNER FOR:
. . . . . .
Interactive quiz and education page News and Safety updates FAQ page with video New graphics and social media shares Expanded Links Page
TO! MUY PRON recursos y s herramienta s en rd para Stewa español
Profiles of BCTGM Stewards around North America
WWW.BCTGM.ORG/STEWARDSCORNER