Battle Over OLCC Privatization Unites Unlikely Allies—Labor Union and Beer Distributors

AFSCME partners with Beverage PAC to fight grocery-industry funded measure.

Beer distributors sometimes have contentious relationships with their unionized employees, and it's certain the distributors and one of Oregon's largest public employee unions will be on opposite sides of a proposed $5 billion corporate tax increase headed for the 2016 ballot.

Yet today, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees contributed $10,000 to Beverage PAC, a private-sector political action committee funded by beer and wine distributors.

Why?

The distributors oppose a 2016 ballot measure that would privatize the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and dismantle the tightly controlled alcoholic beverage business, threatening the lucrative niche distributors occupy.

As for AFSCME, it represents the workers employed at the OLCC's mammoth Milwaukie warehouse, where virtually every bottle of booze consumed in the state is shipped before being sent to retail locations. The union's money will help underwrite polling on the OLCC.

AFSCME political director Joe Baessler acknowledges his union probably won't agree with the distributors on other high-profile measures next year but says they can find common ground in preserving the OLCC.

"Politics is a weird mess sometimes," Baessler says. "But you get over it and do what's best for your members."

Willamette Week

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.