Working people are essential voters—we must make our voices heard this fall and vote in candidates who have working people’s interests at heart, up and down the ballot. We also know that this year, the enemies of democracy will be working harder than ever to suppress our votes and our voices. They will try to make it even more difficult to vote for millions of Americans. So we’ll have to work harder to make sure our...
The BCTGM, together with the AFL-CIO and its other affiliates, condemn Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his body’s failure to pass the HEROES Act, deepening economic hardship for millions, especially those who will lose the additional $600 in unemployment insurance benefits expiring at the end of the month. For months, millions of laid-off American workers have relied on these increased weekly supplemental benefits to pay the bills and stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The...
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend our lives and our economy. This crisis is showing that we cannot have a healthy economy without a healthy workforce. Working people are among the hardest hit, and our senators must act with urgency to pass the HEROES Act, which will put our country on the path to recovery. The HEROES Act includes an effective, comprehensive solution to the multiemployer pension funding crisis that would provide long-term security for pension...
Across the country, BCTGM members are taking action to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass the HEROES Act. It is the legislation we need to get America back on track. The HEROES Act includes an effective, comprehensive solution to the multiemployer pension funding crisis that would provide long-term security for pension funds, including the B&C Fund, and for beneficiaries. Tell the Senate: Pass the Heroes Act! Additionally, the HEROES Act would protect frontline workers, make vital investments,...
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka today announced the creation of the AFL-CIO Task Force on Racial Justice, charged with implementing a series of recommendations adopted by the AFL-CIO General Board focused on taking concrete action to address America’s long history of racism and police violence against Black people. “The labor movement is committed to being the tip of the spear in the fight to bring long overdue racial justice to our country,” Trumka said. “These dedicated leaders...
In Cincinnati, BCTGM Local 253 leaders and International Representative Lisa Gregory joined with Cincinnati Federation of Teachers outside the home office of Ohio’s Senator Rob Portman (R) to urge his support for critical pieces of the House-passed HEROES Act in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Click Here to Call Your Senator In the coming days, union members across the country will be attending events designed to hold all senators accountable for passing the strong, comprehensive legislation in...
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...
On May 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800), powerful legislation to address the economic emergency facing the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The HEROES Act includes an effective, comprehensive solution to the multiemployer pension funding crisis that would provide long-term security for pension funds, including the B&C Fund, and for beneficiaries. The BCTGM was actively involved in labor’s effort to get this proposal included in the legislation. The Republican-controlled U.S....
The Philadelphia City Council has unanimously approved a bill that will make it illegal for employers to fire, discipline, or otherwise retaliate against workers who speak up about working in unsafe conditions related to the coronavirus. The measure is expected to be signed by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, making Philadelphia the first big city in the country to give workers stronger legal protection against this kind of retaliation. It’s a victory for the Philadelphia labor community. The...
More than 300 families in Hartwell, Ga. are able to feed their families union-made goods thanks to a Local 42 (Atlanta) led COVID-19 community relief effort. Together with Impact Church of Hartwell, the local union wanted to reach members of the community who have been negatively affected by the pandemic. Local 42 represents the maintenance workers at the nearby Nestlé Purina plant. Several workers from the plant volunteered to help distribute the food to hundreds...
Washington D.C. June 20 – On June 17, the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO appointed BCTGM International President Anthony L. Shelton as a Vice President on the Council. In accepting the appointment, Shelton thanked AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and members of the Executive Council for the “tremendous honor”. “My father was a 62-year member of the BCTGM and served as a member of our International’s General Executive Board. I wish he were alive to share this honor...
On April 16, 2020, the BCTGM International General Executive Board voted to rename the BCTGM International Scholarship Program to the David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program. The program is a tribute to the legacy of President Durkee and the high value he placed on learning and education. The BCTGM International Union has been awarding scholarships to union families since 1962. These five exceptional BCTGM children were chosen from a total of 59...
Together with the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO, the UAW, Ford and BIMBO Bakeries, Local 326 helped deliver thousands of pounds of BCTGM-made products to the Community Action Agency of Monroe County and numerous area food banks. The union goods will be distributed to working families hardest hit by the financial crisis caused by the pandemic. According to Local 326 President and Business Agent Nikee Craine-Kanitz, the multi-day event included gathering Sara Lee/BIMBO Bakeries USA products from...
Nearly 150 union families in San Antonio, Texas received boxes overflowing with Nabisco/Mondelez products and BIMBO Bakeries USA bread made by BCTGM Local 111 members at the San Antonio bakery. For the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area, the Texas Workforce Commission listed more than 93,000 jobs lost. Combined, the area around the two cities reached an unemployment rate of 13.7% Across the state, 1,298,900 jobs have been lost. The BCTGM was among...
BCTGM Local 85 wanted to find a meaningful way to support the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and make sure families and individuals in their community received the food they need during the pandemic. Partnering with the Bimbo Bakeries USA Sacramento Plant & Northern Imports Western Division, Local 85 members loaded a total of 3,592 pounds of BCTGM-made products into two BIMBO trucks and delivered it to the food bank. The Sacramento Food Bank &...