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11 months ago
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Thousands of Anheuser-Busch workers will walk off the job if the brewery can't reach a new contract with the union.
Members of the Teamsters Union representing 5,000 of the Budweiser maker's staff voted to authorize a strike to push forward the ongoing contract dispute.
Both sides have until February 29, when the current deal expires, to hammer out a new one of 12 breweries across the US will fall silent.
Progress was made last month on ending tiered healthcare and restoring retiree health benefits, but they are still apart on job security issues.
Teamsters in New Jersey cast their votes as some of the 5,000 members who agreed to strike
'Teamsters stand firm in our fight for the best contract at Anheuser-Busch, and this powerful strike vote proves it,' Teamsters general president Sean O'Brien said.
'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.'
An overwhelming 99 per cent of workers voted to authorize the strike to put more pressure on the company to cave in to its demands.
'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,' O'Brien said.
Union officials accused the company of stalling job security discussions, and another round of negotiations was not yet scheduled.
Teamsters brewery, bakery, and soft drink conference director Jeff Padellaro said workers didn't want to strike but would if the company didn't 'get serious'.
'Anheuser-Busch can't kick this can down the road much longer,' he said.
Both sides have until February 29, when the current deal expires, to hammer out a new one of 12 breweries across the US will fall silent
Anheuser-Busch, maker of Budweiser, is the biggest brewery in North America
The union was also annoyed that the brewery was holding out after having $58 billion in sales last year and announcing a $1 billion investor buyback.
However, the brewery's sales have been sliding all year, falling 17.1 per cent in the US in the third quarter and 14.5 per cent the one before that.
Bud Light, it's biggest seller, lost its title as America's favorite beer to Modelo Especial during the second quarter drop.
Anheuser-Busch also owns Michelob and Rolling Rock and its parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev controls Stella Artois, Becks, Corona, and Leffe.
English (US)