Teamsters showdown halts pumpkin weigh-off at Elysian Brewing

Teamsters showdown halts pumpkin weigh-off at Seattle's Elysian Brewing

Elysian Brewing's annual "Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off" was unexpectedly canceled today in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. Instead, the brewery’s taproom became the site of a union rally as employees protested what they call unfair labor practices by Elysian’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

SEATTLE - Elysian Brewing's annual "Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off" was unexpectedly canceled today in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. Instead, the brewery’s taproom became the site of a union rally as employees protested what they call unfair labor practices by Elysian’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Teamsters carried signs and chanted slogans accusing AB InBev of stalling negotiations on Elysian Brewing workers' first-ever union contract.

A spokesperson for Elysian Brewing released a statement following the rally on Saturday.

"We have met with the Teamsters 14 times over the past year, and they cancelled the most recently scheduled bargaining session on September 11, so we are awaiting their return to the bargaining table. We remain focused on recognizing and rewarding our local team’s dedication, talent, and hard work and brewing the best beer in the region." - Spokesperson from Elysian Brewing

Employees, represented by Teamsters Local 117, claim the multinational company has spent the past year refusing to bargain in good faith. FOX 13 spoke with Shannon Mullins, who is a lead technician at Elysian. She says AB InBev has larger breweries that have been unionized for years.

"They're trying to say we do different work because we’re a craft brewery," said Mullins. "Its an industry that alot of people think is cool to work in and everything but its hard work, its dangerous, its dirty and we deserve to be in a union."

Typically, the "Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off" draws growers from all over. Elysian has not confirmed the rally prompted the cancelation. FOX 13 has reached out for comment.

Elysian is still looking forward to next weekend's main event, the ‘Great Pumpkin Beer Festival’ scheduled for Friday and Saturday. At this point, all tickets have sold out.