Intl. Pres. Shelton: Stand in Solidarity AGAINST Racism, Inequality and Injustice
Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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06 Jul Intl. Pres. Shelton: Stand in Solidarity AGAINST Racism, Inequality and Injustice

Posted at 16:42h in President Anthony Shelton, President's Report by

The following is an important message to the BCTGM membership
from International President Anthony Shelton:

Our union is in the midst of some of the most turbulent times in our 134-year history. The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every corner of our lives, from our health and livelihoods to our heart and soul. As a husband, father and grandfather, I understand the uncertainty you are feeling right now.

This crisis is showing us something we have known all along; that workers are the glue that holds our nation together. As the months of this pandemic pass, we see you, our union brothers and sisters, as you go to work every day to help keep food on grocery store shelves and in the homes of North American families. It is also important to remember that as one of the oldest labor unions in North America, the BCTGM has overcome incredible challenges beforeโ€”and this historic time will be no different.

I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to members and their families who have been infected or have lost loved ones from this virus. We continue to do everything we can to ensure our workplaces are as safe as possible. This union will continue to demand that employers provide personal protective equipment and follow CDC guidelines, such as temperature checks, social distancing and disinfecting workplaces.

I also want to use this space to reflect on the current unrest in the United States caused by the shocking and horrible death of George Floyd. Racism causes pain to people every day in America. As we have throughout our history, the BCTGM will continue to stand together against racism, inequality and injustice.

Racism is a labor issue because it is faced by workers every single day in their workplaces. It is a community issue because unions are the community.

In both our workplaces and in our communities, we must reject the culture of divisiveness that robs the dignity of our brothers and sisters because of their race, their religion, their gender, their age, their disability, or their sexual orientation.

Unions lift up ALL workers. We give them a voice where there is none. For many workers, joining a union is a way to build a life. This is how and why we need to continue to grow our union so that we might tackle inequality and injustice. We must organize to make our union stronger so that we are better able to demand economic, social and racial justice beginning in our workplaces.

Many of our own union brothers and sisters and their families go out into the world every day and confront racism and bigotry. We should all be angry that these issues must still be confronted in 2020. And we must turn that anger into action. And real action this year can be taken in the 2020 elections.

As members of our great union, we know what is possible when people join together. We have seen the power of solidarity. We have transformed workplaces, communities and our entire nation.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. Racial injustice and inequality diminish all of us. As Brothers and Sisters in the BCTGM, we have always succeeded by listening to one another, reaching out to help others and knowing there will always be a hand there when we need one. We must stand in solidarity with one another.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay united.

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