Crystal Springs Cries Impasse as Company Refuses to Bargain in Good Faith

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following more than 18 months of bargaining, workers at Crystal Springs began ambulatory pickets today in response to the bottled water company's refusal to bargain in good faith. The workers are members of Teamsters Local Union 480 in Nashville, Tenn.

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The union had exhausted all other options in its effort to reach a fair and equitable agreement with Crystal Springs. To date, company representatives have refused to back off their unreasonable demands.

"Crystal Springs is a profitable company – no one can deny that," said Lendon Grisham, President of Teamsters Local 480. "Yet the company continues to deny giving raises to workers who have not had a change in their wages for more than a decade. Crystal Springs would rather spend its money on a high-priced, union-busting attorney from Washington, D.C. than use that same money to give these workers the raises they deserve."

The union has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board but still hopes that Crystal Springs will return to the table with a suitable contract offer.

"They want us to work more hours for the same amount of pay," said Rick Wilson, a 10-year route sales representative at Crystal Springs. "This is just more of the same behavior from the company. Over the years they've done nothing but take things away from us. All we're asking is fair wages for a hard day's work."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 480

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