BAKERY, CONFECTIONERY, TOBACCO WORKERS AND GRAIN MILLERS INTERNATIONAL UNION

VOLUME 8NUMBER 3

MAY/JUNE

2006

BCTGM News2

President’s Messagethe

security. Political leaders have showntheir true colors and allegiances andnow must answer to the citizens fortheir actions.

Working people also have hadenough of billionaire right-wing mediabosses who use their news outlets asnothing more than loudspeakers try-ing to justify and legitimize the irre-sponsible policies of anAdministration and congressionalleadership intent on crushing thehopes, aspirations and financial well-being of working Americans.

In four months, working people will have the oppor-tunity to demonstrate to the world that we are not goingto succumb again to divisive rhetoric and diversionarytactics. We will no longer vote against our own interests.This time, we will elect to office only those candidateswho will fight to improve the lives of working families.

The majesty of our democracy is that citizens havethe chance to undo electoral mistakes.We will use our Convention to shine a bright light on therecords of politicians, good and bad. Delegates will returnto their locals with the knowledge, information and ener-gy to lead the political change that is coming to thiscountry beginning with November’s congressional elec-tions.

There is no single action that this great organizationcould take that would do more to enhance the standardof living of our members than to work tirelessly for thenext two and a half years to change the politicians run-ning this country.

In doing so, the BCTGM will proudly declare, onceagain, that the welfare of the membership was placed first.

Frank HurtBCTGM International President

Official Publication of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union

10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895-3961(301) 933-8600

www.bctgm.orgFrank Hurt, Editor

Corrina A. Christensen, Assistant Editor

BCTGM GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARDPresident Frank Hurt • Secretary-Treasurer David B. Durkee •

Executive Vice President Joseph Thibodeau • Vice Presidents Jeanne Graham • Harry A. Guildner • Anthony L. Johnson • Sean Kelly • Michael T. Konesko •

Arthur Montminy • Robert Oakley • Randy Roark

BCTGM GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERSJoyce Alston • Edward Burpo • Randy W. Fulk •

Johnny Jackson • Paul LaBuda • Richard Lewis • Narcisco Martas • William F. Pearce • Ron Piercey • Danny Murphy •

Donna Scarano • Brad Schmidt • William Sprandel • Doyle Townson

BCTGM News (ISSN 1525-4860) is published bi-monthly by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain MillersInternational Union, 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961. Periodicals postage paid at Kensington, MD and at addi-tional mailing offices. Subscription to new members only. Postmaster: Send address changes to BCTGM News, 10401 ConnecticutAvenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961.

As you receivethis edition ofthe BCTGMNews, the startof our Union’s37th Consti-tutional Con-vention will be

just a few weeks away. After manymonths of extensive preparation, thestage is set for an outstanding andmemorable Convention.

The agenda is now complete andincludes guest speakers who will pro-vide valuable insight on a variety of issues of greatestimportance to our members and the future of our Unionincluding collective bargaining, organizing and politicalaction.

All of the effort and planning that has gone into thisyear’s Convention is meant to achieve one simple butcritical objective; to ensure that the BCTGM is fully pre-pared to do everything possible to enhance the standardof living of our members.

Because our members are up against the greatestodds we have faced in nearly a century, it is crucial thatthe Convention provide a solid foundation that willenable our Union to achieve this objective.

Since our last Convention four years ago, it has beena constant struggle for working people to maintain theirstandard of living. Big business has used its enormousinfluence with elected officials to advance an agenda ofmaximizing profits by suppressing workers’ wages, bene-fits and rights.

Ironically, many of the politicians who are aiding andabetting employers in this mission were swept into officeby the votes of working people. With empty promises andphony issues, these politicians convinced enough work-ing men and women that they would protect their inter-ests in Washington.

Of course, the record is quite the opposite. For the pastfive and a half years, the current political leadership inWashington has worked full time serving big business’interests, helping corporations fill their coffers (to the pointwhere most are now overflowing) while at the same timeundermining the financial condition of working families.

In every aspect of workers’ lives—job security, healthcare, taxes, energy, workplace safety and health and retire-ment security—these political leaders have abandoned thevery same working people who helped elect them.

But the political smokescreen is clearing!Each and every day, American workers face the stark

and painful reality of a corporate-run government – goodjobs lost to low-wage countries, unaffordable healthinsurance, skyrocketing prescription drug costs, gasolineand energy bills that put a gaping hole in family budgetsand a steady assault on their Social Security and otherretirement benefits.

Working people now know the truth and won’t bedistracted again by issues completely unrelated toemployment security, retirement security and national

“The welfare ofthe membershipwill always beplaced first.”

Declaration of Principles,BCTGM Constitution

IIn May, GESD Capital Partnerswas named the winner of AFL-CIO’s Union Label & ServiceTrades Department’s prestigious2006 Labor-Management Awardduring the annual UnionIndustries Show in Cleveland.Lou Giraudo, the founder ofGESD, is the owner of the famed

Boudin Bakers in San Francisco,where members of BCTGM Local24 (San Francisco) are employed.

The annual award recog-nizes employers who demon-strate commitment to collectivebargaining and to producingcompetitive, quality union-made products or services. AFL-CIO affiliated national or inter-national unions nominateemployers for the annualaward. GESD was nominatedby the BCTGM and

ability—Lou isa uniqueexample of aninvestor andmanager with a more enlight-ened and principled view oflabor-management relations,”said Hurt.

Giraudo began with Andre-Boudin Bakery, the originator ofSan Francisco’s signature sour-dough bread and now a chain for32 bakery cafes and three whole-sale bakeries in California and

(Above) Lou Giraudo, the founding partner ofGESD, is presented with the Labor ManagementAward at the 2006 Union Industries Show inCleveland. Pictured here (from left) is AFL-CIOSecy.-Treas. Richard Trumka, Giraudo, BCTGM Intl.Pres. Frank Hurt, BCTGM Intl. Secy.-Treas./Dir. ofOrganization David B. Durkee and Union Labor &Service Trades Dept. Pres. Charlie Mercer. (Right)BCTGM Intl. Pres. Frank Hurt delivers introductoryremarks honoring Giraudo at the awards ceremony.

3May/June 2006 www.bctgm.org 3

BCTGM Employer Wins 06 Labor Management Award

International President FrankHurt introduced Lou Giraudo atthis year’s award ceremony.

“At a time in the UnitedStates when corporations andbusiness interests are rightly per-ceived to be antagonistic to tradeunions—where unions are seenas the chief obstacle to profit-

Chicago that carry his father’sname. However, Giraudo’s com-munity involvement extends to amultitude of needs beyond hisbakeries.

As a lawyer, investor, entre-preneur and baker, Giraudo haspoured time and resources intosolving the Bay Area’s most trou-blesome problems. As the found-ing partner of GESD CapitalPartners, he has carried on thelegacy of his immigrant fatherwho was himself a master baker.Today, Giraudo and his firmhave become synonymous withprogressive labor relations and

his com-mitment tothe dignityof workersand thejobs theydo.

Giraudosums uphis guidingprinciplethis way:“As a busi-nessowner, Ihave afiduciaryobligationto our

investors, but I also feel an obli-gation to the workers who deliverthe product; that they have aright to organize and to an agree-ment that will give them a fairand decent wage for the workthat they do.” According to Hurt, Giraudo has often said that“if you give respect, you getrespect back.”

A

BCTGM News4

The new agreement includesa wage increase of $1.50 overthe term of the contract, in-creases to the pension plan,improved contract language, andminor health care increases.

Negotiations were headed byInternational RepresentativeAnthony Shelton. The negotiat-ing committee was made up ofmembers Dot West, Princess

Washington,RickyWilkinson, JeffWebb, andLocal 25 offi-cers, TomKelly, DavidWoods and

Larry Aultman.This is the second contract

negotiated between Local 25 andRich’s. The Murfreesboro plant wasoriginally organized in October2002 after a bitter organizing driveand a first contract was reached inthe spring of 2003. In total, theBCTGM represents approximately1,000 Rich Products' workersacross the United States.

BCTGM News

After three monthsof negotiations,Local 25(Chattanooga,Tenn.) membersemployed by RichProducts inMurfreesboro,Tenn., reachedagreement on anew three-year col-lective agreement.The contract was overwhelming-ly ratified on April 8, 2006.

Contract negotiations began inearly February 2006. According toTom Kelly, Local 25 FinancialSecretary, the negotiations weretough but the outcome was goodfor both parties. “The Companyand the Union put together oneof the best contracts I have seenin a long time,” recalled Kelly.

Following several tough negotiating sessions, anew three-year master agreement with theKeebler Company was ratified in early May. The

agreement covers approximately 2,000 workersemployed at the company’s bakeries and distribu-tion facilities in Columbus, Ga.; Grand Rapids,Mich.; Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.

The agreement was negotiated by International VicePresident Bob Oakley, with assistance fromInternational Representative Jimmy Condran.

The negotiating committee was made up of localrepresentatives including members from Local 42(Atlanta) Johnny Jackson, Isaac Gobern, WesleyVance and Jeffrey Rankin, Local 70 (Grand Rapids)Orin Holder, Bill Arends, and Mark Heinzelman; andLocal 253 (Cincinnati) Doug Walters and Tom Siler.

The new contract with Keebler, a subsidiary of cere-al giant Kellogg Company, features healthy wageincreases, language that improves bereavementleave, an increase in accident and sickness benefitsand increases in both P-Plan and W-1 benefits. Eachlocation also received significant increases in theirdefined benefit pension plans.

Of significant importance was ensuring that the com-pany maintained all current health benefits and costs.

According to Bob Oakley, the Company understandsthat its members deserve to share in its success. “Inthe past year we’ve negotiated a master agreement forKellogg cereal workers, a first contract at Kellogg’sMondo bakery in Macon, Ga., and now this masteragreement. By now the Company understands exactlywhere we are coming from,” said Oakley.

Keebler Master Agreement Settled

The negotiating committee included (from left) L. 25 Asst. Bus.Agt. Larry Aultman, Fin. Secy. Tom Kelly, BCTGM Intl. Rep.Anthony Shelton, members Jeff Webb, Dot West, PrincessWashington, Ricky Wilkinson and L. 25 Bus. Agt. David Woods.

Local 25 RatifiesNew Contract atRich Products

OOn April 30, the newly formedBCTGM General MillsBargaining Conference agreedto a new four-year masteragreement that covers morethan 2,400 members at GeneralMills and its subsidiary,Pillsbury. While the two masteragreements are separate con-tracts, they were negotiatedsimultaneously.

The Conference is made up ofdelegates from all participatingGeneral Mills locals. The negoti-ating committee consisted of Intl.Vice Pres. TonyJohnson, Intl. Rep.Blaine Williams,Local 316G (WestChicago, Ill.) Pres.Frank Mager, Local36G (Buffalo, N.Y.)Bus. Agent TomBingler, Local 16G(Kansas City, Mo.)Bus. Agent RogerCatron, Local 59G(Lodi, Calif.) Pres.Tony Castro, andLocal 33G (Louisville, Ky.) Pres.Roger Miller. Johnson acted asChairman.

The most significant highlightof the new agreement is the largepension increase. The pensionmultiplier was raised a total of$11.00 over the course of theagreement; the highest increaseever negotiated. Commenting onthe unprecedented increaseJohnson said, “The Company’ssuccess over the last four years atthese plants gave us the opportu-nity to bargain a great contractfor our members.”

The agreement also features

May/June 2006 www.bctgm.org 5

Master Agreements Reached withGeneral Mills and Pillsbury

an increase in the shift differen-tial, an increase in the accidentand sickness benefit, a pensionmultiplier increase in the event ofa plant closing, and language thatforces the Company to negotiatewith the Union in the event vol-ume is moved out of the affectedplant. The Company agreed tomaintain all health benefits at nocost to the membership, and alsoagreed to make no changes to theprescription drug plan.

According to Johnson, thetremendous contract was the

result of a great team effortbetween the Locals and theInternational. “When I told thepolicy committee that we wouldnever have achieved this agree-ment without the AFGM-BCTmerger in 1999, they gave astanding ovation,” saidJohnson.

Preparations for the negotia-tions began in early 2005. Withthe help of International staff,extensive research and analysison the Company and the indus-try was provided to the leadnegotiators. In July 2005, at aspecial meeting in Chicago, the

structure of the new BCTGMGeneral Mills BargainingConference was established andwas attended by delegates fromGeneral Mills plants across thecountry. The meeting alsoserved as a strategy session forthe negotiations. TheConference met again in early2006 to finalize proposals andupdate themselves on changeswithin the Company.

According to International

President Frank Hurt, the key tonegotiating a high-quality con-tract is doing the proper ground-work ahead of time. “Without adoubt, extensive preparation wasinstrumental in achieving thisgreat contract with GeneralMills,” said Hurt.

The General Mills agreementcovers workers employed inAvon, Iowa; Buffalo, N.Y.; GreatFalls, Mont.; Kansas City, Mo.;Lodi, Calif.; Los Angeles;Minneapolis and West Chicago.

The Pillsbury agreementaffects the New Albany, Ind.,and Martel, Ohio plants.

2006 General MillsBargaining Conference

S

BCTGM News6

Shawnee, Okla.—In this age ofmultinational corporations, it’sbecoming very difficult to find atrue locally owned business,much less one that’s been in thesame family for its entire 100-year history. That’s the case withShawnee Milling Company, theonly independent mill inOklahoma and one of the fewleft in the nation.

BCTGM Local 117G(Shawnee) members take greatpride in their work and the historyof Shawnee Milling Company.Despite an industry that haschanged and consolidated dra-matically over the last century,Shawnee Milling remains inde-pendent and maintains the samehigh standards and quality as itdid in 1906 when it all started.Local 117G members producemore than two million pounds ofconsumer and food service prod-ucts and a wide variety of qualityanimal feed products every day.

Celebrating HistoryJoseph Ford homesteaded a

farm near Shawnee, Oklahomaduring the land run. A few yearslater, in April of 1906, his son, J.Lloyd Ford, bought a flour millfor $10,500—and the ShawneeMilling Company was born.Turning out only 75 barrels of

flour a day in the beginning, thebusiness soon expanded toserve several key Oklahomacommunities. The GreatDepression and a devastatingfire in the 1930s could have sig-naled an end, but the Ford fami-ly refused to admit defeat anddedicated themselves to rebuild-ing their beloved company.

After World War II, ShawneeMilling was modernized throughautomation and advanced pro-cessing. The second generation ofthe Ford family led ShawneeMilling Company to new heightswith expanded product lines and a1.2 million bushel increase in stor-age capacity. Today, the companyis run by J. Lloyd Ford’s grandson,Bill, and produces high-qualityflour, food mixes, and animal feedthat are shipped around the world.

In April, Bill Ford held a com-munity celebration to mark the100th Anniversary of ShawneeMilling. On April 20th, a bar-beque was held for mill employ-ees, retirees and their families.Workers and their familiesenjoyed good food and fun whilea live band provided music forthe occasion. Ford presented each

Local 117G member and retireewith a gift bag filled with celebra-tory items including a 1906 com-memorative Shawnee Chief floursack, a book on the history of thecompany, a 100th anniversarycoffee mug and more.

On April 21 a public celebra-tion was held and more than1,000 people took guided toursof the mill, including approxi-mately 500 Grade 5 students.Hot dogs and sodas were provid-ed and the Oklahoma WheatCommission baked fresh breadand cinnamon rolls.

According to Local 117GRecording Secretary Ron Ham, itwas a very festive 100 year cele-bration and all union membersand retirees take great pride inShawnee Milling Company.

Shawnee Milling Co. Marks

Picturedhere at the employ-

ee barbeque is (left toright) Plant Supervisor J.W.

Miner, L. 117G Pres. Steve Love,Shawnee Milling Owner and Pres. BillFord, L. 117G Rec. Secy. Ron Ham,

Committee Member Denise White, L.117G Fin. Secy. David Melot, Head

Miller Mark Watts, Vice Pres.Shawnee Milling Joe Ford, L.

177G Member Roy Batesand L. 117G Vice Pres

Mike Geis.

100 YEAR Anniversary

May/June 2006 www.bctgm.org

al assistance to the victims of thecatastrophe. For example, theTeamsters played a role in thetransportation of food, water, ice,clothing, and other supplies tothe stricken areas. I have neverseen so much labor solidarity inmy life! I also coordinated andpersonally helped in the distribu-tion of Red Cross relief checks tovictims in New Orleans andBaton Rouge. The tear-filled eyesof the victims that were receivingthe money they so desperately

ed the nearest Local to makesure they were receiving the aidthey needed. The BCTGM LocalUnion was only one of the manyunions I contacted during theweeks I was there.

I also helped in coordinatingunion members across the coun-try in an effort to bring addition-

needed will haunt me for the restof my life. I was never thankedso much for a job that was sovital to someone’s survival; itwas very humbling.

It is hard to complain aboutthe little things in life after leav-ing Louisiana. Through the badthere was some good and that iswhat I was able to bring homewith me. I will never forget thefriendships that were made.Union Brothers and Sisters treat-ed me as if I was family and vic-tims of the storms were some-times more concerned about howI was doing than what was goingon in their own lives. The kind-ness of our nation’s people thatwe seldom hear about will bewith me forever.

You can pick up any news-paper, turn on the television orradio, to hear or see for yourselfthe pain and suffering that is stillwith the victims of the Hurri-canes. My heart goes out toeveryone who has suffered at thehands of what we call an “Act ofGod.” We can not control theweather, but our government isanother issue and “WE THEPEOPLE” can control that onElection Day.

7

DonnaHopple ispicturedhere (right)with RichardLoyd, amember ofSheet MetalWorkers Local 121 (Baton Rouge)after reviewing a map of the devas-tated communities.

Local 464 Member Volunteers inHurricane Katrina Relief

The AFL-CIO Community Servicesheadquarters office in Baton Rouge.

Just one of the thousands of homesthat had been entirely covered withwater.

Editors Note: The below articleand photos were provided byBCTGM Local 464 (Hershey, Pa.)member Donna Hopple who spenttwo weeks in Louisiana followingHurricane Katrina as an AFL-CIOLabor Liaison for The AmericanRed Cross. Hopple, who works inthe Longitude Department forHershey Foods, has been a unionmember for more than 30 yearsand serves as the Chairperson ofthe Local 464 CommunityServices Committee.

My two weeks in BatonRouge, Louisiana willforever remain with

me. Next to September 11th itwas the worst thing I had everseen or want to see happen.Both tragedies have changedme in a way that I can notexplain.

I knew when I took on therole of AFL-CIO Labor Liaisonfor The American Red Cross thatI would be called upon to help inthe disaster relief role. In 2004, Iwent to Pittsburgh to help in therelief effort during the floods. Itwas a lot worse than I expected,but not anything like Katrina andthe devastation left in her andRita’s aftermath.

I was assigned to the AFL-CIO Community Service head-quarters in Baton Rouge, whichwas housed in a vacant Wal-Mart store. My job was contact-ing union members and theirfamilies that were affected byKatrina/Rita to see what assis-tance they needed. On my thirdday in Louisiana I discoveredthere were BCTGM membersaffected by the storms. I contact-

BCTGM News8

CTGM Local 264 (Toronto)members employed at twoDough Delight bakeries in

Concord, Ontario take great prideproducing bagels, muffins, crois-sants and other par-baked goods forshipment throughout NorthAmerica. The Dough Delight facili-ties are part of Canada Bread’sfrozen bakery group—NorthAmerica’s leader in the frozen par-baked bread market.

“Par-baked” products are bakedto within 90 percent of completion,then quick frozen and shipped tocustomers for the final 12-15 min-utes of baking. The company canship products to virtually all majorpopulation centers in North Americawithin 24 hours. The Local 264-

Baking withPride in Toronto

made par-baked goods provide in-store bakery, foodservice and clubstore operators with the opportunityto provide premium quality, fresh-baked products throughout the day.

BCTGM members at theRivermede location exclusively pro-duce bagels for the Tim Horton’schain and union members at theViceroy Road location produce break-fast sandwich buns for Tim Hortonlocations in the Canada and U.S.

Dough Delight is a part of theFrozen Bakery Group ofthe Canada BreadCompany, Ltd.,which is ownedby Maple LeafFoods Inc.

B

May/June 2006 www.bctgm.org 9

During the Special Pre-Convention GeneralExecutive Board (GEB) Meeting on May 20 inWashington D.C., BCTGM InternationalPresident Frank Hurt (left) administers theOath of Office to Local 264 (Toronto)President Ron Piercey (right). Piercey waselected by the GEB on March 27 to fill theRegion 5 GEB vacancy following the resigna-tion of Local 389 (Winnipeg, MB) FinancialSecretary Herb Marx.

BCTGM News10

Wage Growth Slows

Hourly wages for most workers are not keeping pace withinflation even though there has been strong growth in

labor productivity.According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), middle-

and low-wage workers are being hit with slower wage growthand faster inflation. EPI is a bipartisan economic think-tankthat conducts research on issues effecting working families.

The result for most workers is stagnating or falling realwages, the term used to describe wages that have been adjust-ed for inflation. By comparison, high-wage earners have seengrowth during the last five years.

EPI reports that wage growth for middle- and low-incomeworkers is slowed by the fewer number of workplaces coveredunder union contracts, the fall in the real value of the mini-mum wage, the growing imbalance in international trade andthe off-shoring of white-collar jobs.

The BLS released data in January that shows most workers’hourly and weeklywages fell behindinflation in 2005.Real hourly wageswere down 0.5% overthe course of theyear, while real week-ly wages declined0.4%. Hourly wagesfell in 18 of the past20 months for non-union workers.

WorkerEconomics

Union Membership on the Rise

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), union mem-bership increased by 213,000 members in 2005, and union

density held steady—despite a political climate hostile to work-ers’ rights and labor unions.

The increase brought the total number of wage and salaryworkers who were union members last year to nearly 15.7 mil-lion. Density stayed stable at 12.5 percent.

Full-time wage and salary workers who belonged to unionshad median usual weekly earnings of $802 last year, comparedwith a median of $622 for non-union workers.Taxes Paid

For Execs

Rank-and-file workersmust reach into their

own pockets to pay taxes.However, a growing numberof U.S. executives do nothave to pay their owntaxes. Many corporationspick up a big sum of execu-tives’ federal and stateincome taxes, reimbursingthem for taxes due on luxu-ry cars, travel on corporatejets, and forgiveness of mil-lions in loans.

The little-known taxpayments, called “tax grossups” seem to be growing inpopularity among execu-tives who are paid extrasums to cover personal taxbills and taxes on stockgrants, signing bonuses andseverance packages.

Equilar Inc., a compen-sation research firm, says52 percent of companiesdisclosed they paid gross-ups to one or more execu-tives last year, according toa study done for The WallStreet Journal.

Real wage changes – 2004-05Low-Wage Middle-Wage High-Wage

Workers Workers Workers

-0.5%

-0.0%

-0.5%

-1.0%

-1.5%

-2.0%

-2.5%Source: Economic Policy Institute

0.6%-1.3%-1.9%

B

May/June 2006 www.bctgm.org 11

BCTGM Supports Worker-FriendlyPolitical RepresentativesBCTGM members through-out the U.S. have givengenerously to BCTGM-PACin an effort to elect worker-friendly policy makers whocommit to supporting aworking family agenda.Pictured here are variousBCTGM representativespresenting pro-unionMembers of Congress withPAC donations.

Local 36G (Buffalo, N.Y.) Bus.Agt. Thomas Bingler (left) andLocal 802 (Buffalo) Bus. Agt.Lawrence Backlas (right) pres-ent U.S. Representative BrianHiggins (center) with a BCTGM-PAC donation. Higgins, whorepresents New York’s 27thCongressional District, is a life-long resident of Buffalo and astrong supporter of labor.

Local 317T (Greensboro,N.C.) Pres. Randy Fulk(left) presents a BCTGM-PAC donation to U.S.Representative BradMiller (right), theDemocratic Congressmanrepresenting NorthCarolina’s 13th District,to aid in his re-electioncampaign.

Often called “one of the mostcourageous persons the CivilRights Movement ever pro-duced,” U.S. Congressman JohnLewis (D-Ga.) has dedicated hislife to protecting human rightsand securing civil liberties. Local42 (Atlanta) Bus. Agt. IsaacGobern (left) and Bus. Agt.Johnny Jackson (right) presentLewis (center) with a BCTGM-PACdonation.

Army Major Tammy Duckworth(left), the Democratic candi-date for the Illinois 6thDistrict seat of retiring U.S.Rep. Henry Hyde, receives aBCTGM-PAC check from Local1 (Chicago) Pres. Jethro Head(right). Duckworth, a memberof the Illinois Army NationalGuard and a Black Hawk heli-copter pilot, lost both legswhen her aircraft was hit byrocket grenades in Iraq onNovember 12, 2004.

U.S. Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz (D) is serv-ing in her first term representing the 13th District

of Pennsylvania. Pictured here after presentingSchwartz with a BCTGM-PAC donation in support ofher reelection campaign is (from left to right) Local492 (Philadelphia) Bus. Agt. Ed Rodgers, Intl. Rep.

Jim Condran, Rep. Schwartz, and Local 6(Philadelphia) Bus. Agt. Chuck Goodge.

BCTGM News12

Mindi Bergman, daughter ofErnie Bergman, member ofBCTGM Local 382G (Minster,Ohio) employed at MinsterFarmers Co-Op. Mindi willattend St. Louis University.

Tiffany Bromfield, daughter ofDionne Russell, member ofBCTGM Local 69 (PortChester, N.Y.) employed atGeorge Weston Bakery.Tiffany will attend JacksonvilleUniversity.

Nadezhda Gerasimova, daughterof Vasiliy Gerasimova, mem-ber of BCTGM Local 102(New York, N.Y.) employed atCaravan. Nadezhda willattend Rutgers University.

Amanda Harvey, daughter ofMike Harvey, member ofBCTGM Local 334 (Portland,Maine) employed at NationalStarch. Amanda will attendthe University of Maine atOrono.

Brittany Matheson, daughter ofWilliam Mark Matheson,member of BCTGM Local229T (Concord, N.C.)employed at Philip MorrisUSA. Brittany will attendDuke University.

2006 BCTGM International Scholarship RecipientsThe BCTGM proudly announces the winners of the2006 BCTGM International Scholarship Program.Ten $1,000 one-time awards were presented to thebelow students. The winners were chosen from a totalof 209 applicants from the U.S. and Canada.

The BCTGM International Scholarship Program is

an example of the union’s commitment to higher edu-cation at a time when college costs continue to soarout of reach for many working families. Since 1962,the International has helped fulfill the educationaldreams of students representing BCTGM familiesacross North America.

Rebecca Quan, daughter of VeKiu Quan, member ofBCTGM Local 264 (Toronto)employed at VoortmanCookies Ltd. Rebecca willattend the University ofWaterloo.

Ivonne Romeo, daughter ofFrancisco J. Romeo, memberof BCTGM Local 24 (SanFrancisco, Calif.) employed atOroweat Bakery. Ivonne willattend California PolytechnicState University.

Mai Thai, daughter of Vinh N.Thai, member of BCTGMLocal 37 (Los Angeles)employed at IBC-WonderBread. Mai will attendPomona College.

Kun Zhang, stepdaughter ofDennis Pursch, member ofBCTGM Local 125 (Oakland,Calif.) employed at SafewayStores, Inc. Kun will attendthe University of California atBerkeley.

Lloyd Imdieke, a member ofBCTGM Local 22 (Twin Cities,Minn.) employed at Pan-O-Gold. Lloyd will attend AxiaCollege of WesternInternational University.

May/June 2006 www.bctgm.org 13

Three daughters ofBCTGM membershave been select-

ed to receive 2006Union Plus Scholarshipawards.

The BCTGM winnersare: Amelia Naher,daughter of Local 284G(Napa, Idaho) memberJames Naher ofFruitland, Idaho; LauraM. Petrus, daughter ofLocal 50 (New York,N.Y.) member Thomas F.Petrus of Point Pleasant,N.J.; and, Natalie R. Scarlett,daughter of Local 58G (Toledo,Ohio) member Robert Scarlett ofMaumee, Ohio.

The scholarship winners,each of whom will receive$1,000, were selected from morethan 5,600 applicants. Thescholarships are offered throughthe Union Plus Education foun-dation with funding from HSBC,the issuer of the Union PlusCredit Card.

“The BushAdministration continuesto slash programs thathelp working familiesrealize the dream ofhigher education as apath to a better life,”says BCTGMInternationalPresident FrankHurt.

“The moneygoes instead totax cuts for thevery wealthy,while, even at state

BCTGM Daughters Win Union Plus Scholarships

universities, tuition costs haveskyrocketed more than 25 per-cent since 2001.

“While we fight to restore theAmerican Dream for all of work-ing America,” Hurt continues,“scholarships provide crucialhelp to many in the labor move-ment seeking help in fundingtheir education goals.”

One of the winners of thescholarship, Natalie R. Scarlett,

wrote a poem whichwas subsequently hungin an upscale NewYork City gallery. Thepoem and her observa-tions of how peoplereacted to it, exemplifyher deep appreciationfor what a union jobhas meant for herfather and her family.

The poem, “MyFather’s Hands,” waswritten reflecting on atime when her fatherwas laid off from his job.

It was a time when heTurned off all the lightsWith his callused handsExcept my parents’ bed table lamp,And we would lie in bed togetherSo the radiator didn’t feel like It was on sixty-two degrees

Says Scarlett about her poembeing highlighted at the gallery,“I wondered why this poem hadbecome an object of interest. Tome, it seemed like an exercise inmerely observing the worldaround me, until I realized that

the majority of the peoplearound me sipping

white wine fromfluted glasses

and tasting horsd’oeuvres hadnever knownturning down

the heater, therough feel of

cheap blankets, orthe darkness of try-

ing to save on theelectric bill.”

“…I realized that the majority ofthe people around me sippingwhite wine from fluted glassesand tasting hors d’oeuvres hadnever known turning down theheater, the rough feel of cheapblankets, or the darkness of

trying to save on the electric bill.”Natalie R. Scarlett

The Atlanta-North GeorgiaLabor Council held its 3rdAnnual King HolidayPrayer Breakfast onJanuary 13. Atlanta MayorShirley Franklin deliveredgreetings as well as repre-sentatives from theNAACP, AmnestyInternational and theGeorgia State AFL-CIO.AFL-CIO Executive VicePresident Linda Chavez-Thompson delivered thekeynote address.According to Local 42(Atlanta) Bus. Agt. IsaacGobern, who serves asSecretary-Treasurer of theLabor Council, the break-fast was well attendedand everyone leftinspired. Pictured herewith Gobern (left) isChavez-Thompson (cen-ter) and BCTGM Intl. Rep.James Rivers.

Forty members of BCTGMLocal 802 (Buffalo, N.Y.)have retired from theBuffalo Milkbone Bakerysince January 2002.According to Local 802Bus. Agt. LawrenceBacklas, the retired workersactive union membershipand service to the compa-ny totals 1,381 years withan average of 34.52 yearsper worker. Pictured here(from left, seated) is Leon

Stachura (41 yrs.), David Korabek (43 yrs.), (standing, from left) Patrick Zakrzewski(36 yrs.), Nicholas Zupkov (33 yrs.), Michael Backlas (30 yrs.) James Amerson (39yrs.), Edward Lemiesz (36 yrs.) and John Wekenmann (42 yrs.).

Local 36G (Buffalo, N.Y.) mem-ber Chuck Domiano wasrecently honored with a plaquecommemorating his 50 years ofunion membership by his localunion officers and members.Domiano began his job at theGeneral Mills flour plant inBuffalo on July 15, 1955, as apacking helper in the smallpacking dept. making $1.98 perhour. According to Domiano, at that time all work was done by hand. Domiano, athird generation union member, has passed the family tradition onto his son, Local36G member Dave Domiano, who is employed at the same General Mills FlourMill where it all started for his father more than 50 years ago. Pictured here (fromleft) is Intl. Rep. Bill Hilliard, Local 36G Bus. Rep. Thomas Bingler, Domiano, andLocal 36G Pres. Andre Pigeon.

BCTGM News14

Local 1 (Chicago) recently conducted an educa-tional conference for newly-elected stewards. Thetraining was facilitated by Intl. Rep. Steve Bertelliwith assistance by Local 1 Pres. Jethro Head,Secy.-Treas. John Howard, Rec. Secy. Beth Zavalaand Bus. Agts. Donald Woods and Randy Wilson.Topics covered include grievance handling, FMLA,labor laws and arbitration. According to Rec.Secy. Zavala, the conference was widely attendedand the material covered “was excellent!” Picturedhere is the group of Local 1 participants.CHICAGO EDUCATION

HUMAN RIGHTS

UNION FAMILY

1,381UNIONYEARS!

Cingular is the only union wireless company,with nearly 40,000 employees represented by theCommunications Workers of America. That meansfair wages, good benefits and a voice on the job.

And thanks to your BCTGM membership, you toocan take advantage of all of Cingular Wireless benefits, including:n More bars in more places.n The fewest dropped calls.n The largest digital voice network in America.n Rollover, the best value in wireless.

What’s the Deal?Union Members receive a 5% discount on allavailable plans at Cingular Wireless—including fam-ily plans! Plus you are supporting CWA members atCingular Wireless—the only union wireless company.

What Do I Need to Do?Go to a Cingular-owned retail store. You must go toa store to receive this discount—it cannot be orderedover the phone or on Cingular’s website.

Tell the sales representative that you are eligible forthe union discount and that the “FAN Number” forthe discount is 00113662. Be prepared to showproof of union membership.

Wireless Phone Discount

Cingular’s not just raising the bar on wireless service—

It’s raising living standards in America.

Proof of Union Membershipn Union Membership Cardn Payroll Stub That Shows Union Dues Deductionn BCTGM Power/Union Plus Credit Card

What If I Am Already a Cingular Customer?Follow the same procedure. You will need to sign upfor a new two-year service agreement.

This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounted rate plans. The BCTGM Power union member discount is off standard published monthly accesscharges. This offer can only be accessed at a Cingular-owned store, not via phone or web.

Printed in U.S.A.

SolidarityStrength

BUILDING

THROUGH

LAS VEGAS • JULY 19–25, 2006 BCTGM 37TH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

INSIDE! 2006 Convention DELEGATES-ELECT List Supplement