Welcome to the first BCTGM Works digital newsletter. Each issue will highlight the activities of BCTGM members and BCTGM local unions across North America as they make a difference in their communities, fight for safer workplaces, negotiate good contracts and organize new workers to help strengthen the BCTGM International Union.

Message from the President: 

American Rescue Plan Secures Retiree Benefits

I am thankful to all of our local union officers, members and retirees who put their heart and soul into the long, hard fight for pension legislation. You attended the rallies, wrote the letters, sent the emails and made the calls to Congress. Without your work, this great victory for workers and retirees would not have been possible.

Read President Shelton's full statement here.

Retirees Reflect on Pension Security

“If the pension legislation had not passed, it would have affected all of us Local 114 Bakers Union retirees, and I do not deserve to live on less.  It would be a disgrace after all the years I worked hard for my pension. I gave up wages so I would have my pension.”

— Local 114 retiree Daniel Berg worked at the Safeway Clackamas bread plant for 36 years before retiring in 2006.

Check out what other BCTGM retirees have to say about the American Rescue Plan

From Shop Steward to Local Union Officer:

Local 125's Rudy Gomez

Sixteen years ago, Rudy Gomez took a job at the Safeway wholesale bread plant and warehouse in Richmond, Calif. and began a union career that would lead him to become the principal officer of Local 125 (San Leandro, Calif.), representing the largest number of candy workers in the BCTGM. Learn more about this Local 125 leader.

Blues City Brewing Organizer: The Jasmine White Story

Employers commonly use a variety of tactics, legal and illegal, to make it difficult for workers to form unions. Read about the BCTGM’s recent organizing victory at Blues City Brewing in Memphis, Tenn. and how Jasmine White, a key worker organizer, was fired. Learn how the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act will help Jasmine and the Blues City workers.

Check out Jasmine's story here.

BCTGM Steward Spotlight: Local 1 Luis Molinero

"Since we joined the union in my workplace, my co-workers and I have better working conditions, respect, and above all better wages and benefits. As a steward, I am able to explain these benefits and defend our rights in the plant."

- Luis Molinero, Local 1, Lifeway Foods, Chicago

Visit the Stewards Corner page and learn more about BCTGM stewards.

Did you know the BCTGM International has a podcast? The “BCTGM Voices Project” is a new podcast featuring monthly interviews with union organizers, local union leaders, rank-and-file members and BCTGM International Officers and Staff.

“The BCTGM Voices Project will amplify the voices of our union members talking about their lives, their workplaces, and their on-the-job experiences. Our aim is to uplift the voices of our members as we work to organize new workers and make our union stronger,” says BCTGM International Union President Anthony Shelton. 

Check the BCTGM Voices Project here.

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