New ETF Book by Larry Connors - Click here to read more
Nearly 30 employees at United Beverage Co. struck the company Monday over pay and health-insurance issues. Truck drivers and warehouse workers walked out after a new contract could not be reached, said Richard Blevins, the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 838.
A picket has been posted at United Beverage's headquarters at 1903 Woodland Ave., Blevins said.
United Beverage is one of three area Anheuser-Busch distributorships delivering to bars, restaurants, grocers and liquor stores. The company's territory includes such popular drinking spots as the Power & Light District, Westport and the Country Club Plaza.
Management and nonunion employees made deliveries Monday operating about one-half the normal schedule, said Cherry, the company's managing general partner.
Cherry said he did not anticipate product shortages at any customer locations.
"For the most part, we're in pretty good shape," Cherry said. "Hopefully, we'll get more trucks out as the week goes on."
Blevins said the company's proposal to change the way drivers would be paid as a percentage of total sales would result in most drivers losing up to $10,000 in annual pay. Drivers in the past have been paid a commission on a per-case basis, although most beer distributors now pay wages to drivers as a percentage of sales.
The union would agree to the change in the pay system, but United Beverage is seeking pay percentages lower than the other local Anheuser-Busch distributors, Blevins said. Warehouse workers are also being paid sharply less than their counterparts at other Anheuser-Busch delivery companies, he added.
Also in dispute is holiday pay rates, Blevins said.
He said the company's proposal also falls short in comparison with the benefits provided by Central States Beverage Co., which delivers such beers as Miller and Coors.
"United Beverage says they want a competitive playing field, but they're really trying to take money out of their workers' pockets," Blevins said. "Our people would have to sell 30,000 to 40,000 more cases a year to get back to where they were in terms of wages. That would be hard to do given the economy and all the discounts beer companies have to offer."
Cherry declined to discuss specifics of the dispute.
"We made our last and final offer," he said. "We respect their decision. It's unfortunate, but these things sometimes happen. Hopefully, we can get this settled quickly."
Both officials said no future contract talks were scheduled. The previous four-year agreement was set to expire in mid-November, but the two sides agreed to extend it until the end of the month while talks continued, Blevins said. A federal mediator has been involved in the most recent bargaining sessions.
Blevins said he was disappointed in Cherry's stance, given that organized labor supported the NFL Players Association when it struck the league twice in the 1980s.
"Deron played football and was a member of the union," he said. "They went on strike for better pay when he was playing. Now, the shoe's on the other foot, and he's forgotten about us."
Cherry disagreed, saying United Beverage has long had solid ties to its union work force since he and partner Jim Brooks bought the distributorship in 1991.
"At that time, we had an option not to go with the union, but we chose to have that relationship," he said. "For the past 17 years, we've had a good working relationship with the Teamsters. Unfortunately we're at a point in time where we now have differences. But we think this is a short-term problem, and we're hoping it will get worked out soon."
To reach Randolph Heaster, call 816-234-4746 or send e-mail to rheaster@kcstar.com.
To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback
The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.
It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
The Connors Group, Inc.
10 Exchange Place, Suite 1800
Jersey City, NJ 07302
© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.
