UPDATE: Anheuser-Busch says it’s still negotiating with Teamsters; union says that’s not true
ST. LOUIS – On Tuesday, leading American brewer Anheuser-Busch claimed it was continuing negotiations with the Teamsters on a new union contract to avoid a March 1 strike. But less than a day later, the Teamsters say that is a complete prevarication.
Union employees desire better pay and benefits, as well as job security, and say they’re prepared to walk off the job at 12 Anheuser-Busch breweries across the country. Approximately 5,000 A-B employees are Teamsters.
Besides St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch breweries are located in Los Angeles, California; Fairfield, California; Fort Collins, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Cartersville, Georgia; Williamsburg, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Baldwinsville, New York; Newark, New Jersey; and Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Last December, 99% of A-B union members nationwide voted to approve a strike. Earlier in February, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters approved a doubling of strike pay for Anheuser-Busch Teamsters.
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The Teamsters claim the brewer has dragged its feet in negotiations.
In a statement, an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson refutes those assertions but says the brewer has a contingency plan if the strike occurs.
Since the bargaining cycle started in September, Anheuser-Busch has consistently and diligently worked to secure a contract that recognizes and rewards our hardworking employees and prioritizes long-term security for the best jobs in the beer industry; as a precautionary measure, we have a robust continuity plan in place to ensure we will continue bringing our industry-leading brands to our valued customers and consumers across the country.
Kaitlin Craig, director of corporate communications for Anheuser-Busch
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Teamsters said this was inaccurate.
Negotiations with us do not continue. The Teamsters are not in negotiations with Anheuser-Busch. We do not have any negotiation dates with this company.
Kara Deniz, assistant director of communications for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
On February 1, the Teamsters asked the brewer to make its “last, best, and final offer.”
Anheuser-Busch, headquartered in St. Louis, employs over 4,500 people in the region and operates over 120 facilities nationwide.
AB InBev, the brewery’s parent company, reported $32 billion in gross profits for fiscal year 2023, a four-year high.
NOTE: This story was updated to reflect claims by the Teamsters that negotiations are not happening.
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