On February 17, members of Local 997 of IUF affiliate International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) working at Molson Coors in Fort Worth, Texas, walked off the job after Molson Coors failed to reach agreement on a new three-year contract.
- The strike halted production at the only brewery serving the entire Western region of the United States with Molson Coors’ majorproducts including Coors Light, Topo Chico, Simply, Pabst and Yuengling
- With picket signs over their heads and high energy, the 420 members of Local 997are demanding improved working conditions from Molson Coors which last year alone reported six years of profit increases but offered most Teamsters families in Texas a $1 per hour wage increase
- Local 997 is seeking wage increases that reflect the impact of inflation over the life of the expiring contract and the elimination of two-tier health and pension benefits
- The union has filed numerous unfair labour practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over the company’s bad faith bargaining
“Molson Coors is putting pennies on the table for the workers behind these products. They want to take away health care from working families. We don’t accept disrespect; we don’t accept crumbs and we don’t accept compromise. The Teamsters are taking this fight to the streets, and we will hold the line until our members get what they deserve,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
