Teamsters Say to Bears Fans: MillerCoors Wants Chicago to Lose
06 October 2009 - 3:27AM
PR Newswire (US)
Union Members Reject Destruction of Health Care Guarantees CHICAGO,
Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of Teamsters Local 325 in
Rockford, Ill. protested at the Chicago Bears game at Soldiers
Field yesterday in opposition to plans by MillerCoors', a
subsidiary of Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP), largest
distributor in Illinois, Hayes Beer Distributing Company, to
destroy any guarantees of health care coverage. Nearly a year ago,
the drivers, merchandisers and helpers at the MillerCoors
distributor in Rockford voted to join the Teamsters Union. Since
then, they have been retaliated against by having money taken out
of their paychecks in violation of federal law. Hayes is also
trying to impose on its workers a contract that refuses any
guarantee of health care coverage. Teamster members distributed
leaflets to Bears fans and an airplane circled overhead towing a
banner that read, "Miller Wants Chicago to Lose." "Bears fans have
made Miller the number one beer in Chicago," said Jeff Porter,
Secretary-Treasurer of Local 325. "So you'd think Miller would want
to treat the hardworking people of Illinois who deliver Miller beer
with the respect they deserve." "We work hard to service local
businesses so we can support our families," said Jim Stilson, a
driver with Hayes Beer Distributing. "We just want the community to
know that Illinois families are having their health care coverage
threatened. Destroying my health care guarantees destroys community
standards. MillerCoors needs to make sure it lives up to those
standards." "Forcing employees into a health care plan with no
guarantees is irresponsible," said Porter. "The loss of health
coverage could easily bankrupt a family and we won't stand for
that." The employees of Hayes Beer Distributing distribute
MillerCoors beer brands to the Rockford metropolitan area, the
Chicago suburbs and northern Illinois. The Teamsters Brewery and
Soft Drink Workers Conference also represents more than 1,200
employees of MillerCoors breweries in the United States and Canada.
The conference is part of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, which was founded in 1903 and represents 1.4 million
hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto
Rico. DATASOURCE: Teamsters Local 325 CONTACT: Jeffrey Porter of
Teamsters Local 325, +1-815-874-6307
Copyright