Starting on September 19th, 2024, A strike was started against Bigfoot beverages by Teamster Unions 206 and 324, following the companies attempt to take away the union members’ pensions and replace it with a 401(k) plan instead.
Bigfoot Beverage company is an Oregon beverage distributor, who focuses on Pepsi products such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, and Starry. They also transport many beers and wines. Based out of Eugene, Bigfoot also has distribution centers in Coos Bay, Bend, Newport, and Roseburg. The Teamsters 206 union covers the Oregon region from Brookings to Florence and over to Eugene area.
The union wants to keep the existing pension and the proposed plan is something that the union is passionate to fight against.
“The company, Bigfoot, their stance on this is they believe a 401(k) is better for their employees then a pension, yet our members have made it very clear to them that they prefer the pension over a 401(k),” said Clark Kimball, a union representative. “Yet Bigfoot lets us continue to sit out in the rain, in the wind and fight for what we believe is rightfully ours.”
The union is more than willing to negotiate with Bigfoot, as long as the threat to their pension is stopped.
Bigfoot Beverages employs a total of 240 people, of which roughly 190 are actively picketing. In the Coos Bay location there are about 12 strikers. Residents of Coos Bay, specifically those in the Eastside area, can see the picketers on a daily basis, from dawn to dusk, and even into the night sometimes.
“At the start of the strike they were very consistent, all through the night I’m assuming,” said Marshfield High School student Lilly Thomas, an Eastside resident. “They used to go late into the night, really early in the morning and they’ve kind of started to be less and less consistent.”
Since the beginning of the strike, they’ve changed their hours of picketing to more reasonable times, similar to normal business hours. Not necessarily showing a decrease in passion, but it’s more realistic considering how long they’re prepared to strike.
“I don’t know that they’ve gotten less passionate, but I’m thankful that they have something to shelter them from the rain and that they aren’t out there at night,” said Tammy Alley, Eastside resident and MHS parent. “It’s cold,”
Nevertheless, the strikers have been on site everyday since the strike started. In the cold mornings they can be seen layered in warm clothing, huddled around a fire and still presenting their signs, even in the rain and wind, taking cover under a canopy.
“It shows heart, it shows that they want what they want and they’re not going to back down,” Thomas said.
The strike has been active since September. Although teamsters hoped to have achieved their goal by now, they are determined to not back down.
“This is something really important to our members and they’re willing to be out there as long as it takes to keep what we already have,” says Kimball. “Our members are standing up for and fighting for what they believe in.”
Members of the community have been very supportive of their fight. Words and gestures of encouragement are ongoing.
“The community has been amazing,” Kimball said. “People are constantly dropping off pizza, donuts and pop. The constant honks, people driving by honking and waving has been very nice to see.”
Kimball also explains that the community can further show their support by not doing business with Bigfoot Beverages during the strike. Even longtime Bigfoot Beverage customer University of Oregon has been urged to find a different vendor for all their sporting event beverages.
“Show them that the community is behind the employees,” he said, “And what’s good for our employees is good for the community.”