CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of Teamsters Local 175 used a high-profile event Saturday in Charleston to get out their message concerning a contract dispute with distributor The Beverage Market.
The union members distributed flyers at the Foam at the Dome event in front of the state capitol. The Beverage Market was one of the event sponsors.
The union’s contract with the company expired last weekend after the union rejected what followed a month of negotiations.
“The company is demanding concessions in just about every aspect of benefit that these employees enjoy,” Local 175 Secretary-Treasurer Luke Farley said Saturday. “They want to go backwards. They want to increase health insurance premiums by 900 percent. They want to eliminate significant portions of these employees’ retirement.”
Local 175 member Ken Samms said the company is asking for too much.
“They are trying to increase the premiums on our health care and take away some of our retirement,” he said.
Farley said it’s being done without any indication that The Beverage Market is suffering financially.
“At no point has the company ever claimed any financial hardship. They’ve given no justification on why they want these employees to go backwards,” Farley said.
The rank-and-file has authorized a strike but continue to work this past week without a contract. The union said the company has refused to provide dates to resume negotiations. The union has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices.
The contract covers approximately 50 workers who distribute Miller, Coors, Modelo, Red Bull, and several other products.
The Teamsters has also started a billboard campaign in several counties “Tell Miller: Destroying West Virginia Jobs is Tasteless”.
MetroNews has reached out to The Beverage Market for comment.