Brewery Workers Local 9- February 28, 2020

Sadly, yesterday we learned that we lost three of our Brewery Workers Local 9 UAW members in the workplace shooting that occurred at the Milwaukee Brewery on February 26th, they were Powerhouse Operators:

Gennady (Gene) Levshetz, 61, of Mequon, WI, Seniority date – 5/5/2008 11 years & 9 mo. Jesus (Jesse) Valle Jr., 33 of Milwaukee, WI, Seniority date – 1/6/2014 6 years & 1 mo. Trevor Wetselaar, 33, of Milwaukee, WI, Seniority date – 6/15/2018 1 year & 8 mo.

Words cannot express the pain and grief the membership of Local 9 is feeling over this tragic event that has left us forever scarred. We also mourn the loss of our coworkers that were members of IAM & IBEW:

Dale Hudson, 60, of Waukesha, an electrician with the brewery since 2008 Dana Walk, 57, of Delafield, a machinist with the brewery since 2004

We will be coordinating with the other Unions at the brewery and with MolsonCoors leadership to plan ways to memorialize and pay respect to our brothers, which are in line with the wishes of the families. Just as important will be the effort on the part of all, to ensure that when operations resume at the Milwaukee Brewery that the returning workforce feels safe, and that we will be a group that works together to solve issues in order to become stronger. Words like #milwaukeestrong and #millerstrong should not just be slogans and taglines without meaning. They should become a mantra to help us move forward. This horrific incident must be one that propels us to overcome our differences while teaching us how to come together.

In the days, weeks and months ahead we will work with MolsonCoors leadership and the International UAW to make sure that support will be available for our members and their families as they deal with the effects of this tragedy. We would also like to thank the entire community for the outpouring of support they have shown for all of the victims and everyone affected by this unthinkable act.

Signed Brewery Workers Local 9 UAW Leadership

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.