SISSONVILLE, W.Va. — A work stoppage involving members of the Teamsters Union Local 175 and a Charleston area beer distributor appears no where near being resolved.
Drivers for the union have been off the job and on the picket line for more than 100 days. They are on strike against The Beverage Market and are ready to bargain for a new contract. However, Steve Day with the Teamsters said the company’s management appears to have no desire to resolve the dispute.
“The major issue is the company doesn’t want a contract. There’s no end in sight. No matter what we suggest, no matter what combination of proposals we put out there, the company just keeps pressing their over 100 proposals and we don’t get anywhere,” said Day this week on MetroNews Midday.
The confusion and stalling may be intentional. Day said he believes the ultimate goal of the Beverage Market isn’t getting a new contract, it’s getting rid of the union.
“That’s exactly what we believe and we’ve heard it from her employees. Some of her management people who have quit and some of the SCABS who have quit, she doesn’t make it a secret to them, that’s what her intent is,” said Day.
The Beverage Market delivers products like Miller, Modello, and Red Bull to 30 counties of West Virginia. A lot of stores have opted not to carry the products if they are delivered by replacement drivers. Day said the union appreciated that kind of support.
Ultimately, Day said the union has about four issues it wants to work out, but the company has come to them with more than 100 and doesn’t seem willing to budge on any of them.
“We’ve met at least three times with a federal mediator and the mediator can’t do anything with the company either. They just keep pressing their proposals and basically blame it on the union and say we need to come in their direction. Well, we tried that and to no avail,” said Day.
So, the picket lines remain in place and Day and the Teamsters say they will hold out for as long as it takes. He added however, it doesn’t need to be like this.
“It’s disheartening that a company would treat their employees like this,” he said.
MetroNews reached out to The Beverage Market, but got no response.