Security hired by owners of The Beverage Market recently injured a striking employee by throwing him to the ground, also knocking to the ground another employee’s mother, who was visiting the picket line. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the complaint.

“The Company acts as if these striking employees are just a bunch of thugs, but the only incident has come from The Beverage Market’s own security team,” said Steve Day, President, Local 175.

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) and are picketing at the warehouse site near Sissonville. 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.

On Thursday, a security guard lashed out at an employee on the picket line, throwing him the ground. The visiting woman, who had stopped by in a show of support and was standing next to the employee, was also pushed down. Fellow employees called 911. The employee sought treatment at an urgent care facility and was prescribed pain medication, while the woman suffered scrapes and bruises.

“The only reason the security team is there is to intimidate striking workers and incite violence on  the picket line.  It seems as if one person got tired of our members not reacting and took matters into his own hands.  As far as I can tell owners Theresa and Martin Johnson have done nothing to the security guard as he is still out by the picket line trying to intimidate members,” said Luke Farley, Secretary-Treasurer, TeamstersLocal 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.