The BCTGM Voices Project

037: History of Political Action in Labor and the BCTGM, with Labor Historian Joe McCartin and BCTGM Organizing Director John Price

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 the Strike that Changed America - Book by Joe McCartin
• Labor’s Great War: The Struggle for Industrial Democracy and the Origins of Modern American Labor Relations, 1912-1921 - Book by Joe McCartin

• Bargaining for the Common Good Initiative

036: PENSIONS PROTECTED | BCTGM Leaders Retell What Happened to our Pensions, How they Were Saved and What to Expect Going Forward

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: "Our money is in the bank. The promise of pension reform has been realized for more than 100,000 BCTGM retirees."

We hear from BCTGM Leaders who worked for many years to save our pensions:

• Anthony Shelton, BCTGM International President
• Harry Kaiser, Retired Asst. to the President/Political Director
• Elizabeth Briere, Pension Fund Manager, B&C Trust Funds
• with historical clips from Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and former BCTGM International Presidents David B. Durkee and Frank Hurt

We dedicate this episode to our late president David B. Durkee, who fought for his entire time in office to fix the pension crisis. His legacy now underscores the security of generations of BCTGM Retirees, who will live the sunset years of their lives in dignity thanks to his passion and diligence. 

035: Organizing Hearthside: Organizers and Workers in McComb, Oh., London, Ky. and Michigan City, Ind. discuss hope and challenges of joining the BCTGM

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 Hearthside Foods (London, Ky.)
• Roxanne Hallman, Mixing Machine Operator, 12-year employee of Hearthside Foods (London, Ky.)
• Veronica Hopkins, BCTGM Midwest Region International Rep.
• Ryan Hocke, BCTGM Midwest Region International Rep.

References from this episode:

• Workers File for an Election in London, Ky.
• January 2022 Hearthside Update from John Price and Jason Maynard

034: An Update on the Local 390G (Memphis, Tenn.) IFF Strike as it enters its 5th Month

An update on the Local 390G #IFFStrike in Memphis, Tenn. – now approaching its 5^th 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 Ways to Support the IFF Strike
• IFF Strike Facebook Page

033: IFF On STRIKE! Local 390G Members Share Their Stories and Gratitude for all the Support Shown by the Memphis Labor Community

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 of IFF)

Resources from this episode:

• 3 Ways to Support the IFF Strike
• IFF Strike Facebook Page

032: Educating BCTGM Local Union Officers and Stewards | with Research & Education Director Matthew Clark

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 Director John Price and Local 6 President Hank McKay - on-site to contribute their mentorship and wisdom. 

Interested in attending, setting up or sending someone to a future leadership training? Contact Research & Education Director Matthew Clark at mclark@bctgm.org.

031: Meet Darrell Copeland, Hostess Local 84 and Asst. Chief Shop Steward Michael Wilson

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 are strengthening the workers’ bargaining power at Hostess Brands.

030: Midterm Elections, BCTGM-PAC Rules and Labor 2022 Action Items with Political Director Harry Kaiser and Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga

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 election right in the swing states.

029: LIVE Panel Discussion from #BCTGM2022 on the Impact of Social Media

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 historic 2021 strikes, and the challenges that arise when using it in organizing.

028: #CornNutsStrike Local 85 Fin. Secy. Jerry Gil and Shop Steward Larry Cuevas Discuss the Issues

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.