It’s a Beerpocalypse.
A looming strike by beer delivery workers threatens to deprive thousands of Big Apple bars and restaurants – and thirsty New Yorkers – of sweet suds from popular beers such as Coors, Corona and Sam Adams.
Unionized workers for Manhattan Beer & Beverage Distributors were poised to strike at the stroke of midnight Tuesday as talks showed little sign of serving up a new contract, labor leaders said.
The beer behemoth has made the 600-odd employees and their union frothing mad by allegedly pushing them to exit their pension plan.
“Keep your hands off our pensions,” union co-manager Alberto Arroyo told The Post.
Manhattan Beer has exclusive rights in New York City for several popular beers, distributing the likes of Blue Moon, Coors, Corona, Modelo and Sam Adams.
A strike potentially could dry up bars, bodegas and restaurants that receive shipments of roughly 300 brands of beer, cider, wine and other boozy beverages from Manhattan Beer, said a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
Four of Manhattan Beer’s five facilities — including its Hunts Point headquarters — would be affected by the strike.
The dispute stems from the company’s heavy-handed — and allegedly illegal, according to the union — effort to get workers to stop participating in their pension plan, with an eye toward replacing it with a 401(k) or other retirement option, the source said.
Manhattan Beer allegedly sidestepped the union and directly dealt with employees in their push, which led to the filing of an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Manhattan Beer should not be violating the law, committing unfair labor practices and trying to freeze our pensions,” said Joe Gonzalez Jr., a beer delivery worker, in a statement. “That’s what our fight is all about.
“No one should raise a glass to this kind of behavior.”
Representatives for the company and its labor attorney didn’t return The Post’s calls and messages seeking comment.
The union has proposed Manhattan Beer pony up a “modest” additional $1.50 an hour to preserve workers’ pension, both for current and future employees, the source said.
“Without monthly pension benefits when they retire, these workers will struggle in old age to pay for housing, groceries and other necessities of life,” he said in a statement. “That’s unacceptable.”
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