Michael Frank headed over to a rally in East Grand Forks, Minn., last night, one of many he’s taken part in over the past year. Frank, along with 1,300 other workers, was locked out of the American Crystal Sugar factory a year ago, and last night’s event was part of the workers’ ongoing efforts to urge the sugar beet processing company return to the bargaining table.

“They don’t want to sit down with us,” said Frank, a 33-year veteran with with company and currently day warehouse foreman. “We didn’t do anything to deserve this.”

It’s been nearly a year since the 1,300 American Crystal Sugar Co. workers with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) have gone to work. The workers are locked out of five American Crystal Sugar processing facilities and other facilities.

USA

This week leading up to July 4 we're highlighting American products, jobs and stories for our Made in America series. What are your favorite Made in America products? Please comment and share your ideas.

American-made products aren’t only for people—pets deserve the best we can give them as well. Better yet are U.S.-made and union made products—like the brand-name products made by members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers (BCTGM).

Workers like Becki Jacobson (left), who have been locked out of their jobs at American Crystal Sugar Co. for 10 months, yesterday launched a 200-mile journey from Drayton, N.D., to Moorhead, Minn. They are calling on the company—a farmers’ cooperative—to engage in genuine negotiations when the two sides meet in Moorhead on June 8. They seek to draw attention to the ongoing lockout and its impact on their communities. They will camp out each night and invite the public to join them for potluck suppers, live entertainment and fellowship. They hope to discuss their struggles of the past 10 months and how they believe they can resolve this struggle through cooperation and real negotiation.

While many know of the AFL-CIO's community affiliate Working America as a high-level field operation that wins on issues and in elections, it has evolved into much more. Employing new tools and strategies, Working America is working with dozens of unions and progressive allies to strengthen ties between communities and local labor to build progressive infrastructure for the long haul. We’re in it to win it. Check out these examples.

If your kids are going to get a sugar buzz from their Easter basket treasures, you can at least make sure it’s a union-made sugar buzz. Our friends at Union Plus have a handy candy guide to union-made treats.

If your kids are going to get a sugar buzz from their Easter basket treasures, you can at least make sure it’s a union-made sugar buzz. Our friends at Union Plus have a handy candy guide to union-made treats.

This is a cross-post from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) union

Kalamazoo, MI. – If you drive by a Panera Bread Café on any given morning, you will be treated with the decadent smell of freshly baking bread and sweet goods, thanks to the artful skills of Panera Bread bakers. These bakers work from 10 p.m. each night to 6 a.m. each morning making sure fresh bread, rolls, cakes and other baked goods are carefully molded and baked in time for the early morning Café opening. And if you were in Kalamazoo early [March 23], you may have heard the joyful screams of the Panera bakers celebrating their union victory after they voted by a two-to-one margin to be represented by the BCTGM.

Today, the Oreo—the ubiquitous, best-selling cookie of the 20th century—marks 100 years on the market, crafted by the skilled hands of members of BCTGM (the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers) union.

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 207L members ratified by a 2-to-1 margin a new five-year contract with Cooper Tire and Rubber Company  The vote ends a three-month lockout at the company's Findlay, Ohio tire plant. USW Local 207L President Rodney Nelson says:

We are proud to have remained united and delivered a fair contract, despite Cooper's best attempts to divide us.