Workers Go On Strike At 3 Major Beer Distributors In Philadelphia Area

Photo courtesy of Teamsters Local 830 on Facebook.

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Teamsters 830, with workers at three of the largest beer distributors in the Philadelphia region, have gone on strike. Local 830 went on strike against the Delaware Valley Importing Distributors Association, which includes the top 3 distributors in the area: Penn Beer, Origlio, and Muller. (see below for more details)

The union represents thousands of workers in the beer industry (drivers, warehouse and production, sales, and marketing) who went on strike this past Sunday 6/19/22 demanding better wages and hours for their workers. Due to the strike, consumers will see an impact on national and craft beer brands in the following 5 counties: Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester.

Teamsters Local 830 at Penn Beer. Photo courtesy of Teamsters Local 830 on Facebook.

We reached out to the Teamsters Local 830 for comment and received the below statement:

TEAMSTERS LOCAL 830 AUTHORIZES STRIKE AGAINST DELAWARE VALLEY IMPORTERS DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATION

Picketing Began Sunday, June 19th; Strike Comes With Beverage Industry’s
All-Important July 4th Holiday on Horizon

PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 20, 2022 — Teamsters Local 830 – which represents thousands of drivers, warehouse/production workers, and sales/marketing personnel in the regional beverage industry – went on strike at 12:01 am Sunday, June 19th against the Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association, which includes Penn Beer Sales and Service, Origlio Beverages and Muller, Inc. On Saturday, June 18th, Teamsters Local 830 members overwhelmingly rejected the Del-Val Association’s latest contract proposal and unanimously voted to strike. Picket lines went up Sunday, June 19th at Penn, Origlio, and Muller locations and will remain up until the contractual dispute is settled.

“The hardworking members of Teamsters Local 830 have had enough. The last contract proposal put forth by the Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association was, quite frankly, insulting,” said Teamsters Local 830 Secretary-Treasurer Daniel H. Grace. “Compensation is always an issue, but what’s particularly problematic is the beverage companies’ proposed hours of work for our members – 12-hour shifts for five or six consecutive days. That’s excessive. The beverage companies know that our members are the driving force behind their operations and success, yet they think they can treat us like second-class citizens. We won’t stand for it.”

Grace noted that the strike comes within two weeks of the July 4th Independence Day long holiday weekend, one of the most lucrative times of the calendar year for the beverage industry.

“It’d be a shame if the beverage shelves of grocery stores, convenience stores and beer distributors are empty for the three-day July 4th weekend,” Grace added. “The Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association can end this impasse quickly by giving our members a fair contract, one that accounts for the runaway inflation in America and quality of life issues. Until then, however, we’ll remain on strike. Our resolve and solidarity are unshakable.”