Richmond, Va. –  Today, City Councilmember and Mayoral Candidate Andreas Addison sent a letter to Sapporo-Stone Brewing (SSB), calling for management to immediately halt efforts to prevent their employees from forming a union. Workers at Stone’s plant have been organizing with Teamsters Local 322, a branch of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. SSB management has responded with a classic union-busting campaign including distributing flyers with misinformation about unionizing. Addison’s letter reads:

“It has come to my attention that your company is engaging in tactics to intimidate and misinform your workers about the benefits of unionizing. I am calling on you to immediately cease these activities and recognize the union your workers overwhelmingly support.

“When you chose to invest in Richmond, you didn’t just invest in your own success — you invested in our people. But instead of lifting up the hardworking employees who make your brewery run, you have chosen to deny your workers their right to organize, fight for fair wages, and demand dignity in the workplace. This is corporate greed at its worst. 

“Do you believe you can intimidate your way to success in this city? Do you think you can silence the voices of working people while exploiting their labor? Think again. I demand that you cease all anti-union activities and allow your workers to make their own decisions about unionization, free from fear and manipulation. If you care about your workers, you will treat them with the respect they deserve.

“Richmond’s working families are already struggling. We are facing a housing crisis with an increasing number of residents paying more than 30% of their income on housing. Parents are fighting to afford skyrocketing child care costs. And your company, instead of being a partner in lifting up these families, has chosen to put profit over people.

“You have the opportunity to make this right. I urge you to join us in supporting the workers who make Richmond’s economy run.”

“These moves are straight out of the anti-union playbook used by companies to divide and demoralize workers,” said Brian Peyton, President & Principal Officer, Teamsters Local No. 322. “Let’s be clear: the workers have spoken. They have overwhelming support for this union, and they should not have to endure intimidation, misinformation, or firings of their pro-union colleagues just to be treated fairly.”

SSB Management is allegedly deploying the following tactics: 

• Time-Delaying Tactics: SSB forced a union election through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which pushes the vote months down the road, allowing the company more time to sway workers.

• Use of Persuaders: SSB hired an anti-union consulting firm, Government Resources Consultants of America (GRCA), notorious for aggressively working to dissuade workers from unionizing by spreading anti-union messaging.

• Diluting the Vote: SSB expanded the proposed bargaining unit to include workers from a separate warehouse, likely to dilute the pro-union vote.

• Distributing Anti-Union Flyers: SSB handed out flyers full of common anti-union rhetoric, presenting the union as an "outside third party" while omitting their own use of external consultants.

• Carrot-and-Stick Approach:

  • Carrot: SSB initiated roundtable discussions with workers, sent feel-good messages about how much the company values them, offered pre-planned raises, and held events like ice cream socials to create a more positive image.

  • Stick: When these efforts didn’t stall the union drive, SSB fired a vocal pro-union worker, leading to an unfair labor practice complaint.

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About Andreas Addison

Andreas Addison is a public servant, small business owner, and educator serving the Richmond community for more than 15 years. Addison represents the 1st District on Richmond City Council, where he has a proven track record of fighting for affordable housing, greater connectivity in the region, and investments for greater city services. He is the owner of Pure Fitness RVA in Scott’s Addition and is an adjunct professor at UVA in the School of Public Policy. A strong advocate for thriving communities, Addison is committed to a socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and prosperous Richmond for working families. Addison married his wife, Allison, in 2023, and the couple resides in the Museum District. Join the movement at andreasaddison.com.