Teamsters Strike At Molson Coors Brewery

Molson Coors has been on a roll of late, so news that members of Teamsters Local 997 had walked off the job at the beverage giant’s Fort Worth brewery, could not have been welcome.

Here’s the deal…

On February 17^th members of Teamsters Local 997 walked off the job at Molson Coors’ Fort Worth brewery citing “the company’s disgusting pay package and complete unwillingness to reach a fair agreement with workers.”

So who are the Teamsters anyway and why does this matter?

The Teamsters are the nation’s largest and most powerful union. Founded in  1903, the Teamsters began as a merger of the two leading team driver associations. They are known as the fierce champions of freight drivers and warehouse workers, and have the kind of clout that could that bring the primary distribution of the company’s large family of beers to a screeching halt.

And after Molson Coors failed to come to terms on a new three-year contract the union’s 420 members, who make, package, and warehouse the company’s beer and beverage brands, decided to strike. This action shuts down production at the only brewery that services the entire Western region of the United States with major Molson Coors products.

This from the Teamsters’ announcement…

“As long as the profits keep flowing to the top, Molson Coors doesn’t give a damn if the workers inside its breweries can afford to take care of their families. They put pennies on the table for the workers behind these products. They want to strip working families of their health care.”

Last week Molson Coors announced that the company’s year-end 2023 earnings were its highest in 19 years. The company spent more than $50 million on advertising in the fourth quarter. Molson Coors reported making six years’ worth of profits in 2023 alone.

‘The greed and abuse from Molson Coors must end now,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien….

 “Executives shamelessly brag to investors about the company’s incredible growth and historic earnings. Millions go to the CEO, billions go to Wall Street, and a middle finger goes to the workers.”

“We’re not taking the disrespect, we’re not accepting the crumbs, and we’re not making concessions. The Teamsters are taking this fight to the streets, and we will hold the line until our members get what they have earned.”

Saturday’s announcement comes at a time when Anheuser-Busch is also facing a possible strike by its Teamster unionized workers. The union is seeking an agreement that improves wages, protects jobs, and secures health care and retirement benefits for 5,000 Teamsters across the company’s 12 US breweries.

Anheuser-Busch generated $58 billion in 2022 and recently announced $1 billion in stock buybacks to wealthy investors.

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