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BCTGM Industry FocusNearly 10,000 BCTGM members work in thebiscuit and cracker industry throughout theU.S. and Canada. Union members work inproduction facilities as mixers, packers, shippingclerks and are part of the productionprocess from start to finish. This industrysector includes companies engaged in themanufacture of cookies, crackers, biscuits,pretzels, ice cream cones,cracker meal and crumbs, matzohand zwieback and manyother snacks.Industry LeadersThe top tier of the biscuit and crackerindustry in the United States consists oftwo companies, Nabisco Biscuit Co. (a divisionof Kraft Foods) and Keebler Foods (adivision of Kellogg Company), which nowincludes the former President Baking Co.Both companies compete in most marketsacross the U.S., and in most productcategories.The second tier of the industry is led byParmalat Finanziaria, which recentlyacquired Archway and Mother’s Cake &Cookies, both held under holding companyMA Holding. Ralcorp Holdings’ BremnerBiscuit, one of the leading private label producers,is also within the second tier. Bake-Line Group, which was created when AtlanticBaking Group acquired several facilities fromConsolidated Biscuit and Keebler, is a rising playerin the private label sector.Entenmann’s brand (George Weston) premiumcookies, Kroger and other independents bring upthe tail end of the mid tier.Biscuit & Cracker IndustryMajor Union BrandsUnion ContractsLocal unions representing workers in thebiscuit industry can affiliate to the BCTGMBiscuit Council, which holds annual meetings.Those locals representing workersemployed by Nabisco (Kraft) andKeebler (Kellogg), as well as manyothers, meet during the courseof the Council meetings andunder the guidance of theInternational Union, bargainnational agreements with each ofthe companies.Nabisco: Oreo, Ritz, Snackwell’s, Chips Ahoy,Triscuit, Premium, NillaKeebler: Fudge Shoppe, Cheez-It, Murray, TownHouse, Chips Deluxe, Wheatables,Famous AmosParmalat: Archway, Mother’sGeorge Weston: Entenmann’sFor more information onBCTGM-made products, visitthe all new BUY UNION sectionof www.bctgm.org.Western Conference MeetsIn the ‘City by the Sea’TThe national health care crisis,the economy and political actionwere priority issues addressed bydelegates to the BCTGM’s 47thWestern Conference in SanFrancisco April14-17.Conference President DoyleTownsend, Secretary-TreasurerLaurel Koch, Vice PresidentFelisa Castillo, and TrusteesDanny Polanco, MartyZimmerman and Lillian Gainerled the busy agenda, whichincluded the presentation of anambitious new actionplan for 2003-04.InternationalPresident Frank Hurtaddressed a myriad oftopics with the delegatesincluding the state ofthe U.S. economy, thestate of the union andthe challenges theBCTGM faces in representingworkers duringtrying times. Hurt urgedofficers and delegates tobecome active in the BCTGMpolitical action program andincrease their organizing effortsto strengthen the locals and theorganization as a whole.International Executive VicePresident Joseph Thibodeau discussedthe AFL-CIO Alliance forRetired Americans program andreiterated the concerns and problemswith the future of Medicare,prescription drug coverage andSocial Security.Thibodeau reminded localunion delegates to submit theircontracts and collective bargainingclauses into the B&C Pensionfund. He also discussed localunion elections and the properprocedures to follow.Assistant to the PresidentRobert Harbrant gave a presentationentitled: “2003—What doyou want it to be?” He also presentedan overview of theBCTGM-PAC program.Lew Davis, manager of theB&C Union and IndustryPension Fund, reported onrecent developments andchanges in theFund and answered questionsfrom the delegates on questionsand concerns expressed by theirmembership. Davis alsoannounced the Fund’s new website, www.bctrustfunds.org,which locals and retirees cannow access for important information.Louis Giraudo of GESDCapital Partners gave an interestingand informative presentationto the delegates on recent developmentsundertaken by GESD inCalifornia and the aspirationsand prospects for the future.Mike Johanson of the FederalMediation and ConciliationDelegates to the 2003 WesternConference listen carefully toIntl. Pres. Frank Hurt’s remarks.Service (FMCS) provided helpfulinformation and previewed theFMCS Voting Services that arenow available and answeredquestions from the delegates.The Conference includedmeetings of the Retail BakeryConference, The Law andLegislative Committee, The Pasta,Candy & SnackCommittee,OrganizingCommittee, andthe PublicRelations and UnionLabel Committee. TheConference ended on afestive note as delegatesparticipated in a specialPAC auction, organizedby Donna Scarano ofLocal 125 and MaryTrujillo of Local 9.Delegates donated alarge number of unique and valuableitems for bid. The selectionswere presented to the highest bidderand all proceeds went into theunion’s PAC fund.The Western Conferenceincludes all of Region 6 withlocal union representatives fromArizona, California, Colorado,Idaho, Montana, Nevada,New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,Washington and Wyoming. Thepurpose of the Conference is toassist in authorized strikes;organizing campaigns; legislativeactivity; union label promotion;and activity in the pasta, snackand candy industries.6BCTGM NewsMay/June 2003 www.bctgm.org 7