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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2020)
PAGE 2 | May 15, 2020 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 in Portland, Oregon as a voice of the la- bor movement. Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non-profit mutual benefit corpo- ration owned by 20 unions and councils including the Ore- gon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Office location: 4275 NE Halsey St., Portland, Oregon Mailing address: P.O. Box 13150, Portland, OR 97213 Phone: (503) 288-3311 Web address: https://nwlaborpress.org Editor & Manager: Michael Gutwig Senior staff reporter: Don McIntosh Office manager: Jill Lukens Printed on recycled paper, using soy-based inks, by members of Teamsters Local 747-M. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Individual subscriptions are $15 a year for union members, $23 a year for all others. Pay by credit card online at nwlaborpress.org/subscribe, or send a check to our mailing address (above) along with your name, address and union affiliation, if any. Group rates of 48 cents an issue per member — $11.52 a year are available for 25 or more subscriptions; call 503-288-3311 for details. CORRECTIONS: See an error? Please let us know at editor@nwlaborpress.org or by phone at 503-288-3311. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you move, let us know at nwlaborpress.org/subscriber-services or by mail at our mailing address (above). Be sure to provide your old and new addresses and the name/number of your local union. Please allow three weeks for the change to take effect. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS P.O. BOX 13150 PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 Low Prices! Coats, etc. Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6 OREGON RESIDENTS IT’S TOO LATE TO VOTE BY MAIL. PLEASE RETURN YOUR BALLOT TO YOUR COUNTY ELECTION OFFICE OR ANY DESIGNATED DROP SITE BY 8 P.M. TUESDAY, MAY 19. Teamsters strike Hood River Distillers The producer of Pendleton Whiskey, Avia- tion Gin, Jose Cuervo tequila, and Monarch spirits imposed its own terms. Twenty-five workers at Hood River Distillers (HRD)—mem- bers of Teamsters Local 670— went on strike May 6 after their employer, during the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented its own final offer that alters health in- surance benefits and provides paltry wage increases. The union filed unfair labor practice charges with the Na- tional Labor Relations Board al- leging that the company bar- gained in bad faith and made unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment. It is considering taking other action as well. HRD also filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Teamsters, alleging the union re- fused to bargain in good faith. “Throughout the 13 months of negotiations, the company continued to flout federal labor law with a ‘take it or leave it’ style of bargaining focused on weakening the longstanding pro- tections and benefits enjoyed by the workers,” said Michael Be- ranbaum, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 670. The company gave what it called its final offer on March 30. When the union requested to meet in person with a federal mediator at the first available date, the company refused. It im- plemented the contract on May 1. Pickets went up at 10 a.m. May 6. Picketing continues daily from 6 a.m. to around 8 p.m. Historically, the union has had an amicable relationship with the company, Beranbaum said. Teamsters have repre- sented workers there for more than 50 years. This is their first strike. Beranbaum said the tone changed after HRD brought in a new human resources director and chief financial officer. The new management team, despite having never bargained a labor agreement before, are in charge of negotiations. “This is a flagrant example of an employer putting profits be- fore people,” he said. “Our members take immense pride in the work they do to produce quality distilled spirits, which are distributed across the coun- try.” Teamsters represent blending, packaging, and warehouse em- ployees at the plant, as well as truck drivers and mechanics. Sue Bell and her daughter Kelli walk picket line at Hood River Distillers. Sue’s mother—and Kelli’s grandmother—is retired from the plant after 40 years working there. Twenty-five members of Teamsters Local 670 walked off the job May 6 after the company unilaterally implemented a contract that changed health insurance over workers’ objections. Hood River Distillers pro- duces and bottles popular brands such as Pendleton Whiskey, Aviation Gin, Jose Cuervo tequila, and Monarch distilled spirits. HOW YOU CAN HELP Teamsters are asking allies to call and/or write to HRD board chair Ron Dodge at 541-386-1588, HRDsales@HRDspirits.com, or 660 Riverside Dr, Hood River, OR 97031.
