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Coca Cola (Odom) - Teamster Picket Strike Sign - $666 (Anchorage)
condition:
excellent
make / manufacturer:
AK Teamster 959
model name / number:
Picket Sign
size / dimensions:
18 in X 25 in
QR Code Link to This Post
I'm selling 3 Vintage ODOM v TEAMSTER STRIKE PICKET SIGNS. Own this part of Alaska History. Odom is pronounced "oh dumb."
In June 1981 Milt Odom, founder of Anchorage Cold Storage, refused to give over 100 Alaska Teamster employees a modest raise to cover the cost of living. The Teamster employees went on Strike. The company quickly hired more SCABS to replace the striking Teamsters in seven Bargaining Units. The Strike prompted a vote by the Teamsters and the Scabs with the NLRB -National Labor Relations Board. Since there were more SCABS than Teamsters, Anchorage Cold Storage won.
All in all, over 100 hard working trained Teamsters lost their livelihoods. More scabs got jobs. And the only winners were the lawyers who dragged out the Strike case.
The Strike began in June 1981 and lasted over 4 years total. There was violence at the port of Anchorage on several occasions. Teamster employees picketed the Odom facilities. Carrs Grocery Stores refused to stock Odom products, including Coca Cola, Miller Beer, Bacardi Rum and other products. Meanwhile Safeway (before the merger with Carrs Grocery) limited shelf position for Odom products. Several other retail establishments were picketed, letting the public know that Odom was not playing fair.
With Alaska history, Anchorage Cold Storage later became Odom Corp. Their Meat & Produce Division, with declining sales, was later sold to Food Service of America.
Milton Odom founded Anchorage Cold Storage, serving all of Alaska, from Ketchikan to Fairbanks and rural Alaska. He had seven sons by two separate wives. His sons were employees (probably because no other employer would hire them) and also stock holders. His sons were Mike, Johnny (alias Johnny Jet -- as mentioned on a Holiday Inn sign at the time of his short-lived wedding), Jimmy, Billy, and three other sons with the newer wife.
After the Strike, Milt Odom died, purposely not leaving a Will to his spoiled "silver-spooned" sons. The youngest son, Milton Jr. committed suicide shortly after Milt Odom's death. This was a "hush" event. The remaining sons had a huge Estate Tax to fulfill. The remaining sons also had to buy-out some other shareholders. A dysfunctional family feud later developed, where some of the sons wanted the company to be sold and be bought-out. The minority shareholders did not want to be part of the remaining feuding brothers. The Meat & Produce Division was sold.
Johnny Jet got married to a flight attendant and she later divorced him. Billy Lee got married and later went through an ugly divorce.. You can go to Google and read more about "Odom v Odom." It is an interesting webpage. You can read how Billy behaved towards his former wife and their two children and the division of his assets.
On the front of the Teamster Picket Signs:
PLEASE DO NOT BUY
COKE
TAB
7-UP
DR. PEPPER
To The Consumer
The above products distributed
By Anchorage Cold Storage are
Being sold at this store.
Teamster Local 959 is on strike
Against Anchorage Cold Storage
Co., Inc.
Thank You.
On the reverse of the Teamster Picket Signs:
PLEASE DO NOT BUY
Miller
Lite
Lowenbrau
Bacardi
Smirnoff
Rainier
Italian Swiss Colony
To The Consumer
The above products distributed
By Anchorage Cold Storage are
Being sold at this store.
Teamster Local 959 is on strike
Against Anchorage Cold Storage
Co., Inc.
Thank You.
Each of the three vintage Teamster Local 959 Picket Signs are in remarkable condition and each has its own wooden handle. Each picket sign has its original heavy visqueen covering, protecting the Picket Sign against the elements.
The three picket signs are priced accordingly at only $666.00. Yes it is the Devil's Number and this represents the Odom Corporation. I'm sure that if Ronald Regan was alive today, he would say that the Odom Corporation is part of the "Evil Empire."
Cash only.
Thank You