Share
Picketing continues at the J.J. Taylor’s terminal at 701 Industrial Boulevard NE in Minneapolis. Since Monday, Since April 9 members of Teamsters Local 792 have picketed outside the Florida based distributor. The drivers accuse J.J. Taylor of ignoring their concerns over a new routing system which compels more drivers to load and deliver heavy kegs on their own.
In a recent City Pages Article, issues were explained by Edward Reynoso, political and communications director for Teamsters Joint Council 32. The article notes,
“Reynoso observes that many deliveries demand not just dropping the keg off, but delivering it down the stairs, into a bar or restaurant basement.”
And Reynoso is quoted saying:
” ‘And some of those old staircases may not be up to code,’ he says. ‘It’s unsafe.’”
J.J. Taylor doesn’t dispute the claim that beer kegs are heavy. In exchange for removing a pair of hands, the company says it will teach delivery drivers about ergonomics and how to properly load and transport kegs.
Each Keg ways about 175 pounds. Workers mentioned that it’s more common now to have to stack kegs on top of each other and on holiday weekends like St Patrick’s day it can be three kegs high. Drivers also deliver hundreds of beer cases a day each holding 24 to 30 beers.
J.J. Taylor Distributing Company began operations in Minnesota in the 1980s and has swiftly grown to the largest distribution company in the state. Most recently they acquired employed owned Day Distributing. J.J. Taylor Distributing Company is a subsidiary of Jupiter, Florida based J.J. Taylor Companies.
Workers allege that the company is applying a Florida model to it’s Minnesota operations. In Florida, there are no basements or snow making the dynamics less challenging. The workforce is also non-unionized, and there is higher turnover.
John J. Taylor, III, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of J.J. Taylor Companies. Taylor, along with his wife Eduarda, has donated thousands to Republican candidates including the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump.
The Teamsters are asking the public to boycott the following beers:
Miller and Miller Lite
Schell’s
Deschutes
Founding Fathers
Summit Brewing
Four Loko
Redd’s Ale
Seagram’s 4-packs
Heineken
Cold Spring Brewery
Guinness
New Belgium/Fat Tire
Belgian Owl Distilleries
Grain Belt Premium
Leinenkugel
Smirnoff Ice