ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Teamsters say they'll strike against Anheuser-Busch beginning on Friday morning if they don't have a deal by midnight on Thursday, when the current contract expires.
The union said Anheuser-Busch's most recent offer threatens to close multiple breweries and enact permanent, company-wide layoffs. KMOX asked Teamsters Brewery Conference Chief Jeff Padellaro if this would mean a stoppage of beer flowing out of all the U.S. breweries:
"That's correct, yep," Padellaro said.
There are 12 Anheuser-Busch breweries throughout the United States, and this strike could impact all of them. Padellaro said he is unsure if the St. Louis brewery will be one to close down.
"I'm not going to discuss specific proposals, [but] what I'll tell you is the company's last proposal did not address job security for the membership," Padellaro said.
Anheuser-Busch said they hope to engage in meaningful discussion with the Teamsters leading up the the potential strike. In a release they said:
"We have implemented precautionary measures to ensure we will continue to bring our industry-leading brands to our valued customers and consumers across the country, in any event."
This is a developing story.