KMOX is going inside the last-minute deal to avert a strike and keep the Teamsters brewing, packaging, and moving beer inside Anheuser-Busch's twelve U.S. breweries, including the flagship here in St. Louis.
"We continued to ramp up the pressure," Teamsters brewery conference chief Jeff Pedellaro said on Total Information PM. "We put an incredible amount of pressure on this company" ahead of a seemingly-assured Friday strike.
Anheuser-Busch's longtime slogan was "Making Friends is our Business." Padellaro contrasts A-B's decision to pick labor peace with that of Coors, currently under strike at a plant in Texas. He says the Teamsters demonstrated it would follow-through on a work stoppage. A-B could see the impact.
IT'S OUR TIME TO TAKE ON MOLSON COORS!
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) February 18, 2024
Teamsters in Texas are holding the line on Sunday after 420 members were forced to strike for fair wages and better benefits against Molson Coors — another corporation shafting workers while raking in record profits.
With strike signs… pic.twitter.com/oxJRfQFdhM
Anheuser-Busch previously said it had prepared contingencies to continue beer production in the event of a walk-out. It now says the five year deal "builds even further upon our existing industry-leading" compensation.
Raises in the contract agreement average out to a 23-percent increase, plus the elimination of the two-tier health care system and increased pension contributions. Plus a $2,500 ratification bonus for each Teamsters member.
KMOX asked Padellaro if the "job guarantees" language in the tentative contract are a promise that A-B won't close any breweries.
"It's a protection of jobs. It's ensuring we now have job security," he said.
He thinks membership will easily approve the deal when it's up for vote.
