Anheuser-Busch reaches tentative agreement with Teamsters Union to avert strike

Feb 29

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor), William Jackson (Producer)

Anheuser-Busch, the company behind Budweiser, and the Teamsters Union have announced a tentative labor agreement, averting potential strikes at 12 U.S. plants. The union, representing about 5,000 workers, had set a deadline for reaching a deal by midnight Thursday, Feb. 29.

The potential strike against Anheuser-Busch would have been the first in the U.S. since 1976.

TEAMSTERS REACH MAJOR NEW AGREEMENT WITH ANHEUSER-BUSCH, BOOSTING WAGES, PROTECTING JOBS
Today, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters reached a five-year tentative agreement significantly raising pay, improving health care and retirement benefits, and providing critical job… pic.twitter.com/9jlVAdxxfU
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) February 28, 2024

Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien stated, “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.”

The agreement proposes an $8 per hour wage increase over the next five years, with an immediate $4 raise in the first year. Anheuser-Busch’s CEO Brendan Whitworth expressed being “incredibly pleased” with the arrangement.

Just hours after revealing a new labor agreement, the company announced a 17.3% drop in its U.S. revenue for the latest quarter, mainly due to declining Bud Light sales.

Union members are scheduled to vote on ratifying the deal next week.

Tags: Anheuser-Busch, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Strike

[KARAH RUCKER]

BUDWEISER OWNER ANHEUSER-BUSCH AND THE TEAMSTERS UNION HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE LABOR AGREEMENT.

THE UNION — WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 5 THOUSAND WORKERS — WARNED OF STRIKES AT 12 U.S. PLANTS IF A DEAL WASN’T REACHED BY MIDNIGHT.

THE TEAMSTERS PRESIDENT ISSUING A STATEMENT after the agreement was made.

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.

THE DEAL CALLS FOR AN 8-DOLLAR PER HOUR INCREASE OVER FIVE YEARS, BEGINNING WITH AN IMMEDIATE 4-DOLLAR RAISE IN THE FIRST YEAR.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH CEO SAYING HE IS “INCREDIBLY PLEASED” WITH THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.

UNION MEMBERS ARE SET TO VOTE ON THE DEAL NEXT WEEK.