2016 Jim Beam strike
2016 Jim Beam strike | |||
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Date | October 15–21, 2016 (6 days) | ||
Location | United States
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Caused by | Disagreements over a new labor contract | ||
Goals |
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Methods | |||
Resulted in | Strike ends in terms viewed favorably by union members.
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Parties | |||
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The 2016 Jim Beam strike was a
The strike continued for approximately one week, during which time the company instituted a contingency plan that allowed the distilleries to remain in operation. On October 16, union and company officials met for the first time since the strike began and in the following days resumed negotiations. Negotiations with a federal mediator present resumed on October 18, and by October 20, a tentative agreement had been reached. The following day, union members voted 204–19 to accept the contract and end the strike. Among the provisions of the contract were the elimination of a pay difference between union members, a cap on temporary workers at 25 percent of the total workforce, and a commitment to hire at least 27 full-time employees. Within two weeks of the strike's conclusion, the company had already hired seven full-time employees and had ended mandatory overtime. In general, union members viewed the strike as successful.
Background
The U.S. state of Kentucky is known as the "
On October 11, after 33 days of negotiations over the terms of a new contract (which included the participation of a federal mediator), a proposed agreement was submitted for a vote by rank and file union members.[4] However, the two-year proposal failed to pass in a vote of 201–19, which also served as an authorization for strike action.[4][2] As the existing contract was valid until October 14, operations continued as normal at the plants for the next few days.[2] Company representatives expressed confusion at the vote, stating that they did not understand why the offer was rejected and touting benefits from the proposal, which, according to the company, included wage increases and the "elimination of the two-tiered wage system for almost all employees".[4] The company also stated that while they were unaware of any specific objections from union members, they were willing to work with union officials "to help ensure a full understanding of the proposal by the union membership".[2] Several days after the vote, a union official stated that points of contention included vague contract language, job security, seniority, and scheduling.[9][5] While pay was generally seen as good (average union members earned $23 per hour, while new employees and temporary workers earned $17.22 and $11, respectively),[10] UFCW Local 111D President Janelle Mudd stated that some workers at the facilities were regularly working 70 hours per week and that the union wanted the company to hire more full-time employees instead of temporary workers.[11] During the 2010s, the number of temporary workers at Jim Beam had approximately doubled, with the company hiring between 120 and 140 temporary workers during that time.[12] Mudd further stated that the scheduling was negatively affecting the union members' work–life balance and that the union was seeking "a return to the family values and heritage upon which the Jim Beam brand is based".[13]
Speaking to the
Course of the strike
With no replacement contract in place, the strike commenced after midnight on the morning of October 15,[16] with picketing beginning shortly thereafter.[11] The walkout involved about 252 employees at the Boston and Clermont facilities,[7][17][12] though the company's facility in Frankfort and their Maker's Mark facility in Loretto, Kentucky, were unaffected.[16][18] A spokesperson for the company stated that, as a result of the strike, the company would be implementing a contingency plan, though they did not state whether or not that plan included hiring nonunion labor.[14] As a result, the distilleries operated throughout the duration of the strike.[5] President Mudd stated that the union and company would have an informal meeting on October 16,[11] but they did not expect any new contract proposals to be made at that time.[7] Following the meeting, which the company called a "constructive session", negotiations with a federal mediator were expected to recommence on October 18.[3] On October 20, the union announced that a new tentative agreement had been reached with the company, with the details to be revealed later that day and a vote to be held the following day.[19] The next day, union members ratified the new contract, and as this vote occurred on a Friday, the employees would return to work the following Monday.[20][21]
The contract was accepted in a landslide vote of 204–19.[21][22] Local 111D members, speaking to In These Times, stated that the new two-year contract included a cap on the number of temporary workers hired by the company and a commitment from management to hire more full-time workers.[20] Specifically, temporary workers would be capped at 25 percent of the workforce, there would no longer be a two-tier wage system for full-time employees, and the company would hire at least 27 full-time employees.[12] Additionally, Mudd stated that the contract addressed equal pay for equal work and that, while the union had wanted to avoid a strike in the first place, the labor dispute was a general success for the union members.[23] Officials from both the union and company stated that the resolution to the strike was due in large part to good faith discussions and bargaining between the two.[20][21] Within two weeks of the end of the strike, Jim Beam had already hired seven new full-time employees and had ended mandatory overtime.[12]
See also
- 2021 Heaven Hill strike
- Liquor portal
- Organized labour portal
Notes
- Booker Noe Distillery.[5]
References
- ^ The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Schreiner, Bruce (October 12, 2016). "Jim Beam union workers in Kentucky vote in favor of strike". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ Tronc. Archivedfrom the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Union workers at Jim Beam distillery vote to go on strike". WDRB. October 11, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Hayes, Annie (October 24, 2016). "Strike action at Jim Beam distilleries ends". The Spirits Business. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c Fickenscher, Lisa (October 12, 2016). "You might want to stock up on bourbon before it's too late". New York Post. News Corp. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Shannon (October 29, 2016). "Strikes end at Libbey Glass in Ohio and Jim Beam in Kentucky". World Socialist Web Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Jim Beam workers reject new contract offer as strike looms". WCPO-TV. Associated Press. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on December 24, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Jim Beam workers picket after rejecting company contract offer". WDRB. October 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ Labor Notes. Archivedfrom the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ Young, Angelo (October 20, 2016). "The Jim Beam strike: Kentucky distillery workers have started a new whiskey rebellion in the name of sane hours". Salon.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b DuVall, Eric (October 15, 2016). "Jim Beam distilleries workers walk off the job, strike over 'family values and heritage'". United Press International. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Union workers at Jim Beam set to strike at midnight". WDRB. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Yoo, Sharon (October 16, 2016) [October 15, 2016]. "Jim Beam employees strike after failing to agree on new contract". WAVE. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- AL.com. Advance Publications. Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Striking Jim Beam workers set to vote on new offer Friday". WDRB. Associated Press. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c Vasquez, Mario (October 21, 2016). "Breaking—One Bourbon, One Strike and No Fear: Jim Beam Workers Win a Better Contract". In These Times. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Striking Jim Beam workers vote to go back to work". WDRB. October 21, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- Louisville Business First. American City Business Journals. October 21, 2016. Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ Schreiner, Bruce (October 24, 2016). "Let's toast: Jim Beam strike ends with promise to expand". WTVQ-DT. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
Further reading
- Mann, David A. (October 18, 2016). "How much will the strike hurt Jim Beam?". Louisville Business First. American City Business Journals. Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.