Anheuser-Busch and the Teamsters union have reached a contract agreement that avoids a strike at the company’s 12 U.S. plants.
Driving the news: The contract boosts wages, increases vacation days, and enhances pension contributions.
The agreement includes significant job security commitments.
Quotes from officials:
- The full tentative agreement will be shared with workers before a ratification vote expected to occur next week.
- The strike would have been the first in the U.S. against Anheuser-Busch since 1976.
- Anheuser-Busch is addressing declining beer sales in the U.S. by appealing to consumers with various products like spirits, hard seltzers, and alcohol-free beverages.
What they’re saying: Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said, “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 CEO Brendan Whitworth added, “Our people are our greatest strength, and we are incredibly pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that continues to recognize the talent, dedication, and hard work of our teams, while also positioning the company for long-term success.”
State of play: Not all U.S. brewers have avoided strikes; for instance, 420 Teamsters-represented workers were on a second week of a strike at a Molson Coors plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Anheuser-Busch shipments to U.S. wholesalers declined by 13.8% last year, reflecting a 5% drop in overall U.S. beer shipments.
- The company brews more than a dozen brands in the U.S., including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and Stella Artois.
