Trouble brews for bodegas, bars across NYC as Manhattan Beer delivery workers go on strike
In the meantime, those at the negotiating table say they'll continue to negotiate for fair contracts as long as it takes.
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Trouble is brewing for bodegas and bars across the city as hundreds of Manhattan Beer delivery workers go on strike.
A strike is on tap in part because members of the Laundry, Distribution, and Food Service (LDFS) union said that Manhattan Beer & Beverage Distributors (MBBD) is pressuring workers to leave their pension funds and transition to a 401(k). The union is also asking for the company to hire more staff and improve working conditions.
Sources within the beer distribution company said that Manhattan Beer offered to contribute “tens of millions of dollars” to existing pensions and change retirement benefits going forward to a 401(k) plan, which the company said is “more secure.” However, labor organizers say that retiring through a 401(k) means that the money you get in retirement can fluctuate based on the stock market, unlike a pension that is a fixed, typically guaranteed amount.
The union also accused Manhattan Beer of circumventing them in the negotiating process by bringing the offer straight to employees. On the other hand, MBBD said the union moved forward with the strike before bringing the company’s offer to a vote of the full membership.
Manhattan Beer has exclusive distribution rights in NYC for more than 300 brands, including Heineken, Modelo, Blue Moon, Corona and Sam Adams.
MBBD said in a statement, “We are working for a swift resolution and hope for minimal disruption of services.”
Local bars, like Bar 47 in Mott Haven and Yankee Twin Eatery near Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, told News 12 that the greatest impact will be on neighborhood hole-in-the-wall joints and spots that don’t have beer on tap.
Many breweries have additional supply on-site but it’s not limitless. However, owners like Michael Brady say they stand with the union, and that temporary sacrifice will be worth the long-term change.
