Beer industry workers walk out | Business Weekly

Workers at local beer distributors, represented by Teamsters Local 830, are on strike, demanding better pay and working conditions. The work stoppage, which began Sunday, could affect the availability of beer and other beverages ahead of the Fourth of July as a few thousand employees — from warehouse workers to delivery drivers — are striking against the Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association, an industry group that is collectively responsible for distributing beers like Budweiser, Coors, Corona, Michelob, Miller, and more across the region.

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— Katie Krzaczek (@hashtagkatie, business@inquirer.com)

Thousands of workers represented by Teamsters Local 830 have stopped work at Penn Beer Sales and Service, Origlio Beverage, and Muller Inc. The three distributors are responsible for delivering dozens of familiar, national brands across the region, including Budweiser, Coors, and Miller.

“The prices of everything, including their beverage products, have skyrocketed,” Daniel H. Grace, Teamsters Local 830 secretary-treasurer said in a statement. “Inflation has hit our members extremely hard. They deserve to be fairly compensated during these difficult economic times.”

The work stoppage came as a surprise, even to some at the bargaining table. Delaware Valley Importers Distribution Association association said that it is “shocked and disappointed at this last-minute turnaround. The negotiating committee of the union’s own members unanimously agreed to accept and endorse a robust and aggressive long-term package that included the largest wage increase in our 50-plus year history.”

The association added that it has “contingency plans in place to minimize any disruption to our suppliers and the market.”

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