Teamsters at Anheuser-Busch's breweries in US vote to ratify new five-year agreement covering more than 4,500 workers, union says

Nevin Barich

WASHINGTON , April 30, 2014 (press release) – By a large majority, Teamsters at Anheuser-Busch's breweries in the United States have voted to ratify a new five-year agreement covering more than 4,500 workers, the union announced today.

"This new contract with Anheuser-Busch ensures that Teamsters will continue to be the highest-compensated brewery workers in the United States," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President.

The contract is worth more than $2 billion in wages and benefits and it will take effect immediately, providing wage increases retroactive to March 1, 2014.

"We listened to our members and negotiated the best contract possible with wage and bonus increases, maintenance of excellent benefits and job security," said David Laughton, Director of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference.

A-B Teamsters currently earn more than $70 per hour in total compensation – wages, health, welfare and pension benefits. The new contract provides more than $24,000 in additional wages and bonuses for the average employee over the five-year contract term.

All 12 A-B breweries in the U.S. employ members of the Teamsters who brew and bottle the brands produced by the company. The brewery locations are: Los Angeles; St. Louis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; Houston; Fort Collins, Colo.; Williamsburg, Va.; Cartersville, Ga.; Merrimack, N.H.; Fairfield, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; and Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "Like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.