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Molson Coors Workers in Fort Worth Walk Out
February 19, 2024
In Fort Worth, Texas, workers at the Molson Coors brewery have commenced a strike. These employees, represented by Teamsters Local 997, began picketing outside the brewery over the weekend. The bone of contention? A new three-year contract for the 420 workers involved in the production, packaging, and warehousing of the company’s beverages.
The union’s demands are straightforward: they want better pay and enhancements to their health and retirement benefits. Although the specifics of the contract proposals haven’t been made public, a resounding 93% of Local 997 Molson Coors Teamsters voted against the latest offer from their employers.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien minced no words in expressing his discontent, citing Molson Coors’ impressive profits juxtaposed with what he describes as insufficient compensation and benefits for the workers. The company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $103.3 million, with 2023 marking its highest earnings in 19 years.
Molson Coors, on the other hand, emphasizes its readiness to weather the strike, asserting that they’ve prepared extensively with strong contingency plans. The company claims to have bolstered distributor inventories nationwide and asserts that its other U.S. breweries possess extra capacity to meet consumer demand.
Despite the impasse, negotiations are ongoing. Molson Coors spokesperson Adam Collins highlights that their last offer exceeds local market rates for similar unionized roles, reiterating the company’s commitment to reaching a fair agreement.
To support their striking members, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has raised strike benefits to $1,000 per week for Local 997 members.
The Fort Worth brewery, operational since 1969 and the home of Miller Lite since 1975, has been a pivotal site for Molson Coors. Recently, the company announced a $65 million investment in the brewery to expand its capabilities, particularly in the realm of in-house hard seltzer production. Notably, this facility stands as the sole plant where co-branded products are assembled and packaged.
As negotiations continue and picket lines grow, the future of Molson Coors’ operations in Fort Worth hangs in the balance.
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