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.