Following a brief journey through the history of the Tobacco Workers International Union (TWIU), we review what led to its merger with the Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union in 1978.

Leaders at three different BCTGM Tobacco Local Unions then discuss the current status of the tobacco industry, its Union density in the South, the effects of the changing culture around tobacco use, and a little about the differences in tobacco products that are BCTGM-made in Canada vs. the United States.

Guests:

• Aaron Graves, JTI Liggett, President, BCTGM Local 176T / International General Executive Board Member
• Pierre-Luc Doucet, Rothman’s, Benson and Hedges, President, BCTGM Local 261T / International General Executive Board Member
• Kevin Lindsey, Swedish Match/ZYN, President, BCTGM Local 196T
• Chris Graves, Swedish Match/ZYN, Vice President, BCTGM Local 196T
• Mike Aldrich, Swedish Match/ZYN, Financial Secretary, BCTGM Local 196T

Most people believe the sugar they use and consume everyday comes from sugarcane, but in the United States about 60% of it is Union-made from sugar beets in the cooler climates of the northern Midwest and Western Regions of the country.

BCTGM members in Michigan, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Idaho and Wyoming process nearly 100% of the sugar from sugar beets – for companies like Michigan Sugar, Amalgamated Sugar, Wyoming Sugar, Southern Minn. Beet Sugar Cooperative, American Crystal and Sidney Sugar. Much of it ends up in bags on your grocery shelves, but a lot also goes into other Union-made product such as Kellogg’s and General Mills cereals and other sweet snacks.

In this episode, two BCTGM Local Union leaders at Amalgamated Sugar in Idaho discuss their unique jobs and the importance of their Union contracts.

Guests:

• Shawn Fowler, President, BCTGM Local 282G
• Brendan Van Sickle, President, BCTGM Local 283G

Supporting:

• David Woods, BCTGM International Secretary-Treasurer/Dir. of Organization
• Shad Clark, BCTGM International Vice President, Western Region

Different than the external act of going into facilities where there is no union and attempting to start one—Internal Organizing is fundamentally about building a union culture in your workplace where, when given the choice to belong or opt out of the Union, workers would ultimately desire to be a part of it.

This is the only way to strengthen our Local Unions against the rising threat of Right-to-Work laws. Learn how BCTGM local Unions are doing it in the Right to Work states of Indiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

We hear from:

• David Woods, BCTGM International Secretary-Treasurer/Director of Organization
• Clint Lathrop, BCTGM Local 372A (Indianapolis, Ind.) Business Agent
• Rob Gaskins, BCTGM Local 57 (Columbus, Ohio) Business Agent
• Karlos Brothers, BCTGM Local 366G (Oklahoma City, Okla.) President
• Darian Haggins, BCTGM 366G (Oklahoma City, Okla.) Vice President
• with historical clips from former BCTGM Director of Organization John Price

We dedicate this episode to our late Organizing Director John Price, who dedicated his entire working life to helping workers organize with the BCTGM. We will continue the fight in his honor.