CHARLESTON, W.V.—A sharp, existential struggle for Teamsters Local 175 in southern West Virginia has emerged from a punitive bargaining conflict scarred by blatant unfair labor practices into a strike that is now entering its seventh week. This is an extreme example of bad faith bargaining.
Around 50 members of the union who work for The Beverage Market in the capital city have reported no progress in contract negotiations. Despite the absence of any evidence or claim of financial hardship, the company demands blatant and still unexplained wage cuts, job cuts, benefit cuts, and other demands, including a contract of “indeterminant” length that would force resignations and effectively wipe out the union.
The workers went on strike May 12, citing unfair labor practices and bad faith. The previous contract between the union and The Beverage Market expired at the beginning of that month.
A statement from the Local 175 workers claims: “The Beverage Market is continuing to demand concessions” and “provide zero reasons for its punitive behavior.”
Therefore, the union said, the workers remain on strike.
The Beverage Market serves southern West Virginia distributors of popular beer and soft drink brands. It is owned by Theresa and Luther Martin Johnson of Hazard, Ky. However, the couple also has major investments in real estate.
Teamsters Local 175 President Steve Day reported his members’ frustrations.
“The company has claimed in the media that it did not give a final offer and had more room to negotiate but did not show any of that today, even though the union has shown significant movement since the strike began,” Day said.
Meanwhile, Teamsters Local 175 Secretary-Treasurer Luke Farley directed blame at The Beverage Market ownership.
“Theresa and Martin Johnson, the owners of The Beverage Market, are not taking these negotiations seriously, but this is people’s livelihoods and how they support their families,” Farley said. “They didn’t even have the decency or respect to be present at the bargaining table. West Virginians should not allow these two people from Kentucky to destroy good local jobs.”
The Beverage Market distributes products such as Miller, Coors, Modelo, and Red Bull to 30 counties in the state.
Union steward Ian Moore shared his letter to his local West Virginia state delegate, Delegate Dana Ferrell, a Republican from Kanawha County:
“We write to you as members of the Teamsters and as citizens of West Virginia who care deeply about the future of our communities, our economy, and the working families who call this state home.
“Many of us share the same values that you have publicly championed throughout your service. We believe in hard work, personal responsibility, economic opportunity, and supporting the men and women who keep our state moving. It is because of these shared values that we feel compelled to express our disappointment regarding what many of our members perceive as a dismissive attitude toward concerns raised by working people and the industries that provide family-sustaining careers in our region.…”
A delegation of local members of the Communist Party visited the picket line earlier in June to support The Beverage Market workers’ strike.
Paige Rearing was enthusiastic: “I got to break in my megaphone, look owner Theresa Johnson in the eye, and tell her that her dog almost ran into the road (she pointed and laughed at the strikers when she drove past the picket line), and supplied everyone with cookies from Apple Annie’s.
“My friends and I asked the men on the picket line what they needed. One man replied that they had enough food and water, but ‘What we need is a contract.’”
The state AFL-CIO has made solidarity with the strike an important issue and encouraged all affiliates to support.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
> CALL The Beverage Market at 304-720-1425 and tell them that you support the union’s efforts for a fair contract.
> BOYCOTT the brands that are enabling the Johnson millionaires’ greed (Miller/Coors, Modelo, Boston Beer Company, Sam Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea, New Belgium, Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger, Corona, Dixi Beverage Company, and Red Bull).
> CALL your favorite beer brand and tell them to pressure The Beverage Market into negotiating a fair contract with the workers.
In the words of a wise West Virginian woman:
United we stand, divided we fall
For every dime they give us, a battle must be fought
So working people, use your power, the key to liberty
Don’t support that rich man’s style of luxury
And there ain’t no way they can ever keep us down, oh no
Ain’t no way they can ever keep us down
We won’t be bought, we won’t be sold
To be treated right, well that’s our goal
And there ain’t no way they can ever keep us down
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