Molson Coors Brewery Workers Prepare to Strike, Joining Wave of Union Action Sweeping the Beer and Whisky Industries

The Fort Worth Molson Coors brewery in Texas. (Photo: Molson Coors)

Unionized workers at the Fort Worth Molson Coors brewery have authorized a strike that would see 420 Teamsters walk off the job unless demands are met. If initiated, the strike would impact brands including Coors Light, Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Topo Chico Spirited and more.

The move comes days after Molson Coors — conservatively valued at $13 billion — announced record-high growth and profits for 2023.

In its statement, Teamsters Local 997 demanded pay raises, improved health care and retirement benefits for its members “who make, package, and warehouse Molson Coors brews.” Of the 520 workers at the Fort Worth factory, over 80% are unionized with the Teamsters.

“The Molson Coors brewery in Fort Worth will shut down if a strong new contract is not reached, and the executives of yet another greedy beer giant will have no one to blame but themselves,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Teamsters across the brewery industry are standing shoulder-to-shoulder.”

The potential strike follows a wave of union action sweeping alcohol production. In January, 99% of unionized Anheuser-Busch brewery workers (also represented by the Teamsters) voted to walk off the job unless demands were met by the end of February. Anheuser-Busch made $58 billion in 2022 alone thanks to popular imprints like Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois — Teamsters say “there won’t be any beer come March” unless negotiations are settled.

Across the pond, spirits companies are feeling the burn as well. On Monday, union workers at Scotland’s Whyte & Mackay Distillery voted in favor of a strike following an “insulting” 5-6% pay raise proposal. Months earlier, employees at Chivas Brothers threatened to strike after they were denied a 6.4% raise.

As rising inflation burdens the cost of living across the globe, alcohol industry workers are witnessing a growing divide between their income and the heavy-handed advertisement and expansion spending of their employers.

“Molson Coors is on a bender, drunk on sky-high profits and losing sight with every passing day of what’s really going on in the world,” said Rick Miedema, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 997.

“Workers are demanding their worth, and there is no way in hell the members of Teamsters Local 997 are going to accept a concessionary contract that would gut health care for our families and disrespect our work.”

Read More: 

7 Best Additive-Free Tequila Releases of 2023

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Settles Lawsuit Against Diageo, Ends Ownership Stake in Cîroc Vodka, DeLeón Tequila

Rosita Cocktail: An Unpretentious Tequila-Tuned Twist on the Negroni

Here at Tequila Raiders, we do more than write about current events in tequila. We are the only media property reviewing tequilas and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the tequila world in one place. If you’re interested in getting a shot of tequila in your morning email, sign up for our Deal of the Day newsletter