ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch union workers have reached a contract deal with the company, averting a coming strike, the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee said Wednesday.
“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,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said.
Teamsters said the highlights of the tentative agreement include:
- Significant job security for all 5,000 Teamsters at Anheuser-Busch.
- Wage increases of $8/hour, including an immediate $4/hour raise in the first year.
- $2,500 ratification bonus for every union member.
- The same healthcare coverage options for all union workers.
- Increased pension contributions and benefits.
- Increased maximum vacation accrual.
- Restoration of retirement benefits for active and retired members.
The move was a 180 from what Teamsters were reporting just hours before on Wednesday. A union update posted on X, formerly Twitter, didn't initially alleviate the possibility of a strike as early as Friday.
"The new offer that Anheuser-Busch put on the table this morning continues to ignore many of the Teamsters’ key issues," O'Brien said on the union's X account. "They are lowballing workers on wages, they’re not investing enough money in our members’ pensions, and they’ve made no firm commitment on job protections."
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An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson released the following statement:
"At Anheuser-Busch, our employees are our top priority, and we are pleased to have reached a tentative bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that continues to recognize and reward the talent, commitment, and hard work of our employees while also positioning the Company for long-term success. This tentative agreement builds even further upon our existing industry-leading package of wages, healthcare, and retirement benefits, and it includes significant commitments to job security. As America’s leading brewer, we take great pride in providing the best jobs in the beer industry and we look forward to formal ratification in the days ahead."
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