USA: Pittsburgh Brewery workers voted for concessionary contract, including wage cut

After a two-hour meeting, members of IUE/Communication Workers of America at Pittsburgh Brewing voted 66-52 to approve a concessionary contract, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published January 22.

Pittsburgh Brewing Acquisition had demanded that workers accept concessions before it would purchase the bankrupt brewery and invest money to make it profitable.

The pact will reduce wages by 15 percent to a range of $14.83 to $16.20 per hour. It will require employees to pay deductibles in their health plan and replace the current pension plan with a matching 401K program.

In addition, the concessionary package would require all union workers to interview for their jobs. But union representatives described it as formality, with workers to be recalled based on seniority.

"This is a major concessionary contract and of course many are upset, but this was an opportunity to save jobs that would be lost," said George Sharkey, business manager of IUE/CWA Local 144B, which represents as many as 140 brewery workers. "This is a very bittersweet moment."

Mr. Sharkey said the vote will keep the brewery operating with hope that the new owners will improve marketing and sales, leading to new jobs and higher future contracts.

24 January, 2007