Members of Local 175 Demand A Fair Contract

(CHARLESTON, W. Va.) – A group of nearly 50 workers at the Beverage Market in Charleston W. Va., continue to strike over the company’s unfair labor practice (ULP). The drivers, helpers, and warehouse workers overwhelmingly authorized a strike earlier this month. The members of Teamsters Local 175 are fighting for a fair contract.

The parties resumed negotiations on Friday, May 22, 2026, but no real progress was made.  The Company continues to demand concessions and provide zero reasons for its punitive behavior; therefore, the members remain on strike.

“The Company has claimed in the media that it did not give a final offer and had more room to negotiate but did not show any of that today, even though the Union has shown significant movement since the strike began,” said Steve Day, President, Teamsters Local 175.

“Theresa and Martin Johnson, the owners of The Beverage Market, are not taking these negotiations seriously but this is people’s livelihoods and how they support their families.  They didn’t even have the decency or respect to be present at the bargaining table.  West Virginians should not allow these two people from Kentucky to destroy good local jobs,” said Luke Farley, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 175.

The Beverage Market services over 1,900 customers statewide and is the distributor for Miller-Coors, Corona, Modelo, Sam Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea, Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger, Blue Moon, Sam Adams, Dos Equis, Heineken, Smirnoff, Guinness, Pabst and many more products in several counties throughout W. Va.

Teamsters Local 175 represents thousands of members in the great states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia.