Local Union News
Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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At Voortman’s Bakery in Burlington, Ontario, BCTGM Local 264 (Toronto, Ontario) members warmly welcomed a small group of Ukrainian refugees who came to work at the bakery. Over the months since the war in Ukraine began, Canada has welcomed more than 82,000 Ukrainians fleeing their country, allowing them to make a fresh start in Canada.In the bakery, word spread quickly about the most pressing needs of the newly arrived Ukrainian workers. From clothing, bedding, furniture and...

07 October, 2022

BCTGM Local 252G (Memphis, Tenn.) Vice President Kevin Bradshaw has been elected to serve as President of the Memphis and West Tennessee Central Labor Council. Bradshaw, a 21-year union member, is a Case Handling Operator at the Kellogg’s Memphis plant. During his tenure with Local 252G, he has also served as President, Trustee and Steward. Most recently, Bradshaw served as a spokesperson for his union brothers and sisters at the Kellogg’s Memphis plant during the 11-week strike...

22 April, 2022

Included as special feature of the 2022 Western Conference, Local Union leaders and representatives discussed the lessons learned, inspirations and strengths gained through the 2021 strikes. The panel discussion included Local 26 (Denver, Colo.) President Cliffton Horton, Local 364 (Portland, Ore.), Business Agent Cameron Taylor, Local 364 Financial Secretary Mike Burlingham and BCTGM International Representative Karrie Setters. Moderated by BCTGM Director of Digital Media Michelle Ellis, the panel shared stories of the challenges and issues that...

22 April, 2022

Labor solidarity was vital to the success of the strikes by BCTGM members at Frito Lay, Nabisco, Kellogg’s and Jon Donaire. This is why when the BCTGM learned that musicians at the San Antonio Symphony were on strike for a fair contract, we teamed with BIMBO Bakeries U.S.A. to provide the workers and their families with union-made bread and snacks. For months, the 72 members of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 23 in San Antonio...

15 March, 2022

Nearly one year after voting to become members of BCTGM Local 149 (Memphis, Tenn.), workers at the Blues City Brewery in Memphis ratified their first union contract on November 11, 2021. The first order of business for the more than 700 workers at the large industrial brewery, according to BCTGM Southern Region Vice President Zack Townsend, was to nominate shop stewards. Once elected, it was vital that the Union hold shop steward training to educate the...

03 March, 2022

On Friday, BCTGM Local 149 and Blues City Brewery workers were joined by striking Kellogg’s Local 252G members and the Memphis labor community outside the massive brewery for a rally to call attention to the worker’s fight for a first contract. Local 149 has been working hard to achieve a first contract to help protect the workers of Blues City Brewery and address the issues they face at the massive 1.3 million-square-foot plant. Workers at the...

08 November, 2021

On October 7th, BCTGM Local 264 (Toronto) held a day of union generosity to provide members formerly employed by Del’s Pastry with union foods to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. Del’s Pastry was destroyed by a fire on June 15th. According to BCTGM Canadian Vice President Ron Piercey, the party lasted more than six hours. Union members dropped in and out of the event throughout the day as some members are working at other places while they wait...

23 October, 2021

On July 5, more than 600 BCTGM Local 218 members at the Topeka, Kansas Frito Lay plant went out on strike against one of America’s largest snack makers. Workers at the plant have been pushed to exhaustion and frustration with a company that refuses to address their concerns. This is the first of a BCTGM blog series that will introduce some of the hardworking Local 218 members on strike and walking the picket line outside...

16 July, 2021

Cookies, pies, muffins, artesian breads, cakes, cheese cakes, bagels and numerous other specialty bakery items sold in 106 Wegmans stores are proudly made by hard-working BCTGM Local 116 (Auburn, N.Y.) workers at the company’s flagship bakery in Rochester, N.Y. Carlos Andujar (Breads, Local 116 President) and Ray Colon (shop co-chair)Corelis Matos Ross, Fardosa Said, Rodha Said, and Justina Nwamadi (Sweets)Jose Gonzalez and Alexander Daniel (Parbake)Rosa West and Val Wheems (Sweets)Vahid Begovic (Shipping) There are 424 union...

02 July, 2021

Two BCTGM local unions represent workers at several chemical companies all located within a sprawling 400-acre industrial complex in a remote corner of Shelby County, Tennessee. Local 407G (Memphis, Tenn.) members at Plaskolite manufacture continuous cast acrylic sheet used for spas and baths, as well as clear museum and frame grade acrylic sheet. According to Local 407G President Terry Howard, the plant ramped up production throughout the pandemic to provide acrylic sheets to retail stores, schools,...

01 July, 2021

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...

30 June, 2021

“I come from a union family and unionism is in my blood. I am not just a union member – but I live a union life, through and through. It is who I am.” -Bill Andre, Local 116 (Auburn, N.Y.) Business Agent/Financial Secretary. Andre was born and raised in Auburn, located in Cayuga County on the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, in Central New York.  He takes great pride in noting...

21 May, 2021

“I love my job. There is always something that makes my work interesting and challenging. In a way, my job is just an elevated shop steward position. Just like my years as a shop steward, I am helping out union members all day, every day,” concludes Gomez. Sixteen years ago, Rudy Gomez took a job at the Safeway wholesale bread plant and warehouse in Richmond, Calif. and began a union career that would lead him to...

06 May, 2021

The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council hosted a “Let’s Get Out the Vote” rally for U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock outside the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 613 headquarters in downtown Atlanta on Friday. “Workers are the folk who make America great,” You are the job creators. We’ve got to defend a livable wage. It is wrong to call people essential workers and not provide them with essential wages and essential benefits.” - Rev....

16 December, 2020

On November 5, BCTGM Local Unions representing Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) facilities in the Southern and Midwest Regions reached agreement on a “pattern” settlement impacting thousands of workers in the bread and cake sector. The new five-year agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by Local 65 (Oklahoma City, Okla.) members at the BBU bakery in Oklahoma City, officially setting it as the wholesale pattern for the industry. Due to the pandemic, only the negotiating committee met in person...

03 December, 2020