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.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — Every passenger traveling through the airport has a story and a meaningful reason to be heading to their destination.

But most passengers don’t know the work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure they get there safely.

‘Behind the Journey’ is West Virginia International Yeager Airport’s campaign that helps passengers get a better understanding of airport operations and adds transparency and education to the travel experience.

The operations department is up early at 4 a.m. to search for foreign objects or debris that could create a dangerous situation for an aircraft.

“Our first job in the morning is to do a sweep of the entire airfield, the runway and the taxiways, just to make sure that there’s nothing on there that could puncture an aircraft tire or be sucked into an engine,” Joe Belcher, operations specialist, said.

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Once the runway is clear and safe, passengers can enjoy their flight with peace of mind.

Elizabeth Lynn, who flies to New Jersey once a month for work on Breeze Airways, says she loves the experience she has at a regional airport.

“One experience I had, I didn’t get here in time. I have to check my bag. And they were nice enough to actually take my checked bag down and let it in for me because I showed up a little late,” Lynn said.

Ned and Hercules are working hard to keep birds away from the runway and brighten up a passenger’s day.

“They will also go through the terminal. They’ll visit employees. They’ll also visit any type of passengers that are in the lobby. They’ll do meet and greets. They do a lot of things. They stay pretty busy throughout the day,” Blecher said.

Paige Withrow, marketing officer at CRW, says the campaign educates passengers on how the airport systems work.

“It’s important for passengers to know what happens behind the scenes so that they know who to contact if something goes wrong while they’re traveling. So if their baggage is delayed, they know to contact their airline. If they have an issue during their travel, don’t know exactly which vendor to contact,” Withrow said.

There are QR codes throughout the terminals for passengers to fill out surveys about their experience.

The campaign runs until June 30.

For more news from across the Tri-State, click here.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Law enforcement who keep West Virginia roadways safe were honored Thursday in the Capital City.

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) hosted the annual Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Awards Luncheon at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center to highlight over 100 law enforcement agencies and officers from across the state for their work.

GHSP Director Jack McNeely says the program covers the nearly 39,000 miles of public roadways in West Virginia, and it aims to reduce crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. It was very important to recognize the law enforcement during the luncheon, McNeely said.

“For their efforts while enforcing against impaired driving, distracted driving, seatbelt use, and while they’re on the Governor’s Highway Safety Program time,” McNeely said. “Our program, we change behaviors. Our goal is to change behaviors or drivers. We do that through engagement, education and enforcement.”

A particularly susceptible group to roadway accidents is young drivers. McNeely said the number one cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds is car crashes. He said part of it is inexperience, and so education plays a key role.

McNeely mentioned the GHSP funds some projects through the Driver’s Education Program in West Virginia, as well as the Drive to Save Lives program, which spreads information about factors that cause crashes.

McNeely said 30-year motivational speaker Cara Filler spoke with the GHSP last week, and she has particular insight into the dangers of speed-related crashes. McNeely said Filler’s twin sister was killed one day after her 18th birthday in a speed-related crash. Filler has reached two million people in five countries during her time as motivational speaker.

There were special guests at the luncheon. Boone County couple Jimmy and Zelda Craig, whose daughter Baylea Bower was killed by an impaired driver during Easter weekend last year, were present in the Capital City. McNeely mentioned House Bill 4712, named “Baylea’s Law” after Bower, which was passed earlier this year.

“Baylea’s Law” stiffened penalties for those charged with DUI causing death.

“We refer to them as crashes, because it’s a choice for someone to get behind a wheel impaired, whether by alcohol or drugs,” McNeely said. “It’s a choice for someone to speed. In that [Baylea Bower] particular case, we had speed, we had impairment, both alcohol and drug related. It’s a choice to pick up your phone and look at it while you’re driving down the road. It’s a choice not to put to buckle up your seatbelt.”

There’s no excuse for driving impaired, McNeely said. He implored people to always have a backup plan if they become intoxicated under alcohol or drugs.

“It’s important to have somebody, if you’re going out, whether a college town, whether you’re in Huntington, whether you’re in Morgantown, but if you know you’re going to be around that, have a designated driver,” McNeely said. “That’s the only thing I can say. Have a game plan, not only if you’re going to be the one drinking, but have a game plan if you’re going to be the one that’s not, and going to be the responsible one for that evening. Take those keys away.”

Another initiative with the GHSP has been impaired-driving checkpoints. McNeely said those checkpoints are more of an awareness program, the blue lights remind drivers to travel safely. He said it helps keep impaired drivers off the road.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program reported 1,873 DUI arrests in the state of West Virginia in 2025. The GHSP cited 23% of the state’s vehicle deaths over the past five years as alcohol related.