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Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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As Congress and the federal government respond to COVID-19 and the economic crisis, the AFL-CIO is taking the lead with affiliate unions by advocating for the needs of working families. The labor movement is insisting that the next stimulus package include stronger workplace safety guidelines and more resources to protect front-line workers. The AFL-CIO is asking Congress for investments that will keep all workers employed and protect hard-earned pension benefits Provide funding for state and...

14 April, 2020

The AFL-CIO has updated its resources page for workers affected by COVID-19.The new updates include new information on food-related security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, and resources provided by state federations and central labor councils, in addition to information about unemployment insurance in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It will be updated regularly with more resources and useful information. ...

14 April, 2020

There has been a lot of confusion about how seniors, retirees, people with disabilities, and veterans will receive the coronavirus stimulus checks they deserve. Seniors 62 and older who receive Social Security retirement benefits, including those affected by the windfall elimination provision (WEP) and government pension offset (GPO), individuals who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and railroad retirees will automatically receive a stimulus payment. Payments will come automatically to your bank if you receive benefits via...

14 April, 2020

BCTGM Local 374G (Lancaster, Pa.) members are working hard to continue production of America's beloved Kellogg's cereals to help keep breakfast on the tables of Americans during the Coronavirus health crisis. Due to the COVID-19 national emergency, Kellogg's has increased production as well as its role in providing weekly donations to area food banks and community based youth and family organizations. L.374G members Cody Rakus and Jim Hockenberry.L.374G members Jim Hockenberry and Ron Laukhuff Cereals made...

13 April, 2020

On April 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) substantially weakened workplace protections for essential infrastructure workers โ€“ like BCTGM members โ€“ from COVID-19. The new CDC guidelines for businesses allows employers to require workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 to continue to work following exposure, provided they remain asymptomatic and some additional precautions are implemented. โ€œThis recommendation to put essential workers back to work after being exposed to COVID-19 is irresponsible and...

10 April, 2020

Payroll Tax Cut Scheme is a Severe Threat to Social Securityย  The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding President Trumpโ€™s April 7 statement that he supports cutting the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare.  โ€œDuring President Trumpโ€™s press conference yesterday with members of the Coronavirus Task Force, he made cavalier yet deeply disturbing comments that a permanent payroll tax cut would be a...

08 April, 2020

A new inspector general report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirms what frontline workers at hospitals have been saying for weeks: Hospitals across America do not have the supplies they need to fight the coronavirus.  Instead of trying to shift blame or continue to jeopardize state preparedness, the Trump administration must make up lost groundโ€”and fastโ€”to get supplies to hospitals.  Meanwhile, big businesses like Amazon have failed to prevent the spread of COVID-19...

08 April, 2020

byย the Union Veterans Councilย  COVID-19 - Experts tell us, social distancing is our strongest life-saving tool when it comes to fighting the novel coronavirus, but for veterans, social distancing isn't as easy as it may be for others. Along with social distancing, many are facing sudden job loss and loss of wages during this pandemic, creating the "perfect storm" for a mental health crisis in our veteran's community. A large number of veterans are at risk of...

04 April, 2020

Frontline workers in food manufacturing, in distribution centers, stocking shelves at grocery stores and delivering food have become a lifeline for millions of working people who are staying home during the COVID-19 crisis. Jobs Report Payrolls dropped by 701,000 in March, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent from 3.5 percent. Businesses who receive federal funding from the CARES Act have a legal and moral responsibility to put their payroll before profits....

03 April, 2020

This official obituary for President Durkee appears in the Evansville, Ind. Courier Press Evansville - David Butler Durkee departed this life at home, surrounded by his family, on March 30, 2020. He was born in Cortland, NY on Oct. 11, 1953, to the late William and Marguerite (Butler) Durkee. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Sharon (Jordan) Durkee; his daughter Kristen Burnett (Jim); sons Joshua Durkee (Becky) and Colin Durkee (Lauren);...

03 April, 2020

Democratic congressional leaders are working now on the next emergency legislation to deal with the catastrophic economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Schumer are fully supportive of laborโ€™s call for including multiemployer pension relief as a top priority in the next round of stimulus and recovery legislation. Labor had fought to include multiemployer pension relief in the most recent stimulus legislation, but Senate Republican Leader McConnell blocked...

02 April, 2020

From Pittsburgh trash collectors and Amazon warehouse pickers, to Instacart shoppers and Whole Foods workers, workers throughout the U.S. have either walked off the job or held protests for higher pay and better protections during the coronavirus pandemic. Read this article by Dave Jamieson about how nonunion workers are rising up and demanding safe workplaces during this global health crisis. The pandemic has revealed just how poorly many companies treat their employees. Will workers continue...

02 April, 2020

โ€œBrother Durkee was the definition of a true union activist and fought to protect his members at every turn. I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with him in the fight against corporations who outsourced jobs overseas. He was a tireless advocate who was committed to the principles of the labor movement. The news of his passing hurt myself and our IAM family deeply. We offer our thoughts and prayers to Davidโ€™s family...

31 March, 2020

Press Release MARCH 31, 2020 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today, mourning the passing of BCTGM International Union President David B. Durkee: โ€œDavid Durkee was one of my heroes in the labor movement. He fought like a lion on behalf of his members, unafraid to take on giant international corporations with courage, conviction and determination to preserve their jobs, their pensions and their communities. His ability to...

31 March, 2020