On April 1st, Local 812 Officers, Delegates and members of the 812 Union Beer (Budweiser Brooklyn) Committee met with company officials to demand that they quickly resolve critical safety issues at the facility and in the trade.
During heated discussions, 812 Secretary-Treasurer Joe Vitta questioned the company on myriad issues including door locks, Department of Transportation rules, injuries and the treatment of employees.
Vitta requested data on injuries and the affects of the ramps on workers' overall well being. Secretary-Treasurer Vitta told company representatives, "You need to fix these problems and fix them fast. Our members will not be disrespected; they will not be put in the position of being constantly hurt. And the day to day threats will stop."
Recording Secretary John Ulrich added, "The men have lost trust in the company. When that happens nothing can be accomplished. The company has to rebuild trust for morale to improve. The constant threats of termination and write-ups only make it worse. After all, you cannot fire everyone. How would you get any beer out of the door?"
The Union and the company went through nearly 20 issues over the four-hour meeting. Secretary-Treasurer Vitta succeeded in securing the following:
- Union Beer will fix the ramps and, at the union's request, will investigate the possibility of lift gates on the trailers.
- Union Beer will purchase new hand trucks to replace the broken or warped one in inventory.
- Union Beer will make the necessary repairs to the cracked floor in the warehouse.
- Union Beer will start receiving delivery on new walkie riders in the warehouse, purchasing 15 new lifts.
- Union Beer and 812 will discuss the creation of an Accident Review Team that has both Union and Management members to determine what is a preventable or non-preventable accident. The Union meeting will be held next month.
Attending the meeting were Business Agents Angel Martinez, Larry DeBellis, Jim Surdi and John Visconti along with Secretary-Treasurer Joe Vitta and Recording Secretary John Ulrich. Committee members in attendance included Steven Vaccaro, Benny Laurie, Ray Robinson, Michael Martinez, John Vargas, and warehouse shop steward Joe Baptiste.
