September Promises Picket Lines Over Pints as Employees of Major Beer Distributor Go On Strike
Bigfoot Beverages is facing a strike action after employees reviewed the craft beer distributor was considering changing employee pensions to a 401(k). (Photo: Bigfoot Beverages/Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce/Facebook)
Teamsters announced on Thursday that 206 employees walked out at Bigfoot Beverages over unfair labor practices at the major beverage distributor’s facilities in Eugene, Roseberg, Newport and Coos Bay, Oregon.
The main reason Teamsters filed a strike action appears to be over pensions. According to Teamsters, Bigfoot “is trying to force workers to move from a defined-benefit pension plan to a riskier, more costly 401(k) plan.”
Teamsters shared that its Pension Trust features over $30 billion in assets, and the employers “completely funded the benefit under the proposal from Bigfoot Beverages, one of the largest soft drink and alcohol distributors in the Pacific Northwest, the company would only guarantee nine percent of the worker’s gross pay.”
Bigfoot shared its reasoning for the adjustments with local news outlet KVAL 3 and alleged that the team members weren’t even allowed to vote on the organization’s offer.
“We came to the table with raises for each employee,” Bigfoot Beverages Co-President Eric Forrest said, according to KVAL3. “an extremely generous 401(k) retirement plan plus a signing ratification bonus of $2,500 each yet we were rejected without allowing our team members to vote on our offer.”
Forrest alleged that the offer gave employees a significant wage increase and proposed a retirement plan that was 100% vested after employees completed probation. Bigfoot claimed the new plan prioritized transparency and was flexible while being “portable” for employees.
Yet, Teamsters felt differently about the offer.
“Bigfoot is trying to destroy worker’s retirement security,” Local 324 Teamster’s Chapter Secretary-Treasurer Chris R. Muhs said in a news release. “The greedy CEOs running this company and running their mouths about how Bigfoot’s pathetic, garbage offer is the best option available for our members. This company is trying to destroy Teamsters pensions and replace it with a costlier, riskier 401(k) plan.”
As for the employees on the picket lines, many worry the new proposed plan might compromise their retirement and lead to a more uncertain future. Local ABC news outlet, KEZI9 News went to the picket lines in front of Bigfoot Beverages and asked the employees for their thoughts on the matter.
“The message we’re trying to send is we want fair treatment from the company. Especially when it comes to a retirement plan,” Aiko Gillespie, a truck driver for Big Foot Beverages, said, according to KEZI9 news. “A lot of us will be affected by that, especially for our long term future.”
About Bigfoot Beverages
Bigfoot Beverages refers to itself as a “family-owned” beverage distribution company in Oregon. The distributor represents craft beer brands like North Coast, Mother Earth Brewing Co., Oskar Blues, Eel River Brewing Co and Founders Brewing.
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