Teamsters have voted to ratify a contract with Molson Coors, ending a more than three-month-long strike at the major brewer’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility.
The three-year agreement, which covers 420 workers, “secures wage increases, improves benefits and restores retiree health care,” Teamsters shared on Twitter/X.
Jeff Padellaro, director of the Teamsters brewery, bakery and soft drink conference, said: “Our members never gave up; they pushed back on this company until they got a fair contract that recognizes their contributions. Teamsters don’t back down from a fight, and we will always fight for what we deserve.”
Members of Local 997 have been on strike since February 17. Molson Coors has continued to brew, package and deliver beers out of the facility using “current employees.” In the months following, Teamsters rejected multiple contract offers that included less than $1 pay raises – offers that Teamsters called “disrespectful.”
Molson Coors’ leadership repeatedly touted the company’s “contingency plan,” including CEO Gavin Hattersley telling investors last month that the plan was “working better than we had originally expected.” CFO Tracey Joubert also noted during the company’s Q1 earnings call that the costs related to the contingency plan have “not been material, and we don’t expect it to be material.”
Molson Coors Chief Supply Officer Brian Erhardt wrote to distributors today:
“I am pleased to share that earlier today brewery workers represented by Teamsters Local 997 at our Fort Worth Brewery voted to ratify an agreement with Molson Coors for the renewal of their collective bargaining agreement. Brewery workers will return to work on Wednesday, May 29.
“This new three-year collective agreement is fair and equitable for both our employees and the company and will contribute to our collective success.
“Since the beginning of the work stoppage, service to our customers has remained a priority. I’d like to thank you personally for your patience during this time. There will be a transition period as we shift from our contingency operation back to our normal operation at the brewery. We look forward to resuming normal operations very soon.”
This story is still developing. Insiders can catch up on how the strike progressed in the links below:
- Molson Coors Using ‘Current Employees’ To Make Beer at Texas Brewery Where Workers Are On Strike
- Teamsters Call for Boycott of Molson Coors’ Products After Less Than $1 Raise Proposal
- Molson Coors Exceeds Q1 Shipment Expectations Despite 10+ Week Strike at Fort Worth Facility
(This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. ET to include statements from Erhardt).