Labor union files complaint over Brown-Forman negotiations

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Labor leaders at Brown-Forman have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the spirits maker of unfair labor practices.

Teamsters Local 89 President Fred Zuckerman tells The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/23JqKWe) workers rejected two proposals before the contract ended Feb. 1, and negotiations this week ended in a stalemate.

The union and Brown-Forman agreed to a 30-day extension. But at negotiations Wednesday, Zuckerman says Brown-Forman decided to move forward with its first contract proposal, despite the union’s concerns.

Phil Lynch is a spokesman for Brown-Forman. He says negotiations will continue.

The local union represents about 200 employees who work between two Brown-Forman facilities in Jefferson County.

Zuckerman says wages, benefits and pensions are points of disagreement with Brown-Forman, which owns Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel’s.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.