Beverage Market Strike Goes On – And On

This week marks the eighth week of a strike that began May 12^th against The Beverage Market, the sole distributor for Miller-Coors products in several West Virginia counties.  

Nearly 50 employees, members of Teamsters Local 175, have been manning a round-the-clock picket line to protest changes to their pay structure, health insurance and retirement plans. 

“They are in it for the long haul, because this is a good job,” union spokesman Luke Farley said. “This is a place where you can have a career, not just the job. This is a place where you can work for 30 years or more and retire from with some dignity and respect.” 

According to the union, the company has proposed decreasing pay for some employees, cutting paid time off in half, eliminating portions of retirement and increasing health insurance premiums.  

“It is clear the owners do not want a contract because we have done everything at the table to try and reach an agreement, but the owners won’t even show up and have a conversation about what is important to them,” striking worker Ian Moore said in a union statement. “We have been on strike for eight weeks and the company still has so many open proposals ranging from kicking our spouses off health insurance to insisting that all employees are clean shaven and everything in between.” 

The strikers are being paid a portion of their salaries by the union, and the company has managed to continue some deliveries using managers and temporary hires.  

“Every indication by this negotiation is that the owners do not want to reach an agreement,” Farley said. “They just want to bust the union, break these guys’ will and spirit, and have them go backwards, and it’s unfortunately hurting them, it’s hurting the company, it’s hurting the brands they service, and it’s hurting the communities.” 

In addition to Miller-Coors products The Beverage Market also distributes Modelo, Red Bull and several other beverages. 

The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.