Beverage giant refuses to seek redress to end self-harm
Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (202) 624-6877 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org
(Eugene, Ore.) – With less than two weeks until health insurance benefits expire, members of Bigfoot Beverage Co. Teamsters Local 324 continue to picket during an unfair labor practice strike the company began three months ago. He vows to stay on the line. They tried to eradicate workers' pensions.
“It's bad enough that companies try to force employees to give up their pensions, but taking away health insurance from employees right before the holidays is just too callous,” said Teamsters Western Regional Vice President and International Vice President said Mark Davison of the Teamsters Joint Council. president. “Unfortunately for Bigfoot, the Teamsters don't give up on Christmas, New Year's or any other day.”
“This company may have forced us on the picket line, but we're going to stay here as long as we have to,” said Chris Muth, Local 324's secretary and treasurer. No matter how hard we try. The longer it takes, the more Bigfoot has to lose, not us. ”
The Teamsters recently filed new unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against Bigfoot after Bigfoot rejected requests for information and an offer to resume negotiations. In response, Bigfoot argued that the company did not need to negotiate because of its baseless claim that it could withdraw its recognition of the Teamsters as a worker representative. Bigfoot also ignored pleas from elected officials, including Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, to find a solution to the strike.
Brayden Pinney, a member of striking Local 324, said, “It's shameful and frankly embarrassing for our employers to not recognize our union's right to exist.” “Their strategy is backfiring. Every time this company treats us like we're beneath it, it gives workers more fuel to keep fighting. Bigfoot makes money.” We are the reason, and we demand to be treated with the respect we deserve.”
Support the Bigfoot Teamsters by signing the pledge at ibt.io/boycottbigfoot to not buy anything the company distributes until they end their strike and respect their workers.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit Teamster.org. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
