Striking Teamsters hold down the line in West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia

June 30 marks seven weeks since members of Teamsters Local 175 have been on strike against Beverage Market in the outskirts of Charleston, West Virginia. The company distributes beer and soft drinks, including Coors, Corona, Miller, Modelo and Red Bull products, across the southern part of the state. 

Roughly 50 delivery drivers and warehouse workers initiated a work stoppage on May 12, citing Unfair Labor Practices and bad faith bargaining. Picketers operate in shifts to hold down the line 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Workers World spoke with a delivery driver and strike leader who has been active with the union since 2014. He gave examples of how the company acted in bad faith since they started negotiating in April. Striking workers also highlighted how they continued to work in good faith a week and a half after the contract expired. The company, however, did not show the same mutual respect, forcing the workers to go on strike shortly after.

The company has made many broken promises at the table, and they are asking workers to give up too much. The current employer bought the company from another owner four years ago, and they negotiated a fair contract at that time. 

Many of the strikers believe the company may be trying to destroy the contract completely during this round of negotiations. The most senior striker has worked at the warehouse for 39 years, and this is the first time they were forced to go out on strike. The company has gone through different owners, and they usually settled a collective bargaining agreement before the expiration date in years past.

Striking workers receive strong showing of solidarity

Picketers told Workers World the support they have received has been phenomenal. People in the vehicles that drive by honk and wave. Community members and other supporters have been donating food and beverages every day. They have especially received support from members of other unions, including members of the United Mine Workers (UMWA) and Education WV — a recently developed teachers’ union affiliated with both the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA).

Strike supporters have used social media as an outlet to express solidarity. People have been exposing and shaming local businesses who have accepted scab deliveries, as well as posting information about the strikebreakers themselves. People have also been promoting bars, restaurants and stores that are honoring the picket line by refusing deliveries and at times confronting the strikebreakers.

Strikers unanimously shared the same sentiment: “We just want to go back to work, take care of our families and keep what we have. Our employer is the only one making that difficult.”

Follow the Teamsters Local 175 Facebook page for updates and inquiries on how to show support.