Approximately 5,000 Teamsters employed by Anheuser Busch have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike in the event that a new contract is not successfully negotiated before the expiration of the current one on February 29.
These Teamster members, stationed at 12 breweries across the United States, collectively constitute more than 25% of Anheuser-Busch’s workforce in the country. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien emphasized the vital role played by union members in putting Anheuser-Busch products on the market, highlighting their labor, talent, and sacrifices.
O’Brien stated, “Our members’ labor, talent, and sacrifice are what put Anheuser-Busch products on the shelf, and we are committed to getting a contract that rewards and recognizes their hard work.” He further added a warning, saying, “If Anheuser-Busch’s executives can’t get their act together to negotiate an agreement that respects workers, we will see them out on the streets.” The statement reflects the Teamsters’ determination to secure a contract that acknowledges and values the contributions of its members. Anheuser Busch have overwhelmingly
The union said Saturday 99% of members voted to authorize the strike. Anheuser-Busch InBev said it was aware of the vote.
“We are committed to negotiating in good faith with the union to reach an agreement that recognizes and rewards the talent, commitment, and drive of our employees,” the company told CNN in a statement.
Strike authorization votes — and landslide votes in favor of a strike — are an extremely common part of labor negotiations, as unions send a signal their members are ready to strike if they don’t agree to a deal. But the overwhelming majority of labor contracts are negotiated without the union following through on strike threats. For example, the Teamsters union authorized a strike by about 340,000 members at UPS, but reached a deal to avert the walkout about a week before the August 1 strike deadline.