Solidarity is KEY to Organizing

TThe BCTGM is an ORGANIZING UNION the PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The BCTGM International Union has always prided itself on being an “organizing union”. Over the last few decades, thousands of workers across all our industries have joined the BCTGM in search of a voice at work, some respect on the job, middle-class benefits and the protections you get with a Union contract.

The challenges we face are not all that different than when I started organizing thirty years ago at Local 25 (Chattanooga, Tenn.).

Tennessee has always been anti-union. It was one of the first states to become Rightto-Work in the 1940’s and it has always been challenging for workers who are trying to organize. And yet, our Local made organizing a priority. We focused on internal organizing within our plants and there were very few workers who were not members of our Local. We also organized non-union bakeries and drivers to keep our Local growing.

When I became an International Representative, I worked on many successful organizing campaigns including Russell Stover in Montrose, Colo., Mondo Baking in Rome, Ga. and Rich Products in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The sad truth is that you don’t win them all. Employers will do everything in their power to stop their workers from forming a Union. I’ve seen workers fired, spied on, made to do the worst jobs in a plant, forced to sit through oneon-one anti-union meetings, and be threatened with deportation all because they supported the Union organizing drive.

When you lose an organizing drive it’s a punch in the gut. We know how much better it is in a Union and it’s hard to understand why someone would vote against their own selfinterest. But fear is sometimes too much to overcome.

I’ll be honest, organizing is hard work. It takes time talking to workers, listening to their issues, holding meetings and rallies and dealing with the employer’s inevitable pushback.

At the same time, it is also amazingly rewarding work. I’ve met many wonderful people over the years, friendships that remain to this day. I’ve seen the looks of joy and

accomplishment on the faces of workers as they hear the results of their Union victory. The next reward comes as you help negotiate that first Union contract and for the first time workers have a grievance procedure, annual wage increases and a vacation in their iron-clad contract.

At our last Constitutional Convention in 2022, delegates pledged to make organizing a top priority for their Local Unions. As President, I pledged that I would do everything in my control to focus our energy on bringing new workers into the BCTGM family.

Many Locals have delivered on that promise and we’ve had organizing drives in Virginia, Colorado, Minnesota and California. We have been organizing in mills, breweries, bakeries and distribution centers.

As you will read on pages 10-11, we are taking on the largest co-manufacturing company in North America, Hearthside Food Solutions, with a comprehensive campaign involving multiple Locals spanning the United States. This is an important fight and one we are committed to continuing until every Hearthside worker has the dignity, justice and respect they deserve.

I encourage all of our Local Unions to seek out new organizing opportunities to help grow this great Union and keep us thriving for another hundred years.

—Anthony Shelton, BCTGM International President

BCTGMNews

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

Anthony Shelton , Editor

Corrina A. Christensen , Assistant Editor

BCTGM General Executive Board

President Anthony Shelton • Secretary-Treasurer David Woods

Vice Presidents Shad Clark • Roger Miller Ron Piercey • Brad Schmidt • Zachary Townsend

BCTGM General Executive Board Members Joyce Alston • Wally Borgan • Pierre Luc Doucet • Aaron Graves Paul LaBuda • Earl Lublow • Letitia Malone • Keith Morris, Sr. Gary Oskoian • Cameron Taylor • Doyle Townson Jeff Webb • Donald Woods BCTGM News (ISSN 1525-4860) is

Work for our Members with

BCTGM PAC Making Politics

BCTGM-PAC fund contributions are prioritized for federal political candidates who meet standards set by your elected BCTGM leaders.

The BCTGM has always fought for laws that protect our members and their families. Laws that support issues such as:

• the right to organize and collectively bargain;

• strong workplace health and safety standards;

• retirement security, overtime rights and family and medical leave.

Voluntary funds given to BCTGM-PAC further that purpose by allowing the Union to support political candidates who meet those standards, and also value:

BCTGM-PAC

• keeping jobs in America;

• supporting workers who are on strike or locked out;

• speaking publicly in support of the labor movement; and,

• fighting for Social Security, Medicare and pension benefits.

Pictured here are political candidates who are committed to these values and receive BCTGM-PAC support.

Supporting the Work of State Labor Federations and Central Labor Councils

State Labor Federations play a vital role in researching and vetting federal candidates, educating Union members and supporting Labor fights with local action resources.

The BCTGM often reaches out to these organizations for assistance with organizing campaigns, strikes and events; as they can often get messages to local political leaders, gather support for rallies, organize protests and much more.

For these reasons, BCTGMPAC funds may also be allocated to the Membership Education Programs of those organizations during an election cycle. Just like BCTGM-PAC, voluntary funds for political action are

utilized completely separate from the membership dues/general treasury money.

Pictured below, Tobacco Sector International Representatives Derrick Byrd (L) and Randy Fulk (R) present North Carolina AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan (center) with a BCTGM-PAC check for electionrelated Membership Education.

Intl. Rep. Randy Fulk (L) and L. 176T Pres. Aaron Graves (R) with N.C. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (center).

Intl. Rep. Derrick Byrd (L) poses next to N.C. Congressman Don Davis and members of the Eastern North Carolina CLC.

Asst. to the Intl. Pres. Matthew Clark (R) presents a

check to Nebraska Senate Candidate/former BCTGM L. 50G Pres. Dan Osborne (L).

Locals Activate and Inspire

San Diego, Calif. | April 22-25, 2024

Attended by Locals 9, 24, 26, 31, 37, 83, 85, 114, 125, 232, 282G, 283G, 351, 364 and 401

Regional Conferences are an important tradition in the BCTGM where members meet to discuss recent wins and challenges, strategize together and reconnect with International Union Officers and Staff.

“These regional conferences provide us with an opportunity to review our Union’s values and objectives with Local Union leaders,” says International President Anthony Shelton.

“It is also a great way for us to learn what is going on in our plants and understand the issues

Inspire at Regional Conferences SOUTHERN

our Local Unions are facing,” adds President Shelton. International Secretary-Treasurer David Woods and International Staff attend each conference together with President Shelton. While each region follows their own adgenda for the meetings, every conference provides an

opportunity for Union solidarity and unity as Local Union delegates share time together. On these pages are scenes from the April 22-25 Western Region Conference in San Diego, Calif.; and the May 7-8 Southern Region Conference in Chattanooga, Tenn.

117G, 149, 252G, 352G, 366G and 390G

| May 7-8, 2024 Attended by Locals 25, 42, 65, 103, 111,

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Service

with a

SURPRISE at C.F. Sauers

Members of BCTGM Local 358 (Richmond, Va.) were pleasantly surprised to host BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton during a recent service visit from their Union reps.

“I was heading down there for a plant tour with Local 358 Financial Secretary/Business Agent Darlene Carpenter and found out President Shelton would be in the area,” explains East-Central Region International Representative Lisa Gregory. “We

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coordinated to have him join us and the plant manager was really accommodating in helping us show President Shelton around the plant,” Gregory added.

C.F. Sauers has been located in Downtown Richmond for more than 130 years and its iconic sign overlooking Broad Street is a recognizable landmark of the historic area.

Local 358 members at C.F. Sauers make extracts and spices such as vanilla extract, mix packets and popcorn seasonings.

Intl. Rep. Lisa Gregory, Intl. Pres. Shelton, L. 358 Bus. Agt. Darlene Carpenter, L. 358 Pres. Keith Bragg, Shop Stw. Jaquisha Wright and Intl. Rep. Chuck Reeves pose for a photo in front of the Kernel Season’s sign.

Antonya Scott, Matthew Walton, Lisa Mayo, Barry Adams, Rochelle Campbell, Cynthia Jones, Mike Jones and Shop Steward Jaquisha Wright pose for a picture with Pres. Shelton (orange vest).

Plant Mgr. Christian Dempsey (right) leads (L to

Intl. Pres. Shelton, L. 358 Pres. Keith Bragg, Intl. Rep. Chuck Reeves, L. 358 Bus. Agt. Darlene Carpenter and Shop Stw. Jaquisha Wright through the plant.

“I have always said servicing the shops is the most important work we do in this Union. Servicing our membership also gives us an opportunity to see the interesting work of our members,” reflects President Shelton. “Everything is gravity fed in this plant and it was pretty interesting to see the process.”

“It’s not a huge facility but the work that our

members do is really cool,” adds Gregory. “There’s a lot of history there.”

C.F. Sauers was founded in the late 19th century. Four generations of Sauers led and expanded the business to three other states until its sale and rebrand under the name Sauer Brands in 2019. It remains headquartered at the historic property in Richmond.

The incandescent SAUER’S VANILLA sign, adjacent to the main Sauer Brands headquarters building, is a familiar site in downtown Richmond, Va. The sign dates back to the early 20th century, when it was first installed over the company’s new facility at 2000 W. Broad Street. Overlooking the city for more than a century, today it is an iconic and beloved part of the Richmond landscape.

Photo credit: Instagram user/Richmond resident @ruby.carmela

Karon Wilkerson, Intl. Pres. Shelton and Jarel Smith

Shop Stw. Jaquisha Wright and Intl. Pres. Shelton

Leslie Kidd and Intl. Pres. Shelton

Peppering the Field with Trained

Local 218 • Topeka, Kansas

Local 218 (Kansas City, Ms.) stewards from Frito-Lay, General Mills and Bimbo Bakeries gathered to participate in the May 1 and 2 trainings offered by Local 218 and International Union leaders. “Even the more seasoned stewards learned new ways to help them better represent the members,” reports Local 218 Business Manager Chantel Mendenhall. “Local 218 is grateful to have the wisdom, experience and guidance of the International Staff who came to assist us,” she concluded.

Local 252G • Memphis, Tennessee

BCTGM Local 252G (Memphis, Tenn.) stewards from the Kellogg’s Cereal Plant in Memphis came together for an April training led by Southern Region International Representative Darrell Copeland.

The Kellogg’s BCTGM stewards were excited to be joined by Memphis CLC President Kevin Bradshaw during the training, who is also a member and former President of Local 252G. “Tennessee’s Union density is growing along with other states in the South,” says Bradshaw. “Regardless of our seniority, we all learned something and used

Midwest Locals

Stewards from Locals 103G (Decatur, Ill.), 104G (Frankfort, Ind.), 115G (Paris, Ill.) and 303G (Bloomington, Ill.), gathered on April 16th for a combined training with Local and International Union leaders.

Midwest Region International Representative Jason Davis led the one-day

the opportunity to reflect on our role in that. The stewards of Local 252G are fired up, prepared to serve and fully capable of carrying the torch for the BCTGM.”

Trained and Educated Stewards

training with the help of International Vice President Brad Schmidt and International Representatives Veronica Hopkins and Ryan Hocke. “The group was very enthusiastic and eager to learn,” reflected Hopkins.

Vice Pres. Schmidt added, “This was a great opportunity to pull several of the Locals in the Midwest together to refresh their knowledge and skills. The Reps did a great job and I know the stewards also gained a lot from each other. Swapping common stories and struggles can be really helpful,” Schmidt concluded.

Local 406 • Moncton, New Brunswick

Stewards from BCTGM Local 406 (Moncton, NB) completed their two-day training on April 26 and 27. “This group was driven and enthusiastic,” reports Canadian Region International Vice President Ron Piercey. “I have a lot of faith in the knowledge and excitement they are taking back to their members.”

Local 149 • Memphis, Tennessee

BCTGM Local 149 (Memphis, Tenn.) hosted a special training in April for its stewards from Blues City Brewery in Memphis.

The training was led by Southern Region International Representative Darrell Copeland and Local 149 President Letitia Malone. Reflecting on the training Malone said, “It has been a priority of Local 149 to give these stewards the best start possible since they are still learning their rights and responsibilities.”

Blues City Brewery was organized in 2021 in a campaign led by Malone. “She’s done a really great

job getting the leadership in this plant established,” says Copeland. “The stewards are well respected and take their jobs very seriously. It’s always a pleasure to work with them and see the progress being made,” he concludes.

Hearthside Workers

Continue Fight to join BCTGM

“In the best of organizing campaigns, what gets created through the fight is a close-knit community of workers. Here in London, Kentucky we have built a strong community that will continue to fight for as long as it takes,” says BCTGM International Representative Lisa Gregory, who led the recent effort to help Hearthside workers in London join the BCTGM.

Workers at Hearthside Food Solutions (HFS) in London have been trying to organize for years to improve pay and benefits, fix health and safety issues, curb favoritism, and secure important provisions like seniority and scheduling — all of which can be negotiated into a Union contract. However, faced with a vicious, threat and intimidation filled anti-union campaign led by Hearthside, workers lost this election.

According to Gregory, the company was extremely aggressive in its tactics to scare and influence workers into voting against the Union. In addition to the constant intimidation and threats, Hearthside terminated several workers because of their Union activity. Management distributed “Vote No” t-shirts and handbooks on how to stay “union free,” while also displaying anti-union messages on

television monitors throughout the plant.

The Union has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Hearthside for these deliberate violations of federal labor law.

According to John Price, BCTGM Director of Organization, Hearthside is one of the most antiunion companies he has seen in his decades of organizing. “This company is notorious for spending millions of dollars on union busting consultants and blatantly breaking labor laws in order to keep workers from voting in favor of a Union,” says Price.

While the Hearthside workers may have lost their union election, what they gained was an important lesson in the true meaning of Union solidarity. To counteract the company’s vicious anti-union campaign, organizers turned to their Union brothers and sisters at Local Unions throughout North America.

For weeks leading up to the Union election, BCTGM members from the U.S. and Canada sent videos with statements of encouragement and social media messages of support to Hearthside workers.

Additionally, Local Unions throughout the EastCentral and Southern Regions sent officers, staff,

Hearthside workers (L to R) Monty and Roxanne Hallman, Kathy Southard, Philip Partin and Dosha Hensley attend a solidarity picnic during the organizing campaign.

activists and resources to help during the campaign. Some Locals sent bilingual organizers to help communicate more effectively with the Spanish-speaking workers who the company was threatening with deportation. The Kentucky State AFL-CIO provided vital help in publicizing the campaign to other Unions throughout the state.

“It means a lot to these workers to know their future Union family has their backs,” reflects

Gregory. “The campaign itself was incredible. It’s a really good example of worker-led bravery on the shop floor; of broken labor laws; of how hard workers have to fight for unions in this country today; and of the years-long, grueling work that it takes to get to a union election. We won’t give up until these workers have a union contract,” she concludes.

BCTGM Organizers held a solidarity picnic for London, Ky. Hearthside workers ahead of the union election. Pictured at the event (L to R) are Intl. Secy. Treas. David Woods; Intl. Reps. Derrick Byrd and Randy Fulk; Teamster Local 651 members Kristina Hicks, Lisa Jackson, Kim Rucker and Jay Hicks; L. 57 Fin. Secy. Mark Lee, L. 358 Fin. Secy. Darlene Carpenter, L. 358 Pres. Keith Bragg and L. 57 member Rob Gaskins.

BCTGM Targets HFS

The organizing effort at Hearthside in London, Ky. is part of a larger campaign focused on organizing all HFS facilities. Hearthside is one of the largest baking companies in North America, specializing in co-manufacturing branded products for other food companies.

The BCTGM has targeted organizing resources towards Hearthside bakeries in McComb, Ohio, Michigan City, Ind. and London because those facilities produce snacks primarily for BCTGMrepresented companies like Mondelēz/Nabisco, Kellogg’s and General Mills.

“The outsourcing of this production to nonUnion co-packers is a blatant union-avoidance tactic by the major food processing companies,” said BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. In addition, the BCTGM International is working

with the AFL-CIO and several International Unions to engage with Hearthside’s private equity owners Charlesbank and Partners Group. “These investors need to understand that as the owners of Hearthside, they are accountable for the despicable actions of the company’s managers and supervisors,” Shelton asserted.

BCTGM organizers continue to work with employees in Michigan City, Ind. and McComb, Ohio in an effort to get to a union election, but have already felt the pushback by Hearthside. In each of those locations, the Union has filed charges against the company with the NLRB.

“We will not stop supporting these workers in their quest to join the BCTGM,” notes Shelton. “We will do everything in our power to ensure the workers at all Hearthside facilities have a chance at a fair election, free from retaliation and retribution,” he concludes.

Rep.

BCTGM L. 57 member Trent Merritt, L. 57 Bus. Agt. Earl Farris, Hearthside employee Liticia Horton and Intl. Rep. Lisa Gregory distribute Union literature outside the Hearthside bakery in London, Ky.

Intl.

Derrick Byrd and BCTGM member supporters Mike Fox, Edward McCracken, Jerry Hyman, Mike Lattire, Rob Gaskins, Jim Herzog and Freddy Washington.

Concord Confections Members ratify historic 5-year Contract

Members of BCTGM Local 264 (Toronto) employed at two Concord Confections locations in Vaughan, Ont. have voted to overwhelmingly accept an historic 5-year contract.

Negotiations were led by Canadian Region International Vice President Ron Piercey and included Negotiating Committee members International Representative Karl Walker, Local 264 Business Agent Bill Hegedus and Members Muniruddin Ahmed, Quan Hoc Duong, Bing Zhong Lin, Earl Lucier, Alex Melkonian, Navaneethan Navaratnam, Eslyn Smith and Robert Ziniuk.

For the first time ever, the committee was able to secure a pension plan for the 220 members who make Dubble Bubble and other iconic candy and gum varieties. “When I first organized this plant in 1998, I promised them I would get them a pension,” reflects Piercey. The Local 264 committee was also able to negotiate significant raises, increases to select health benefits such

as vision and prescription maximums, and improvements to their Extended Care deductibles. They also secured wage protection for Chief Stewards in the event of a layoff.

Shown on this page, Local 264 members attended the ratification meeting where they had a chance to review the Collective Agreement (C.A.) and ask the Committee questions. “We were proud to have over 95% of our members at Concord Confections vote to accept the C.A.,” concludes Piercey.

Intl. Vice Pres. Ron Piercey introduces the Collective Agreement (C.A.) to the members of L. 264.

L. 264 members have the opportunity to ask the Committee questions about the C.A. before voting to accept it. L. 264 members take time to read through the new C.A.

The L. 264 Negotiating Committee (L to R): Eslyn Smith, Quan Hoc Duong, Muniruddin Ahmed, Alexandre Melkonian, Earl Lucier, Intl. Vice Pres. Ron Piercey, L. 264 Fin. Sec./Bus. Agt. Bill Hegedus, Nathan Navaratnam and Intl. Rep. Karl Walker.

Licorice Gratitude and Progress

front and center at American

American Licorice workers with BCTGM Local 125 (Oakland, Calif.) are thriving under their new Union contract.

“The main takeaway was the genuine gratitude they have for their Union and its leaders,” reflects Western Region International Representative Alejandro Ahumada on his visit to the Local 125 members.

The members talked a lot to Ahumada about the contract they adopted at the end of last year. “This was the biggest wage increase they have ever gotten,” reports Local 125 Vice President Bao Button. “We were also able to improve their paid sick leave rules and get double pay on top of holiday pay. The cooks really appreciated that—they always have to work on holidays,” she added.

Agreeing with Button, Third Shift Shop Steward Lisa Hawkins added, “This contract was one of the best deals we have seen in

the 28 years I have worked here.” That sentiment echoes throughout the plant, according to Hawkins. “All my co-workers are happy and appreciative of the work the negotiations committee did.”

One member of that committee, Martha Reyes, expressed great honor in being a part of the neogtiations. “I’m also very grateful for the assistance of International Representatives Karrie Setters and Alejandro Ahumada,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”

American Licorice originated in Chicago in 1914, where founder Martin Kretchmer and his son-in-law sold black licorice from a cart in front of department stores. The business expanded west, opening a location in San Francisco, Calif. in 1925.

In the 1950’s, the company created a raspberry flavored candy piece which became what is known today as “Red Vines.” BCTGM Local 125 members make Red Vines at the factory in Union City, Calif., in addition to mixed berry and the original black licorice flavors.

Ana Calmo (L) and Shop Stw. Lilia Betancourt (R) pack Red Vines into large plasic tubs.

Local 85 Members Reinstated with Full Back Pay

Three terminated BCTGM

Local 85 (Fresno, Calif.) members have returned to work following a Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) hearing related to a grievance they filed late last year.

Mathew Galicia , Hector Lopez and Luis Herrera are import sales delivery drivers at the Bimbo Sales Center in Fresno, Calif. Their division makes import snacks such as Takis and Marinela Pastries. The Local 85 members were fired last October for logbook procedures they had been practicing—and told to do—for efficiency.

“The workers were signing the logbook on different sites in order to move along to the next stop, which was supposed to be done by a supervisor,” explains Local 85 Financial Secretary Jerry Gil. “They were basically accused of falsifying signatures. We understood in hindsight that wasn’t the proper thing to do, but we were able to prove that they had been coached to in order to stay on

BCTGM-Made Cake

schedule. The mediator saw our case and rightly ruled in favor of the workers,” Gil concludes.

The members, who returned to their jobs on April 15th with full back pay, expressed deep gratitude to Gil for his diligence. “You were really motivating and supportive throughout this journey,” Galicia later wrote to Jerry in a text message. “You stood by our side when the water was murky and I can’t thank you enough for the amount of hard work and dedication you put into our case.”

BCTGM Local 53 (New York, N.Y.) President Joyce Alston is no stranger to the New Jersey State AFLCIO’s Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Conference. Honored to attend again this year, she knew just where to go for the event’s Union-made cake. Zadies Bake Shop—a kosher bakery in Fair Lawn, New Jersey whose bakers are members of BCTGM Local 53—made this one with real fruit and decorated it with the Conference Seal. Pictured with the cake from L to R are New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech, Alston, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and N.J. AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Laurel Brennan.

Promoting the Union

Sara Lee and the BCTGM have always gone hand-in-hand. That is why, when the company invited its BCTGM Local 81 (Traverse City, Mich.) Executive Board to set up a tent to promote the Union at a charity event in March, they were happy to oblidge. Pictured L to R, proudly showing off the BCTGM Union banner, are Local 81 Executive Board Members John Lamie, Coty Ryder, Sally Stowe, Sue Davis and Walter Brooks.

Fin. Secy. Jerry Gil (second from right) is pictured here with Local 85 reinstated members (L to R) Luis Herrera, Mathew Galicia, and Hector Lopez.

SUMMER FUN with

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BCTGM STEWARDS CORNER

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. Use this resource as a supplement to regular inperson trainings and remember to keep your Weingarten Rights handy at all times!

Role & responsibilities of Stewards

Step-by-step grievance handling

Grievance handling worksheet/checklist

Legal rights of Union Stewards

Expanded links page

Profiles of real BCTGM Stewards around North America