Teamsters Strike Bigfoot for Fair Contract

[Omaha Steve]

https://teamster.org/2024/09/teamsters-strike-bigfoot-for-fair-contract/

Union Members Demand Company Back Off Retirement Concessions

Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

(EUGENE, Ore.) – At 12:00 a.m. this morning, members of Teamsters Local 324 and 206 walked off the job as part of an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike at Bigfoot Beverages facilities in Coos Bay, Eugene, Roseberg, and Newport, Ore.

“Bigfoot is trying to destroy workers’ retirement security. The greedy CEOs running this company are running their mouths about how Bigfoot’s pathetic, garbage offer is the best option available for our members,” said Chris R. Muhs, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 324. “This company is trying to destroy Teamsters pensions and replace it with a costlier, riskier 401(k) plan.”

The Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust, which the workers are currently a part of, has over $30 billion in assets and is the largest multi-employer pension plan in the United States. The benefits workers receive are completely funded by employers. Under the proposal from Bigfoot Beverages, one of the largest soft drink and alcohol distributors in the Pacific Northwest, the company would only guarantee nine percent of workers’ gross pay.

“We’re not going to be appeased by the crumbs Bigfoot tosses our way,” Geoff Stewart, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 206. “They can’t get us to flush our pensions down the drain for a one-time cash offer of $2,500. Bigfoot’s proposal is a monstrous insult to our intelligence.”

FULL story at link above.