The seven-day strike against the Delaware Valley Importing Distribution Association is over.
On Saturday morning, 3,100 members of Teamsters Local 830 overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. Picket lines were taken down at Muller, Inc., 2800 Grant Ave., and Origlio Beverage, 3000 Meeting House Road, along with Penn Beer in Hatfield, Montgomery County.
Dan Grace, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 830, expressed his gratification for the terms of the new contract and the resolve of his members.
“This was a fight for economic fairness and a better quality of life for our members. I am proud to say we’ve achieved our goals and today’s overwhelming ratification by the Teamsters Local 830 membership attests to the great gains we’ve realized in this new four-year agreement,” he said. “The Local 830 members who stood shoulder to shoulder on our picket lines for the past week are the real heroes in this victory. Their solidarity was truly inspiring.”
Highlights of the new four-year contract are:
• 10.5% wage increase in year one and additional wage increases in the following three years
• Increased pension contributions in years two, three and four
• Additional 401(k) contributions
• New, reduced work hours – Five days with 10-hour time limits, two days with 11-hour time limits
• An additional paid holiday
On Friday, Sean O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, toured the picket lines with Grace.
The striking 830 members included drivers, warehouse/production workers and sales/marketing personnel in the regional beverage industry. ••
