West Virginia
Teamsters say no talks scheduled with The Beverage Market – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Drivers who deliver Coors, Miller, and Modello beer to stores and bars across 30 West Virginia counties remain on the picket line in a labor dispute with distributor The Beverage Market.
Members of Teamsters Local 175 went on strike this week only days after rejecting the latest contract offer from the company.
“We’ve reached out to to try and get dates to resume negotiations multiple times, but the company has not responded and continues to refuse to provide dates to sit down again,” said Teamsters Local 175 Secretary/Treasurer Luke Farley.
Members are bothered by many of the concessions they say the company has demanded in their contract talks. There would be steep increases in the cost of health insurance, and steep reductions in retirement contributions and benefits. However, Farley said it doesn’t end there.
“Those are two very big ones, but they’re not the only ones. They want certain categories of employees to actually go back in pay in addition to what they’d have to pay in increased costs for health insurance. It’s also on working conditions and things these employees have fought for 20 years or more to put in the contract and the company wants to do away with all of them,” he explained.
MetroNews reached out to officials with The Beverage Market and were provided the following statement:
“We value our employees and respect their right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. While we are disappointed that an agreement has not yet been reached, we remain committed to negotiating in good faith and finding a fair resolution that supports both our workforce and the long-term growth of our company.
During negotiations, the Teamsters Local 175 union has demanded the company to present a “last and best” offer. Because we believe there is still an opportunity to work together toward a mutually beneficial agreement, we have chosen not to take that step and instead remain committed to continued dialogue.
Our focus remains on continuing operations and serving our customers across West Virginia while working toward a resolution that is fair, responsible, and sustainable. We recognize the challenges this situation presents for everyone involved and are committed to moving forward thoughtfully and collaboratively. We remain hopeful that, through continued good-faith efforts on all sides, a positive path forward will be achieved.”
“They put out news clippings that they are committed to negotiating, but they only seem to tell the press that and not the union,” Farley said.
The workers are picketing outside the company’s operations in Sissonville and also handed out informational materials at the annual Foam at the Dome event in Charleston.
West Virginia
Strong wind at NCAA baseball tournament in West Virginia sends 5 people to the hospital
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Five people were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained when a strong wind tore through an area occupied by fans at the Morgantown Super Regional NCAA baseball tournament game between West Virginia and Cal Poly on Saturday, according to the university.
Video from the storm showed rain and wind that reached speeds of 40 mph tearing up a tent, with one person flying through the air while trying to hold it down as another person rolls uncontrollably down a hill.
Other fans scrambled for safety from an area known as Randy’s Ridge near the Kendrick Family Ballpark.
“I was just trying to hold my weight on the pole with the cement block, and then it started sliding, and then another guy joined in, and he’s trying to hold another pole, and then a big gust of wind came,” West Virginia fan Keith Hill told WAJR radio. “It just started sliding really hard, and people got caught up in the ropes and the poles.”
West Virginia University police confirmed that five people were transported to a hospital.
The game was in a weather delay at the time.
“We have been in touch with health-care providers in the area to ensure those affected are supported in their recovery,” West Virginia athletics spokesperson Michael Fragale said in a statement.
West Virginia won the game 17-1 to advance to the College World Series for the first time in program history.
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
Tent blows over during a WVU baseball game weather delay
The school said five people were injured after heavy winds blew an event tent over.
Multiple West Virginia baseball fans were injured during Saturday’s Morgantown Super Regional between the Mountaineers and Cal Poly.
A spokesperson for West Virginia Athletics confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Saturday that several fans sustained injuries during a weather delay after heavy winds blew an event tent over at an adjacent parking lot to Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown, West Virginia.
“WVU would like to thank the immediate response of EMS, law enforcement and fire first responders who immediately secured the area and treated the injured spectators. While it was a great day for Mountaineer baseball, all of Mountaineer Nation’s thoughts are with those who were involved,” the statement read.
Saturday’s game between the Mountaineers and Mustangs was delayed in the eighth inning for over an hour and a half due to weather in the area, which included thunderstorms and lightning. The statement said five people were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
“We have confirmed through the University Police Department that five people were transported for treatment. We have been in touch with health care providers in the area to ensure those affected are supported in their recovery,” the statement said.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker asked for prayers for the fans who were injured.
On the field, No. 16 West Virginia defeated Cal Poly 17-1 to finish off the sweep of the Morgantown Super Regional and advance to the program’s first College World Series. Ben Lumsden and Tyrus Hall hit back-to-back home runs as part of the Mountaineers’ seven-run second inning.
West Virginia is set to open up play at the College World Series against Troy either Friday, June 12 or Saturday, June 13. The NCAA has not released official start times and dates for the CWS.
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West Virginia took game one from Cal Poly 12-2 on Friday and will look to end the series today and punch their ticket to Omaha. The Mustangs are hoping to live another day and force a decisive game three on Sunday.
Per usual, we will have all the updates for you in the game thread, along with the starting lineups listed underneath.
GAME THREAD
TOP 1 (WVU)
West Virginia’s starting lineup
1. 1B Armani Guzman — .310
2. C Gavin Kelly —.377
3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .341
4. DH Sean Smith — .321
5. LF Matthew Graveline — .292
6. SS Matt Ineich — .296
7. 2B Brodie Kresser — .292
8. RF Ben Lumsden — .257
9. 3B Tyrus Hall – .275
SP Maxx Yehl
Cal Poly’s starting lineup
1. SS Nate Castellon — .326
2. 3B Alejandro Garza — .323
3. RF Dylan Kordic — .277
4. C Ryan Tayman — .360
5. DH Cam Hoiland — .315
6. CF Casey Murray Jr .— .321
7. 1B Gavin Spiridonoff — .291
8. LF Dante Vachini — .288
9. 2B Jake Downing — .272
SP Carson Turnquist
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