Union workers at Glenmore Distillery voted in approval of a new contract Thursday, finally bringing an end to more than a month of negotiations.
In a secret ballot vote, 85% of members voted yes after working for more than a week without a contract.
Glenmore’s parent company Sazerac presented their last, best and final offer roughly two weeks ago, but it was voted down by union members on April 13 after Louisville-based Union Food and Commercial Workers Local 227 recommended a no vote.
A federal mediator was called in last week to help both parties reach an agreement. The committee and Sazerac came to a tentative agreement Sunday night, with union members making it final on Thursday.
“Through difficult and intense negotiations our union family was united in their fight for a new contract that honors the hard work of our members who are proud to have made their company profitable and successful, and to future generations of hard working men and women at Glenmore Distillery,” said Caitlin Blair, spokesperson for UFCW 227.
The two main points of concern from the original proposal were addressed after further negotiations, according to Blair. The main concern in that proposal was new hires at Glenmore would make at least $9/hour less than current workers.
“Our union members on the committee felt like they could recommend the new agreement because everybody has the opportunity to earn the same wages for the same work,” Blair said Thursday. “The other really important thing that this agreement does for our members that has been an issue is it allows for better work-life balance.”
Amy Preske, public relations manager for Sazerac, said the company is glad to have reached an agreement.
“After more than four weeks of Sazerac and Union 227 working together in good faith, we are pleased by the union vote to ratify the contract,” she said. “We look forward to implementing it and getting back to serving our customers and communities, as well as providing employment opportunities to new team members to staff the alternative work schedule.”
