The International Brotherhood of Teamsters struck a deal with brewer Anheuser-Busch late Wednesday that avoided a threatened strike.
The deal delivers on several key issues for Teamster members at Anheuser-Busch, including wage increases of $8 an hour, a $2,500 ratification bonus, elimination of the two-tiered health care system, increased vacation time and improved pension and retirement benefits.
The Teamsters negotiating team unanimously voted to recommend the new contract to members. They had rejected the previous deal the company proposed earlier in the day.
“Teamsters make the beer, Teamsters make Anheuser-Busch successful, and our members deserve the best contract. That is what we fought for and won today. Anheuser-Busch knew our members were serious and prepared to do whatever it would take to get a fair agreement,” Teamster President Sean O’Brien said. “After a long day and a longer campaign, we’ve reached an agreement that sets a new high standard for the brewing industry.”
The union had been threatening to strike Friday morning if the two parties could not reach an agreement.
Management at Anheuser-Busch said the new contract keeps the company at the forefront of the industry.
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“This tentative agreement builds even further upon our existing industry-leading package of wages, healthcare, and retirement benefits, and it includes significant commitments to job security,” the company said in a statement. As America’s leading brewer, we take great pride in providing the best jobs in the beer industry and we look forward to formal ratification in the days ahead.”
The contract will now go to rank-and-file Teamsters members, with a vote on ratification set to start next week.
The Teamsters currently have around 400 members on strike at a Texas Molson Coors plant.
Mr. O’Brien made mention of the picketers in his announcement of the tentative contract with Anheuser-Busch.
“Teamsters continue to hold the line at Molson Coors in Texas for a fair contract, but Molson Coors should pay close attention to the bar we’ve set today for brewery workers across the country,” he said.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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