Posts Categorized: Distillery

A Heaven Hill distillery worker in Bardstown, Ky., had his job reinstated with back pay after UFCW Local 23D issued a grievance against the employer. An arbitrator recently ruled in the worker’s favor.

Larry Newton, the grievant, served as a chief steward at Heaven Hill distillery during a six-week strike at the facility last October. Newton was one of the 400 UFCW Local 23D members at Heaven Hill that went on strike to protest a proposed contract that would have reduced wages and benefits. The employer made allegations that Newton had trespassed onto one of their third-party contractor’s properties and violated a work rule. Newton was suspended from his job on October 29, 2021, shortly after the strike ended and a five-year contract was ratified, and terminated on January 12, 2022.

During the arbitration hearing, which took place on April 8, the arbitrator found that Heaven Hill had unreasonably and unfairly failed in its responsibility to undertake an investigation prior to imposing discipline against Newton. As a result of the ruling, Newton won his job back with back pay, benefits, seniority, and all other working conditions (such as shift and assignment) dating back to his period of suspension last October.

“I appreciate my union, Local 23D, for standing with me and having my back,” said Newton. “Without the union, this would not have been possible.”

“I was very glad to assist Larry and will always stand behind our members,” said UFCW Local 23D President Leslie Glazar.

On March 2, sales representatives from the Opici Wine Group in Glen Rock, N.J., joined UFCW Local 2D. The 25 sales representatives, who work in Upstate New York, joined our union family because they wanted a voice in the workplace. These new members join their newly unionized colleagues in the New York metro area and New Jersey, who are also represented by UFCW Local 2D. 

These new members of our union family realize the value of standing together for a better life.

“I believe it was important for our sales team to form a union because of the changes going on within the business as a whole and within our company,” said one of the sales representatives. “As more partnerships and mergers happen in the distribution business, sales representatives never know who they will be working for next and what changes will affect their livelihood. As commissions continue to decrease, or disappear altogether, and expectations of the job continue to grow, it is important for sales representatives to have a say in their work environment.”

“Local 2D is very pleased that the members of Opici Upstate followed their brothers and sisters from Opici Metro in joining a union to give them representation and a voice to be heard,” said UFCW Local 2D President Stephen T. Booras.