Jim Beam workers in Kentucky reject new offer, go on strike
Source: WDRB
Oct 14, 2016
Another round, same results for Jim Beam as its distillery workers in Kentucky
have rejected another contract offer.
The Friday vote came hours before a looming strike at the world's largest bourbon
producer.
United Food and Commercial Workers union official Tommy Ballard says workers
at Beam distilleries in Clermont and Boston rejected a revised contract proposal
by a wide margin.
The union released a statement late Friday night:
This afternoon, members of United Food and Commercial Workers 111D voted on
the tentative agreement reached by management and the union bargaining
teams during negotiations Thursday, October 13, 2016. The vote was 174-46 not
to accept the agreement, therefore, employees of the Beam Suntory locations in
Clermont and Boston will be on strike as of midnight tonight. While there are
numerous reasons for this decision, the main issues we wish to resolve reflect the
family values and heritage upon which the Jim Beam brand is based. We seek a
better work/life balance. We strive to protect our positions and seniority so as to
ensure our future. We want management changes that will improve safety and
quality. And, we need a contract in which all language is clear and concise to
avoid future misinterpretations
Respectfully
Janelle Mudd
President Local 111D UFCW
The American whiskey brand is owned by Suntory Holdings Ltd., a Japanese
beverage company.
The current contract runs through Friday. Earlier in the week, union members
voted overwhelming in favor of going on strike after rejecting the company's
offer.
The company came back with a revised offer.
Beam Suntory released a statement following Friday's vote:
Jim Beam has implemented comprehensive contingency plans to keep operations
running at its Clermont and Boston, Kentucky distilleries in view of the vote by its
unionized workforce to go on strike after midnight tonight. The decision came
after the hourly workers at these facilities voted down a revised contract proposal
that had been unanimously endorsed by the union leadership after intensive
negotiations in recent days with the assistance of a federal mediator.
"Our valued team members in Clermont and Boston voted down a revised
contract negotiated in good faith all day yesterday and agreed to with union
leaders," said David Hunter, chief supply chain officer for Beam Suntory. "As a
result, we have no choice but to implement our contingency plans to help ensure
the continuity of our operations and supply of our products for our distributors,
customers and consumers. Given our inventories and contingency plans, we
currently do not anticipate shortages of Jim Beam or any other products made at
these facilities. We hope that these team members will reconsider the attractive
terms offered and ultimately support the proposal."
The revised proposal addressed union concerns in areas including overtime and
temporary workers, and also included wage increases.