It’s a Beerpocalypse.
A looming strike by beer supply employees threatens to deprive 1000’s of Large Apple bars and eating places – and thirsty New Yorkers – of candy suds from well-liked beers reminiscent of Coors, Corona and Sam Adams.
Unionized employees for Manhattan Beer & Beverage Distributors had been poised to strike on the stroke of midnight Tuesday as talks confirmed little signal of serving up a brand new contract, labor leaders mentioned.
The beer behemoth has made the 600-odd workers and their union frothing mad by allegedly pushing them to exit their pension plan.
“Hold your palms off our pensions,” union co-manager Alberto Arroyo advised The Submit.
Manhattan Beer has unique rights in New York Metropolis for a number of well-liked beers, distributing the likes of Blue Moon, Coors, Corona, Modelo and Sam Adams.
A strike probably might dry up bars, bodegas and eating places that obtain shipments of roughly 300 manufacturers of beer, cider, wine and different boozy drinks from Manhattan Beer, mentioned an individual with information of the negotiations.
4 of Manhattan Beer’s 5 services — together with its Hunts Level headquarters — can be affected by the strike.
The dispute stems from the corporate’s heavy-handed — and allegedly unlawful, in keeping with the union — effort to get employees to cease taking part of their pension plan, with an eye fixed towards changing it with a 401(okay) or different retirement possibility, the supply mentioned.
Manhattan Beer allegedly sidestepped the union and instantly handled workers of their push, which led to the submitting of an unfair labor observe grievance with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board.
“Manhattan Beer shouldn’t be violating the regulation, committing unfair labor practices and making an attempt to freeze our pensions,” mentioned Joe Gonzalez Jr., a beer supply employee, in a press release. “That’s what our battle is all about.
“Nobody ought to elevate a glass to this sort of habits.”
Representatives for the corporate and its labor legal professional didn’t return The Submit’s calls and messages in search of remark.
The union has proposed Manhattan Beer pony up a “modest” further $1.50 an hour to protect employees’ pension, each for present and future workers, the supply mentioned.
“With out month-to-month pension advantages after they retire, these employees will wrestle in outdated age to pay for housing, groceries and different requirements of life,” he mentioned in a press release. “That’s unacceptable.”
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