Teamsters: Anheuser-Busch Strike Appears Unavoidable

[Omaha Steve]

2024.02.01

O’Brien Demands Last, Best, and Final Offer From Global Beermaker

Press Contact: Kara Deniz Email: [e-mail]

(WASHINGTON) — Today, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien demanded Anheuser-Busch deliver its last, best, and final offer, after the company wasted another negotiating session putting forth an unacceptable proposal that threatens to kill Teamster jobs by closing breweries and permanently laying off Teamsters systemwide.

After refusing to commit to protecting Teamster jobs since mid-November, Anheuser-Busch executives returned to the bargaining table this week with an offer to butcher the good-paying jobs behind its products. If the company does not reverse course and come to terms on an agreement that rewards and protects workers, 5,000 Teamsters will be forced to go on strike as soon as March 1.

“The halting of beer production at Anheuser-Busch’s U.S. breweries appears imminent and unavoidable,” O’Brien said. “This company has got to get its priorities straight. With its actions during negotiations this week, Anheuser-Busch made clear it is hellbent on destroying American jobs. They can throw billions of dollars at Super Bowl ads and Wall Street, but they can’t seem to bargain a contract that respects the Teamsters who do the real work inside these breweries. They have a harsh reality awaiting them when Anheuser-Busch breweries are empty, and Teamsters are on the streets.”

O’Brien insisted the global beermaker commit to job security for Teamsters, warning Anheuser-Bush executives that the company has now entered dangerous territory by submitting a regressive contract proposal that would harm Teamster members.

FULL story here: https://teamster.org/2024/02/teamsters-anheuser-busch-strike-appears-unavoidable/