by KYW's Steve Tawa
A Philadelphia-based teamsters' union is foaming over union representation at America's oldest brewery, Yuengling & Son in Pottsville, Pa.
Local 830 of the teamsters wants consumers to boycott the product of the 178-year old company to pressure fifth generation owner Dick Yuengling to come back to the table. But Yuengling says the more than 80 workers at the two Pottsville plants, 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia, approved their own decertification of the teamsters:
"I never mentioned the teamsters."
Yuengling believes the workers didn't feel the teamsters were adequately representing them. Yuengling says he did lean on workers about stepping up production, because they weren't getting the beer out:
"I said you fellas have gotten us to this level at a little brewery at 5th and Mahantongo Streets in Pottsville, but you're slacking off at the new plant."
Teamsters leader Daniel Grace contends workers fear retribution, and no one would testify to the National Labor Relations Board about management pressuring them to leave the union.
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