SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Official Convention Photo is now available for download HERE.
Day Two of the Convention covered Collective Bargaining, more Union history and approved many Resolutions. In the second part of the day, delegates unanimously elected our International Executive Officers, International Vice Presidents and General Executive Board members.
History of the Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
Following a video about the history of the Tobacco Workers, General Executive Board Member Pierre Luc Doucet and International Representative Derrick Byrd offered stories from history about the Tobacco Workers International Union (TWIU).
Later in the programming, another history video was shown about the grain milling sector, and BCTGM Local 103G (Decatur, Ill.) Office Manager/Business Agent Nicole May and Local 283G (Twin Falls, Idaho) President Brendan Van Sickle delivered remarks and stories from the stage about the history of the American Federation of Grain Millers (AFGM), which merged with the BC&T in 1999 to become the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM).
President Shelton Gives Collective Bargaining Report
President Shelton delivered his Collective Bargaining Report, again speaking on strikes as a necessary tactic sometimes. In driving that point home, he showed videos on the plight of Local 100G (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Ingredion workers, who had to strike in 2022, and Local 36G (Buffalo, N.Y.) Milk-Bone workers, who had to strike in 2024.
He also recognized the successful strikes by Local 37 (Los Angeles, Calif.) Jon Donaire workers (2022), Local 114 (Portland, Ore.) Franz Bakery workers (2024) and Local 85 (Fresno, Calif.) Corn Nuts workers (2022) during the last four years.
Shelton also recognized BCTGM Sugar Locals, which consistently maintain strong membership numbers, the internal efforts of BCTGM Local 167G (Grand Forks, N.D.) which recently earned them an historic contract in Right-to-Work North Dakota, the recent Master Agreement reached with General Mills Locals covering more than 1,000 BCTGM Members and others.
FTQ President Magali Picard Addresses Delegates
President Shelton called on Quebec Federation of Labour President Magali Picard, who gave a great speech on maintaining our international solidarity to win stronger protections at work. Speaking in English and French, Picard energized delegates to get out and represent their members well.
Affiliating with State and Provincial Labor Federations
Picard’s address provided the perfect segue for Local 406 (Moncton, N.B.) President George Leaman, Local 372A (Indianapolis, Ind.) Financial Secretary Jake Watkins and Local 358 (Richmond, Va.) President Keith Bragg to talk about their affiliation with their respective labor federations.
In Memoriam: Randy Roark
A moving tribute video was played in remembrance of former Western Region Vice President Randy Roark, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Following the presentation, President Shelton delivered remarks on Roark’s many years of dedicated service to our Union.
Education and Training
Following a video describing the BCTGM’s Education programs, President Shelton spoke briefly about the importance of maintaining an educated membership, and then presented BCTGM Local 22 (Minneapolis, Minn.) with the Ray Scannell Excellence in Education Award.
Commenting on Local 22’s dedication to education, Shelton pointed to trainings, everyday issues and the fact that Local 22 always has several members and their children submitting to the BCTGM scholarship program.
Resolutions Adopted by Delegates on Day Two:
- Resolution #1: Fighting to Protect Tobacco Industry Jobs
- Resolution #2: Bargaining for Future Generations
- Resolution #3: Protecting Workers in the A.I. Age
- Resolution #4: Engaging with State and Provincial Federations
- Resolution #5: Supporting Worker-Centered Trade Policies
- Resolution #6: Using BCTGM Education to Build Strength
- Resolution #14: Article XIII. Section 3 – Registration Fees
- Resolution #15: Article XIII. Section 1 – Per Capita Payment
- Resolution #20: Article XVI. Section 4 – Local Dues
View a list of adopted/upcoming Resolutions.
Executive Officers, Vice Presidents and General Executive Board Unanimously Elected
For the election of the International President, Shelton called on retired Southern Region Vice President James Rivers.
Following a nomination by Local 25 (Chattanooga, Tenn.) Financial Secretary/Business Agent and General Executive Board member Jeff Webb, delegates unanimously re-elected Anthony Shelton as International President, followed by a standing ovation. “Thank you for placing your faith in me for four more years,” he said in a brief acceptance speech. “With your help we will make the next four years even better than the last.”
Following a nomination by Local 26 (Denver, Colo.) President Clifton Horton, delegates unanimously re-elected David Woods as International Secretary-Treasurer, followed by a standing ovation. Woods gave an impassioned acceptance speech about what a great honor it is for him to serve this Union, asserting, “ I believe in this Union more than anything.”
BCTGM International Vice Presidents:
Following a nomination by International Secretary-Treasurer David Woods, Karrie Setters was unanimously elected as Vice President of the Western Region for the first time, receiving a standing ovation from the Western Region and convention delegates.
International Vice Presidents in the other four BCTGM regions were then unanimously re-elected, the full list of them shown below.
- East-Central Region: Roger Miller
- Midwest Region: Jason Davis
- Western Region: Karrie Setters
- Southern Region: Zack Townsend
- Canadian Region: Sylvain Gagne
International General Executive Board:
- East-Central Region: Local 19 President Paul LaBuda, Local 68 President Gary Oskoian
- Midwest Region: Local 22 President Wally Borgan, Local 1 President Donald Woods
- Western Region: Local 264 Business Agent Cameron Taylor, Local 31 Financial Secretary Doyle Townson
- Southern Region: Local 149 President/Business Agent Letitia Malone, Local 25 Financial Secretary/Business Agent Jeff Webb
- Canadian Region: Local 468 Financial Secretary-Treasurer Earl Lublow, Local 261T President Pierre Luc Doucet
- Tobacco Sector: Local 176T President Aaron Graves
