Ethe PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
BCTGM’s POWER at the BALLOT BOX
Every four years, American citizens have the opportunity to go to the polls to vote for the President of the United States. The ability to vote in a free and fair election is the foundation of a democratic society, and it is up to each and every one of us to participate in this important process.
Sadly, close to half of eligible voters in the U.S. do not vote. One group that does come out to the polls in overwhelming numbers is Union members, including BCTGM members.
Union members are eager to participate in electoral politics because we know how much is at stake for workers, our families and the communities we live in.
Most BCTGM members spend anywhere from 8-12 hours a day at work, six or seven days a week. More time is spent at work—and traveling to and from—than is spent at home with family. When government policies impact our workplaces, our employers or the laws protecting us, it has a tremendous impact on our lives.
Union members really understand that elections have consequences. If we elect antiunion, anti-worker politicians into power, it will hurt our work life.
Workers need leaders who will stand with working people in the fight for better wages, benefits and retirement security. That means supporting candidates who want fair tax policy, affordable prescription drugs and healthcare, and a strong Made-in-America policy.
If we have to take our fight to the streets, we need leaders to fight side by side with Union members against greedy corporations. We need our leaders to walk the line if we strike. If you aren’t there for us, we won’t be there for you.
Workers deserve lawmakers that will pass laws to strengthen workplace standards, especially in occupational health and safety. No worker should be hurt on the job!
If a politician is not willing to support the needs of working people, they do not deserve our vote.
What we certainly don’t need are policies that take away from working people. We don’t want a national Rightto-Work law. We don’t want tax breaks for the rich. We don’t want health and safety standards scrapped because employers can’t be bothered to follow them.
You will hear reporters on TV say this is the most important election of our lifetime. The reality is, every election is important for working people and Union members. There is a stark difference between politicians who do right by Union members and those who actively try to destroy the labor movement.
This election season, I urge you to put your BCTGM cap on when you head to the polls. Let’s elect candidates who will have our back in a fight and protect a worker’s right to join a union.
—Anthony Shelton, BCTGM International President
UNION VOTES MATTER
BCTGM Members Prepare to VOTE in the 2024 Election
“I
am thrilled and excited that I had the privilege of casting an historical nominating vote for (who I believe will be) the first woman President of the United States. With our democracy at stake, your vote is your voice. Make it count!”
— Beth Zavala, L. 1 (Chicago) Financial Secretary; Delegate to the Democratic National Convention
“Voting is a privilege not to be taken lightly. A lot of people have fought—and continue to fight—to protect this right and I look forward to exercising it on November 5!”
— Kolumn Laws, L. 390G (Memphis, Tenn.)
“Elections matter because they give a voice to the people!”
Wanda
Sylvester, L. 70 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Shop Steward
“I can’t wait to truly make America great again by casting my vote for Kamala Harris!”
— Freddie Washington, L. 256G (Sharonville, Ohio) Recording Secretary
“The best thing about voting is it gives the people a voice where normally they would never be heard.”
Dustin Phelps, L. 401 (Salt Lake City, Utah) Shop Steward
On July 22, $3.3 billion in Special Financial Assistance (SFA) was wire transferred to the B&C Industry Pension Fund from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).
In a memo to U.S. BCTGM Local Unions, International President Anthony Shelton announced, “Our money is in the bank. promise of pension reform has been fulfilled.”
The 103,000 BCTGM pensioners in the B&C Industry Pension Fund join more than a million retirees whose pension benefits were saved with the adoption of the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan.
Praising Democrats for their tenacity in passing pension reform, President Shelton said, “this measure secured the financial outlook of not just current and future retirees—but of the families that will care for them as they grow old as well. This action impacts generations.”
In a podcast recorded for the BCTGM Voices Project on July 31, Shelton reflected on the history of this fight, along with his former Assistant and Political Director (now BCTGM Retiree) Harry Kaiser and B&C Industry Pension Fund Manager Elizabeth Briere. “People earned this pension,” Shelton said. “Our members negotiated money out of their own paychecks. They worked hard and served their Union every day, year after year in order to buy into this. It was vital for us to secure those hard-earned benefits.”
“B&C pensioners were looking at cuts of up to 45% over the next ten years,” Briere added. “It would have been devastating, and certainly not something you want to be facing after
Butch Lewis Act in the Senate in 2017.
For the next three years, BCTGM executive officers lobbied on Capitol Hill, attended rallies and spoke publicly about the legislation. BCTGM members and retirees flooded the phone lines and inboxes of their Representatives, encouraging them to support the Butch Lewis Act.
Despite these efforts, Republicans refused to vote for it without including massive concessions for retirees. Kaiser reflected, “it was frustrating, but the work done in those years allowed the stars to align in 2021 like I’ve never seen before.
“We need your fight to push this over the finish line. Thank you for making Congress do the right thing.”
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) speaking to workers and pensioners at the July 2018 rally.
13,000 people gather outside the Ohio State Capitol where the Joint Select Committee on Mulit-employer Pensions would meet on July 13, 2018.
BCTGM L. 6 (Philadelphia)
Pres. Hank McKay rallies for pensions in Columbus, Ohio. (7/12/2018)
“President Biden was determined to secure pensions with the American Rescue Plan, but Republicans kept trying to strip it out. When Democrats took control of the Senate in the Georgia runoff election they finally had the votes needed to pass it with no cuts,” Kaiser concluded.
“If it wasn’t for the election of President Biden and those two Democratic Senators in Georgia—Jon Osoff and Raphael Warnock—
we would have had to cut the pensions of our retirees,” President Shelton affirmed. “It is unbelievable that not one Republican in the House or Senate voted to save our pensions.
“This is a direct example of why we have to support politicians who support Labor,” Shelton continued. “If we want workers to have a fighting chance in this country we have to elect politicians who will work with us— not against us.”
Pension Q&A with President Shelton and B&C Pension Fund Manager Elizabeth Briere
In a podcast recorded for the BCTGM Voices Project on July 31, President Anthony Shelton (AS) and B&C Pension Fund Manager Elizabeth Briere (EB) fielded questions from BCTGM members about the future of the pension fund. Hear their answers to these and more at bctgm.podbean.com.
Q: B&C Pension Plan members have been getting letters in the mail for several years regarding the ‘Declining & Critical’ status of the fund. Can you explain those and what will change going forward?
EB: Those letters are included in our annual funding notices, which are sent to participants every year in April. For next April, it is important for participants to know that we cannot recognize Special Financial Assistance (SFA) money as an asset. So, the 2025 funding notice will look as though we are still terribly underfunded despite being secured by SFA funds. We intend to include a cover letter with that mailing, which will explain the accounting requirement and help participants understand the reporting.
In terms of the ‘Critical & Declining’ status of the Fund, we will no longer be ‘Declining,’ but will stay in ‘Critical’ status through the year 2051. That is because the SFA period for the funds received goes through 2051, as described in the American Rescue legislation.
Q: We don’t have a pension at my job, we have a 401(k) plan. How can we get into the pension instead of the 401(k)?
AS: You have to negotiate that with your
employer during bargaining. We can make the case now that our pension fund is secure and it would be a good investment for the employer and the workers.
People have figured out over the years that a 401(k) is not going to be enough for anyone to live on in retirement. I remember talking with workers years ago who thought they were going to be millionaires through their 401(k) investment—that’s what the companies told them. It hasn’t worked out that way. That is why it is also important to protect our pensions and resist any company offers to replace them with 401(k) plans.
LISTEN TO THIS ON OUR PODCAST!
EPISODE 36: PENSIONS PROTECTED
BCTGM Leaders Retell What Happened to our Pensions, How they Were Saved and What to Expect Going Forward
SCAN TO LISTEN
Despite significant growth over the years, Shawnee Milling Company in Shawnee, Okla. has never lost track of its roots. The mill, started in 1906 by J. Lloyd Ford, remains family-run by third and fourth generation Ford family millers.
Members of BCTGM Local 117G (Shawnee, Okla.) feed flour mills, operate grain elevators and pack product at the Shawnee mill and its sister facility—Okeene Flour Mill in Okeene, Okla.
The Union members produce a broad line of products for Shawnee Milling, from yellow corn meal, self rising and all purpose flour to ready-made corn muffin, pancake and baking mixes and dry mix seasoning packets. Special packaging capabilities allow the Union members to output a range of
quantities, from a few ounces to bulk transport.
“The success of this company really relies on the wealth of experience of our members,” Southern Region International Representative Jason Thomas said, reflecting on his recent training conference with Shawnee Milling stewards. “They are proud of the work they do and the product they put out. That really starts with strong Union stewards who make sure the members are safe and protected at work and in their contracts,” he said.
Photos on these pages include proud BCTGM members who have served Shawnee Milling Company and Local 117G from six to as many as 41 years.
Billy West, 35 year employee of Shawnee Milling, Packing Department Lead
Jose Reyes, 23 year employee of Shawnee Milling, Maintenance Head Technician
Jerry Dodson, 41 year employee of Shawnee Milling, Feed Mill Lead Forklift
L. 117G Pres. Randell Trout, 11 year employee of Shawnee Milling, Elevator Operator
Darren Stockwell, 7 year employee of Shawnee Milling, Milling Department
BCTGM Local 117G recently hosted two days of steward training with Southern Region International Representative Jason Thomas. Okeene Mill stewards attended on May 21 and Shawnee Mill stewards took the training on May 22.
Shawnee Milling stewards from L to R: Walter Prevett, L. 117G Pres. Randell Trout, Monty Roberts, Aaron Billins, Janelle Smith, Brandon McFerrin, James Perez, Savannah Harper, Oscar Zapada, James Nauman, Dillon Conner, Steve Love, Maurice Alexander and Preston Lynch.
Reflecting on the multiple generations of Union members in the classes, 23-year member and former Local 117G President Walter Prevett said, “new stewards can sometimes be intimidated about all the roles they have to play as a Union steward, but the more senior stewards can really help them learn how to manage those responsibilities.”
L. 117G Pres. Randell Trout, Walter Prevett, Rick Cannon, Tim Butler and Thomas Oliveria listen intently during the Okeene Steward Training.
L. 117G Pres. Randell Trout presents Shawnee Milling Steward Janelle Smith (left) and Okeene Mill Steward Tim Butler (right) with their steward training certificates.
L. 117G Pres. Randell Trout presents Shawnee Milling Stewards Savannah Harper (left) and Maurice Alexander (right) with their steward training certificates.
L. 117G Pres. Randell Trout presents Okeene Mill Stewards Rick Cannon (left) and Thomas Oliveria (right) with their steward training certificates.
CHUTES AND LADDERS
While Democrats spent the last four years making good on President Biden’s promise to lead “the most pro-Union administration in American history,” Republicans were drafting
Project 2025 in preparation for their next shot at the White House. Their 920page anti-worker roadmap, sponsored by the Trump-endorsed Heritage Foundation, leaves little mystery as to what awaits workers under a second Trump term.
CHUTES TO THE BOTTOM
In addition to the fact that the Trump Administration did nothing to advance or protect workers during its first term, Project 2025 is prepared to slide families back to the bottom with even more devastating proposals.
Project 2025 sets workers back by:
Making it easier for employers to intimidate and fire workers who try to organize;
Eliminating card-check recognition, making it illegal for employers to voluntarily recognize a Union based on a majority of signatures;
Pushing the National Right-to-Work Act, which would enact Right-to-Work-For-Less in all 50 states;
Making workplaces more dangerous by eliminating child labor protections and gutting OSHA; and
Repealing the Affordable Care Act and slashing funding for Medicaid.
We’re not going back! Republicans have already showed us who they are: They repeatedly tried to strip pension reform out of the American Rescue Plan. Every Republican in the House and Senate voted against the bill which saved our pensions.
Project 2025’s sponsor, the Heritage Foundation, advocates for raising the Social Security retirement age to 70.
In a recent interview with Elon Musk on X, Donald Trump laughed at workers who wanted to organize and go on strike at Musk’s company, Tesla. “They go on strike and you just say, ‘that’s okay, you’re all fired. Every one of you is gone,’” he sneered, as Musk laughed along.
LADDERS
Use this guide to help you navigate the policy “ladders” working families climbed during the last four years, vs. the backsliding “chutes” being sold by Republicans.
LADDERS OF PROSPERITY
ELECTION 2024 E DITION
Workers climbed out of incredibly tough times under the Biden-Harris Administration, the most pro-Union administration in American History. Unprescedented wins for working families laid the groundwork for a promising path forward. Those wins include:
Union Pensions SAVED
Support for Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) benefits, affordable childcare and Social Security;
Full throated White House endorsement of the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, Worker Organizing and Empowerment;
Union members leading and staffing the Department of Labor;
Bringing integrity back to OSHA and Wage & Hour;
President Biden becoming the first sitting President to openly support striking workers. to the picket line of BCTGM Kellogg workers in 2021, and later walked the line himself with “Big Three” United Auto Workers (UAW) members;
Creation of the first ever Made-in-America Office, effort to keep good jobs in the U.S.A.; and
Bans on Mandatory ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings (and gaining momentum in others).
LEARN MORE about what’s on the ballot for working families this November, and how Project 2025 takes workers’ backwards.
CHARTING THE FUTURE
in the East-Central States
In late June, the East-Central Council held its annual meeting in Atlantic City, N.J.
More than 40 delegates from 17 BCTGM Local Unions came together to discuss organizing, servicing, Local Union challenges and political action.
International President Anthony Shelton addressed the Council on the first day, focusing on the importance of service. “Our members are committed when they see that we are committed,” he said. “We have to get into the plants and make sure our members know their Union is there for them,” Shelton continued.
Delegates also heard from International Secretary-Treasurer David Woods, Director of Organization John Price, East Central Region Vice President Roger Miller and Executive Assistant to the President Matthew Clark during the two-day conference.
In addition to speeches, detailed reports were given by each participating Local Union concerning bargaining, organizing, arbitrations and mobilization. “We got a lot done,” remarked East-Central Region Vice President Roger Miller. “The delegates are heading back to their Local Unions with a renewed commitment to service and organizing,” he concluded.
An agenda for BCTGM Tobacco Members
Leaders of BCTGM Local Unions representing workers in the North American tobacco sector met in South Carolina in July to strategize around challenges facing the industry.
Topics discussed included organizing, corporate mergers, anti-tobacco legislation, and new technologies.
International President Anthony Shelton told the group of leaders, “this International Union has always fought for our members in tobacco. It is our goal to see this sector not just survive, but to thrive.”
Local Unions attending the conference included 176T (Liggett, Durham, N.C.), 196T (Swedish Match, Owensboro, Ky.), 203T (Altria, Richmond, Va.), 235T
(JTI, Montreal, Canada), 261T (Rothmans, Quebec City, Canada), 317T (ITG Brands, Greensboro, N.C.) and 359T (Altria, Hopewell, Va.).
The ESSENTIAL work of Local 48G
Along the Upper Mississippi River in Keokuk, Iowa, the French-based, family-owned Roquette Frères company employs 450 corn wet milling workers represented by BCTGM Local 48G (Keokuk, Iowa).
Roquette, which began as a single-location potato starch plant in Lestrem, France during the Great Depression, boasts 50 starch production locations around the world today. The Keokuk site was acquired by the company in 1991 from the Hubinger Co.—which owned and operated it for over 100 years prior.
“The work of these members is extremely important,” reports Midwest Region International Representative Ryan Hocke, who toured the plant in early March. “Coming out of a starch factory myself, I know the output
well. People would be surprised to know how many products are made with the ingredients they produce,” he says.
Those products include items like chewing gum, toothpaste, sports drinks, medical IV solutions and more. The mill at the plant separates corn into various parts—germ, hull, protein, fiber and starch. Local 48G members operate production refineries which turn those parts into different ingredients depending on what Roquette customers need to make their products.
“It isn’t too much to suggest their jobs improve and save the lives of people all around the world,” Hocke continues. “The ingredients that come out of a plant like this are essential to the production of food and pharmaceutical products people depend on every day.”
On this page, Local 48G leaders show Hocke around the grounds of the Keokuk factory.
L. 48G Member/Former Pres. Josh Wright, John Wilson, L. 48G Pres. Matt Polhans and Fin. Secy. Hank Billings pose outside the Iowa AFL-CIO’s Keokuk Labor Temple, where BCTGM L. 48G keeps an office.
L. 48G Vice Pres. Mike Moore, Fin. Secy. Hank Billings and Pres. Matt Polhans outside the Roquette plant in Keokuk, Iowa.
L. 48G Vice Pres. Mike Moore and Pres. Matt Polhans discuss Union business in the Local Union office.
Christensen Retires, Ellis Named Director of Communications
After 27 years with the International Union, Corrina Christensen, Director of Public Relations and Communications, retired on July 1.
Christensen was hired as a publications coordinator and assistant editor by International President Frank Hurt in 1998. She was later named Director of Internal Communications, a position she held until being appointed to the Director of Public Relations and Communications in 2001, following the retirement of Carolyn Jacobson.
A third generation Union member, Christensen began her career as a trade unionist in 1991 as a videographer with the United Auto Workers (UAW) in Detroit, Mich. She went on to serve as an assistant editor at the Seafarers International Union (SIU) for six years before coming to work at the BC&T.
In reflecting on Christensen’s contributions to the BCTGM, International President Anthony Shelton notes, “Corrina’s passion for telling the stories of our BCTGM members is second to none. She has an enormous amount of respect for the work they do, and it shows.”
Throughout her career, in addition to serving as the Assistant Editor of the BCTGM News, Christensen led the expansion of the BCTGM’s communications to online and email resources. She also led special video development and oversaw
the production of seven BCTGM Constitutional Conventions. Her work covered the high profile Strikes at Earthgrains (2000), Hostess (2012), Nabisco (2021) and Kellogg’s (2021); Lockouts at American Crystal Sugar (2012) and Kellogg’s (2014); countless organizing campaigns and dozens of creative feature stories about BCTGM members at work and in their communities.
Christensen wrote and disseminated online actions which drove petition signatures on many important legislative measures. This work included the SAVE OUR PENSION campaign, which enabled thousands of BCTGM activists to email members of Congress urging them to take action to help preserve multiemployer pension plans like the B&C Industry Pension Fund.
Michelle Ellis, who has served as the BCTGM’s Director of Digital Media since 2012, was appointed to assume the position of Director of Communications upon Christensen’s retirement.
Ellis was hired as a Communications Assistant by International President David B. Durkee in 2009, after working as an intern under Christensen and completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising at the Art Institute of Washington. Prior to joining the professional staff, Ellis held administrative jobs in the membership and accounting departments at the International Union.
“Michelle has worked in every department of this International Union, and learned the ropes of labor communications for more than a decade under Corrina. This is a seamless transition and I trust Michelle to keep our members, families and affiliates informed as we move forward with the work of this great Union,” concludes Shelton.
PR/Communications Dir. Corrina Christensen and Dir. of Digital Media Michelle Ellis at the 41st Constitutional Convention in 2022.
Christensen (right) on the BCTGM L. 3G (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Kellogg Strike line in 2021, with Intl. Rep. Lisa Gregory (left) and L. 3G member Sharnita Childress (center).
Settlement Reached at Nestle Purina
Members of BCTGM Local 366G (Oklahoma City, Okla.) have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Nestle Purina in Oklahoma City.
The four-year agreement features a $1.30 wage increase each year, for a total of $5.20 over the term of the contract. The bargaining committee also secured an additional paid holiday (Juneteenth), plus two additional personal floating holidays, for a total of four.
In addition, the new contract increases the tool allowance and bereavement leave for the members, includes a 30-minute new employee orientation, and adds new maintained health and pension benefits. An important change was made to overtime language, whereby employees who were improperly bypassed for overtime hours would be automatically compensated.
The bargaining committee, led by BCTGM International Representative Jason Thomas, included Local 366G President Darian Haggins, Vice President Karlos Brothers, Financial Secretary Chad Baugh and Local Union Leaders James Perez, Natasha Long, Mike Strawther, Todd Cook, Jermaine Chiles, Bryan Raley, and Andy Bernhardt.
Longtime members said they could not remember a raise as large as this one. According to Thomas, the stellar contract was the direct result of the solidarity of the members. “This is an extremely strong Local Union, from the leadership to the members, and they all knew they had to stick together to achieve a great contract,” said Thomas.
A large part of that strength lies in the fact the Local Union has almost 100% membership in the facility. According to Local 366G Vice President Karlos Brothers, because the plant is in a Right-to-Work state, the Local Union officers and stewards must work extra hard to sign up new employees. “We work with our stewards on internal organizing, utilize our time with new employees to teach them about the union, and we have created a union culture that gives us strength,” said Brothers.
The 300 members at the Nestle Purina plant in Oklahoma City produce dry dog and cat food products such as Purina One, Beneful and Purina Dog Chow. Local 366G has represented the Nestle Purina members since 1974.
Announcing the 2024 Winners of the
David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship
The BCTGM International proudly announces the winners of the 2024 David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program. The International Union awards five $5,000 scholarships to the children of Union members. The 2024 winners were chosen from a total of 98 applicants.
Charlie Diaz is the son of Arquimides Diaz, member of Local 22 (Minniapolis, Minn.). Charlie will attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND.
Christopher Porter is the son of Angela Porter, a Local 317T member employed at Lorillard. Christopher will attend North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
The BCTGM International Scholarship 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.
Tatum Ingram is the daughter of Thurman Ingram, member of Local 203T (Richmond, Va.). Tatum will attend Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Va.
Luella Strom is the daughter of Toby Strom, member of Local 267G (Crookston, Minn.). Luella will attend North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D.
Kadiatu Alie Yansaneh is the daughter of Yusuf Yansaneh, member of BCTGM Local 410 (St. John’s, NF). Kadiatu will attend Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Newfoundland (Canada).
Benefits for UNION Pets
Thinking about ways to reduce your pet expenses this year? Union members and their families can get the best care for their pets while easing the financial burden.
The Union Plus Pet Health Insurance program is powered by Pets Best. Pets Best offers plans to fit all budgets and coverage needs. Plus, union members get 10% off eligible plans and access to the Pet Helpline where a veterinary expert will answer your pet behavior questions 24/7.
Pets Best was founded by a veterinarian in 2005 and has paid more than $125 million in pet insurance claims to pet parents.
SAVE MONEY
What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance reimburses you on your veterinary bills when your dog or cat gets sick or injured. Pet insurance helps you afford the best course of treatment, protects against major financial setbacks, and can give you peace of mind as a pet parent. Having a pet insurance plan allows you to focus on getting the best care for your pet without worrying about the financial burden.
As a union member, you’ll get up to a 10% discount.
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