There’s a story on Philly.com today that reports Dick Yuengling Jr. gave company employees a “pep talk” at the original Pottsville, Pa. brewery that resulted in Yuengling ousting the “guys from Philadelphia” (aka The Teamsters Union). And while all this happened back in early 2006, the union has since been officially boycotting Yuengling beers.

The boycott has proven ineffective and now the Teamsters are crying foul and trying to involve state lawmakers. In the spat, seems no one can prove what the Teamsters say happened, which was that Yuengling Jr. gave employees an ultimatum about dropping the labor union. The brewery, and consequent investigation by the National Labor Relations Board, claims that “decertification” was initiated by the employees themselves. Only two people substantiated the claim made the the local Teamsters, however no one would testify against Yuengling “fearing retribution.”

Such drama! If you’ve never lived in a hardworking middle-class community, you can’t fully appreciate the impact labor unions have on your life. We fully understand workers’ rights and yet we shake our head since this story reads like something from a century ago. And, indeed, the Teamsters were organized in 1903.

Let the battle of the union/anti-union folks commence!

Source: Philly.com
Image: Yuengling.com