BCTGM President Anthony Shelton addresses AFSCME Convention

Bakery Union President Anthony Shelton presented President Lee Saunders with a plaque to recognize AFSCME's solidarity. Photo: Terrell Halsey
By AFSCME Staff ,

Anthony Shelton, president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), addressed the 45th AFSCME International Convention on Wednesday, expressing gratitude for AFSCME’s staunch solidarity with striking BCTGM workers.

AFSCME members stood with 1,400 BCTGM-represented workers at Kellogg’s factories in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Tennessee when they went on strike for better benefits and vacation time in 2021.

In his speech, Shelton thanked AFSCME for its support and presented President Lee Saunders with a plaque – BCTGM's “Hero” award – for standing behind BCTGM’s workers.

“When were on the street last year with four strikes, there was one group I could always count on and that was AFSCME,” said Shelton. “You all deserve a hand for what you did to help the bakery workers. Without you all, we couldn't have done it. You came out better than any of the other unions. A lot of unions talk the talk, but don’t quite walk the walk.”

 In April 2020, BCTGM’S General Executive Board unanimously elected Shelton to serve out the term of President David B. Durkee, who passed away a month earlier.

Shelton’s election comes after a lifetime of union service. He is a second generation BCTGM member. His father, Walter Shelton, was a member of the union for 62 years, served as business agent of Local 25 and served on the union’s General Executive Board.

Before assuming his current role, Shelton served as the union’s secretary-treasurer. He also served as a Southern Region international representative and as International vice president of the Southern Region.

Shelton has been a member of BCTGM since 1973, when he first joined Local 25 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In Local 25, he served as shop steward and chief shop steward, and he was also a trustee and member of the Local 25 Executive Board. Read his full bio here.

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