Strength in Unity: Resurgence of Labor Power
Strength in Unity
The Resurgence of Labor Power
The United States has undoubtedly entered a new era, ushered in by the Covid-19 Pandemic. One of the most visible changes is increasing worker solidarity in a growing number of industries.
Inflation and the cost of living has added financial pressure to the average American worker, 67 percent of whom live paycheck to paycheck, according to a recent study. The price of commodities like food and fuel have spiraled, once plentiful jobs became scarce amid decreased foot traffic.
Unions have played a significant role in shaping the working conditions, wages, and rights of workers in the United States manufacturing and beer industries. Throughout history, workers have come together to form unions in order to collectively bargain for better treatment and improved workplace conditions.
Workers seeking improved pay or working conditions have found power in numbers. Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon was the scene of a strike on Labor day 2023, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years. This effort was supported by community members, 10,000 of which signed a petition expressing support for a strike during negotiations.
In the late 19th century, as industrialization took hold in the United States, workers in the manufacturing sector faced grueling working conditions, long hours, and low pay. The emergence of unions was a response to these challenges. One notable event was the formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1886, which sought to unite skilled workers in various industries, including manufacturing and brewing. The AFL's early efforts focused on securing shorter work days and better wages for its members.
As the 20th century progressed, the labor movement evolved to encompass broader segments of the workforce, including unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Industrial unions, such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), emerged to represent workers in mass production industries like manufacturing and mining. These unions advocated for better working conditions and greater job security.
The beer industry was not exempt from labor struggles. Brewery workers faced dangerous working conditions and low pay, prompting them to organize for better treatment. One notable example is the Brewery Workers Union, which fought for improved wages, safer workplaces, and reasonable hours in breweries across the country.
One landmark achievement in the history of labor unions was the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935. Also known as the National Labor Relations Act, this legislation granted workers the right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining without fear of employer retaliation. This greatly strengthened the labor movement's influence in various industries, including manufacturing and brewing.
Just days after Labor Day 2020, Surly Brewing workers announced they had Unionized. Pandemic related health and safety concerns triggered this action, led by Front of House and Kitchen workers in the Minneapolis Beer Hall. Surly announced its closure in October, and the vote to Unionize failed by one vote.
Other concerns such as benefits and pay are at the forefront of worker’s minds. This summer, 40 employees at Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa, Wisconsin went on strike, the first time since the 80s. Some of the strikers were longtime brewery employees, having 30 years or more. In 2019, Anchor Steam employees formed a Union which offered to purchase the brewery from the parent company after the announcement of its imminent closure in August 2023. In 2020, Fair State Brewing, a member owned co-op which opened in 2024, became the first Microbrewery to Unionize.
The Covid-19 Pandemic created challenges for hospitality industry workers, adding responsibilities and dangers to their work. Companies vary in their response, and still face challenges of how to respond to changing conditions such as surges of infections. The pandemic is a disaster no one anticipated, and which creates ongoing tension between employees and management. Businesses that have not created a process to address worker concerns may struggle to balance customer perceptions with employee satisfaction and well-being.
Increased economic stress has been the catalyst for worker organization. On Friday, the United Auto Workers Union, pushing for higher wages, rejected the latest wage and benefit offer from General Motors. The Union is asking for a 40% pay raise over 4 years. Up to 146,000 workers may go on strike if a deal is not reached by Thursday September 14, when the current contract expires.
While significant progress has been made in improving workers' rights, challenges persist. Globalization, automation, and changes in the economy have led to shifts in the manufacturing and beer industries, impacting both the nature of work and the role of unions. Nevertheless, unions continue to advocate for fair wages, safe working conditions, and equitable treatment for all workers. Public support for Unions has reached a 50 year high.
When reached for comment, Anchor Brewery’s packaging lead and shop steward at the Anchor Union Patrick Nachel shared the following statement:
As one of the first, if not the first unionized craft breweries, we had a lot against us in our fight to unionize. We were part of the initial big corporation buyout of smaller craft breweries and we were the only one to unionize as a response, with a pretty militant union, the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) Local 6. Our brewery is one of the most historic breweries in the country and the unionization effort showed the world that we were willing to fight to protect that legacy. Luckily enough we were able to secure a contract right before COVID, in a city that was extremely strict with lockdowns and still recovering financially. That being said, our wages have only stayed with market rates, and the amount of work we do is still as laborious as ever. We were not the cause of the downfall of Anchor Brewing, we tried to work with Sapporo on multiple levels to try and make it within an ever more competitive environment. We were met with silence, middle management, and no sense of direction.
This is part of the reason why when the closure news happened, those who were organized already went full steam ahead with trying to put the idea out there of buying Anchor Brewing and creating a Co-Op business. We were met with sneers by most of the upper management, and took that as a challenge just like we did when we unionized. We knew our machines and our practices because this was something we did every day. Even in the face of management not taking us seriously in our job, the workforce, because it was unionized, took extreme pride in the work that we tried to put out with the tools we had at our disposal. Hell, even in the last 3-4ish months of Anchor being open the packaging staff didn't have a manager to oversee things. A lot of the tried and true Anchor workers, not those that were inputted in by corporate, took on extra work on the basis that we were making an amazing product we were proud to create.
We were one of the last working-class factories in San Francisco and were damn proud to be in the position we were in. People came into work ready to get dirty and make some damn good beer. If it wasn't for the union, a lot of us would have lost our jobs and would have never gathered the courage to actually make a stand for a San Francisco institution. An institution that has survived worse than this. We've outgrown ownership, we've become The City's beer, and that might be the next era of Anchor Brewing that you see.
The history of unions in the United States manufacturing and beer industry is a testament to the power of collective action in improving the lives of workers. From the early struggles for basic rights to the achievements of organized labor, the journey of unions reflects the ongoing effort to ensure the well-being of those who contribute to these industries.
As we look to the future, the principles of unity and solidarity remain crucial in advancing the rights of workers. As the Labor movement grows, we can expect to see more workers organizing to achieve their collective goals.
Learning resources:
Waging Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYE7pOtLoNI
The Definitive Union List: https://labor411.org/411-blog/the-definitive-union-beer-list-2/
Union Beverage Guide - Wine, Spirits and Beers who have Unions: https://aflcio.org/Beer-Wine
RAISE Restaurants Advancing Industry Standards in Employment: https://rocunited.org/raise