28 Feb BCTGM 40th Constitutional Convention: Organize. Educate. Resist. Persist.
Throughout the BCTGM International Union’s 132-year history, each generation has fought hard to build a stronger Union upon the solid foundation forged by previous generations. In fact, the International Union has flourished for nearly a century and a half because of our “never give up” attitude and our willingness to “think outside the box” when tackling challenges. Throughout our proud history, we have held strong to our unwavering committment to defending the quality of life of working men and women, organizing the unorganized, fighting for decent wages, fair treatment, good benefits and safe workplaces.
These traits have allowed the BCTGM to survive, and thrive, through the industrial revolution, two world wars, economic Depressions, anti-worker administrations, corporate-driven economic policies, bad trade deals and extreme anti-union employers. With solidarity and resolve, we have fought and won a more secure future for the North American workers we proudly represent.
As stated in the Declaration of Principles of the BCTGM Constitution, “The opposition from employers and their strong political representatives seems sharp and constant, and in the face of these, it is our declared purpose to maintain our unity and solidarity.”
These last four years have been no exception. Since the BCTGM International Union Convention in 2014, BCTGM local unions throughout North America have confronted every challenge with vigilance and perseverance. In the face of the greatest adversities, BCTGM members have fought hard and smart to preserve and protect all that has been achieved for our members in the last 132 years.
After Wall Street hedge funds and private equity raiders bankrupted and liquidated the iconic Interstate Bakeries/Hostess Brands, once a bread and cake industry titan, this Union organized the reopened Hostess cake plants despite the new owner’s public stance that the company “would not be in the union going forward.”
When Mondelēz International implemented a business plan that moved an enormous amount of its production to Mexico, this Union responded with one of the largest and most effective campaigns waged against an employer in our history. Led by the International Union, BCTGM local unions across the United States and Canada have enthusiastically supported this historic campaign to aid their brothers and sisters at Nabisco.
At a time when continuing education is under attack, the International Union doubled down on educating our International staff, local union leaders, stewards, and organizers. Recognizing the writing on the wall, this Union remains committed to cultivating the best, the brightest and the strongest labor leaders for our future.
In the United States, we face a Republican-dominated, anti-worker Congress. Led by appointees of the Trump Administration, regulations protecting the safety and health of our members at work have been stripped. Newly appointed leaders at the National Labor Relations Board, tasked with protecting workers’ right to join a union and bargain collectively, have already begun to overturn key worker protections. Employers have been given the green light to resist our efforts to expand our ranks through organizing.
In the last several months as I’ve reflected on these difficult times and the strength and resolve of the BCTGM, it seems only fitting that the theme for the 40th BCTGM Constitutional Convention is, “Organize. Educate. Resist. Persist.”
When we gather in Las Vegas this summer, once again, we will meet at a time of unprecedented challenge and uncertainty for working people and the labor movement in North America.
We are confronting a relentless assault by governmental leaders and corporate interests determined to stifle the work of the labor movement. We face government policies that allow multinational corporations like Mondelēz to pit hardworking North American jobs against those of workers in other countries who earn poverty level wages and work in unregulated workplaces. We are fed up with corporate greed and employers’ callous disregard for the economic well-being of BCTGM working families.
So, we will do what we have done thoughout history. We will Organize. We will Educate. We will Resist. And we will Persist.
— David B. Durkee, BCTGM International President