Bailey Loosemore

The (Louisville) Courier-Journal

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Jim Beam employees largely voted in favor of a new contract Friday that will end a weeklong strike and is expected to improve working conditions at two Kentucky facilities.

The 204-19 vote signaled a positive end to negotiations between the employees' union and the world's largest spirits producer, which have made national headlines because of the nature of the workers' demands.

Instead of asking for more money or hours, the employees had requested less overtime and more full-time hires. Some said they regularly worked 60- to 80-hour weeks to keep up with increased whiskey production.

"They really addressed everything that we asked them to," said Janelle Mudd, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 111D here, which represents about 250 Jim Beam employees at the Clermont, Ky., plant about 15 miles away. "We feel very fortunate."

Jim Beam union contract up for vote Friday

The new two-year deal includes many elements that were key to the union, including equal pay for equal work, a cap on temporary employees and the hiring of more full-timers, Mudd said.

Though some parts of the contract will take effect immediately, such as the elimination of a two-tiered pay system, others will take time to implement.

Employees still will be required to work overtime to the tune of four extra hours per shift as part of the contract, Mudd said. But the company pledges to reduce that need by hiring 27 to 30 new full-time employees by July.

"This outcome is good news for our people, our customers and fans of Jim Beam everywhere," David Hunter, chief supply chain officer for Beam Suntory, said in an emailed statement. "The successful resolution to this matter resulted from constructive good faith dialogue with the union leadership and valuable listening sessions with a broad cross-section of team members.

"This contract builds on the values shared by our company and our workforce and will help make these plants even better places to work," he said.

Union employees also will be eligible for raises under the contract, and new full-time workers will make a starting wage of about $23 an hour, Mudd said.

The high wages have caused confusion for people who have questioned both the employees' demands and the company's procedures.

Jim Beam whiskey makers go on strike

The approved contract is now in effect, and employees will return to work Monday. Until then, Mudd said she's glad to enjoy her weekend.

"I'm not going to have anything to worry about," she said.

However, Mudd said the employees still received an overwhelming amount of support from other unions and community members, who stood behind their concerns about work-life balance.

"It was really just tremendous, and we're so thankful for that as well," said Mudd, a Jim Beam employee of 10 years.

Follow Bailey Loosemore on Twitter: @bloosemore