Coors Is Tasteless, Say Teamsters on St. Patrick's Day

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Mar 17, 2012, 03:09 ET

Teamsters March in Parade To Raise Awareness Of Distributor's' Shameful Acts

SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 100 Teamsters marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade today to raise awareness about anti-immigrant behavior, worker abuse and discrimination by DBI Beverage, the distributor of products by Coors Brewing Co. in Northern California.

The Teamsters, from Local Unions 150, 439, 853 and 856, carried banners and leaflets that read: "Tell Coors Hating Immigrants is Tasteless," and "Tell Coors: This is California. Stop the Hate."

"Coors has a long history of funding anti-immigrant organizations, as does DBI Beverage's owner," said Jim Tobin, President of Local 150 in Sacramento. "Coors also funds groups that are anti-worker and promotes laws that would suppress minority voting. DBI is simply taking a page out of Coors' playbook, so DBI's behavior is, unfortunately, not surprising."

DBI Beverage takes in $250 million in annual revenue, yet it implemented a discriminatory wage system on longtime drivers and warehouse workers in Sacramento and Stockton, many of whom have an immigrant background.

In South San Francisco, DBI wants to introduce a two-tiered benefit plan: One for its male warehouse workers and drivers, and a reduced benefit level for its mostly female, customer service workforce.

"The workers that distribute Coors products throughout Northern California are appealing to the community today," said Sam Rosas, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 439 in Stockton. "We want our neighbors to know that in this devastated economy, DBI wants to destroy good jobs. All these loyal workers want is a contract that respects the work they do."

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @TeamsterPower.

SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 7