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East Central Conference Sets PatternUnion Says No to Health Care Co-PaysPPhiladelphia—Negotiators whomake up the union’s East CentralBargaining Conference reached anew three-year agreement withtheir counterparts representingInterstate Bakeries Corporation(IBC). The settlement, whichcovers all IBC plants in theNortheast and as far west asOhio, was ratified overwhelminglyby the membership of Local 6(Philadelphia) in May.Approximately 1,700 membersare employed in seven IBCplants in the Northeastern U.S.The settlement also serves as thepattern for as many as 6,000BCTGM members employed atwholesale bread and cake plantsin the union’s first and secondregions. Those contracts—whichinclude Stroehmans, Maier’s andSchmidt Baking companies, aswell as a number of smallplants—will be negotiated overthe next few months.International Vice PresidentBob Oakley, who led the negotiations,noted that the agreementfocused on a number of issues,which union negotiators weresuccessful in addressing—increasing wages and pensionsand maintaining health benefits.BCTGM InternationalPresident Frank Hurt praised thenew contract and applauded thenegotiating committee’s efforts.“Clearly our negotiating committeewas well prepared and knewexactly what the membershipdesired,” said Hurt.The new agreement stipulatesthat covered workers will receive$1.10 in wage increases over theterm of the contract. Under theB&C Pension Plan, members willreceive a $50.00 increase to theirpension benefit level, effectivethe 13 th month of the contract.Another $50.00 increase will gointo effect in the 25 th month.One of the most significantgains, according to Oakley, is athree-cent-per hour increase toP-Plan benefit levels. Memberswill also have the right to purchaseadditional amounts ofpension from wages. In addition,the committee won a new paidholiday (Martin Luther KingDay).Of critical importance is thefact the committee rebuked thecompany’s efforts to institutehealth care co-payments. Oakleycommended the committee’sresolve when it came to the copayissue. “Our negotiating committeeknew their memberswould not support a contractwith co-pays. It was that simpleand the company understands itis a part of doing business.”International Vice PresidentArt Montminy served as theNegotiating Committee co-chair.Also serving on the committteewere—Secretary VesterNewsome (Local 57), JohnCairns (Local 6), Joyce Alston(Local 50), and Oscar Hodgkins(Local 334).Members of the PolicyCommittee included Barry Fields(Local 6), Tom Christ (Local 12),Chester Fox (Local 33), TonyCenti (Local 50), RaymondMullens (Local 57), GeraldMcAllaster (Local 68), HaroldBliss (Local 116), Al Haight(Local 118), Paul Williams(Local 334), Tim Benjamin (Local348), Ray Richardson (Local358), Bruce Hummel (Local 464)and James Short (Local 802).Master Agreement Set With General MillsMore than 800 BCTGM members in three states will benefit from a newfour-year agreement reached between the union and Pillsbury, now asubsidiary of General Mills. The Master Agreement covers Pillsburyemployees from Locals 33G (Louisville, Ky.), 237G (Denison, Texas),and 346G (Martel, Ohio). The new contract features an increase of $8 tothe pension multiplier, an increase in the minimum disability pension to$475 per month, an increase in accident benefits, an increase in lifeinsurance, and a renewal of the 1,500 Hour Disability Bank. Accordingto International President Frank Hurt, the new agreement, which featuresno health care co-payments, “is a victory for the hard-working menand women that make up the BCTGM.” The new agreement is effectiveApril 1, 2002. Local unions at each facility negotiate supplementalagreements that cover wages, work rules, seniority and other issues notaddressed in the master agreement.6 BCTGM News