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BAKERY, CONFECTIONERY, TOBACCO WORKERS AND GRAIN MILLERS INTERNATIONAL UNION JULY/AUGUST VOLUME 7 2005 NUMBER 4 Pages 8 & 9 the President’s Message LABOR AS VITAL AS EVER If we are to listen to labor’s adversaries This is the destination all unions want to reach. Individual unions and even a handful of outspoken dis- simply take different routes getting there. gruntled union leaders, they would This diversity is one of the labor movement’s greatest strengths. have us believe that the American labor No two unions are the same. Each union serves its members in the movement is on its last leg and no way it determines to be the most effective. We come together under longer a vital force in the nation’s econ- the banner of the AFL-CIO on matters of common interest such as omy and society. Nothing could be further from the truth. political and legislative action. No doubt, these are difficult times for organized labor and Unity and solidarity remain the cornerstones of a successful, American workers. The federal government is controlled by individ- effective labor movement. When some in the house of labor choose uals who detest labor unions. Working hand in glove with employer to unfairly and publicly malign the AFL-CIO, it only serves to groups that bankroll them, these political leaders are utilizing every- embolden employers and the politicians who want to destroy organ- thing in their enormous regulatory and legislative arsenal to stifle ized labor. labor’s growth and weaken our ability to organize more workers and The labor movement was founded by people with vision and improve the standard of living for all working families. courage, willing to struggle together in order to create a better life At the same time, dramatic changes in the global economy over for American workers. Seventy years ago, these men and women the past decade have caused hundreds of thousands of union mem- confronted vicious goons and thugs hired by ruthless employers bers to lose their jobs to cheap foreign labor. It is absolutely mind determined to beat workers down. boggling how so many politicians are literally fighting to give away But, the labor movement survived and grew. American jobs, leaving our country more impoverished. The same courage and conviction are embodied in today’s Despite these powerful forces against us, the labor movement labor movement. Now, we face employers no less ruthless who hire remains—as it has for more than a century—the most important modern-day thugs—high-priced lawyers and consultants trained to and successful institution for social improvement and economic do whatever it takes to threaten, coerce and convince workers to growth in America. remain unorganized. Our contracts continue to raise the standard of living for work- But still the labor movement survives. ers in every sector of the economy. Union-negotiated health insur- And it will grow! The recent tremendous BCTGM organizing ance benefits continue to set the standard for quality health care for victory in Rome, Georgia (see pages 8 & 9) has proven once again, workers throughout the country. Organized workers continue to be when we are dedicated and stay true to our principles, unorganized the most productive workers in our economy. And organized labor working people will stand up and fight for justice and fairness on has been so successful in political mobilization that the corporate the job. bosses and ultra-conservative groups have been trying to copy our In the last 100 years, our adversaries have written the obituary programs for the last decade. of the American labor movement many times. Then as now, it is So what evidence do the naysayers use to make their case that simply wishful thinking on their part. America’s unions are here to organized labor is in major decline? They constantly point to the stay because our mission will never be completed as long as there decline in the percentage of the workforce that is organized from 33 are workers who want to improve their lives and defend the princi- percent in 1955 to 8.5 percent today. ples upon which our country was founded. As we know only too well from dealing with employers, num- bers can be deceiving. Let’s look at the facts and provide some con- Frank Hurt text to these numbers. Since the merger that formed the AFL-CIO BCTGM International President fifty years ago, the number of American workers belonging to unions in the federation has consistently been in the range of 13-15 million. However, during this time period the labor force has grown nearly 170 percent, from 49.5 million to 132.5 million. In the last decade alone there has been a population and work- force explosion with the U.S. civilian adult population growing by Official Publication of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco 27 million and the total labor force by 18 million. Workers and Grain Millers International Union Moreover, in the last 10 years, the single largest decrease in 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895-3961 AFL-CIO membership came from the disaffiliation of the (301) 933-8600 Carpenters Union (550,000). Additionally, the September 11 www.bctgm.org terrorist attacks destroyed the jobs of tens of thousands of organ- Frank Hurt, Editor ized workers whose unions are part of the AFL-CIO. Finally, as Corrina A. Christensen, Assistant Editor referenced above, disastrous trade policies such as NAFTA have BCTGM GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD President Frank Hurt • Secretary-Treasurer David B. Durkee • led to a devastating loss of membership for AFL-CIO unions in the Executive Vice President Joseph Thibodeau • Vice Presidents Jeanne Graham • manufacturing sector. Harry A. Guildner • Anthony L. Johnson • Sean Kelly • Michael T. Konesko • Arthur Montminy • Robert Oakley • Randy Roark • Despite all of this, as a percentage of the labor force, the AFL- Ronald D. Schreiber CIO shrunk by only 1.2 percent over the last decade. This is BCTGM GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS certainly disappointing but hardly the “crisis” described by the Joyce Alston • Edward Burpo • Randy W. Fulk • naysayers. Oscar B. Giles • Johnny Jackson • Paul LaBuda • Richard Lewis • Narcisco Martas • Herbert W. Marx • Danny Murphy • All in all, the labor movement has held its own in a period of Donna Scarano • Brad Schmidt • William Sprandel • Doyle Townson historic economic, political and social upheaval. Of course every BCTGM News (ISSN 1525-4860) is published bi-monthly by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961. Periodicals postage paid at Kensington, MD and at addi- union, including the BCTGM, wants to grow and become stronger tional mailing offices. Subscription to new members only. Postmaster: Send address changes to BCTGM News, 10401 Connecticut so that we can represent our members in the best possible way. Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961. 2 BCTGM News Hershey Workers Begin 98th Season More than 150 BCTGM Local top to bottom in the central plant, special garage mechanics, store- M464 members help make sign shop, carpenter shop, paint room and game technicians. Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa. shop, plumbing shop, utility crew, Pictured here are the Local 464 one of America’s safest and most labor crew, and the electrical members hard at work preparing enjoyable summer vacation des- shop. Additionally, two crews of Hershey Park for another suc- tinations. The Park opened for its Local 464 members make up the cessful, fun-filled season. 98th season on May 6. east and west ride mechanics, the Union members staff the park machine shop, the welding shop, ᮡ Utility worker Peggy Zimmerman maintains the park signs. ᮡ Sign artist Mike Landis touches up a chariot on the Carrousel. ᮡ Ride mechanic Brian Willard maintains the Balloon Flite Ride. ᮣ Utility worker Tina Miller empties a trash receptacle. ᮡ Ride mechanic Rick Nowlen inspects the safety bars on the Chaos Ride. ᮡ Glenn Hoffer maintains the beauty of Hershey Park grounds. ᮤ Electricians Barry Thompson and Bob ᮡ Ride mechanics Bruce Winters Weitzel check the and John Saltzer inspect tracking lights on the Music on top of the Comet Coaster. Express. July/August 2005 www.bctgm.org 3 An Unbalanced Trade Policy By U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) YYou can set your watch by it. More than 8,000 Guatemalan Whenever a trade pact comes workers protested against CAFTA to Congress, its supporters warn in March; the police responded the American people that if we with tear gas. In El Salvador, don’t pass the agreement our tens of thousands protested the economy will be hurt and our agreement; the Salvadoran legis- trading partners will be devastat- lature responded by passing it in ed. the middle of the night with no An annual U.S. trade deficit notice and little debate. that has gone from $38 billion to In Costa Rica, 30,000 protest- $617 billion in a dozen years ers took to the streets last fall. makes those claims hard to And Costa Rican President Abel believe. And since Congress Pacheco announced this month passed President Bush’s trade that his country would not ratify promotion authority three years CAFTA unless an independent ago, we have lost one-sixth of commission could determine that our manufacturing jobs. Since Congress passed the agreement will not hurt the When the proponents of working poor. trade agreements have nothing President Bush’s What really makes sense is a left to sell, the name-calling and trade policy that lifts workers up misrepresentations begin. Now trade promotion in rich and poor countries alike that the Central American Free authority three years while respecting human rights Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has and democratic principals.

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