Workers Demand Company Keep Paws Off Their
Pensions
SPRINGFIELD, Ore., Aug. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Teamsters Locals 324
and 206 have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike
at Bigfoot Beverage. Bigfoot Beverage is one of the largest
soft drink and alcohol distributors in the Pacific Northwest.
"This company loves to sell itself to the public as a 'community
partner,'" said Geoff Stewart,
Secretary-Treasurer of Local 206. "But if it wants to start acting
like a community partner, Bigfoot Beverage must stop trying to
destroy its members' retirement security."
At issue in contract negotiations are the workers' retirement
benefits. The employer is trying to force the workers to move from
a defined-benefit pension plan to a 401k plan. The company has also retained
one of the most notorious union-busting law firms in the
country for negotiations, Fisher Phillips.
"This company is on the cusp of sacrificing its relationship
with its workers, the communities it serves, and the Teamsters
Union – rather than reaching a fair
deal," said Chris R. Muhs, Secretary-Treasurer
of Local 324.
"Bigfoot is saying that we'll all benefit from switching to
their 401k plan. That's a
bald-faced lie and we all know it," said Aaron Griffith, Local 324 Shop Steward for
Bigfoot Beverage of Newport. "Let's call this what it is – a
pay cut. We won't stand for it, and we will strike if we need to in
a heartbeat."
Teamsters Joint Council 37 represents workers in Oregon, Southwest
Washington and Idaho. For
more information, go to jcteamsters37.com/
Contact:
Matt
McQuaid, (202)
624-6877
mmcquaid@teamster.org
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SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 37