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Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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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 Kelloggโ€™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 Kelloggโ€™s Memphis plant during the 11-week strike...

22 April, 2022

Building on the strength and unity gained during the successful three-week strike at the Frito-Lay plant in Topeka, Kansas in July 2021, BCTGM Local 218 (Kansas City, Mo.) returned to the bargaining table and reached the best contract ever negotiated for these Frito Lay workers. Negotiations were led by Midwest International Vice President Brad Schmidt. The bargaining Committee included Local 218 Business Agent Chantel Mendenhall and Local 218 Frito Lay members Kris Akin, Rodney North, Esther...

22 April, 2022

More than 800 coal miners in Alabama have been on strike against Warrior Met Coal for more than one year fighting for better pay and benefits after making concessions to help the company survive. It is believed to be the longest strike in Alabama history. The strike, the first for the Alabama Mine Workers in four decades, began on April 1, 2021. On April 6, to mark the one-year anniversary of the strike, the United Mine Workers...

22 April, 2022

In March, three former employees of Mondelez at the Fairlawn, N.J. bakery (Local 719) received a monetary award totaling $2.3 million, resulting from a 2020 NLRB Decision finding that they were unlawfully suspended and terminated in retaliation for their Union support or otherwise engaging in protected concerted activities. The three workers were icing mixers and floor helpers at the plant and were active in Local 719 for many years prior to their unlawful discharges. Mondelez was ordered...

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

BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton is part of a coalition of labor leaders who released the following statement today ahead of the Senateโ€™s vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court: โ€œAs the elected leaders of 27 unions and worker organizations collectively representing tens of millions of working people providing essential services across our great nation, we stand together in strong support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksonโ€™s nomination to the United States Supreme...

06 April, 2022

Labor solidarity was vital to the success of the strikes by BCTGM members at Frito Lay, Nabisco, Kelloggโ€™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

On March 5, BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton attended a labor roundtable with President Biden, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and more than 30 AFL-CIO affiliated union officers in Wilmington, Delaware. Biden thanked the labor leaders for their support and outlined the actions his Administration has taken to help union members in his first year in office. Walsh spoke of the need to work collectively to empower American workers and underscored the presidentโ€™s support for strong...

11 March, 2022

President Biden promised to lead the most pro-labor administration in history, and with one year in office, he has proven he is true to his word. No union has benefited more than the BCTGM from President Bidenโ€™s support for unions and workersโ€™ rights. Joe Biden has proven to be a President of the United States who supports workersโ€™ right to join a union, collectively bargain and, when needed, to strike.  He is a President who...

09 March, 2022

After 232 years, the first Black woman has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Judge Jackson is eminently qualified for this critical lifetime position. Her distinguished legal career includes: Her term on the U.S. District Court in Washington, where she ruled on more than 550 cases;Her tenure as an assistant federal public defender; andHer experience serving as vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. The Senate must confirm her immediately. Click here...

04 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

BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton Reflects on the Official Theme of the BCTGM's 41st Constitutional Convention Preparations are well underway at the International Union Headquarters and in our local unions for the BCTGMโ€™s 41st Constitutional Convention July 27 โ€“ August 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since our last International Union Convention in 2018, the BCTGM and our members have been forced to confront some of the most difficult challenges in our unionโ€™s long and proud history; challenges...

03 March, 2022

More than 40 Local 358 (Richmond, Va.) stewards successfully completed a two-day steward training education conference in early February. The training was run by BCTGM International Research & Education Director Matthew Clark with assistance from Local 358 Financial Secretary/Business Agent Darlene Carpenter and President Keith Bragg. The two-day education conference focused on teaching the roles and responsibilities of union stewards by using role playing, small group activities and focusing on plant-specific challenges faced by stewards regularly. The...

03 March, 2022

The BCTGM International assisted Local 218 (Kansas City, Missouri) with a two-day steward training in Kansas City and Topeka, Kansas. The trainings were led by BCTGM International Research & Education Director Matthew Clark and BCTGM International Representative Jason Davis. The first day of training, held during a blinding snowstorm, included stewards from ADM (Cathage, Missouri), Graincraft (Wichita, Kansas), General Mills (Kansas City) and Bimbo Bakeries USA (Topeka). Two stewards participated via ZOOM video conferencing. The class included sessions...

03 March, 2022

BCTGM Local 37 (Los Angeles, Calif.) members on strike against Rich Products-owned Jon Donaire Desserts plant in Sante Fe, Calif. voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement, bringing an end to the strike that began on November 3, 2021. Reflecting on the vote to ratify the new agreement, BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton stated: โ€œThis has been a long and difficult fight for our striking members and their families. With each new day on...

23 February, 2022