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May 15, 2020 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
NORTHWEST
LABOR
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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.