Enjoy Teamster-made beer and ice cream this Fourth of July!

Celebrate America's independence with products that are not only made in America, but made by Teamsters.

Going food shopping? Support your brothers and sisters who work at Costco if there's one near you. Many Costcos are represented by Teamsters. The company pays all of its employees an average of $17 an hour; CEO Jim Sinegal believes paying workers well is good business.

Make those jimmies red, white and
blue for the 4th!

The summer's top cookout event demands beer, and Teamsters make (and deliver) a lot of it. Teamsters make such refreshing brews as Labatt's Blue, Beck's, Coors Light, Molson Ice, Miller Lite and the King of Beers, Budweiser. Our brothers and sisters also brew up tasty beverages at smaller breweries, Dundee Craft Beer and Genesee Brewery. Remember, when you buy Teamster beers you're supporting good union jobs!

Ice cream is another requirement for the Fourth of July, and tens of thousands of Teamsters work for American dairies. If you live on the West Coast, look for Darigold dairy products or Tillamook cheese and ice cream for that July 4th picnic. Tillamook makes a grilled ice cream sandwich that makes us hungry just to look at. Alta Dena is another Teamster-represented dairy in California and Arizona that makes about a dozen different ice cream products.

Teamsters who live along the East Coast from Pennsylvania to Florida are probably more familiar with WAWA, a convenience store chain that started as a dairy and is a Teamster-represented employer.  WAWA makes premier ice cream from classic Vanilla or Chocolate to Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup or Mint Chocolate Chip.

Another Teamster employer, Dean Foods, has more than 50 brands, including Country Fresh ice cream in Wisconsin and Michigan; Berkeley Farms ice cream in California; Country Love, Broughton and Ben & Jerry's in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. Click here to find out what Dean products are near you.

Teamster employer Prairie Farms sells dairy products in 14 Midwestern states, including Prairie Farms ice cream, sherbet and frozen yogurt.  Kemps Dairy in Wisconsin and Minnesota makes a wide variety of ice cream, including Green Bay Packer Salted Caramel Frozen Tundra Twist!

Our brothers and sisters at other unions also make delicious items for that 4th of July barbecue. Check out the AFL-CIO's shopping list for more ideas here.

Note: Not every Teamster-represented beer and ice cream is mentioned here. There are so many!

Protect your skin while protecting American workers

Now that it's summertime, our friends at Labor 411 remind us to buy union-made sunscreen:

May 27 is National Sunscreen Day! Yes, summer has unofficially started and the sun worshippers will be back at the beach and taking full advantage of the warm weather. Don’t forget the Coppertone and Bain de Soleil! 

These union-made products not only protect your skin, but represent companies that protect a way of doing business that benefits the American middle-class worker. Both are made by members of the United Steelworkers and knowing that will make the kiss of the sun feel that much warmer.

Spend your tax refund on American-made,union-made products

Our brothers and sisters at the AFL-CIO have some great ideas for spending your tax refund on American-made, union-made products.

• Buy an American car. For a list of vehicles made by our brothers and sisters at the UAW, click here. 
• Buy tires made in America. To find out how, click here.  
• Buy union-made appliances. Click on this chart here for the model numbers for union-made General Electric washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, along with other home appliances.
• Buy union-made sporting goods. Click on Labor 411's directory of athletic equipment here. 
• Take a union vacation. Click on the Union Plus Travel Center here or download UNITE HERE's Union Hotel & Casino Guide here. 

If you didn't get a tax refund, but had to pay taxes instead, consider a union-made adult beverage. Click here for a list of union-made beers and whiskies or here for union-made wines and champagnes.

Happy shopping!

Today's Teamster News 03.07.14

Teamster News
Listen to Teamster Nation News for March 6-12  teamster.org   ...McKesson CEO takes a $45 million cut to his pension after shareholders raised a stink at annual meeting, but is still set to make $114 million in retirement while some workers can’t afford healthcare.  Thanks for listening to this podcast episode and be sure to subscribe...
Teamsters and Sarasota County agree on raises  Herald-Tribune...After two and half years of negotiations, Sarasota County and the Teamsters Local 173 in Bradenton, Florida signed off on a new collective bargaining agreement for nearly 400 workers...
A Cuomo-de Blasio Airport Partnership (opinion by Joe Sitt and George Miranda)  New York Daily News   ...De Blasio must now take up the mantle as well — and use his powerful platform and microphone to drive improvements at our airports...
Mayor de Blasio Falls Short on Job Approval, But Handled Snow OK: NBC4 Poll  NBC4   ...Two months into Mayor de Blasio's first term, fewer than four in 10 voters approve of his job performance as mayor, but a majority applauds his response to a series of storms during one of the snowiest winters in New York City history...
Teamsters: Ending Currency Manipulation Will Bring Worker Security   teamster.org   ...Efforts by other nations to keep the value of their currency artificially low are killing U.S. jobs and is a major reason why this country currently has an annual trade deficit in excess of $700 billion, a new Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report explains. Changing the system, the document states, would create 5.8 million jobs here...
Trade
Protesters oppose trade agreement   Wisconsin State Farmer   ...The group Family Farm Defenders organized a march to Rep. Ron Kind’s office in La Crosse Friday to urge him to oppose “fast track” authority and the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a trade agreement with Pacific Rim countries...
Radioactive Imported Dog Food Bowls.  Trade Reform   ...Petco has determined that one of its foreign suppliers used stainless steel mistakenly containing small quantities of Cobalt-60 when fabricating certain orders of certain SKUs/models of stainless steel pet food bowls. Cobalt-60 is a radioactive material commonly used in industrial gauging equipment and other uses...
State Battles
Conservative group Alec trains sights on city and local government  The Guardian   ...It has already quietly set up, and is making plans for the public launch of, an offshoot called the American City County Exchange (ACCE) that will target policymakers from “villages, towns, cities and counties”. The new organisation will offer corporate America a direct conduit into the policy making process of city councils and municipalities. Lobbyists acting on behalf of major businesses will be able to propose resolutions and argue for new profit-enhancing legislation in front of elected city officials, who will then return to their council chambers and seek to implement the proposals...
Miss. House passes bills meant to restrict unions  Clarion Ledger   ...Mississippi lawmakers are moving ahead with a package of bills to restrict some labor union organizing and picketing practices...
Republican Governor Will Protect His State’s Residents From Food Stamp Cuts  ThinkProgress   ...Gov. Tom Corbett (R-PA) will be the third governor (and the first Republican) to block Congress's food stamp cuts in his state...
10,000 state workers still without back pay  KOAT 7 Albuquerque   ...As much as $50 million has yet to arrive after a union beat state in a case that went to the New Mexico Supreme Court...
Illinois Legislation Supports Interest-Free Student Loans  WIFR News   ...Students nationwide are graduating college on average, up to $30,000 in debt and now new Illinois legislation could help offer interest-free loans...
Nebraska bill could benefit low-income parents  Associated Press   ...Some low-income parents would have a greater incentive to seek raises and promotions at work and to save for a child's college education, under a bill in the Nebraska Legislature...
No, Connecticut’s History-Making Paid Sick Leave Law Did Not Hurt Business   ThinkProgress   ...When Connecticut was considering whether to become the first state to require employers to offer their workers paid sick leave, businesses raised concerns that it would create an unbearable cost, forcing some to close, and that abuse would be rampant. But a new survey of employers in the state a year and a half after the law took effect shows those fears were unfounded...
Louisiana lawmakers seek to cap payday loan rates  Associated Press   ...Louisiana organizations that represent the elderly, the poor and others on fixed incomes want stiffer regulation of payday lending businesses that offer short-term loans with high interest rates of no greater than 36 percent annually...
Oklahoma House votes to make trooper dash cam videos public records  News OK   ...The Oklahoma Highway Patrol would be required to make trooper dash camera videos available for public viewing under a bill passed Wednesday by the state House of Representatives...
West Virginia House Passes Chemical Storage Bill In Effort To Prevent Future Spills ThinkProgress   ...Nearly two months after Freedom Industry's leaky chemical storage tank on the Elk River in West Virginia contaminated the drinking water supply for 300,000 people, the House of Representatives passed a new bill late Wednesday night regulating chemical storage tanks...
War on Workers
Real World Evidence That Increasing The Minimum Wage Doesn’t Cost Jobs  ThinkProgress
 ...Last month, conservatives seized on a Congressional Budget Office report showing that increasing the minimum wage could result in job loss to argue that President Obama’s push to pay workers more would undermine the American economy and stifle growth. But a growing body of real world experiences is already proving the nonpartisan economists wrong...
'Paycheck protection' is bad for unions, good for free-riding deadbeats (Opinion)  Penn Live   ...Once again, legislation has been proposed to prevent the automatic withholding of union dues from public employees' paychecks (House Bill 1507). This legislation serves only to undermine the timely, efficient payment of monies which are rightfully due to the union...
Miscellaneous
Bernie Sanders: ‘I Am Prepared to Run for President of the United States’  The Nation   ...he says his political instincts tell him America is ready for a “political revolution.”...
Meet the Company That Can Track Everywhere You've Been and Tell Police About It  AlterNet   ...A security company collects data from license plate readers and shares it with police and federal law enforcement, no warrant needed...
New Report Says Rich Are Richer And Spending More Than Ever  AlterNet ...A new report released this week by the elitist property management firm Knight Frank confirms the ranks of the rich are expanding, and they're spending their money with the gilded abandon so characteristic of our era... 

Have a union-made St. Patrick's Day

For St. Pat's, how about a green cupcake with UFCW-made Sprite?

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner (wasn't it just Valentine's Day) and there's plenty of food and drink in the House of Labor's pantry.

That green cupcake is made with Sprite, a UFCW-made beverage. You can find the recipe here.

Speaking of beverages, St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be complete without Teamster beer.

Our brothers and sisters at the AFL-CIO recommend these UFCW-made whiskies as well: Basil Hayden's; Blanton’s; Elijah Craig; Henry McKenna; Jim Beam; Knob Creek; Old Crow and Old Grand-Dad. And the AFL-CIO Now blog suggests:

For a touch of global solidarity, the Irish-imported favorite Guinness is brewed at facilities where workers are represented by half unions of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, including the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) and the Guinness Staff Union (GSU). 

What would St. Patrick’s Day be without a nice slab of corned beef and corned beef products from Saag's that carry the UFCW union label? 

And if you're a greeting-card kind of guy or gal, be sure to buy your St. Patrick's Day greeting cards from American Greetings. They're made by about 500 of our Teamster brothers and sisters at the company's Bardstown, Ky., plant.

Erin go bragh!

Buy union, buy Made in America (or Canada) this holiday season

We know we don't have to remind you to shop at Costco, buy union-made beer and ship your holiday packages by UPS. And if you're looking for a specific union-made product, Labor 411 is the place to go.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has two -- count 'em -- two stores from which you can buy union-made Teamster gear. The Team Fund store offers Teamster Power golf shirts, Teamster flip flops, Teamster earrings and even a Teamster trailer hitch cover. The Teamsterwear store offers a variety of apparel, from "Feel the Strength" infant one-pieces to "I Love Teamsters night shirts to the 'I'm A Friend of Hoffa' collection.

The ManufactureThis blog also offers 51 ideas for gifts that were made in America. Some of them are a little over the top -- an Airstream trailer is beyond most budgets -- but it's a fun list, with an item for each state.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Idaho: For much of the country the cold weather has settled in, Balm Shot lip balm makes for a useful little gift. The balm’s shotgun shell exterior is designed to stay put in pockets.
• Nebraska: Bison makes basketball, volleyball, soccer and football gear in Lincoln. Some perfect gifts for the budding athletes in your life!
• Oregon: For all your friends and family in danger of getting snowed in this winter, Pendelton Woolen Mills makes beautiful blankets that are perfect for staying warm on the couch and binge-watching television.
• Wisconsin: For either the Packers fan or cheese lover in your life, Foamation’s cheesehead hats and sombreros.

Read the whole list here.

Living the union lifestyle

Ashley Beard-Fosnow and her family live the union lifestyle.

Our good friends at Labor 411 published this great post by Ashley Beard-Fosnow about living the union lifestyle. We liked it so much we're cross-posting it here:

I did not grow up in an Union family. In fact, when I met my husband Clint ten years ago the only thing I knew about Unions was what I gleaned from the Disney film, "The Newsies." Since our fateful meeting, Clint has educated me on his job as an Ironworker, collective bargaining, and the Labor Movement. I have witnessed firsthand all of the benefits of being a member of a Union family.

Clint is paid a living wage which is enough to provide for our family of five. We have wonderful health insurance which allows us to take our kids to the doctor when they are ill. Clint contributes to his Union retirement every week so that one day he will be able to retire with modest dignity. Thanks to the Union regulated safety standards and apprentice training, my husband does his incredibly dangerous job with as little risk as possible. We lead a simple, but happy life. I credit so much of our good fortune to my husband's Union membership. We believe that all working class families should have the right to organize and have the opportunities that we enjoy. We feel a connection and obligation to the Union community – we're all in this together!

We have three small children. As they have gotten older, it's been important to us to "practice what we preach" in reference to living a lifestyle in solidarity with the Labor Movement and other Union families. We aim to live the Union Values we teach our children – be fair, share, stick together, be safe, etc. We believe one of the best ways to support other Union workers is to buy as many Union made products as possible while sticking to our tiny food and household budget. Each week, I compare the sale items in the grocery store and CVS ads to Labor 411's directory of Union made products. I try to reward companies who build the middle class with our patronage. Labor 411 is an amazing resource. I would not be much of a conscientious consumer without it. 

Recently, my children chose to attend their first labor rally where we stood with striking fast food workers in Kansas City. It was a wonderful experience for our family. Clint and I used it as an opportunity to discuss current labor issues with our kids and meet other like-minded families. My greatest wish for my kids is that they grow up to be concerned, involved citizens. I hope they identify themselves as members of the Labor family and use the benefits of that association to make the world a better place.

Stay tuned for posts about Ashley's ideas for teaching Union values to children and running a labor friendly household on Labor 411 Blog. Ashley Beard-Fosnow is a Missouri housewife and mother of three. She received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of MO-KC. She loves books, organization in all things, and the thrill of a good deal. She does not love cleaning, diapers, or elaborate cooking. She also writes a Union-themed mommy blog at www.myunionfamily.com.

Buy union-made for your back-to-school needs

If you're filled with joy or sorrow at the approach of school, you probably need back-to-school gear. Here's a quick guide to the best quality (that is, union made) items for that return to the halls of academe.

At the start of a new year, it’s important to for students to look their best. OshKosh B’Gosh and Union Line All-USA Clothing show how stylish labor-friendly alternatives can be.

With kids getting ready to storm the halls, it’s important to send them off with a good union-made lunch. Orowheat bread is terrific for sandwiches -- and goes great with Jif peanut butter or Uncle John deli meat. For snacks, Slim Jims, Wheat Thins, Dannon or Yoplait yogurts and Frito-Lay chips are all great labor-friendly choices! Buy juice that displays the black UFW eagle – all of the major juice brands use some union workers. For dessert, any Hershey chocolate is guaranteed to add solidarity to the ranks.

For school supplies, try to buy from union stores. Safeway, Albertsons, Giant, Vons, Supervalu, and Costco are all union-friendly stores that pay their workers well. Roaring Springs also has union-made notebooks, art supplies, binders and other products.

And what would the back to school season be like without fun extras? For a good time, look for Hasbro toys and sports equipment from Spalding and Louisville Slugger. For the serious scholar, Unionbuilt PC makes custom laptops. All companies use unionized American labor to make their products.

Looking for more union made stuff? Check out Labor 411 or the UnionPlus Pinterest!

Labor-friendly shopping made easy

On this very day 110 years ago, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones led a rally in Philadelphia for children mutilated in the state's textile mills. Three weeks later the 73-year-old would lead a march to New York City to ask President Theodore Roosevelt to help improve working conditions for the children
Sadly, those same conditions still exist for children, teens, and adults across the United States and worldwide.

So it's more important than ever to buy products made with ethical labor standards.

In the beginning of the union movement in America, workers attached labels to union-made goods to demonstrate the quality of the good. Today, specific websites and apps can do much the same.

Need a recipe? Look no further than this Pinterest account by UnionPlus that catalogues goods that taste good – and treat workers well too. From Frozen Raspberry and Cream Squares to Bacon Strip Pancakes, this union strong account has food for all workers.

From Baldwin Pianos to the Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga Death Star Game (made by UFCW Local 224), Local 411 has one of the largest databases of union-made goods ready for purchase anywhere – as well as a searchable map of union grocery stores, car washes, restaurants, and other businesses in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Their blog notes:

Our goal at Labor 411 is to identify as many union-made products and services for you, the consumer. I rarely find any product whatsoever with a literal union label or stamp on it these days and a big part of why we exist as a service is because of this very inconvenience.

Another convenient option is Good Guide, a free website database of ingredients that rate the labor, environmental, and safety standards of each product and company. Ratings are scored 1-10 in Health, Environment and Society, with subcategories for each topic that include considerations about worker treatment and human health impact. San Francisco Gate writes:

From diapers to air fresheners, cereal bars to cell phones, GoodGuide's scientists and researchers comb through the product's ingredients to determine its health and safety. They also scrutinize its impact on the environment and society, looking at whether the product is recyclable, whether it was tested on animals and how the company treats its workers.

Accompanying IPhone and Android apps allow you to scan a product’s barcode while actually in the grocery store.

Whatever method you use to pick your shopping list, shopping labor-friendly has never been easier.

How about a union-themed date for Millennials?

What a great idea! Our friends at Labor 411 gave us permission to cross-post Melissa Bobrowicz's account of her date with a fellow Millennial. (Sounds like he really likes her, by the way.)

The only prerequisite was that wherever we went that day, it had to tie into the labor movement. I guess you could call it a union-themed date. He took interest in the fact that I worked on behalf of the movement. “Are there any Millennials supporting labor right now, I mean, at the meetings you go to?” and “It’s funny, because I almost feel like our generation doesn’t see a distinction between classes anymore.” and “Does our generation continue the labor movement, or do we simply evolve it?” 

Good questions. And the answers would come, all in good time, but I figured the best place to start was to get him involved with a little social interaction. “This Saturday, it’s you, me, and everything that’s cool about unions,” I said. 

I didn’t know much about Danny, except for a couple quirks we had in common: mutual love for dinosaurs (in any and all forms—we met by “Dakota” the triceratops at the Natural History Museum), and our respective Philosophy degrees from California’s largest labor friendly cities.  He hailed from San Francisco, and I was proud to call Los Angeles my hometown.  It was evident we were similarly curious and creative.  Simply put, he seemed like someone that liked to think outside the box, and I knew from experience that most of the thinkers I’ve met are usually game to try anything once. 

The loosely concocted plan involved patronizing exclusively union establishments in L.A. – giving the philosophy of “ethical consumerism” a run for its money on a sunny Saturday. Though really intrigued, I had never really given much thought to committing myself to the concept of “voting with one’s dollars.” The very idea of being able to enact meaningful social and economic change in my community by consciously choosing how I spent my money was admittedly empowering, if not difficult to contain, by virtue of its simplicity. 

I thought it would be fun – and true to form – if I picked him up in my brother’s 2012 Ford Fusion. I didn’t say anything for a few minutes, waiting to see if he was sharp enough to pick up on the fact that the car was not just American, but union (UAW) made.  To my pleasant surprise, not only did he notice, he took it up a notch himself.  He didn’t just pack a lunch for the day in a plastic bag – he reached into the brightest green John Deere backpack I had ever seen, and flashed me what he deemed was “a homemade union sandwich” (made with Oscar Mayer meat and French’s mustard) and a six pack of Budweiser to share later. He had clearly done his homework. He then shrugged nonchalantly and said, “I figured you were probably sick of Pabst, since Los Angeles seems to brag about PBR more than the Teamsters do.”  Two thoughts emerged: first, don’t tell him that touring the Anheuser-Busch plant is an option, and second, that backpack was incredibly cool. 

We had been driving down the sunlit 101 South for exactly 20 minutes, and by this point the sheer volume of nostalgic, union-made references we were throwing at each other was becoming alarming. We started referencing union-made things one just couldn’t live without in L.A.: Chapstick, Coppertone sunblock, AT&T, BIC lighters, tires! It seemed as if we both were competing with one another as to who could plan the better, and cooler, union-themed date. The day was young, and we laughed as we considered aloud the multitude of absurd, yet logical possibilities. I could see us consulting Labor 411 to tour a list of the swankiest hotel bars, just to say we did.  In another terrifying scenario, we’d momentarily forget we were in our late 20s and end up on Jurassic Park: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. (In fact, the entire drive through Los Angeles, Danny would never let me forget that Universal Studios was affiliated with the labor movement UNITE HERE!) 

I didn’t want to compete anymore! The boy seemed to always be a couple steps ahead of me. “Alright,” I said with an exasperated laugh, “You get to choose. You’re the guest, you’re visiting. Your pro-labor choices are as follows: a show at the Palladium, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Hollywood Bowl, or the Beverly Hilton, just to say we got a drink there.” I was overwhelmed and I didn’t want to have to choose. I wanted to see where this thought experiment took us. Before I had a chance to agonize over which of my options had appealed to him, Danny suddenly whipped out two crisp blue and white tickets he had stealthily procured before our meeting. Suddenly, I realized the game plan.  “Come on,” he prodded, playfully nudging my temporarily stunned shoulder, “what’s more union than a Dodger dog?

Labor 411 has the union info consumers need

When you buy American union-made products, it means the money you spend goes toward protecting working people. It helps working families earn a livable wage in safe conditions, provide health care for their families and create a better life for future generations.

When you buy Teamster-made products, you’re doing more than supporting working families. You’re supporting your Teamster brothers and sisters.

Labor 411 is making it easier for all Americans to support products and services made by American union members, and this week is “Support Teamsters Week” at the website. Here’s a little more about the group:

Labor 411 believes that working people deserve the support of their neighbors, communities and friends. By making the choice to spend our money on union-made goods and services that are made in our country by workers who are treated fairly, we are helping to protect the middle class, strengthen our national economy and build a stronger America. We call that ethical consumerism, and we hope you will join us in making the everyday decisions count…

A one-stop resource for people who want to buy union-made goods and services, Labor 411’s print and online directory provides greater visibility to union products and union-made goods and services and helps union decision makers ensure that their dollars and their values are connecting with the community at large. Distributed to over 17,000 union officers and staff, union-friendly vendors and powerful friends of organized labor, Labor 411's directory of union services reaches a committed and influential audience.

And check out Labor 411’s Facebook page here.

Your union-made Valentine's Day shopping list

Looking for a union-made Valentine card for your Union Maid?

Teamsters can support their brothers and sisters in the Graphic Communications Conference (GCC) by looking for cards they make with the "GCC" or "Allied Printing Trades" label. 

And more than 500 Teamsters make American Greetings cards in Kentucky. Teamsters have represented these workers for more than 25 years. The members of Local 89 make most American Greetings cards available, but a small percentage of them are made in China. If you see a card and it does not say “Made in China”, it was made by Teamsters.

If your sweetie has a sweet tooth, remember to buy union-made candy. The AFL-CIO offers a shopping list of union-made candy:

Why not give your valentine some union-made sweets this Feb. 14? It turns out, there are many union-made treats you can give out on Valentine's Day. The iconic Necco candy Sweethearts conversation hearts are made by members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM). 

The list includes:

• Ghirardelli chocolates;
• Godiva chocolates;
• Hershey's Kisses;
• Necco Sweethearts; 
• Tootsie Rolls;
• Russell Stover candy; and
• York Peppermint Patties 

Look no further than the Labor 411's union business directory to find union-made spirits and candy. Most wine and liquor is made by UFCW, but Teamsters from Local 117 make Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington.

And we don't need to remind you: If you're sending flowers, be sure it's one of your brothers or sisters at UPS who delivers them!

1st ever karaoke union songs, by a union company

Is this a great idea or what? A CD of karaoke union songs made by and for union members.

Union Pride, a Canadian company, sells it for $9.95. Here are the details:

When union members get together at a party, bar or union school they can use this CD to learn and sing the songs that helped build the union movement we are part of today. 

We have combined many of the classics with a few lesser-known gems, and some modern contributions.

These are all-new recordings...

The styles range from Jackie Richardson’s amazingly powerful, moving jazz interpretation of Strange Fruit to Marnie Niemi and a swinging bluegrass combo on Which Side Are You On? Kathryn Rose’s voice on Bread and Roses is soaring and beautiful. Robert Priest’s Put It on the Ground will have you laughing, Coco ‘Cognac’ Brown nails Joe Hill, and The Ballad of Springhill by Mike Danckert is haunting.

Unionists involved include Mike Hersh of the Steelworkers, who wrote and sings Ruby and the Painted Pants; and Anne Healy of CUPE, who sings Union Maid with Toronto City Councillor Paula Fletcher. Marnie Niemi is an OPSEU Rep. The booklet text is written by Tony Leah, CAW.

The CD features vocal and karaoke versions of each song. As far as we know these are the first karaoke versions of union songs released anywhere. It comes with a 16 page pamphlet that includes all the lyrics, and also a short essay on the history and context of each song, illustrated with photographs.

You can order it here.

We've been chastised, by the way, for failing to mention our Canadian brothers and sisters when we urge people to buy union-made products. So we're especially happy to tell you about Union Pride.

Here's how they describe themselves:

Union Pride is a promotional products & advertising specialty distributor that showcases union-made and fair-trade goods from Canada and other countries — your best guarantee of high-quality, safe products and fair pay for the workers who make them. We have been providing customized items for Canadian unions and community groups since 1997.

Their founder, Lorie King, explains in a blog post:

Our main purpose is to promote the use and sale of union-made products, because they are directly creating better employment. And most of it within our communities. 

But it’s not really about the stuff. The apparel, the trinkets & trash, the bumpf and the rest. 

It’s still all about the message. Human rights, a well educated and healthy community, safe workplaces and a vibrant arts and cultural sharing. Justice and fairness. Stronger unions. 

Buy union-made products for winter

With snow outside the IBT Headquarters we decided to look into winter products made by union members.

Here's what we found, thanks to Labor 411.

Union Tool products are made by our brothers and sisters of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. The product line includes snow shovels, sidewalk scrapers and ice chisels. Look for them at Sears, Agway and Razorback stores.

Carhartt sells warm winter clothing, but not all of it is made by union members. Labor 411 advises:

Check the label to see if it is made in the US. Carharrt has recently released a “Made in America Line," and features some of the company's most legendary products. All items in this line are designed in Michigan and produced in their Tennessee and Kentucky plants by members of UFCW. Jackets, pants and socks for men and women.

Look for this label.

Believe it or not, you can still buy union-made boots. Companies such as Red Wing Shoes, Wolverine and Totes sell boots made by our brothers and sisters at UFCW.

If you're into outdoor sports, buy your snowboards, snowshoes and sleds from Big 5 Sporting Goods, located in 12 states west of the Mississippi. You'll find your Teamster brothers and sisters in Big 5's warehouses. And you can buy Little Hotties hand and toe warmers at Costco, which employs 15,000 Teamsters in California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. (Costco also sells emergency kits, heaters, snow blowers and fire pits.)

Putting snow tires on your vehicle? A whole host of tires are made by union members, but to make sure you have to check the tire for the U.S. Department of Transportation code. (Union Plus explains how here.) Union-made tires include B.F. Goodrich, Bridgestone, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Kelly Springfield, Titan and Yokohama.

When you come in from the cold, have some Swiss Miss hot chocolate made by UFCW members. Or maybe a hot toddy made with Bacardi rum by the UAW or IAMAW, or any number of bourbons and whiskeys made by UFCW. (Labor 411 has the complete list.)

10 last-minute union-made gift ideas

For all you desperate last-minute shoppers out there, here are 10 ideas for gifts that are made by union members. Thanks to American Rights at Work, Labor 411 and the AFL-CIO for the suggestions:

1. Tickets to an NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL, or MLS game. Pro athletes in these leagues rely on collective bargaining.
2. A bottle of champagne. UFCW members make Totts, J. Roget, Jacques Reynard, JFJ, Le Domaine, Wycliff, Andre Cook's, Great Western and Eden Roc champagnes.
3. Hershey's kisses make a great stocking stuffer -- and they're made by Chocolate Workers Local 464 in Hershey, Pa.
4. Top-Flite golf balls are made by the Boilermakers.
5. A Costco gift card. The Teamsters represent many Costco workers. Founder Jim Sinegal allows unions and treats his employees well. 
6. OshKosh B'gosh very cute clothes for kids, made by UFCW.
7. For that gardener in the family, how about gardening tools from Sears, Agway or Razorback? They're made by the Boilermakers. 
8. Lander bath products sold in stores throughout the country. They're made by UFCW.
9. A Kitchen-Aid mixer, another fine product made by the Boilermakers. 
10. Cutco knives, kitchen or sporting. They're made by the United Steelworkers. 

But before you go, take the union pledge to buy union-made-in-the-USA whenever possible.

10 close-to-last-minute union-made gift ideas

U-N-I-O-N M-A-D-E

Getting panicky yet? There's still time to buy or order union-made gifts. Here are 10 ideas, thanks to American Rights at Work, Labor 411 and the AFL-CIO:

1. Omaha Steaks. Order gourmet meals from prepared UFCW-represented employees. 
2. A Timex women's watch, made by IAM-AW members (order online here).
3. The latest bestseller from Powell Books, ILWU represents employees at this, the largest independent online story in the country. 
4. A set of Libbey beer glasses made by United Steelworkers members, along with some fine Anheuser-Busch products made by Teamsters.
5. It's not too late to order flowers from the Jackson & Perkins online store, which sells flowers harvested by the United Farm Workers members.
6. A Snap-On 12 function multi-tool, made by UNITE HERE members.
7. Scrabble, a Hasbro product. Hasbro provides good jobs to 350 members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 224 (check the box, though; not all Hasbro products are made in the USA).
8. A Brown & Haley gift basket, made by members of BCTGM.
9. MacGregor golf clubs made by the Boilermakers.
10. A vacation on a union airline (Teamsters represent many airline workers) or on Amtrak (yup, Teamster represented). Drive an American UAW-made car from a Teamster-represented Hertz agency and stay at a union hotel. 

And for those toys and electronics that require batteries: Be sure to buy Rayovac batteries. They're made by Teamsters!

Buy union, buy American for the holidays

We don't need to explain why. The question is how? So many U.S. products are now made by low-paid workers outside of our borders.

Here's one way to buy products made by American union members: Go to the Labor 411 website. Starting tomorrow, they'll be spotlighting union-made, American-made gift ideas.

Labor 411 tells us lots of games, for example, are still made here, including Yahtzee, Candyland and Monopoly.

And here's a shock: You can actually buy union-made consumer electronics. A company called Union Built PC makes desktop computers, notebooks and tablets. Who knew?

Labor 411 also lists 86 unionized makers of apparel and accessories, from the All-American Clothing Co. to Winston Leather.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing is also promoting Christmas gifts that were made in America. They're already on Day 9, directing us to a website offering American-made greeting cards. Teamsters can support their brothers and sisters in the Graphic Communications Conference (GCC) by looking for cards they make with the "GCC" or "Allied Printing Trades" label. And you can get union-made and union-themed cards at Homestead Cards here.

AAM has other suggestions for American-made gifts: bags and totes from the Hero Bag company, flannel clothing from Vermont Flannel, woollen blankets from Faribault Mill and vintage notebooks from Field Notes (we like the County Fair series).

The AAM's manufacture this blog also features products unique to American cities, such as Louisville Sluggers,  Made in Newark backpacks and Chelsea (Mass.) clocks.

Go to American Made Matters and you can buy ornaments, hats and T-shirts that say (wait for it) "American Made Matters." You'll also find a long list of companies that make or market products in America. OhSayUSA, for example, features vintage toys like the Slinky, the Duncan Yo-Yo and Sam the Rubber Duck. Wigwam makes socks for sport, work and diabetics. Stormy Kromer makes hats and warm clothing -- and has been since 1903 when George "Stormy" Kromer designed his own while working as an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

We'll keep suggesting ways to buy union and buy American over the next few weeks. But here's a website to tide you over: a complete guide to American-made toys (you'd be surprised) at americansworking.com.

'Unionmade' shop sells non-union-made clothes

This is just low.

Unionmade is a San Francisco retailer that sells upscale men's fashions that aren't made by union members. Gawker found out about it from outraged readers:

First, we heard from a woman who emailed Unionmade saying that she wanted to buy a present for her dad, a Teamster. They informed her that, no, their goods are not actually union made—"The name UNIONMADE is an overarching concept and narrative for the store, signifying that we strive to carry well made and aesthetically timeless goods." (Ed note: We have an idea what they can do with their overarching concept and narrative.)...

...another disappointed would-be customer ... wrote: 

There is a store (and website) in San Francisco that calls itself "Union Made Goods" (http://www.unionmadegoods.com/). As a member of a union household, I was initially excited to learn about the store, as I try to buy union-made goods as much as possible. Unfortunately, when I inquired by email whether the store called Union Made Goods does in fact sell union-made goods, I was disappointed to learn that the name is merely an "homage to a time in our history when products were crafted with care, quality, longevity, and respect to the people that made them."

Gawker notes:

...calling your store "Unionmade" (and modeling your logo on the AFL-CIO's) while not selling union made goods is just as asinine and insulting as calling your store "Americanmade" while selling things manufactured in China. It's blatantly misleading. It's fraudulent. It's the fashion equivalent of a TV preacher using Jesus love for the poor as a selling point to line his own pockets. On the other hand, subjugating the meaning of a real, serious political issue that affects millions of people's lives to the fact that you like the vibe of the sound of the name of it seems perfectly in character for a store that sells luxury-priced 1890s miners clothes to affluent people who will wear them while sitting inside their air-conditioned advertising agency office job. 

We'll take some small comfort in knowing the store owners at least equate "union made" with "quality."

Carhartt clothing, made in the USA, by union workers

Our brothers and sisters at the UFCW asked us to share this video. You might want to click through and see the comments. Not all Carhartt products are made in the USA. But at least they're trying.

Best ever guide to union-made products

This is the best one we've seen so far. It's an online guide called "Labor 411." Not only does it have a comprehensive list of union-made products, but it has a guide to union services (like car washes and printers) in San Francisco and Los Angeles. (Maybe some other cities will hop on board!)

It's supported by unions and California labor councils. Every month, you can enter a raffle for union-made goods, including All-Clad stainless steel skillets, a $150 gift card on Southwest Airlines and a basket of union-made sweets.

And speaking of sweets, Halloween is coming up and you'll be looking for union-made candy. The Labor 411 site offers the following suggestions:

• Jawbreakers
• Kit Kat bars
• Hershey dark chocolate
• Butterfinger
• See's Candy
• Ghirardelli chocolate
• Cadbury Fruit & Nut bar

...to name just a few.

Check it out here.