Title: Anheuser-Busch Faces Potential Strike as Teamsters Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor
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About 5,000 Teamsters working at Anheuser-Busch have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a new contract cannot be reached ahead of the expiration of the current one on February 29. Representing more than a quarter of Anheuser-Busch’s US workforce, these union members are spread across 12 breweries in the country.
According to a recent announcement by the union, a staggering 99% of its members voted in favor of the strike. The decision has caught the attention of Anheuser-Busch InBev, who stated they acknowledged the vote and remain committed to negotiating in good faith with the union.
While strike authorization votes are standard during labor negotiations, it is worth noting that most union contracts are resolved without the need for strikes. However, there has been a surge in strikes over the past year, with 70 instances where more than 100 workers ceased work for over a week.
Union members have achieved notable success in negotiations recently, with nearly one million members securing immediate pay raises of 10% or more in the past twelve months.
Anheuser-Busch has been grappling with declining sales, which can be partially attributed to a controversy surrounding the company’s use of a transgender influencer in a promotion. As a result, some conservatives initiated a boycott, impacting the company’s performance. In response to the sales dip, Anheuser-Busch downsized its US workforce by almost 2% in July.
It is important to note that the 5,000 union members mentioned in the strike vote press release represent approximately 750 fewer Teamsters than employed under the Anheuser-Busch contract as of December 31, 2022.
Negotiations between Anheuser-Busch and the Teamsters are ongoing, with hopes of reaching an agreement before the deadline. As both parties engage in discussions, the outcome of the forthcoming contract remains uncertain. However, with the overwhelming vote in favor of a potential strike, the pressure on the company to consider the demands of its employees will undoubtedly intensify.
