This is what Local 812 members have gotten for their dues in recent years:
Saving Local 812 Jobs
In 2011, Local 812 stopped Coca Cola from closing the Haulage Department, saving 100 trailer jobs that were slated for outsourcing.
Through the Political Action Committee of Local 812, In 2012 we saved 200 jobs that were on the line because of severe damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn facility of Phoenix Beverages. We rallied politicians to aid the company in paying for the $20 million in damages required to reopen the facility.
The union saved 120 jobs at Pepsi Bottling Ventures (Long Island) after Pepsi Cola of New York purchased it in 2013. We were able to guarantee jobs, hours, seniority and benefits for all.
We succeeded in saving over 60 jobs at Oak beverages after the company announced the closure of its Brooklyn facility. In addition to no loss of jobs, the company agreed to increased pay for travel and private bus service for travel to another Oak Beverage facility for those formerly working in Brooklyn.
Political Action
Local 812 defeated Governor Patterson's "Fat Tax" and Mayor Bloomberg's "Big Soda Ban", saving hundreds of beverage jobs in New York.
Improving Jobs
Local 812 battled Coke to reinstate and create new merchandiser mileage rights, institute merchandiser route picking, to preserve bargaining unit work and to create merchandiser work language for pack-outs. Because of union pressure, Coke also agreed to drivers' rights and scheduling improvements. We also successfully fought back labor standards in the warehouse while adding more than 150 new members in Coca Cola.
Union pressure resulted in route picking at Anheuser Busch of New York and created 40 new union jobs.
Contracts
Our contracts have set the standard in the beverage industry across the nation. Over the past three years we have won significant contracts for 98% of our membership, adding up to a value of over 1 billion dollars. These companies include Coca Cola Refreshments, Pepsi Cola of New York, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Pepsi Cola Distributors Association, Canada Dry of New York, Snapple Beverages, Good O, Anheuser Busch of New York, Clare Rose, Anheuser Busch of Long Island, Ippolito Distributors, Anheuser Busch of Staten Island, Union Beer, Anheuser Busch in Brooklyn, Boening Brothers, Miller, Yuengling etc. on Long Island, Borough Recycling, Betta Way Trucking and ACG Gas, Long Island, 5 Boroughs, Westchester and Rockland Counties, as well as many smaller independent beverage distributor contracts.
We have negotiating committees in place for 2014 contracts at Phoenix Beverages, Lobo Distributors, Long Feng Trucking, Windmill Distributors, Cedar Beverages, Phoenix MTO Recycling and Oak Beverages. These companies deliver products such as Miller Beer, Heinekin, Guiness, Yeungling, Bass, Georgi Vodka, Polar and Colt 45.
Your dues payments provide the finances necessary to continue our progress.
Together, we can and will improve conditions and build power for soft drink and brewery workers throughout the New York region and country.
