Local 68 Members: The ‘Secret Ingredient’ to Thomas’ English Muffins
Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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30 Jun Local 68 Members: The ‘Secret Ingredient’ to Thomas’ English Muffins

Posted at 13:35h in Local Union News, Members at Work, President Anthony Shelton by

When Thomas’ English Muffin bakery was built in 1977, it brought good-paying bakery jobs to workers in the Frederick, Maryland area. For more than 40 years, BCTGM Local 68 (Baltimore, Md.) has proudly represented workers at the bakery where union members produce1.8 million packages of Original “Nooks & Crannies” English Muffins per week.

Recently, BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton accompanied Local 68 Financial Secretary Gary Oskoian and Business Agent Rodney Lightfoot to the bakery for a tour and meeting with the union members. Oskoian began his union career as a member of the maintenance department at the bakery where he worked for 18 years before becoming the Local 68 Business Agent. He has served as an officer of Local 68 for 25 years. As he walks throughout the bakery, workers greet Oskoian with smiles and handshakes. “It’s like coming home,” he says.

  • L. 68 Fin. Secy. Gary Oskoian, Intl. Pres. Anthony Shelton, L. 68 Bus. Agt. Rodney Lightfoot
  • L. 68 Fin. Secy. Gary Oskoian shows Intl. Pres. Shelton photos of the bakery when it was first built in 1977. Oskoian started working at the bakery in March 1978.
  • Intl. Pres. Anthony Shelton, L. 68 Fin. Secy. Gary Oskoian and L. 68 shop steward Joe Close.

Thomas’ English Muffins from the Frederick bakery supply the East Coast from Maine to Florida and travel into the Mid-western region of the U.S. The plant operates four lines and employs 105 members of Local 68.

  • Thomas’ English Muffins are produced in 5 different BCTGM bakeries
  • BCTGM members at the Frederick, Md. bakery produce 1.7 million packages of Thomas’ English Muffins per week.
  • English Muffins from the Local 68 bakery supply the entire East Coast of the U.S. – from Maine to Florida.
  • The Union-Made muffins are produced in 13 different varieties, including seasonal specialties like Pumpkin, Banana, Cranberry.
  • In 1880, the first bakery to produce Thomas’ English Muffins opened in New York. Production of the English Muffins expanded and grew into New Jersey, California, and Florida.
  • Jorge Juarez
  • L. 68 members and Intl. Pres. Anthony Shelton
  • Brandin Breeden
  • Dave Gallahan
  • Duncan Weedon
  • Shop Steward Iris Miller and Intl. Pres. Anthony Shelton
  • Jannelly Urbaez
  • Shop Steward Joe Close
  • Intl. Pres. Anthony Shelton visits with L. 68 member Kelvin Goode during his breaktime
  • Imani Fielder
  • Terry Clem
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