Boston Beer charged with unfair labour practices
The union representing workers from Boston Beer Company has demanded fair contracts for its members and has filed an unfair labour practice (ULP) charge against the brewer.
The Teamsters Local 1199 has said that Boston Beer, which is the parent company of brands including Samuel Adams, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, and Twisted Tea, is refusing to bargain in good faith.
Speaking about the situation, Teamsters Local 1199 president Randy Verst said: “Boston Beer Company is dragging its feet, and Teamsters won’t tolerate it.”
Verst explained: “These workers are responsible for the success of these brands. This company owes them the simple respect of meeting for contract negotiations.”
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Most workers at the Cincinnati brewery have long been covered by a Teamsters contract, however, the newest Local 1199 members are now finding they are fighting for their first collective bargaining agreement and simply asking for the same schedule of raises and working conditions that their co-workers already have in place.
Brian Morris, a blend technician at the Cincinnati plant revealed that “being asked to accept the employer’s last offer, which included wage cuts for our most senior third of the department, was aggravating to say the least”.
Morris added: “The fact that we unanimously rejected it shows just how united we are. The company needs to return to bargaining because this is far from over.”
Responding to the filing, a spokesperson from Boston Beer Company told db: “We held 16 bargaining sessions with the union over a several-month period that involved much back and forth. We’ve met with them whenever they requested to bargain, and we’re confident we’ve met our duty to bargain in good faith.”
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