Posts Categorized: Distillery

About 270 members of UFCW Local 186D who work for The Wine Group in Ripon, Calif., recently ratified a new contract that strengthens wages and benefits. The Wine Group is one of the largest wine producers in the world, and these members process wine from the grape to the bottle, including shipping the product.

The four-year contract includes wage increases which are retroactive to April 1, 2022, and adds a 1.9 percent increase for the first year. All members will receive an across-the-board wage increase of 4.5 percent  retroactively for the first year. Two classifications of workers will receive an amount above the 4.5 percent wage increase as adjustments to their pay. Thereafter, wage increases are 3.5 percent for each year, compounded on the prior wage increase. The contract also includes an attendance bonus during the next year, paid quarterly, as well as one additional paid holiday. In addition, the contract improves the paid sick leave process and swing shift and graveyard pay, and makes it easier for workers to progress to higher paying positions.

“When the workers are organized, the fight turns to success,” said Milton Rosado, an employee at The Wine Group and member of UFCW Local 186D. “If you don’t fight for what you want, don’t cry for what you’ve lost.”

“We are stronger together,” said UFCW Local 186D President Dee Chacon. “United we stand, divided we fall. Union is strength.”

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.