United Food & Commercial Workers union called on Heaven Hill Distillery to return to the bargaining table in an effort to reach an agreement on a new labor contract.
It said a federal negotiator also urged the company to rejoin talks with UFCW Local 23D, the union for Heaven Hill Bardstown workers and the $500 million company met with workers and the union on Monday, September 27. However, despite the federal negotiator calling for Heaven Hill to continue negotiations tomorrow, September 29, the company refused to return to the table, the union said.
Heaven Hill, in a statement to Kane’s Beverage News Daily, told a different tale: “Monday was the start of an ongoing dialogue with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23D. We will continue to work collaboratively with their leadership toward ratification of an industry-leading employment contract,” it said.
Matt Aubrey, president, UFCW Local 23D said the central issues relate to cuts to overtime and “potentially unfair scheduling.”