Quaker Oats Stewards Eager to Learn
Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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30 Jan Quaker Oats Stewards Eager to Learn

Posted at 19:15h in News for Stewards by

Shop stewards from the Quaker Oats facility in Danville, Ill. met for a one-day educational conference on January 28. The group of 30 Local 347G (Danville, Ill.) members were a mix of seasoned and newly-elected stewards all eager to learn more about the duties and responsibilities of the job.

The training was led by BCTGM Midwest Region Vice President Brad Schmidt and BCTGM Director of Research and Education Matthew Clark.

The conference began with a segment on the history and structure of the BCTGM, its role in the larger North American labor movement, and how to educate new members about the union. The group used role-playing as a way to illustrate different ways of approaching and talking to new members of the union.

The training also focused on labor laws that apply to union stewards, health and safety issues, new member orientation, dealing with management and supervisors, and communication strategies.

BCTGM Local 347G Recording-Secretary Tyler Bennett led a segment on the grievance procedure, outlining the timelines, how to properly fill in a grievance form, and some โ€œDoโ€™s and Donโ€™tsโ€ when investigating grievances. 

According to Schmidt, it is vitally important for new stewards to learn from those who have years of experience. โ€œNew stewards are sometimes intimidated about all the roles that they have to play as a union steward, but the more senior stewards can really help them learn how to manage these responsibilities,โ€ said Schmidt. In 2019, Local 347G negotiated a new five-year contract with the company.

The Quaker Oats Company built the Danville facility in 1969. In 2000, Quaker Oats was acquired by Pepsico, which also owns Frito Lay and Gatorade. 

The Danville facility employs approximately 500 BCTGM members who produce Capโ€™n Crunch, Quaker Oat Squares, Quaker Natural Granola, Aunt Jemima pancake mixes and Chewy Granola bars.

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