Bigfoot won't budge, Teamsters strike continues in Oregon
Workers at Bigfoot Beverages walked off the job across four Oregon cities this month, protesting what they claim is a corporate attack on their retirement security.
“The greedy CEOs running this company are running their mouths about how Bigfoot’s pathetic garbage offer is the best option available for our members,” Chris R. Muhs, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 324, said on the Teamsters website. “This company is trying to destroy Teamsters Pensions and replace them with a costlier, riskier 401k plan.”
Bigfoot Beverages is one of the largest soft drink and alcohol distributors in the Pacific Northwest. They have locations in Eugene, Bend, Coos Bay, Newport, and Roseberg. Bigfoot Beverages responded to the Teamsters, saying the new plan is more beneficial than they think.
“We came to the table with raises for each employee,” Bigfoot Beverages co-president Eric Forrest said to KVAL13. “[There is] an extremely generous 401(k) retirement plan plus a significant signing ratification bonus of $2,500 each, yet we were rejected without allowing our team members to vote on the offer.”
Teamsters have lined McVay Highway off the I-5 South since Sept. 19 with signs boycotting Bigfoot’s unfair labor practices. They’re equipped with easy-ups and folding chairs to make the long hours they spend on the side of the road more comfortable.
According to a spokesperson from Bigfoot Beverages, 240 of the 425 workers at the company are affected by the strike. So far, despite more than half of the company being on strike, Bigfoot has refused to come to the table to negotiate.
“The company is stonewalling us,” Geoff Stewart, the principal officer of Teamsters Local 206, said. He explained that the picketers haven’t heard from Bigfoot Beverages since the strike started, despite making efforts to communicate so they can go back to work.
“Our relationship with Bigfoot has been great up until the strike, and still, these employees want to get back to work and repair any damage that Bigfoot has done to its brand,” Stewart said.
In response to the strike, Bigfoot Beverages has hired temporary employees to ensure their customers will be serviced. Replacement workers and security have come in from out of state to make deliveries and sales.
According to a spokesperson from Bigfoot Beverages, the company is back to full operations with its replacement crew.
“At the beginning, the strike did slow Bigfoot down, but now they’re back to hitting all accounts,” the spokesperson said. “Replacement drivers, salespeople, merchandisers, and warehouse workers are helping Bigfoot hit their goals.”
The Teamsters think differently on this point.
“I am getting pictures from team members and community members daily of empty shelves at Kroeger, Winco, Walmart, and Safeway,” Stewart said. “Between that and the money they’re spending on private security and replacement worker labor, I would venture to say that they’ve spent more money on this strike than they would have if they just kept these workers in the pension.”
There are no upcoming negotiations between Bigfoot Beverages and the Teamsters.
“At this point, [Bigfoot Beverages] is stuck on the pension vs the 401(k), so there aren’t any upcoming negotiations at this time,” a spokesperson from Bigfoot Beverages said.
Stewart is unsure why Bigfoot Beverages refuses to come to the table. He said that although the Teamsters weren’t looking for a strike, they would strike as necessary to get pensions back.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” Stewart said. “We’re not going to let a company bully local 206 in Oregon because 1.3 million international Teamsters have our backs.”
Samantha Pierotti is the food, drinks, and “things to do” reporter for the Register-Guard in Eugene. With tips on restaurants or local happenings, email her at spierotti@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Bigfoot Beverages doesn’t budge as Teamsters strike continues