Members of Teamsters Local 830 have been on strike at three Philadelphia-area beer wholesalers since Sunday.
The union – which represents drivers, warehouse and production workers and sales and marketing professionals – established picket lines at Muller Inc. and Origlio Beverage in Philadelphia and Hatfield-based Penn Beer Sales & Service after members voted unanimously to strike following the rejection of a contract proposal from Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association, which represents the wholesalers.
“The hardworking members of Teamsters Local 830 have had enough,” Local 830 secretary-treasurer Daniel H. Grace said in a press release. “The last contract proposal put forth by the Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association was, quite frankly, insulting.”
A Local 830 spokesperson told Brewbound the strike continues and the “status quo” remains unchanged on its fourth day.
At the crux of the dispute between the parties are pay and working hours, which Grace called “excessive.”
“Compensation is always an issue, but what’s particularly problematic is the beverage companies’ proposed hours of work for our members – 12-hour shifts for five or six consecutive days,” he said in the release. “The beverage companies know that our members are the driving force behind their operations and success, yet they think they can treat us like second-class citizens. We won’t stand for it.”
The work stoppage comes just two weeks before the July 4 weekend, the beer industry’s biggest sales period of the year.
“It’d be a shame if the beverage shelves of grocery stores, convenience stores and beer distributors are empty for the three-day July 4 weekend,” Grace said. “The Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association can end this impasse quickly by giving our members a fair contract, one that accounts for the runaway inflation in America and quality of life issues. Until then, however, we’ll remain on strike. Our resolve and solidarity are unshakable.”
Origlio, Muller and Penn Beer have stopped taking orders in parts of their respective territories, according to statements on their websites. Affected counties for all three include Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks. Both Muller and Penn Beer have stopped taking orders for Berks County, and Penn Beer has also stopped accepting orders for Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Muller noted that “a determination will be made for existing orders,” adding that it would contact affected retailers. Both Origlio and Penn Beer noted they have “contingency plans” in place to sustain service.
“As we approach the summer holidays, we have contingency plans in place to minimize any disruption to our suppliers and the market,” statements on both websites read.
Penn Beer’s portfolio includes Anheuser-Busch InBev and craft offerings from breweries such as New Belgium, Troegs and Artisanal Brewing Ventures (Victory, Southern Tier, Sixpoint, Bold Rock).
Both Muller and Origlio sell Molson Coors products. Origlio also carries the portfolios of Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard, Truly Hard Seltzer, Dogfish Head), Mark Anthony Brands (Mike’s Hard Lemonade, White Claw), Heineken USA (Heineken, Lagunitas, Sol, Tecate, Red Stripe), Constellation Brands (Corona, Modelo, Pacifico) and D.G. Yuengling & Son.
Beyond Molson Coors, Muller’s portfolio leans toward craft beer, with offerings from SweetWater, Deschutes, Brooklyn and Boulevard, as well as the portfolios of FIFCO USA (Genesee, Labatt, Seagram’s Escapes) and Pabst.
In a statement provided to Brewbound, the distributors said they were “shocked and disappointed at this last-minute turnaround.”
“The negotiating committee of the union’s own members unanimously agreed to accept and endorse a robust and aggressive long-term package that included the largest wage increase in our fifty-plus year history,” the statement said. “It was proposed to recognize the hard work and critical role they play and to boost recruiting efforts to help ease demands on current teams.
“Despite the abrupt work stoppage, we are committed to working through this with our union members and are hopeful we can get to a speedy resolution,” it continued. “As we approach the summer holidays, we have contingency plans in place to minimize any disruption to our suppliers and the market.”
In Illinois, drivers of Teamsters Local 710 have been on strike since June 13 after contract negotiations with Breakthru Beverage collapsed. Members have established picket lines at the distributor’s Cicero and Rochelle locations.
Local 710 members pointed to “a lack of safety on the job, increasing load sizes, the inability of members to use their earned personal time, and retirement benefits” as reasons why they rejected a tentative agreement in late April.
“The members have made it perfectly clear why they voted no, and our committee is working to get a fair contract where those issues are addressed,” secretary-treasurer Mike Cales said in a press release. “The employer barely acknowledges these issues [and] seems tone deaf to the frustration of their employees, even with a strike authorization and a huge ‘no’ vote staring them in the face.”