The Local 812 members at Cedar Beverages in Long Island voted 2-1 in favor of a new 5-year agreement. 

Cedar Beverage delivers products such as Yuengling, Miller Beer Products, Guinness and Colt 45 on the east end of Long Island.  Cedar Beverages sister company, Boening Distributors, ratified their new 5-year agreement last year.  The Oak Beverages contract is due to expire in June.



Contract Highlights

Wage improvements over 5 years, including guarantees, base pay, hourly pay, vacation pay and commissions.

Salary Bonuses.

Increased employer contribution to the Local 812 Health Fund, with no member premium contributions for the life of the contract.

Pension increases.

One of the main contract issues and sore subjects for members was retirement. Cedar workers were originally Local 918 members and had a much less advantageous pension plan ($750 maximum dollars after 15 years) than those enjoyed by Local 812 members.



Through negotiations, the union and the company agreed to pay the members the difference between the pension plans in a separate fund which would grow every year and contract matching any future contributions that are negotiated into the 812 pension fund by other 812 companies.

The workers will receive anywhere from $5000 to $6000 extra a year or roughly $30000 over the next 5 years, with contributions continuing in subsequent contract into "the fund" plus any interest for their future and retirement.

Recording Secretary John Ulrich, who negotiated the CBA with Business Agent Jimmy Surdi, was very pleased with the outcome. He said, "Just a few years ago these men were not even in our union or our health fund. At one point they were notified that they would no longer have health benefits for their families. Local 812 stepped up immediately and negotiated with Cedar to bring all of the members into the 812 Health Fund so they would not be hurt."

Ulrich continued, "The next piece to fix was Retirement. This is something that we have been trying to resolve and accomplish for years. With the changes in the Pension Protection Act we were really handcuffed on how we could fix this problem and provide Cedar workers with a better retirement. They stuck with us and now money will be set aside for them every week in order for them to have a better life after retirement. Myself, Jimmy and the rest of the Board felt that we as a union wanted to make their future brighter and in the end we did."

Local 812 Secretary Treasurer Joe Vitta, who chairs the Local 812 Pension Fund, and President Ed Weber worked with lead negotiator Ulrich over the past 3 years to devise a plan to accomplish what was once thought impossible.

"We fought very hard and felt as a union we needed to make this happen. A lot of hours went into investigating this solution. We as a Board are ecstatic for these members. They have what every other member in 812 has. A strong future in order to live comfortably when they decide to retire," concluded Secretary Treasurer Joe Vitta.

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