Day Three opened with a creative invocation by Local 406 (Moncton, N.B.) Business Agent George Leaman, and the announcement of two petitions to support workers organizing and bargaining with the BCTGM:
- East-Central Region International Representative Lisa Gregory asked delegates to sign a petition to Maker’s Pride (formerly Hearthside Foods) to drop their appeal to an ALJ ruling that they violated the law in a 2024 organizing campaign. The petition simply states: “Drop the appeal. Let the workers vote!” CLICK HERE TO SIGN IT.
- Western Region International Representative Alejandro Ahumada presented collective bargaining campaigns for Sconza workers at Local 125 (Oakland, Calif.) and Albertsons workers at Local 114 (Portland, Ore.) and Local 9 (Seattle, Wash.). The petitions support the proposals of the workers and are linked accordingly.
History of Political Action and Organizing
A video was shown about the history of political action in the BCTGM, followed by remarks by Local 1 President/General Executive Board Member Donald Woods and BCTGM Local 114 Business Agent Taylor Almond.
Later in the programming, another video was shown about the history of organizing in the BCTGM, followed by remarks from Local 118 (Washington, D.C.) Financial Secretary Les Jones and Local 19 Treasurer James Franklin.
Clark Delivers Political Action Report
Executive Assistant to the President Matthew Clark delivered a report on Political Action, commenting on the slow gains for workers despite four years of the very pro-union Biden Administration. “The rigged economic system that grew and flourished in the 1980’s never really changed,” he reasoned. “Fundamentally changing this rigged system remains one of our greatest challenges.”
Kaiser Gives remarks, presents BCTGM-PAC Awards
Retired Political Director and Assistant to the International President Harry Kaiser delivered a rousing address to delegates, asserting the Union is in good hands. He urged delegates to make this Union Wave a TIDAL WAVE at the ballot box by electing union-friendly politicians this November. Then, he assisted with the Top Five PAC Contributor Awards presentation (see below).
Political Action and PAC Awards Presented
Political Action Awards were presented to one local union from each region that is highly engaged in local, state, provincial and federal politics. The recipients were:
- Midwest: Local 1, Chicago, Ill.
- Southern: Local 252G, Memphis, Tenn.
- Canada: Local 406, Moncton, N.B.
- Western: Local 114, Portland Ore.
- East-Central: Local 19, Cleveland, Ohio
Top Five BCTGM-PAC contributors:
- 5th Highest Per-Member Average: Local 325G (Gibson City, Ill.) @ $5.50/member
- 4th Highest Per-Member Average: Local 342 (Bloomington, Ill.) @ $5.73/member
- 3rd Highest Per-Member Average: Local 369G (Renville, Minn.) @ $6.49/member
- 2nd Highest Per-Member Average: Local 31 (Long Beach, Calif.) @ $7.14/member
- First Place Per-Member Average: Local 13G (Hastings, Minn.) @ $53.44/member
Resolutions Passed on Day Three:
- Resolution #7: Reigning in Corporate Excess
- Resolution #8: Building Worker Power Through BCTGM-PAC
- Resolution #9: Preserving the Right to a Safe Job
- Resolution #10: In Memoriam
- Resolution #11: Organizing Future Generations of BCTGM Members
- Resolution #12: Reforming North America’s Labor Laws
- Resolution #16: Article III. Section 6 – Registration of Delegates
- Resolution #17: Article IV. Section 7 -International Officers, Expenses
- Resolution #18: Article VII. Powers & Duties of the International Secretary-Treasurer
- Resolution #19: Article XIV. Section 4 – Payment of Strike Benefits
- Resolution #21: Article IV. Section 6 – International Officers, Salaries
- Resolution #22: Increase in Salaries of International Officers
View a list of adopted/upcoming Resolutions.
Union Privilege Presentation
Union Plus Representative Brittanie Potter presented the many benefits available to BCTGM Members through Union Privilege.
Woods Delivers the Organizing Report
Following a touching tribute to our late Organizing Director John Price, who passed away on December 2, 2024, International Secretary-Treasurer/Organizing Director David Woods came forward to give the Organizing Report. Woods praised Price’s diligence to education and inoculation in organizing, noting how much he learned from working with him over the years.
In a nod to the tenacity of the workers who founded this union, he went on to say in his report, “the names of the corporations may change. The tactics of union-busters may become more sophisticated. But the needs of working people remain the same.” Addressing the need for Labor Law reform, Woods called on delegates to fight with everything they’ve got, despite what the law says they can do.
Recognizing Local 26’s Campaign at Bimbo QSR
As an example of the fight and strategic effort he is looking for in the Local Unions, Woods called Local 26 (Denver, Colo.) forward to talk about their 2025 Organizing win at Bimbo QSR in Denver. Local 26 President Clifton Horton, Local 26 Financial Secretary/Business Agent Drew Buchholz and members Chris Vargas and Mohammad Jafari took the stage with the UNION YES banner they had on the campaign, with the signatures of all the workers who supported the union.
They group spoke of the ups and downs, the effort to communicate with the workers in every language and the work involved in getting a neutrality agreement to let the workers organize without employer interference. Woods wrapped the segment, saying, “being part of a union campaign victory is one of the most rewarding feelings a union worker can ever experience.”
Recognizing Internal Organizing Efforts
Woods brought two local union leaders to the stage to discuss their internal organizing tactics. Local 81 (Traverse City, Mich.) President Coty Ryder described the education and new orientations conducted at his local union, and talked about the effort to repeal Michigan’s right-to-work law in 2023.
Local 167G (Grand Forks, N.D.) Executive Board Member Jared Tozer then took to the podium to discuss his dedication to taking his plant from 50% union density to nearly 100% before their last contract. Tozer joked that he likes to argue, and went on to tell about his union conversations with new hires as soon as they start, his effort to identify leaders and influencers in the plant and the importance of really getting to know the workers and gaining their trust.
The Next Union Wave
Following an inspiring video about the Next Union Wave, Local 372A (Indianapolis, Ind.) Business Agent Clint Lathrop and Local 83 (Buena Park, Calif.) Financial Secretary/Business Agent Cindy Marques came to the stage to energize delegates into action. Lathrop drove home the importance of making an impact, not just on the work force but also the company.
Pointing to her involvement with the AFL-CIO Immigration Fellowship, Marques talked about lifting up workers of all languages and origins. She said the workers she’s encountered in the fellowship see the union as their heroes. “No employer should be allowed to intimidate workers to the point that they are afraid to use their voice at work,” she asserted.
That’s a Wrap!
The convention officially adjourned at 1:20pm, with delegates walking out to the same video that opened the convention on day one.
