The BCTGM Voices Project

In 2022, the AFL-CIO Executive Board established a commission on strengthening state federations and area and central labor councils, with the purpose of recommending ways to modernize and revitalize these organizations. Given the tremendous collaboration with the area Councils and State Feds during the BCTGM’s high profile strikes in 2021 and 2022—namely at FritoLay, Nabisco and Kellogg’s—AFL-CIO...

Following a brief journey through the history of the Tobacco Workers International Union (TWIU), we review what led to its merger with the Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union in 1978. Leaders at three different BCTGM Tobacco Local Unions then discuss the current status of the tobacco industry, its Union density in the South, the effects of the changing culture around tobacco use,...

Most people believe the sugar they use and consume everyday comes from sugarcane, but in the United States about 60% of it is Union-made from sugar beets in the cooler climates of the northern Midwest and Western regions of the country. BCTGM members in Michigan, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Idaho and Wyoming process nearly 100% of the sugar from sugar beets – for companies like Michigan Suga...

Different than the external act of going into facilities where there is no union and attempting to start one—Internal Organizing is fundamentally about building a union culture in your workplace where, when given the choice to belong or opt out of the Union, workers would ultimately desire to be a part of it. This is the only way to strengthen our Local Unions against the rising threat of Right-to...

Learn the legislative and political challenges of Labor in the last century, which inform the BCTGM's political positions today.  We hear from: Joe McCartin, Georgetown Univ. Professor, Executive Director of Kalmanovitz Initiative fo Labor and the Working Poor John Price, BCTGM Director of Organization References from this episode: Collision Course: Ronald Reagan, the Air Traffic Controllers, and...

On July 22, 2024 a wire transfer of $3.3 billion in relief funds from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to the B&C Industry International Pension Fund was completed. The fight for the Butch Lewis Act - which began in 2017 and passed as a pension provision in the 2021 American Rescue Plan - was realized. President Shelton sent a memo to U.S. BCTGM Local Unions that day announcing:...

Get the decades-long backstory on this multi-location organizing campaign and save the date for London, Ky.’s Union election on May 7 and 8. We hear from: John Price, BCTGM Director of Organization Jason Maynard, Forklift Operator, 22-year employee of Hearthside Foods (McComb, Ohio) Lisa Gregory, BCTGM East-Central Region International Rep. Liticia Horton, Oven Operator, 29-year employee of Hearth...

An update on the Local 390G #IFFStrike in Memphis, Tenn. – now approaching its 5th month. We hear from: David Woods, BCTGM International Secretary Treasurer Jason Thomas, BCTGM International Representative/IFF Lead Negotiator Cedric Wilson, BCTGM Local 390G President, 10-Year Operator at IFF Kevin Passeretti, BCTGM Local 390G Shop Steward, 35-year QA Analyst at IFF Resources from this episode: 4 W...

Workers give their take on the issues at play in the #IFFStrike. We hear from: Jason Thomas, BCTGM International Representative/IFF Lead Negotiator Cedric Wilson, BCTGM Local 390G President Cometris Morgan, BCTGM Local 390G Vice President Tanya Walker, 21-year member, Shop Steward/Trustee Zandra Lee, 28-year member  Jessica Merriweather, 6-year member Bob Thompson, 1-year member (22-year employee...

Covering all sides of the BCTGM’s Education and Training programs: Part One: An overview with the program director/head of the BCTGM's Research and Education Department, Matthew Clark. Part Two: Trainees from the most recent New Officers Training at the Maritime Institute in Baltimore, Md. give their feedback and insight. Also hear from International Secretary-Treasurer David Woods, Organizing Dir...

Southern Region International Rep. Darrell Copeland has been working with Hostess members in Georgia to improve union involvement in their plant, which operates in a Right-to-Work-for-Less state.   In this two-part episode, Copeland takes us through his personal journey as an emerging leader in the BCTGM - and then teams up with Local 84 Asst. Chief Shop Steward Michael Wilson to explain how they...

BCTGM Legislative and Political Director/Asst. to the President Harry Kaiser and Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga weigh in with valuable info on the upcoming midterm elections.   Kaiser reviews rules of the BCTGM-PAC Fund + how we are using our resources to lobby for BCTGM working families, while President Burga discusses the issues on the ballot in Ohio, and the importance of getting this electio...

Recorded LIVE on August 1st during the 41st Constitutional Convention: BCTGM Digital Media Director Michelle Ellis moderates a panel discussion from the stage with input from International Staff Members Andrew Gutierrez and Jared Cummings, and BCTGM Local 218 Business Manager Chantel Mendenhall. The group offers lessons learned from using social media to engage members, leverage awareness in the h...

BCTGM Local 85 (Sacramento, Calif.) Fin. Secy. Jerry Gil and Corn Nuts Facility Shop Steward Larry Cuevas discuss the health insurance issues surrounding the ULP #CornNutsStrike. Check out the Public Facebook Page, Corn Nuts Workers On Strike  to keep up with their stories, and go to  bit.ly/CornNutsStrike  to learn how you can support.

BCTGM Local 100G (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Fin. Secy. Ryan Hocke and Negotiating Committee Member Chris Eby discuss the over-scheduling, job elimination and wage issues surrounding the #IngredionStrike. Check out the Public Facebook Group, BCTGM 100G - Ingredion Cedar Rapids - On Strike! to keep up with their stories, and go to bit.ly/IngredionStrike to learn how you can support.

On March 24th, workers at the Hershey facility in Stuarts Draft, Virginia ultimately voted NOT to unionize with BCTGM by a count of 843 to 225. In this episode, worker committee members Jim Gibson and Janice Taylor join BCTGM staff organizers to reflect on the campaign.

Digital Media Dir. Michelle Ellis runs through a list of ten AUDIENCES to consider when posting on social media: The advantages of engaging each group and content we can post in order to connect with each one.

Throughout the last several months of contract negotiations, Local 22 in Minneapolis, Minn. has been fighting back demands by UNFI/Cub Foods to take the quality UNION retirement and health care benefits from BCTGM members who work in their bakeries.   In this episode, we get the full scoop from the Local President Wally Borgan and UNFI/Cub Foods Bakery Manager/Local 22 Bargaining Committee member...

Digital Media Dir. Michelle Ellis applies tips from Digital Insights Episode 8: “We Are What We Consistently Do” , determining whether the Podcast is producing desired outcomes from the proposal submitted to leadership in 2020. We discuss lessons learned through worker action, social media progress we made and renew our intentions for the coming year.   Highlights:  Three Podcast guests who took o...

One year after recording our very first episode of the BCTGM Voices Project, Organizing Director John Price returns for a full Organizing update on the year 2021. Joining the discussion is Jason Maynard, a worker at the non-union Hearthside Foods facility in McComb, Ohio which BCTGM has been trying to Organize since the 1990's. Jason recalls egregious union-busting tactics and harrowing safety con...

Local 37 (Los Angeles, Calif.) Shop Steward Julissa Marquez discusses the unfair wage, overtime and pension issues surrounding the Jon Donaire strike. “LIKE” the Rich’s Union Members Appreciation Facebook Page to keep up with their stories!

A follow-up to the  previous episode with East-Central Region Vice Pres. Roger Miller  – in this recording the workers give their inside take on the #KelloggStrike from every location. We hear from: Local 252G, Memphis, Tenn.: Local Vice Pres./Kellogg’s Unitizer Operator Kevin Bradshaw Local 50G, Omaha, Neb.: BCTGM Member/Kellogg’s Coater Operator Victor Francia Local 3G, Battle Creek, Mich.: Kell...

On October 5th, nearly 1,400 BCTGM members at cereal plants in Battle Creek, Mich., Omaha, Neb., Lancaster, Pa. and Memphis, Tenn. went on STRIKE against the Kellogg Company. In this episode, the lead Union negotiator for their contract – BCTGM East-Central Region Vice President Roger Miller – talks about the complicated sticking points which led an overwhelming 90% of the workers to vote in favor...

Our thoughts on everything from strikeline leadership and community organizing to fielding press calls and captivating the working class on social media. In this episode, we hear from: Richmond, Va.: Local 358 Fin. Secy./Bus. Agt. Darlene Carpenter Portland, Ore.: Local 364 Vice Pres./Nabisco Pest Controller Mike Burlingham and Oregon AFL-CIO Pres. Graham Trainor Kensington, Md.: BCTGM Int’l PR/Co...

A follow-up to the previous episode with BCTGM Int'l. Secy. Treas. David Woods – in this recording the workers give their inside take on the #NabiscoStrike from every location. From each strike line, we hear from: Local 364, Portland, Ore.: Local Bus. Agt. Cameron Taylor & Vice Pres./Nabisco Pest Controller Mike Burlingham Local 26, Aurora, Colo.: Local Pres./Bus. Mgr. Clifton Horton & Chief Stewa...