Beverage Company Boss Illegally Tried to Oust Union, Judge Says

A California-based beverage company was handed a cease and desist order after a National Labor Relations Board judge found that a manager attempted to coerce workers to drive out the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as their bargaining representative.

NLRB Administrative Law Judge Brian Gee ruled Monday that DS Services of America Inc., a subsidiary of Primo Water Corp., committed a number of unfair labor practices, including threatening union supporters.

The facility’s workers—including sales representatives, technicians, and loaders—voted to organize with the Teamsters in 2019 but hadn’t reached an initial contract by 2021.

A supervisor at the facility approached an employee ...