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Jim Beam whiskey workers strike in Kentucky

Benjamin Bartlett's Jim Beam statue sits outside the Jim Beam American Stillhouse on December 30, 2015 in Clermont, Kentucky. Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

CLERMONT, Ky. – Instead of producing whiskey, union members are manning picket lines at two Jim Beam distilleries in Kentucky where workers have gone on strike against the world’s largest bourbon producer.

More than 200 workers walked off their jobs after rejecting the latest contract offer Friday. On Saturday, passing motorists honked in support of workers holding picket signs outside Beam’s plant in Clermont.

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READ MORE: Crossing Canada on Whiskey

Bill Ball, a 47-year Beam employee, hopes the dispute is settled quickly, but says striking workers are prepared to stay off their jobs “for the long haul” if necessary. Strikers say staffing shortages force them to work long hours of overtime to keep up with demand for Beam whiskey.

The company said Friday contingency plans will keep operations running to maintain the flow of whiskey to distributors and consumers.

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